1 00:00:10,614 --> 00:00:15,254 Speaker 1: You're listening to a Muma Mia podcast. Mumma Mea acknowledges 2 00:00:15,334 --> 00:00:18,134 Speaker 1: the traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast 3 00:00:18,214 --> 00:00:18,974 Speaker 1: is recorded on. 4 00:00:20,854 --> 00:00:21,094 Speaker 2: Hi. 5 00:00:21,214 --> 00:00:24,734 Speaker 1: I'm Claire Murphy. This is Mumma MIA's twice daily news podcast, 6 00:00:24,774 --> 00:00:29,854 Speaker 1: The Quickie. If ex tropical Cyclone Alfred didn't happen, we 7 00:00:29,894 --> 00:00:32,294 Speaker 1: would probably know today when we'll be going to the 8 00:00:32,334 --> 00:00:35,694 Speaker 1: polls to vote in the next federal election. But natural 9 00:00:35,734 --> 00:00:38,934 Speaker 1: disasters have a way of interrupting even the most carefully 10 00:00:39,014 --> 00:00:42,494 Speaker 1: laid plans, and this time around it's making it difficult 11 00:00:42,694 --> 00:00:46,134 Speaker 1: but also maybe easier for the leaders of both major parties. 12 00:00:46,774 --> 00:00:49,654 Speaker 1: An opportunity arose for them to make headlines for all 13 00:00:49,694 --> 00:00:53,454 Speaker 1: the right reasons. That did they As thousands of ossies 14 00:00:53,494 --> 00:00:56,934 Speaker 1: begin clearing up after Alfred's damaging winds and flooding rains, 15 00:00:57,214 --> 00:00:59,734 Speaker 1: those in Canberra are wondering if the storm has made 16 00:00:59,774 --> 00:01:03,374 Speaker 1: an impact on the outcome of the upcoming election. Before 17 00:01:03,374 --> 00:01:05,174 Speaker 1: we get into that, here's the letters from the Quickie 18 00:01:05,214 --> 00:01:08,534 Speaker 1: newsroom Tuesday, March eleven. More than three hundred and fifty 19 00:01:08,534 --> 00:01:12,534 Speaker 1: public schools will reopen in Southeast Queensland today as communities 20 00:01:12,574 --> 00:01:15,654 Speaker 1: across the region continue to recover from the impacts of 21 00:01:15,734 --> 00:01:19,654 Speaker 1: ex tropical Cyclone Alfred. Since Thursday last week, some four 22 00:01:19,734 --> 00:01:22,454 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty thousand residents in the area have been 23 00:01:22,494 --> 00:01:25,534 Speaker 1: without power. That number has fallen to just over one 24 00:01:25,614 --> 00:01:29,134 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty thousand as Anergex works to fix damage 25 00:01:29,174 --> 00:01:33,014 Speaker 1: caused by the winds and rain that Alfred brought with it. Supermarkets, 26 00:01:33,094 --> 00:01:36,294 Speaker 1: airports and some bus routes have reopened, but the Warrego 27 00:01:36,454 --> 00:01:40,894 Speaker 1: Highway that connects Brisbane to Tuwoma remains closed until further notice. 28 00:01:41,094 --> 00:01:45,054 Speaker 1: More rainfall and thunderstorms are predicted for southeast Queensland today, 29 00:01:45,294 --> 00:01:47,734 Speaker 1: with the Lochier Valley to the west of Brisbane and 30 00:01:47,894 --> 00:01:52,614 Speaker 1: Harvey Bay north of the Sunshine Coast both inundated with floodwater. Yesterday. 31 00:01:52,894 --> 00:01:55,574 Speaker 1: Major flood warnings were also issued for the Albert and 32 00:01:55,734 --> 00:01:58,494 Speaker 1: Logan Rivers at the Gold Coast, and the Bremer River 33 00:01:58,614 --> 00:02:01,414 Speaker 1: and Warrel Creek at Ipswich, although it seems the Bremer 34 00:02:01,534 --> 00:02:05,174 Speaker 1: may have peaked lower than expected. Evacuation orders have now 35 00:02:05,214 --> 00:02:08,014 Speaker 1: also been lifted for some northern New South Wales towns, 36 00:02:08,014 --> 00:02:11,654 Speaker 1: including Lismore, whose residents lived with the continual impact of 37 00:02:11,694 --> 00:02:15,014 Speaker 1: extreme weather that has seen the area flooded several times 38 00:02:15,014 --> 00:02:18,774 Speaker 1: in recent years. Around eighteen hundred people were isolated by 39 00:02:18,854 --> 00:02:22,054 Speaker 1: floodwater in New South Wales yesterday, with more than ten 40 00:02:22,134 --> 00:02:26,454 Speaker 1: thousand under emergency warnings. Health authorities are warning people not 41 00:02:26,494 --> 00:02:30,414 Speaker 1: to spend any time in floodwater if possible, explaining it 42 00:02:30,454 --> 00:02:34,654 Speaker 1: can contain anything from feces, chemicals and industrial waste to 43 00:02:34,814 --> 00:02:40,214 Speaker 1: animals including snakes, and a potentially deadly bacterial disease, mereoidosis, 44 00:02:40,254 --> 00:02:43,454 Speaker 1: already claiming the lives of sixteen people in North Queensland 45 00:02:43,454 --> 00:02:46,694 Speaker 1: this year after record level rains led to flash flooding 46 00:02:46,734 --> 00:02:50,494 Speaker 1: that forced hundreds of people to evacuate. Australian Red Cross 47 00:02:50,574 --> 00:02:53,414 Speaker 1: Lifeblood has also issued an urgent core for an extra 48 00:02:53,534 --> 00:02:56,774 Speaker 1: six thousand people to donate blood across the nation to 49 00:02:56,814 --> 00:03:01,414 Speaker 1: replenish supplies depleted by excyclone. Alfred blood and platelets have 50 00:03:01,494 --> 00:03:04,374 Speaker 1: been sent to Queensland from Victoria, New South Wales and 51 00:03:04,654 --> 00:03:08,614 Speaker 1: WA life Blood, expecting more will be needed in coming days. 52 00:03:09,094 --> 00:03:12,094 Speaker 1: Jewish leaders have expressed their relief after being told the 53 00:03:12,134 --> 00:03:15,174 Speaker 1: caravan filled with explosives and an anti Semitic note in 54 00:03:15,214 --> 00:03:18,454 Speaker 1: Sydney was a fake. The abandoned caravan was found in 55 00:03:18,534 --> 00:03:21,734 Speaker 1: dural in the city's northwest on January nineteenth, filled with 56 00:03:21,854 --> 00:03:25,134 Speaker 1: enough explosives to create a forty meter blasts own along 57 00:03:25,174 --> 00:03:28,814 Speaker 1: with a note that listed Jewish entities. Police yesterday arrested 58 00:03:28,854 --> 00:03:32,014 Speaker 1: fourteen more people related to an anti Semitic crime wave 59 00:03:32,094 --> 00:03:35,134 Speaker 1: which hit Sydney in recent months, finding the attacks were 60 00:03:35,134 --> 00:03:40,374 Speaker 1: not ideologically motivated, but rather arranged to benefit organized crime figures, 61 00:03:40,734 --> 00:03:44,294 Speaker 1: its belief those crime figures were taking advantage of unprecedented 62 00:03:44,374 --> 00:03:48,614 Speaker 1: levels of antisemitism. AFP Commissioner Chrissy Barrett, saying the caravan 63 00:03:48,694 --> 00:03:51,294 Speaker 1: was never going to be used to cause mass casualties, 64 00:03:51,534 --> 00:03:54,414 Speaker 1: but rather a plot to create more fear in the community. 65 00:03:55,014 --> 00:03:57,814 Speaker 1: US President Donald Trump has ripped into Australian former Prime 66 00:03:57,854 --> 00:04:01,214 Speaker 1: Minister Malcolm Turnbull, calling him a weak and ineffective leader 67 00:04:01,254 --> 00:04:04,254 Speaker 1: who never understood what was going on in China. Mister 68 00:04:04,294 --> 00:04:07,094 Speaker 1: Turnbull has hit back at Trump, saying Australian needs to 69 00:04:07,094 --> 00:04:10,734 Speaker 1: be realistic about his impact on the world, on Western alliances, 70 00:04:10,814 --> 00:04:14,654 Speaker 1: on markets and economies, warning Australia against joining what he 71 00:04:14,694 --> 00:04:17,534 Speaker 1: refers to as a conger line of sicker fans creeping 72 00:04:17,574 --> 00:04:20,494 Speaker 1: through the White House. Paying homage to Trump, telling him 73 00:04:20,534 --> 00:04:22,974 Speaker 1: he's a genius. Turnbull went on to say that the 74 00:04:23,014 --> 00:04:25,574 Speaker 1: reality is if you suck up to bullies, whether it's 75 00:04:25,574 --> 00:04:28,694 Speaker 1: on global affairs or in the playground, you just get 76 00:04:28,734 --> 00:04:32,254 Speaker 1: more bullying. Turnbull believes that Trump's behavior will only push 77 00:04:32,334 --> 00:04:35,414 Speaker 1: more countries to align more closely with China than by 78 00:04:35,454 --> 00:04:39,294 Speaker 1: being consistent in the face of Trump's erratic behavior respectful 79 00:04:39,334 --> 00:04:42,054 Speaker 1: where Trump is rude, China will seem like the safer, 80 00:04:42,214 --> 00:04:45,894 Speaker 1: more stable choice. King Charles's turned DJ for the day, 81 00:04:46,054 --> 00:04:49,254 Speaker 1: taking to Apple Music's online radio show to share his 82 00:04:49,374 --> 00:04:52,854 Speaker 1: favorite seventeen songs and invitation. He says he was both 83 00:04:52,894 --> 00:04:56,734 Speaker 1: surprised and delighted by Charles paid tribute to Beyonce after 84 00:04:56,774 --> 00:05:00,254 Speaker 1: playing her hit Crazy in Love, describing her as exceptional 85 00:05:00,334 --> 00:05:03,494 Speaker 1: and congratulating her on finally grabbing that elusive Album of 86 00:05:03,534 --> 00:05:06,534 Speaker 1: the Year Grammy. She performed the hit at Charles's Trust 87 00:05:06,614 --> 00:05:09,494 Speaker 1: Fashion Rocks concert in two thousand and three, the year 88 00:05:09,574 --> 00:05:13,374 Speaker 1: the single was released. He also spanned Diana Ross's Upside Down, 89 00:05:13,494 --> 00:05:16,574 Speaker 1: admitting as a younger man, he found it absolutely impossible 90 00:05:16,614 --> 00:05:19,294 Speaker 1: not to dance to it. The King also played songs 91 00:05:19,294 --> 00:05:22,574 Speaker 1: by Jules holland Michael Boublay, and Dame Kirie Takaroa to 92 00:05:22,654 --> 00:05:25,934 Speaker 1: mark Commonwealth Day, remembering his grandma, the Queen Mother, as 93 00:05:25,974 --> 00:05:28,294 Speaker 1: well playing one of her all time favorites, a classic 94 00:05:28,374 --> 00:05:31,614 Speaker 1: by Al Bowley. Ozzie Kylie Minogue also scored a spot 95 00:05:31,654 --> 00:05:34,854 Speaker 1: on the King's Playlist with her classic Locomotion, Charles saying 96 00:05:34,894 --> 00:05:37,734 Speaker 1: it's music for dancing and has an infectious energy that 97 00:05:37,814 --> 00:05:40,934 Speaker 1: makes it hard to sit still. That's what's happening in 98 00:05:40,934 --> 00:05:43,214 Speaker 1: the world today. Next, Alfred has left a trail of 99 00:05:43,254 --> 00:05:46,654 Speaker 1: destruction down the Queensland and New South Wales coasts. But 100 00:05:46,774 --> 00:05:49,934 Speaker 1: who benefited from it politically? As Ossie is now wait 101 00:05:50,014 --> 00:05:52,174 Speaker 1: longer to find out when they'll had their chance to 102 00:05:52,254 --> 00:05:54,294 Speaker 1: vote for who they want in charge of it all. 103 00:05:58,774 --> 00:06:03,134 Speaker 1: When then Australian Liberal Prime Minister Harold Holt resumed Parliament 104 00:06:03,214 --> 00:06:06,054 Speaker 1: in February nineteen sixty seven, he did so off the 105 00:06:06,054 --> 00:06:10,134 Speaker 1: back of the Tasmanian Black Tuesday bushfires in New Zealand 106 00:06:10,174 --> 00:06:13,254 Speaker 1: when the fires hit, taking the lives of sixty two people, 107 00:06:13,734 --> 00:06:16,014 Speaker 1: but he immediately got on the phone to the Tasmanian 108 00:06:16,094 --> 00:06:18,854 Speaker 1: Premier before flying down to the bottom of the country 109 00:06:18,894 --> 00:06:22,494 Speaker 1: to show his support. Photos from the visit showed Holt 110 00:06:22,534 --> 00:06:26,214 Speaker 1: surveying the damage and speaking to survivors. At the time, 111 00:06:26,334 --> 00:06:29,334 Speaker 1: it was seen as a political triumph that Holt understood 112 00:06:29,374 --> 00:06:31,574 Speaker 1: what it meant to be on the scene, telling the 113 00:06:31,614 --> 00:06:34,534 Speaker 1: Tasmanian locals that he had come to see for himself 114 00:06:34,854 --> 00:06:38,054 Speaker 1: to assure them that he would provide prompt and ready help. 115 00:06:39,094 --> 00:06:41,494 Speaker 1: Will never know what impact that visit may have had 116 00:06:41,534 --> 00:06:44,774 Speaker 1: on Holt's next election. He would go missing, presumed round 117 00:06:44,934 --> 00:06:49,854 Speaker 1: in December of that year. Cyclone Tracy destroyed most of Darwin. 118 00:06:49,934 --> 00:06:53,694 Speaker 1: On Christmas morning nineteen seventy four, then Labour mp GoF 119 00:06:53,694 --> 00:06:57,574 Speaker 1: Whitlam was overseas, but sent a message describing his profound 120 00:06:57,574 --> 00:07:01,534 Speaker 1: shock and heartfelt personal sympathy. The then acting PM, doctor 121 00:07:01,574 --> 00:07:05,174 Speaker 1: Jim Cans visited in Whitlam's stead and was widely praised. 122 00:07:05,814 --> 00:07:09,134 Speaker 1: Whitlam did visit Darwin eventually, his trip described in the 123 00:07:09,174 --> 00:07:11,534 Speaker 1: papers at the time as a kin to King George 124 00:07:11,534 --> 00:07:14,054 Speaker 1: the Six walked through the blitz streets of London during 125 00:07:14,094 --> 00:07:18,334 Speaker 1: World War II, but he immediately returned back overseas, some 126 00:07:18,454 --> 00:07:21,134 Speaker 1: pointing out that he actually spent more time during the 127 00:07:21,214 --> 00:07:24,454 Speaker 1: ruins of ancient Greece than he did. Cyclone impacted Darwin. 128 00:07:25,374 --> 00:07:28,374 Speaker 1: A year later, the Whitlam government was dismissed by Governor 129 00:07:28,414 --> 00:07:31,374 Speaker 1: General Sir John Kerr and Malcolm Fraser's Liberal Party was 130 00:07:31,374 --> 00:07:36,294 Speaker 1: elected with a resounding majority. But while these natural disasters 131 00:07:36,334 --> 00:07:38,894 Speaker 1: had an impact on those leader's reputations at the time, 132 00:07:39,174 --> 00:07:42,574 Speaker 1: the Ash Wednesday Fires in nineteen eighty three hit during 133 00:07:42,614 --> 00:07:46,614 Speaker 1: an actual election campaign. Both Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and 134 00:07:46,694 --> 00:07:51,454 Speaker 1: Opposition leader Bob Hawk suspended their campaigns, visiting both Victoria 135 00:07:51,534 --> 00:07:54,854 Speaker 1: and South Australia to survey the devastation left behind by 136 00:07:54,854 --> 00:07:58,494 Speaker 1: the bushfires. Fraser was praised for his switch from being 137 00:07:58,494 --> 00:08:00,814 Speaker 1: the leader of a political party to being the leader 138 00:08:00,854 --> 00:08:03,294 Speaker 1: of a country. The City Morning Herald wrote a piece 139 00:08:03,334 --> 00:08:06,014 Speaker 1: which read, there is nothing like a national crisis to 140 00:08:06,054 --> 00:08:09,054 Speaker 1: help distinguish the substance of the prime ministership from the 141 00:08:09,054 --> 00:08:12,374 Speaker 1: shadow of Opposition leader. Malcolm Fraser would go on to 142 00:08:12,454 --> 00:08:16,094 Speaker 1: lose that election. Julia Gillard oversaw the so called Summer 143 00:08:16,134 --> 00:08:19,694 Speaker 1: of Sadness over twenty ten and twenty eleven, when several regions, 144 00:08:19,734 --> 00:08:23,774 Speaker 1: including Brisbane City, were inundated with floodwater. She'd only become 145 00:08:23,774 --> 00:08:25,894 Speaker 1: the leader of the country in a coup Austin Kevin 146 00:08:25,974 --> 00:08:28,894 Speaker 1: Right earlier in twenty ten and reigned over the period 147 00:08:28,934 --> 00:08:32,054 Speaker 1: of leadership chaos in Australia. She would lose the twenty 148 00:08:32,094 --> 00:08:35,734 Speaker 1: thirteen election. Scott Morrison was PM when the twenty nineteen 149 00:08:35,854 --> 00:08:38,974 Speaker 1: twenty twenty bush fires hit. He's decision to take a 150 00:08:39,014 --> 00:08:41,734 Speaker 1: holiday to Hawaii instead of remaining at home to support 151 00:08:41,814 --> 00:08:45,614 Speaker 1: locals through the catastrophe saw firefighters refuse to shake his 152 00:08:45,734 --> 00:08:48,534 Speaker 1: hand and others yell obscenities at him from the open 153 00:08:48,534 --> 00:08:51,854 Speaker 1: windows of emergency vehicles when he finally returned to survey 154 00:08:51,934 --> 00:08:53,014 Speaker 1: the firefighting efforts. 155 00:08:53,174 --> 00:08:55,254 Speaker 3: I've obviously returned from leave and I know that that 156 00:08:55,334 --> 00:08:59,054 Speaker 3: has caused some great anxiety in Australia and Jinny and 157 00:08:59,094 --> 00:09:03,094 Speaker 3: I acknowledged that, and so did those Australians who I 158 00:09:03,134 --> 00:09:06,054 Speaker 3: had cause upset to and I apologize for that. 159 00:09:07,614 --> 00:09:10,614 Speaker 1: This past week, as the threat of Nicclone Alfred approached 160 00:09:10,654 --> 00:09:14,014 Speaker 1: the southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales coastline, Prime 161 00:09:14,014 --> 00:09:17,694 Speaker 1: Minister Anthony ALBERNIZI flew in to offer support. I'm focused 162 00:09:17,694 --> 00:09:20,854 Speaker 1: on the needs of Australians. This isn't a time for 163 00:09:21,134 --> 00:09:24,934 Speaker 1: party politics. I'm just focused on doing my job and governing. 164 00:09:25,094 --> 00:09:27,014 Speaker 1: While some accused him of using the threat of a 165 00:09:27,054 --> 00:09:30,974 Speaker 1: natural disaster for a photo opportunity. Opposition leader Peter Dutton 166 00:09:31,054 --> 00:09:33,014 Speaker 1: was hit with headlines from a story ran in The 167 00:09:33,054 --> 00:09:37,294 Speaker 1: Financial Review saying he'd abandoned his people, choosing on Tuesday 168 00:09:37,374 --> 00:09:40,214 Speaker 1: to attend a fundraiser in Sydney instead of heading to 169 00:09:40,254 --> 00:09:43,814 Speaker 1: his home state in his electorate. Dutton defended his decision. 170 00:09:44,134 --> 00:09:46,534 Speaker 1: He said, it wasn't a party, it was a fundraising 171 00:09:46,574 --> 00:09:48,414 Speaker 1: dinner and the Prime Minister and I are doing them 172 00:09:48,454 --> 00:09:50,574 Speaker 1: around the country at the moment. He went on to say, 173 00:09:50,614 --> 00:09:53,174 Speaker 1: I'd received a briefing in the morning, went down, I 174 00:09:53,214 --> 00:09:55,974 Speaker 1: had a diary commitment, including lunch with an archbishop and 175 00:09:56,014 --> 00:09:58,654 Speaker 1: a number of meetings otherwise in Sydney. He went on 176 00:09:58,734 --> 00:10:01,254 Speaker 1: to say that he then decided to head back to Queensland. 177 00:10:01,494 --> 00:10:03,214 Speaker 1: He said, I flew home on the first flight on 178 00:10:03,254 --> 00:10:06,614 Speaker 1: Wednesday morning, back into my electorate and the event hadn't 179 00:10:06,614 --> 00:10:09,614 Speaker 1: started by then, didn't start until Friday, he said. I 180 00:10:09,654 --> 00:10:12,414 Speaker 1: think people who are using that for political advantage in 181 00:10:12,454 --> 00:10:15,454 Speaker 1: the time of a natural disaster, He said, frankly, that's 182 00:10:15,494 --> 00:10:17,654 Speaker 1: a poorer reflection on them than it is on me. 183 00:10:17,894 --> 00:10:22,014 Speaker 1: And I think people recognize that after returning home to Queensland, 184 00:10:22,054 --> 00:10:24,294 Speaker 1: Peter Dutton then had to defend his own property from 185 00:10:24,334 --> 00:10:25,174 Speaker 1: the deluge. 186 00:10:25,414 --> 00:10:28,614 Speaker 2: Hopefully it received quickly that at the moment to feel 187 00:10:28,694 --> 00:10:30,814 Speaker 2: the truck at home, including ourselves. 188 00:10:30,814 --> 00:10:34,294 Speaker 3: Fortunately our houses find the the waters up over our 189 00:10:34,294 --> 00:10:34,894 Speaker 3: front gates. 190 00:10:35,814 --> 00:10:38,774 Speaker 1: That's mister Dutton speaking to Peter Stefanovic on Sky News. 191 00:10:39,534 --> 00:10:42,694 Speaker 1: The Prime Minister responded to questions about Dutton's movement, saying 192 00:10:42,734 --> 00:10:44,574 Speaker 1: that that is a matter for him. He said, I 193 00:10:44,614 --> 00:10:47,694 Speaker 1: did see his comments about my responsibilities, but that's a 194 00:10:47,734 --> 00:10:49,694 Speaker 1: matter for him. He went on to say he can 195 00:10:49,734 --> 00:10:53,614 Speaker 1: comment on his own responsibilities. I am fulfilling mine. So 196 00:10:53,694 --> 00:10:55,654 Speaker 1: how do the optics on these two leaders and the 197 00:10:55,734 --> 00:10:58,654 Speaker 1: handling of a natural disaster play into the upcoming election, 198 00:10:59,014 --> 00:11:02,814 Speaker 1: especially when it's not even technically during an election campaign yet. 199 00:11:03,654 --> 00:11:06,894 Speaker 1: Mark Riley is Channel seven's political editor. Mark having a 200 00:11:06,934 --> 00:11:09,414 Speaker 1: look at the aftermath of x tropical cyclone Alfred and 201 00:11:09,654 --> 00:11:12,854 Speaker 1: how it's been handled politically by both major parties. Do 202 00:11:12,894 --> 00:11:14,974 Speaker 1: you see this natural disaster having an impact on the 203 00:11:15,014 --> 00:11:16,094 Speaker 1: upcoming federal election? 204 00:11:17,214 --> 00:11:20,254 Speaker 2: It will. I mean everything that happens, every major event 205 00:11:20,294 --> 00:11:23,774 Speaker 2: that happens, has some sort of political implication. So In 206 00:11:23,814 --> 00:11:27,894 Speaker 2: these sort of circumstances, I think people either knowingly or 207 00:11:27,974 --> 00:11:32,094 Speaker 2: unwittingly observe the actions of their leaders. Necessarily it's a 208 00:11:32,134 --> 00:11:35,094 Speaker 2: time when they look to leadership for direction and protection 209 00:11:35,334 --> 00:11:38,854 Speaker 2: and support. So, whether people realize it or not, they're 210 00:11:39,214 --> 00:11:43,734 Speaker 2: making an impression of how the leaders are conducting themselves 211 00:11:43,734 --> 00:11:47,494 Speaker 2: and whether they're doing adequate jobs. It has particular impacts 212 00:11:47,614 --> 00:11:50,974 Speaker 2: on the election in very specific ways. The biggest one 213 00:11:51,014 --> 00:11:53,854 Speaker 2: is it's already delayed the election by about a month. 214 00:11:54,134 --> 00:11:56,974 Speaker 2: The Prime Minister was going to see the Governor General 215 00:11:57,414 --> 00:12:00,894 Speaker 2: yesterday here in Canberra to call an election for April twelve. 216 00:12:00,974 --> 00:12:03,134 Speaker 2: He's no longer doing that, so that means that he 217 00:12:03,254 --> 00:12:05,734 Speaker 2: has to have a budget on March twenty five and 218 00:12:05,774 --> 00:12:08,854 Speaker 2: then go to an election on May three, ten or seventeen. 219 00:12:09,534 --> 00:12:12,654 Speaker 2: People will look at how their leaders stand up to 220 00:12:12,694 --> 00:12:16,374 Speaker 2: this challenge or not, and it can change their opinions. 221 00:12:16,894 --> 00:12:19,774 Speaker 2: Both the leaders, Anthie Albanesi and Peter Dutton are acutely 222 00:12:19,814 --> 00:12:20,534 Speaker 2: aware of that. 223 00:12:21,294 --> 00:12:23,854 Speaker 1: The conduct of Peter Dutton has been called into question 224 00:12:24,014 --> 00:12:27,614 Speaker 1: because his own electorate is in Queensland and was in 225 00:12:27,654 --> 00:12:30,414 Speaker 1: the firing line of Alfred at that point that he 226 00:12:30,494 --> 00:12:35,334 Speaker 1: decided to head to Sydney and maybe attend a fundraiser. 227 00:12:35,734 --> 00:12:37,694 Speaker 1: There was a lot of conversation about this being his 228 00:12:37,774 --> 00:12:40,694 Speaker 1: Scott Morrison moment. He did not attend that fundraiser. He 229 00:12:40,734 --> 00:12:43,934 Speaker 1: returned on Wednesday instead, and of course Alfred didn't arrive 230 00:12:44,254 --> 00:12:48,814 Speaker 1: until Saturday. But what would the public be seeing in 231 00:12:48,854 --> 00:12:51,414 Speaker 1: that decision to go to Sydney it or rather than 232 00:12:51,654 --> 00:12:53,854 Speaker 1: be in Brisbane where his electorate is. 233 00:12:54,374 --> 00:12:56,614 Speaker 2: Well, I actually did go to one fundraiser and he 234 00:12:56,734 --> 00:13:00,254 Speaker 2: chose not to go to another. So their actions are important, 235 00:13:00,294 --> 00:13:04,014 Speaker 2: symbolism is important. I think at that time there was 236 00:13:04,054 --> 00:13:07,054 Speaker 2: a bit of mixed messaging coming from Peter Dutton as well. 237 00:13:07,054 --> 00:13:10,774 Speaker 2: He was talking about who was briefed that morning in 238 00:13:10,814 --> 00:13:14,774 Speaker 2: Brisbane about then the impending cyclone and the impact it 239 00:13:14,854 --> 00:13:18,774 Speaker 2: might have on the community, particularly his own And you're right, 240 00:13:18,814 --> 00:13:20,894 Speaker 2: the seid of Dixon in the northern parts of Brisbane 241 00:13:20,934 --> 00:13:23,014 Speaker 2: there was right in the firing line at that point, 242 00:13:23,174 --> 00:13:26,414 Speaker 2: and then he went to Sydney. So it's not unusual 243 00:13:26,534 --> 00:13:28,814 Speaker 2: for leaders to go to fundraisers. In fact, they go 244 00:13:28,894 --> 00:13:31,254 Speaker 2: to as many as they possibly can. Running elections is 245 00:13:31,294 --> 00:13:35,374 Speaker 2: a really expensive business and their party machines, their headquarters 246 00:13:35,414 --> 00:13:37,174 Speaker 2: would be pushing them to do as much as they 247 00:13:37,174 --> 00:13:40,854 Speaker 2: possibly can, because having the leader at the fundraiser always 248 00:13:40,894 --> 00:13:43,574 Speaker 2: means that it's easier to get the benefactors, pick them 249 00:13:43,654 --> 00:13:45,294 Speaker 2: up by the ankles and shake them into their money 250 00:13:45,294 --> 00:13:47,614 Speaker 2: falls out. They get more money when the leader's there, 251 00:13:47,774 --> 00:13:51,214 Speaker 2: so I understand the kind of exigent need for leaders 252 00:13:51,214 --> 00:13:55,014 Speaker 2: to be at these fundraisers. Timing is everything, though, and 253 00:13:55,054 --> 00:13:59,694 Speaker 2: the look wasn't great, to be fair to him, spoken 254 00:13:59,694 --> 00:14:02,454 Speaker 2: to his team today. He as we speak is up 255 00:14:02,494 --> 00:14:05,894 Speaker 2: to his knees in floodwaters at his own property in Queensland, 256 00:14:06,014 --> 00:14:07,934 Speaker 2: so he's right in the thick of it now, but 257 00:14:08,134 --> 00:14:09,294 Speaker 2: that was not a good look. 258 00:14:09,894 --> 00:14:12,414 Speaker 1: Can we read anything into the result of the weekend's 259 00:14:12,494 --> 00:14:14,734 Speaker 1: election in Western Australia. I mean, we saw that the 260 00:14:14,774 --> 00:14:18,814 Speaker 1: pandemic played quite a big role in delivering almost an 261 00:14:18,894 --> 00:14:22,654 Speaker 1: unprecedented election result the last time for Labor, and this 262 00:14:22,774 --> 00:14:26,134 Speaker 1: time they have won incredibly convincingly again, however, with a 263 00:14:26,174 --> 00:14:29,974 Speaker 1: slightly smaller margin. Do we see that swing away from 264 00:14:30,054 --> 00:14:32,014 Speaker 1: Labor having implications federally? 265 00:14:32,654 --> 00:14:35,854 Speaker 2: Yeah. Look, as much as the parties tend to deny it, 266 00:14:36,534 --> 00:14:41,534 Speaker 2: state elections do have particular guides to federal elections, particularly 267 00:14:41,574 --> 00:14:44,494 Speaker 2: when they occur in this instance, which is fairly rare 268 00:14:44,814 --> 00:14:47,774 Speaker 2: in such close proximity to an impending federal election, it 269 00:14:47,814 --> 00:14:49,774 Speaker 2: gives us a really good guide and that way, the 270 00:14:49,774 --> 00:14:54,014 Speaker 2: by elections in Victoria three weekends ago are also reasonable 271 00:14:54,054 --> 00:14:57,014 Speaker 2: guides from the Wa result. There's a couple of things 272 00:14:57,014 --> 00:14:59,214 Speaker 2: I take from that, and it's starting to become a trend. 273 00:14:59,334 --> 00:15:02,734 Speaker 2: I think it's a really fascinating trend in Australian politics, 274 00:15:02,774 --> 00:15:05,894 Speaker 2: and in a way a very positive one for our democracy, 275 00:15:06,294 --> 00:15:08,934 Speaker 2: but a very dangerous one to the two major parties. 276 00:15:08,934 --> 00:15:13,814 Speaker 2: And people are now again seeking a third way in politics, 277 00:15:13,934 --> 00:15:16,534 Speaker 2: and that was apparent in Wa. A couple of things 278 00:15:16,574 --> 00:15:20,174 Speaker 2: about that. Roger Cook's victory was an extraordinarily strong victory. 279 00:15:20,454 --> 00:15:23,534 Speaker 2: The Prime Minister reminded us yesterday in factual question that 280 00:15:23,574 --> 00:15:27,134 Speaker 2: I put to him that it was the second biggest 281 00:15:27,174 --> 00:15:30,854 Speaker 2: result in Wa state history, because the first was that 282 00:15:31,334 --> 00:15:34,574 Speaker 2: extraordinary up mc gown result in twenty twenty one, which 283 00:15:34,654 --> 00:15:39,334 Speaker 2: was just way beyond anything we'd seen anywhere. It seems 284 00:15:39,374 --> 00:15:41,574 Speaker 2: that there's not a brand issue for Labor in the 285 00:15:41,574 --> 00:15:45,414 Speaker 2: West and that people are still supporting the Labor Party. 286 00:15:45,414 --> 00:15:48,814 Speaker 2: They haven't fallen off in droves but those that have, 287 00:15:49,094 --> 00:15:51,574 Speaker 2: and there was a swing against the Labor Party, particularly 288 00:15:51,574 --> 00:15:54,934 Speaker 2: in outer urban and regional areas. Those who didn't vote 289 00:15:54,974 --> 00:15:57,974 Speaker 2: Labor who did last time didn't vote Liberal this time, 290 00:15:58,174 --> 00:15:59,974 Speaker 2: they look somewhere else. I went to the Greens and 291 00:15:59,974 --> 00:16:02,694 Speaker 2: they went to Independence, and that I think is a 292 00:16:02,734 --> 00:16:07,334 Speaker 2: message that the community independence of so called teals a 293 00:16:07,414 --> 00:16:10,574 Speaker 2: real force, and the last election supprise a little bit 294 00:16:10,774 --> 00:16:14,654 Speaker 2: won't surprise us this time around. I'm anticipating a very 295 00:16:14,694 --> 00:16:19,374 Speaker 2: strong third vote in this election, principally because there doesn't 296 00:16:19,454 --> 00:16:22,774 Speaker 2: seem to be a great passion for either of the leaders. 297 00:16:23,134 --> 00:16:27,414 Speaker 2: Anthony Alberanez he's seen as effective and managerial, but just 298 00:16:27,614 --> 00:16:30,334 Speaker 2: doesn't seem to float a lot of people's boat. And 299 00:16:30,654 --> 00:16:33,774 Speaker 2: Peter Dutton people are unsure of. They get that he's 300 00:16:33,974 --> 00:16:37,414 Speaker 2: strong and he prides himself on being a firm leader, 301 00:16:37,494 --> 00:16:40,614 Speaker 2: but it just doesn't have a great deal of appeal, 302 00:16:40,654 --> 00:16:44,494 Speaker 2: and I think that people are now investigating whether they 303 00:16:44,534 --> 00:16:46,214 Speaker 2: look for a third alternative. 304 00:16:46,854 --> 00:16:49,454 Speaker 1: Too close to call still at this point mark with 305 00:16:49,494 --> 00:16:51,494 Speaker 1: all the polling that we've been looking at, it seems 306 00:16:51,894 --> 00:16:54,934 Speaker 1: slight variations in who's more popular at any one time, 307 00:16:54,974 --> 00:16:57,134 Speaker 1: depending on which way you look at it too close 308 00:16:57,174 --> 00:16:57,934 Speaker 1: to call at this point. 309 00:16:58,654 --> 00:17:01,454 Speaker 2: You know, I think people like me should really call 310 00:17:01,574 --> 00:17:03,494 Speaker 2: things as I see, and I'm calling it at a 311 00:17:03,534 --> 00:17:05,694 Speaker 2: point in time, I think the most likely outcome is 312 00:17:05,694 --> 00:17:08,294 Speaker 2: a minority labor government at the moment. There would have 313 00:17:08,334 --> 00:17:10,934 Speaker 2: to be a shift of really strong shift in New 314 00:17:10,934 --> 00:17:14,254 Speaker 2: South Wales and Victoria for that not to be the case, 315 00:17:14,294 --> 00:17:18,534 Speaker 2: and that's possible. Victoria, the labor brand has obviously taken 316 00:17:18,574 --> 00:17:20,134 Speaker 2: a bit of a hammering. Now. I mentioned the by 317 00:17:20,134 --> 00:17:23,334 Speaker 2: elections there. Werriby was incredibly instructive a few weeks ago. 318 00:17:23,614 --> 00:17:27,014 Speaker 2: That's labor heartland and there was a big shift against labor. 319 00:17:27,654 --> 00:17:29,534 Speaker 2: But they didn't go to the Liberal Party. They went 320 00:17:29,574 --> 00:17:33,054 Speaker 2: to third way candidates, some on the right, some on 321 00:17:33,094 --> 00:17:35,214 Speaker 2: the left, some in the middle. There was a classic 322 00:17:35,414 --> 00:17:38,174 Speaker 2: protest for they're looking for someone to park devote or 323 00:17:38,254 --> 00:17:40,134 Speaker 2: they were saying we were just fed up with both 324 00:17:40,534 --> 00:17:42,574 Speaker 2: major parties. At the moment, I think there would have 325 00:17:42,654 --> 00:17:44,894 Speaker 2: to be a big shift and they'd have to happen 326 00:17:44,894 --> 00:17:47,694 Speaker 2: in New Southlas and Victoria. For Peter dudn't get eighteen 327 00:17:47,774 --> 00:17:50,134 Speaker 2: nineteen seeds. There's a lot of seeds. 328 00:17:50,654 --> 00:17:52,294 Speaker 1: Thanks for taking the time to feed your mind. With 329 00:17:52,374 --> 00:17:55,094 Speaker 1: us Today. The quickie is produced by me Clam Murphy 330 00:17:55,134 --> 00:18:05,454 Speaker 1: with audio production by Lou Hill.