From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 18 December

Is the Federal Parliament censuring of the former Prime Minister Scott Morrison a political stunt or an important symbolic gesture?

CERTAINLY, results from the recent Federal and Victorian state elections, both of which were won comprehensively by the Labor party, would suggest voters across the country have serious concerns regarding the Liberal National coalition, their representative members, and their capacity to govern.

Political strategists, party leaders, and media pundits, will offer many and varied reasons for election success or failure. In reality, it is ephemeral.  Years of attempting to predict an audience response has shown there is no definitive explanation. The will of the aggregate is impossible to prophesy with absolute certitude; however, and unequivocally, current Labor policies and representation are favoured by the majority of Australians. That is the joy of a developed democracy.

Hubristically, Liberal and National party politicians – excepting for Liberal Member for Bass, Bridget Archer, have argued the censure motion brought against Scott Morrison by the Albanese Labor Government is a political stunt.

Realistically, and of their own volition, senior Liberal party members have agreed the residual fall-out from the defeated Morrison led Liberal Coalition Government may have influenced the outcome of Victorian state election.

Mr Morrison’s decision to appoint himself, covertly, minister to the departments of health, finance, industry, science, energy and resources, treasury and home affairs, without the knowledge of most of the appointed ministers or departments, is cause for the most serious concern. While it was not illegal, it was, indubitably, an affront to our democracy; an action guaranteed to sow seeds of political doubt in the minds of Australian voters. The recently released Bell report revealed plans were made in April 2021 for a sixth portfolio to be added to Mr Morrison’s remit.

By definition, there is about government an important element of perception. The words of Abraham Lincoln to honour the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in order “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth” were spoken at Gettysburg. These words apply equally to the countless universal soldiers, men and women, who have died for the cause of democracy in the subsequent 159 years.

Legality notwithstanding, Mr Morrison’s aberrant abuse of the government of the people is cause for grave concern. He argues, risibly, it was a time of national emergency and he needed to assume additional powers for obvious reasons. Accepting his premise, their remains the question of such contentious concealment. Our democracy is a government of the people, and given the decision for the transference of ministries did not present a risk to national security, his rationale is alarming, and deserving of full public opprobrium.

It could be proffered, with validity, Mr. Morrison’s secret transference of power – and whether or not he is it is inconsequential, demonstrates the fragility of even the most robust democracy. His deed is the symbolic precursor which sees a nation retire for the night with one form of government, only to wake the following the morning to another.

Patently, and to their detriment, the Dutton led Liberal Opposition has learned nothing from the last catastrophic Federal election. Their peevish dismissal of the censure motion brought against Mr Morrison is telling. It supposes the voting constituents are intellectually concussed. It is this outmoded mindset which will banish them to political oblivion if they do not change, radically, their administrative thinking.

A strong opposition is as important as good government! The one cannot flourish without the other.

Roland talks with Brett Macdonald every Monday at 10.45am on Radio 3BA and can be contacted via [email protected].