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Cory Bernardi is predictable – Abbott’s response to him isn’t Cory Bernardi is predictable – Abbott’s response to him isn’t
(2 days later)
On the surface it is yet another kerfuffle in which Senator Cory Bernardi says something predictably outrageous about homosexuality or Islam or “non-traditional families” or climate science and predictable demands ensue that he be condemned by his party.On the surface it is yet another kerfuffle in which Senator Cory Bernardi says something predictably outrageous about homosexuality or Islam or “non-traditional families” or climate science and predictable demands ensue that he be condemned by his party.
Condemnation, of course, has no dampening effect on Bernardi – he’s a conviction conservative who, if anything, becomes more fervent the more others disagree with his views.Condemnation, of course, has no dampening effect on Bernardi – he’s a conviction conservative who, if anything, becomes more fervent the more others disagree with his views.
He’s already been sacked twice from minor frontbench positions, by two different leaders, because of things he said and did in the past, with no apparent effect other than to give the senator more time to devote to his blogging, book writing and online activism. (The only thing his “common sense lives here” website seems to have abandoned over the years is a fetching line in Cory Bernardi hats, t-shirts and other merchandise.)He’s already been sacked twice from minor frontbench positions, by two different leaders, because of things he said and did in the past, with no apparent effect other than to give the senator more time to devote to his blogging, book writing and online activism. (The only thing his “common sense lives here” website seems to have abandoned over the years is a fetching line in Cory Bernardi hats, t-shirts and other merchandise.)
As opposition leader, Tony Abbott forced Bernardi to resign as his own parliamentary secretary because of a speech to parliament in which the senator linked gay marriage with bestiality. And Abbott had been earlier forced to distance himself from Bernardi when the senator described Islam as a “totalitarian political and religious ideology”.As opposition leader, Tony Abbott forced Bernardi to resign as his own parliamentary secretary because of a speech to parliament in which the senator linked gay marriage with bestiality. And Abbott had been earlier forced to distance himself from Bernardi when the senator described Islam as a “totalitarian political and religious ideology”.
Malcolm Turnbull had previously sacked him in 2009 for comments about a fellow frontbencher. And he had previously clashed with then opposition leader Turnbull because Bernardi disagreed with the Coalition’s decision to support legislation extending the same legal and financial rights to gay couples as enjoyed by heterosexual couples.Malcolm Turnbull had previously sacked him in 2009 for comments about a fellow frontbencher. And he had previously clashed with then opposition leader Turnbull because Bernardi disagreed with the Coalition’s decision to support legislation extending the same legal and financial rights to gay couples as enjoyed by heterosexual couples.
Eventually on Monday, a spokeswoman for Abbott responded to the reporting of yet another Bernardi book with a single line: “Senator Bernardi is a backbencher and his views do not represent the position of the government.”Eventually on Monday, a spokeswoman for Abbott responded to the reporting of yet another Bernardi book with a single line: “Senator Bernardi is a backbencher and his views do not represent the position of the government.”
But the latest Bernardi storm is part of a wider issue for the prime minister that is unlikely to be as easily brushed away.But the latest Bernardi storm is part of a wider issue for the prime minister that is unlikely to be as easily brushed away.
Unlike the republican, climate change-accepting Turnbull, the Coalition’s conservative wing, of which Bernardi is a standard-bearer and which propelled Abbott to the leadership after he vowed to oppose a carbon price, always believed the prime minister was “one of theirs”.Unlike the republican, climate change-accepting Turnbull, the Coalition’s conservative wing, of which Bernardi is a standard-bearer and which propelled Abbott to the leadership after he vowed to oppose a carbon price, always believed the prime minister was “one of theirs”.
As Abbott went about the task of winning power with ruthless efficiency, including by adopting a small target strategy and minimising issues of disagreement with Labor, the conservatives were happy to stay quiet and allow their leader to keep his eyes on the prize.As Abbott went about the task of winning power with ruthless efficiency, including by adopting a small target strategy and minimising issues of disagreement with Labor, the conservatives were happy to stay quiet and allow their leader to keep his eyes on the prize.
Secure in the Lodge, Abbott now appears to be giving his compadres some leeway – like when he allowed them to vent about the “evils” of the ABC without actually agreeing to any cut to its funding or restrictions to its charter; or like the respectful ear he lends to commentators such as Andrew Bolt, who are opposed to constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians, before going ahead and listing it as a priority in his prime ministerial new year’s message.Secure in the Lodge, Abbott now appears to be giving his compadres some leeway – like when he allowed them to vent about the “evils” of the ABC without actually agreeing to any cut to its funding or restrictions to its charter; or like the respectful ear he lends to commentators such as Andrew Bolt, who are opposed to constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians, before going ahead and listing it as a priority in his prime ministerial new year’s message.
But Bernardi and others are quite deliberately attempting to shift the national discussion, to expand the parameters in order to redefine the “centre” and to pressure Abbott, or at least give him room, to abandon the caution of opposition on issues where the prime minister previously held strong views.But Bernardi and others are quite deliberately attempting to shift the national discussion, to expand the parameters in order to redefine the “centre” and to pressure Abbott, or at least give him room, to abandon the caution of opposition on issues where the prime minister previously held strong views.
The senator’s remarks that abortion is a “death industry”, for example, specifically target an issue Abbott worked very hard as opposition leader to diffuse, but about which he has also held strong personal convictions.The senator’s remarks that abortion is a “death industry”, for example, specifically target an issue Abbott worked very hard as opposition leader to diffuse, but about which he has also held strong personal convictions.
His avowed climate scepticism comes after Maurice Newman, appointed by Abbott to chair his business advisory group, also insisted climate change was a “scientific delusion” – despite Abbott’s repeated statements that he accepts “mankind does make a difference to climate”.His avowed climate scepticism comes after Maurice Newman, appointed by Abbott to chair his business advisory group, also insisted climate change was a “scientific delusion” – despite Abbott’s repeated statements that he accepts “mankind does make a difference to climate”.
And already in government the Coalition’s meagre climate policy offering has shrunk so much – with the disbanding of advisory bodies, ditching of commitments to higher greenhouse gas reduction targets and signalling of a major reduction in the renewable energy target – it is impossible to reconcile with a genuine belief that global warming is a real problem.And already in government the Coalition’s meagre climate policy offering has shrunk so much – with the disbanding of advisory bodies, ditching of commitments to higher greenhouse gas reduction targets and signalling of a major reduction in the renewable energy target – it is impossible to reconcile with a genuine belief that global warming is a real problem.
The Liberal conservatives and conservative commentators are proud of the role they played in attacking the science of climate change and challenging the bipartisan stance on climate pricing under Turnbull’s leadership, and see it as a template for the way they can shift debate and make room for a dramatic change in policy.The Liberal conservatives and conservative commentators are proud of the role they played in attacking the science of climate change and challenging the bipartisan stance on climate pricing under Turnbull’s leadership, and see it as a template for the way they can shift debate and make room for a dramatic change in policy.
“Abbott must operate within the cultural space allowed him. My role is to help expand the cultural space so that what was once thought too hard, too risky, becomes the easy and sane,” Bolt wrote last year.“Abbott must operate within the cultural space allowed him. My role is to help expand the cultural space so that what was once thought too hard, too risky, becomes the easy and sane,” Bolt wrote last year.
Bernardi’s rants are as predictable as the anger and outrage from the many people he offends. How Abbott balances these pressures from his friends on the right is a much more open question.Bernardi’s rants are as predictable as the anger and outrage from the many people he offends. How Abbott balances these pressures from his friends on the right is a much more open question.
• Mr Newman has requested a clarification that he believes climate changes, but that the models on which the evidence is based to make the claim that anthropogenic CO2 is the main driver, have been shown over 33 years of satellite and ground observations, to be greatly exaggerated.
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