Since the spill and the end of parliamentary sittings, it has been far less mental – and I haven’t been on Hansard* in while. It also means that there is nothing of real interest to post on during the week.
This week, Tony made a sudden and abrupt turn from “PNG Solution = good” to “PNG Solution = bad”. It appears to be on the basis that there won’t be enough room or something. I’m not entirely sure. The Coalition is being weird and strange and making no sense to me. Neither is Labor for that matter.
As I mentioned last week, I see the point (sort of) of the PNG Solution – It’s stopping the people smugglers. However, it appears that a) The news hasn’t gotten to some refugees and asylum seekers; and b) The smugglers seem to be running, as someone called it, a ‘closing down sale’. Why? It just so happens that this week alone 1050 refugees were sent to PNG after 14 boats were intercepted.
There was a riot at the processing centre on Nauru and some abuse allegations at the detentions centre on Manus Island.
That’s really all that happened this week – which is a bit tedious. Oh well, I’ll enjoy the quiet while I can – the election will be called at some point.
*Hansard: The transcript of what is said in parliament.
Quotes of the Week
“It must be tackled with decisiveness, with urgency, with the appropriate level of seriousness. That’s why we need to have a senior military officer in operational control of this very important national emergency.” – Tony Abbott on his plan to involve the military in ‘stopping the boats’.
“So nobody should be in any doubt – if people want to test our resolve, and we always said they would try, if people want to test our resolve then whatever capacity is required will be provided, and the new arrangement will be implemented.” – Tony Burke on the capacity of the detention centre on Manus Island.
Tweet of the Week
Kara L 