EDITORIAL: PM’s inability to say sorry is now an issue
EDITORIAL: The message about where we are at is clear. For those who listen.
There was a character in the 70s and 80s TV sitcom Happy Days known as Fonzie.
He was king of the kids. The king of cool. But he had a serious flaw. He was unable to say he was sorry or wrong.
The words just got stuck in his throat and he was unable to finish the sentence.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Anthony Albanese likes to think he is king of the kids too.
DJ Albo. He loves a band t-shirt. Remember Joy Division? And he makes sure we know about his Hottest 100 votes.
But sadly for Albo, he appears to share the same affliction that bedevilled Fonzie.
He just can’t seem to admit he was wrong or say sorry.
What else are we to think after his astonishing determination to refuse to accept responsibility or apologise for the dirt sheet which his office put around in a bid to smear independent MP Helen Haines just weeks before she was horrifically injured this week.
The document had been circulated to journalists after Dr Haines questioned a $6 million grant given to the Marrickville Golf Club, which is in the Prime Minister’s electorate and where he was an honorary member.
The document questioned — baselessly — her support for local projects and whether she had any links to, or had obtained any benefits from, some of those for which she had advocated.
To be clear. There was no evidence to back up the suggestion. But the intent was obvious. To try to discredit her and deflect the questions about the golf club grant.
On Thursday, Mr Albanese rejected the characterisation that the document constituted a personal attack.
“It’s a list of funding asks from Helen Haines . . . just showing that people of integrity stand up for their electorate. It’s no personal criticism of Helen,” he said.
On Friday deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said he was “struggling to understand” the attention.
And Opposition Leader Angus Taylor was far from convincing when he was asked if the Liberals used such tactics, and initially responded “I don’t know what you mean by dirt sheets”.
He then put himself more in tune with the national mood of reflection: “The Prime Minister should speak for what he’s done, but accountability matters in politics”.
Others understood very well. Labor’s attempted smear was the opposite of calls, including from Mr Albanese, to turn down the heat in politics.
It is puzzling Mr Albanese seemed not to understand we would see through his flimsy bid to deflect.
His inability to put up his hand and apologise turned a bright light on his character. Again.
But the week was not without an apology.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson did just that over a cartoon the party created that mocked independent Senator Jacqui Lambie over a health issue.
As pointed out by Latika M Bourke in The Nightly on Friday, the leader of a party Mr Albanese regularly derides as divisive and nasty showed better judgment and contrition than the Prime Minister.
The message about where we are at as we reflect on how politics is conducted and how we would like it to be conducted is clear. For those who listen.
