Page 588 - Week 02 - Thursday, 19 February 2015
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“We’re expected to go out and defend it,” said one MP.
He said it was “beyond the call of duty to defend some things”. The article went on to note:
MPs across the progressive and conservative wings of the party also complained that the surprise “palace knighthood” had politicised Australia’s national day, had brought ridicule on the government, and had drawn attention from the Australian of the Year, anti-domestic violence campaigner, Rosie Batty.
Former government whip and Liberal National MP … said “for the life of me, I can’t understand why” …
And a second Queensland MP … said he “didn’t see the point”.
The Chief Minister in the Northern Territory—
I think it was the then Chief Minister—possibly the now Chief Minister. Only in the Northern Territory! The article goes on:
The Chief Minister in the Northern Territory Adam Giles also weighed in against his own side of politics.
“I woke up this morning and read the wires and was confused between Australia Day and April Fool’s Day,” he said.
Federal Liberals expressed frustration that the decision had made the government—
the Liberal government—
look as though it was as “out of touch” …
An MP said that he had “not agreed with the Prime Minister’s decision to revive knights and dames” in March last year and that he suspected that if “it had gone to the party room it would have been rejected”.
The article went on:
Another Liberal MP, who asked not to be named but identified as a strong supporter of Mr Abbott and a monarchist, said the decision to honour Prince Philip was “embarrassing”.
I go now to the Daily Telegraph, which stated:
Galaxy Poll reveals support for Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the Coalition plunges dramatically.
An extract from that article confirmed:
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