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Tony Abbott’s victory: putting the world to rights again Tony Abbott’s victory: putting the world to rights again
(10 days later)
The roar of the Liberal crowd drowned Kevin Rudd’s words: “A short time ago I telephoned Tony Abbott … ” The victory party at the Four Seasons in Sydney erupted. They whistled and hollered and punched the air. The hubbub rose. The screens were once more ignored. The crowd was waiting for Tony.The roar of the Liberal crowd drowned Kevin Rudd’s words: “A short time ago I telephoned Tony Abbott … ” The victory party at the Four Seasons in Sydney erupted. They whistled and hollered and punched the air. The hubbub rose. The screens were once more ignored. The crowd was waiting for Tony.
Information was scarce. It’s perhaps a pointer to the future that the ABC was banished from the celebrations. The screens on the walls of the ballroom were showing only Sky. And for most of the night we couldn’t hear a thing.Information was scarce. It’s perhaps a pointer to the future that the ABC was banished from the celebrations. The screens on the walls of the ballroom were showing only Sky. And for most of the night we couldn’t hear a thing.
As the count went on, Liberal guests buttonholed journalists to ask: Will Sophie Mirabella go down in Indi? I didn’t meet a party member or a journalist all night who didn’t want it to happen.As the count went on, Liberal guests buttonholed journalists to ask: Will Sophie Mirabella go down in Indi? I didn’t meet a party member or a journalist all night who didn’t want it to happen.
The ballroom was more a holding pen than a party. There was smoked salmon and champagne but the real celebrations were happening out of sight upstairs: one party for Abbott’s mates, another for his family and a third for big corporate backers and VIPs.The ballroom was more a holding pen than a party. There was smoked salmon and champagne but the real celebrations were happening out of sight upstairs: one party for Abbott’s mates, another for his family and a third for big corporate backers and VIPs.
As Rudd went on and on and on and on in Brisbane, the upstairs guests filtered into the ballroom. Malcolm Turnbull’s arrival created no stir. He looked ashen.As Rudd went on and on and on and on in Brisbane, the upstairs guests filtered into the ballroom. Malcolm Turnbull’s arrival created no stir. He looked ashen.
The Howards came with lights and cameras. Janette seems untouched by time. John was jubilant, waving his arms above his head, the happy mentor of a triumphant protégé. But his face has sagged. He looks old, terribly old.The Howards came with lights and cameras. Janette seems untouched by time. John was jubilant, waving his arms above his head, the happy mentor of a triumphant protégé. But his face has sagged. He looks old, terribly old.
Rudd evaporated from the screens and there, at last, was Abbott, a little figure on a vast stage. He gave a gasp of surprise. But he put his serious face back on as the crowd punched the air and acclaimed their … what?Rudd evaporated from the screens and there, at last, was Abbott, a little figure on a vast stage. He gave a gasp of surprise. But he put his serious face back on as the crowd punched the air and acclaimed their … what?
Abbott is not their leader yet. So far he has only done their work. He‘s put the world to rights again. The party that should be in power, that is usually in power, is back in power once more. The feeling in the air was relief rather than excitement: things are how things are supposed to be.Abbott is not their leader yet. So far he has only done their work. He‘s put the world to rights again. The party that should be in power, that is usually in power, is back in power once more. The feeling in the air was relief rather than excitement: things are how things are supposed to be.
“My friends, my friends, thank you, thank you so much,” he began. “I can inform you that the government of Australia has changed.”“My friends, my friends, thank you, thank you so much,” he began. “I can inform you that the government of Australia has changed.”
Cheers turned into chants of “To – ny. To – ny. To – ny.”Cheers turned into chants of “To – ny. To – ny. To – ny.”
“You obviously enjoyed hearing that so let me say it again: the government of Australia has changed.”“You obviously enjoyed hearing that so let me say it again: the government of Australia has changed.”
This is the moment Abbott sees his own transformation beginning. He has always assured the public – and perhaps himself – that when power comes he will slough off the skin of the junkyard dog he has called himself all these years and out will step a pocket Churchill.This is the moment Abbott sees his own transformation beginning. He has always assured the public – and perhaps himself – that when power comes he will slough off the skin of the junkyard dog he has called himself all these years and out will step a pocket Churchill.
On victory night, the only sign was a faintly House of Commons intonation that crept into his delivery as he thanked the nation for awarding him “the greatest honour and the heaviest responsibility that any member of parliament can have”.On victory night, the only sign was a faintly House of Commons intonation that crept into his delivery as he thanked the nation for awarding him “the greatest honour and the heaviest responsibility that any member of parliament can have”.
“I am both proud and humble as I shoulder the duties of government. The time for campaigning has passed. The time for governing has arrived. I pledge myself to the service of our country.”“I am both proud and humble as I shoulder the duties of government. The time for campaigning has passed. The time for governing has arrived. I pledge myself to the service of our country.”
It was a big night for cliche. Nothing could match the torrent that poured from Rudd as he thrashed about at the microphone in Brisbane: the good fight was fought; the nation is great; what unites is more powerful than what divides; the mosaic of a multicultural nation; unity in diversity; pride in the nation.It was a big night for cliche. Nothing could match the torrent that poured from Rudd as he thrashed about at the microphone in Brisbane: the good fight was fought; the nation is great; what unites is more powerful than what divides; the mosaic of a multicultural nation; unity in diversity; pride in the nation.
But Abbott didn’t do too badly: under new management; open for business; government for all Australians; won’t let you down; forgotten families; no one left behind.But Abbott didn’t do too badly: under new management; open for business; government for all Australians; won’t let you down; forgotten families; no one left behind.
Two promises provoked cheers in the ballroom: “In three years’ time, the carbon tax will be gone. The boats will be stopped.”Two promises provoked cheers in the ballroom: “In three years’ time, the carbon tax will be gone. The boats will be stopped.”
Commentators might shy away from the obvious, but the crowd in the ballroom knew that for all Labor’s failings and Abbott’s great campaigning strengths, he has brought the conservatives back to power in Australia by beating up on refugees and global warming.Commentators might shy away from the obvious, but the crowd in the ballroom knew that for all Labor’s failings and Abbott’s great campaigning strengths, he has brought the conservatives back to power in Australia by beating up on refugees and global warming.
The night ended in a moment of farce. Abbott was joined on the stage by the formidable women of his family – and a drunken kid protesting, apparently, about the excesses of the mining industry. He threw his hands about and tried to use the microphone before being crash-tackled and bundled into the kitchens.The night ended in a moment of farce. Abbott was joined on the stage by the formidable women of his family – and a drunken kid protesting, apparently, about the excesses of the mining industry. He threw his hands about and tried to use the microphone before being crash-tackled and bundled into the kitchens.
Abbott’s smile never wavered. He knows a prank when he sees one.Abbott’s smile never wavered. He knows a prank when he sees one.
The new prime minister left and so did the crowd. No one lingered to celebrate. The work was done. The night was over. The old days are safely back again.The new prime minister left and so did the crowd. No one lingered to celebrate. The work was done. The night was over. The old days are safely back again.
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