Abbott Reshuffles Ministry, Rearranges Deck-chairs And Declares All Barnacles Gone And Ship Unsinkable!
A couple of weeks ago, Mr Abbott suggested that some of his
colleagues had a problem with Peta Credlin because of her gender, and
that they had trouble relating to a women who was so powerful. He made
it clear that her sex was irrelevant to him and that he’d have the same
relationship with her whatever sex she was. Some people, however, argued
charges of sexism were pretty hypocritical coming from a man who’d only
appointed one woman to Cabinet.
In a very exciting development, Abbott has doubled the number of
women in Cabinet. One senior Liberal source said this was a welcome
development as there’d now be someone else to clear the cups when Julie
Bishop is overseas, before hastily adding that this was a joke and that
they actually had tea-ladies to do that sort of thing.
Still this Ministerial reshuffle achieves most of Mr Abbott’s aims.
The promotion of a woman to the Health Portfolio – albeit one who
doesn’t know how to spell “Susan” properly – should stop those
screeching feminist harpies who are complaining that the Minister for
Women has only announced initiatives for women with children, while the
promotion of Josh Frydenberg rewards young talent.
But the moving of Scott Morrison to Social Services has a twofold
effect. If he’s effective, it should enable the government to slash
spending in this area, while also reducing Morrison’s popularity and
thereby putting a dent in any leadership aspirations he may have. It’s
one thing to be popular while holding foreign children offshore, but
it’ll be a different matter when it’s Australian children ringing
Senator Muir to ask him to please support government legislation so that
they can be returned to their parents!
In a move that surprised most keen observers, David Johnston has lost
the Defence portfolio. Johnston’s lacklustre performance and canoe
comments meant that most thought he was absolutely secure, because once
Mr Abbott starts demoting underperforming Ministers, a dangerous
precendent may have been set. If Johnston wasn’t safe, then one must
also consider that Hockey, Pyne, and Joyce can’t simply presume that
hiding in one’s office for three months after saying something foolish
is enough to keep one in the Ministry.
Peter Dutton, the mostly invisible Minister for Health moves to
Immigration, where he can merely cite “operational matters” as a reason
for having nothing to say.
Kevin Andrews – a keen Euthanasia opponent – has been given a
portfolio consistent with his views on the sanctity of human life:
Defence.
All in all, this looks like a very successful reshuffle and all those
screaming about icebergs should just sit back in their deckchairs,
order another cocktail and enjoy the ride.
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