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| Canning byelection: Andrew Hastie takes aim at ice after Taser tough talk | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It was going so well. Sitting at the head of the board table at the City of Armadale council chambers on the south-eastern fringes of Perth on Friday, the Liberal candidate for the Canning byelection, Andrew Hastie, was doing his best to show he was more than just a battle-hardened ex-soldier. Then, in response to a comment from the state police minister, Liza Harvey, one of five state and federal ministers deferring to the 32-year-old first-time candidate in a totally-not-for-the-cameras meeting about the problem of methamphetamine addiction in the crucial electorate, his metamorphosis from SAS officer to consultative MP suffered a setback. | It was going so well. Sitting at the head of the board table at the City of Armadale council chambers on the south-eastern fringes of Perth on Friday, the Liberal candidate for the Canning byelection, Andrew Hastie, was doing his best to show he was more than just a battle-hardened ex-soldier. Then, in response to a comment from the state police minister, Liza Harvey, one of five state and federal ministers deferring to the 32-year-old first-time candidate in a totally-not-for-the-cameras meeting about the problem of methamphetamine addiction in the crucial electorate, his metamorphosis from SAS officer to consultative MP suffered a setback. |
| Related: Canning byelection: Liberal candidate Andrew Hastie takes one for Abbott | Related: Canning byelection: Liberal candidate Andrew Hastie takes one for Abbott |
| “I’ve been Tasered a few times in my previous job,” he said. “If that doesn’t take you down, nothing will.” | “I’ve been Tasered a few times in my previous job,” he said. “If that doesn’t take you down, nothing will.” |
| A few journalists may have laughed. Because of course Andrew Hastie – the man who interrupted the prime minister and made him grin like a schoolkid at the same time – has been Tasered. | A few journalists may have laughed. Because of course Andrew Hastie – the man who interrupted the prime minister and made him grin like a schoolkid at the same time – has been Tasered. |
| The remark was at least on-topic. Harvey had been talking about a recent attempt by six police officers to subdue a 5ft 4in female meth addict because people on an ice-induced rage “don’t feel Tasers”. | The remark was at least on-topic. Harvey had been talking about a recent attempt by six police officers to subdue a 5ft 4in female meth addict because people on an ice-induced rage “don’t feel Tasers”. |
| But it did rather spoil the collegiate feel. | But it did rather spoil the collegiate feel. |
| At a press conference outside, he explained that he had been Tasered as part of his military training, as practice for what he might face from enemy soldiers. | At a press conference outside, he explained that he had been Tasered as part of his military training, as practice for what he might face from enemy soldiers. |
| “I was Tasered three times in the back,” he said. “It was a miserable experience. I don’t recommend it.” | “I was Tasered three times in the back,” he said. “It was a miserable experience. I don’t recommend it.” |
| A quick show of hands revealed that the state corrective services minister, Joe Francis, had also been Tasered, during his training for the Australian navy. (For what it’s worth, the Labor candidate, Matt Keogh, has never been Tasered – we checked.) | A quick show of hands revealed that the state corrective services minister, Joe Francis, had also been Tasered, during his training for the Australian navy. (For what it’s worth, the Labor candidate, Matt Keogh, has never been Tasered – we checked.) |
| The purpose of Friday’s meeting with Harvey, Francis, state attorney general Michael Mischin, state mental health minister Helen Morton, federal justice minister Michael Keenan, and the chief executive of the city of Armadale, Ray Tame, was to allow Hastie to announce his “Canning ice action plan”. The plan, he said, would be launched within 30 days of him winning the 19 September byelection, which was triggered by the sudden death in July of veteran Liberal MP Don Randall. It would involve forming a “Canning ice taskforce” of politicians, police, teachers and legal experts; establishing community forums; and supporting the Abbott government’s “dob in a dealer” program. | The purpose of Friday’s meeting with Harvey, Francis, state attorney general Michael Mischin, state mental health minister Helen Morton, federal justice minister Michael Keenan, and the chief executive of the city of Armadale, Ray Tame, was to allow Hastie to announce his “Canning ice action plan”. The plan, he said, would be launched within 30 days of him winning the 19 September byelection, which was triggered by the sudden death in July of veteran Liberal MP Don Randall. It would involve forming a “Canning ice taskforce” of politicians, police, teachers and legal experts; establishing community forums; and supporting the Abbott government’s “dob in a dealer” program. |
| Asked why this proposal would work when other, very similar, proposals have not, Hastie floundered. When a journalist prompted: “Because you’re in charge?” he perked up again. | Asked why this proposal would work when other, very similar, proposals have not, Hastie floundered. When a journalist prompted: “Because you’re in charge?” he perked up again. |
| “That’s right,” Hastie said. “I think I bring something to the party.” | “That’s right,” Hastie said. “I think I bring something to the party.” |
| That something, according to Keenan, is action: “Andrew, he’s not a lawyer, he doesn’t just talk, he’s a soldier, he acts.” | That something, according to Keenan, is action: “Andrew, he’s not a lawyer, he doesn’t just talk, he’s a soldier, he acts.” |
| Awkward, then, that what he proposed is pretty much just talking – there’s no money attached to the plan. (“This issue is not just about throwing money at the problem ... It’s about rolling up your sleeves and working closely together for a common goal,” Hastie said.) It does not involve reversing cuts to the flexible funds in the federal health budget. Keenan, who also slipped in an announcement about Australian Border Force staff being able to seize unlisted synthetic versions of drugs, including synthetic cannabis, from Friday, said the suggestion there had been any cuts was “absolute nonsense” (the health cuts are detailed here). | Awkward, then, that what he proposed is pretty much just talking – there’s no money attached to the plan. (“This issue is not just about throwing money at the problem ... It’s about rolling up your sleeves and working closely together for a common goal,” Hastie said.) It does not involve reversing cuts to the flexible funds in the federal health budget. Keenan, who also slipped in an announcement about Australian Border Force staff being able to seize unlisted synthetic versions of drugs, including synthetic cannabis, from Friday, said the suggestion there had been any cuts was “absolute nonsense” (the health cuts are detailed here). |
| The flexible health fund is used by organisations like Armadale’s Hope Community Services to provide drug rehabilitation services. | The flexible health fund is used by organisations like Armadale’s Hope Community Services to provide drug rehabilitation services. |
| Hope Community Services has been a star of the campaign – opposition leader Bill Shorten was there on Thursday to announce $2.7m in funding if he won the 2016 general election, to finance its programs through to 2019. Greens senator for WA Rachel Siewert swung by soon after. Hastie also mentioned it – he sat down with them on Friday morning, before his meeting with the ministers. | Hope Community Services has been a star of the campaign – opposition leader Bill Shorten was there on Thursday to announce $2.7m in funding if he won the 2016 general election, to finance its programs through to 2019. Greens senator for WA Rachel Siewert swung by soon after. Hastie also mentioned it – he sat down with them on Friday morning, before his meeting with the ministers. |
| Keogh, whose former position as head of the Law Society of WA possibly qualifies him as a “legal expert” for Hastie’s ice taskforce, said at a separate press conference on Friday that addressing the meth problem in Canning, which has among the highest meth use in Western Australia, required “holistic solutions... both in prevention, rehabilitation, and also with police and enforcement”. He’s also calling for Armadale’s police station, which was swallowed up by police reforms last year and now closes at 4pm, to be open 24 hours. | Keogh, whose former position as head of the Law Society of WA possibly qualifies him as a “legal expert” for Hastie’s ice taskforce, said at a separate press conference on Friday that addressing the meth problem in Canning, which has among the highest meth use in Western Australia, required “holistic solutions... both in prevention, rehabilitation, and also with police and enforcement”. He’s also calling for Armadale’s police station, which was swallowed up by police reforms last year and now closes at 4pm, to be open 24 hours. |
| “I’m glad that Mr Hastie and Mr Abbott’s ministers are now out there talking to people on the ground, because when Mr Abbott was here all they were doing was taking photo opportunities,” Keogh said. | “I’m glad that Mr Hastie and Mr Abbott’s ministers are now out there talking to people on the ground, because when Mr Abbott was here all they were doing was taking photo opportunities,” Keogh said. |
| Keogh addressed a much smaller press pack of two at an outing with the opposition’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, at Pinjarra Football Club about an hour south of Armadale. They were there to meet with Australian Workers Union delegates from Alcoa, an aluminium refinery and the largest employer in the small town, who had commandeered the footy club house for a meeting about their enterprise bargaining agreement. | Keogh addressed a much smaller press pack of two at an outing with the opposition’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, at Pinjarra Football Club about an hour south of Armadale. They were there to meet with Australian Workers Union delegates from Alcoa, an aluminium refinery and the largest employer in the small town, who had commandeered the footy club house for a meeting about their enterprise bargaining agreement. |
| Wong, the opposition trade spokeswoman, took a few minutes to reiterate Labor’s objections to the free trade agreement with China, before handing over to Keogh, who looked affronted while explaining that he had nothing to do with pushing stories about Hastie’s family and religious beliefs to the press. | Wong, the opposition trade spokeswoman, took a few minutes to reiterate Labor’s objections to the free trade agreement with China, before handing over to Keogh, who looked affronted while explaining that he had nothing to do with pushing stories about Hastie’s family and religious beliefs to the press. |
| “Definitely it hasn’t come from me,” he said. “We’re focused on the local issues.” | “Definitely it hasn’t come from me,” he said. “We’re focused on the local issues.” |
| Hastie raised the spectre of negative stories about his family at a press conference with former prime minister John Howard on Thursday, where he requested a commitment from the 11 other candidates listed on the Canning ballot paper that they were not responsible for briefing journalists on his personal life. He then explained that his wife, Ruth, had been accused of writing a homophobic article that she had merely uploaded in her role as receptionist at their local Anglican church. His father, Presbyterian pastor Peter Hastie, had prompted another slew of questions with his articles in defence of creationism. | Hastie raised the spectre of negative stories about his family at a press conference with former prime minister John Howard on Thursday, where he requested a commitment from the 11 other candidates listed on the Canning ballot paper that they were not responsible for briefing journalists on his personal life. He then explained that his wife, Ruth, had been accused of writing a homophobic article that she had merely uploaded in her role as receptionist at their local Anglican church. His father, Presbyterian pastor Peter Hastie, had prompted another slew of questions with his articles in defence of creationism. |
| Rubbishing Hastie is not Keogh’s style, though Guardian Australia understands the story did originate from people within the Labor party. The former commonwealth prosecutor’s performance thus far has been textbook to the point of boredom. Even his advertising, thus far only spotted on his own car (a picture of his head with the slogan: “Vote local. Vote Labor. Vote Keogh.”) is low-key. The Hastie mobile billboards (slogan: “Strength. Integrity. Values.”) are much flashier. | Rubbishing Hastie is not Keogh’s style, though Guardian Australia understands the story did originate from people within the Labor party. The former commonwealth prosecutor’s performance thus far has been textbook to the point of boredom. Even his advertising, thus far only spotted on his own car (a picture of his head with the slogan: “Vote local. Vote Labor. Vote Keogh.”) is low-key. The Hastie mobile billboards (slogan: “Strength. Integrity. Values.”) are much flashier. |
| But in the battle to shrug off typecasting, Keogh is fairing better. While Hastie’s efforts to show civilian leadership bonafides were derailed by 50,000 volts, Keogh was wearing the checked shirt of the people. Or the checked shirt of the “hipster Labor lawyer”, as the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, described him. It’s so hard to tell. | But in the battle to shrug off typecasting, Keogh is fairing better. While Hastie’s efforts to show civilian leadership bonafides were derailed by 50,000 volts, Keogh was wearing the checked shirt of the people. Or the checked shirt of the “hipster Labor lawyer”, as the foreign minister, Julie Bishop, described him. It’s so hard to tell. |
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