Bronwyn Bishop Expenses Scandal

What the Bronwyn Bishop Scandal Says About Both Sides of Government

So Bronwyn Bishop has finally resigned from the Speakership of the Parliament of Australia. Thank goodness that's over. Being Speaker of the House was always an ambition for Bronnie, after a senior cabinet post became out of the question. Her points of order objections were the stuff of legend among those who inhabit the lower chamber.

One can understand then her reluctance to leave her position, it comes with a very nice residence, plenty of perks and makes you feel important. But the lasting impression that I have is that had she been sensible, she would still been speaker.

First of all there is the actual expenses claim. $5000 on a Helicopter ride when it really must have only saved 45 minutes at the most is ridiculous. But lets not forget the $90,000 European trip aimed at securing the Presidency of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Then there is claims to attend the weddings of colleagues where Parliamentary business was discussed with shadowy somebodies we cant know.

The rules are crystal clear. Party and personal business cannot be claimed. Commonwealth business can. Simples.

Of course these were bad. But not intolerable.

Secondly and I think more importantly was her (and the govt's) response to the scandal when it erupted. After a few days she fronted the media and refused to say sorry. She did say the biggest apology she could make is that she would pay back the money, but then claimed that she was on Commonwealth business talking to people as Speaker of the House. The fact that these people were Liberal Party doners went unsaid. This was fraud. Pure fraud. Had she said "The helicopter ride was wrongly classified and exorbitant. I'm repaying it, I made a mistake." She would still be speaker today. Instead she accepted no responsibility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCOBpJlgoh0

Thirdly this was a massive case of Bronwyn and Tony's chickens coming home to roost. It was Tony's opposition that mercilessly pursued the last Speaker of the House Peter Slipper. A man who was sentenced to 300 hrs of community service, given a 2 year good behavior bond and told to repay his $958 expenses claim on Cabcharge.

Bronwyn's conduct as speaker also contributed to the the force with which Labor pursued Mrs Bishop. The Speaker was unfair and divisive. She kindled genuine anger in those opposite. Therefore when the expenses scandal broke Labor (who have a vested interest in voters not paying too close attention to politicians expenses) decided to attack fully.

There is a disturbing trend in the last 8 years in Australia for politicians to ignore the big picture. This was pioneered by Kevin Rudd. John Howard had an overall narrative. He maintained that interest rates would always be lower under Liberal than Labor. He wanted everything he did and said to be interpreted through that lens. This is where Kevin, Julia and Tony have all failed. They play the 24hr media cycle. If you have more positive coverage in a given period of time than the other side you win. But with no long term plan, the small gains mean very little. Hugely popular PM's can fall quickly and hard.(eg PM Rudd.). The genius of Howard's approach is that even unpopular actions were interpreted through a lens created by Howard himself. It creates robust political support. What we have now is a bunch of private school prefects arguing over unimportant nonsense that is completely removed from everyday Australia's life.

It's a "Total War" approach to politics which eschews common sense and reason, boiling political life down to a Real Time Strategy video game. But we aren't just units on a battlefield to be ordered, rallied, cajoled or sacrificed. We have lives, homes, children, hopes and dreams.

John Howard, Paul Keating, Robert Menzies et.al understood this. They reasoned that as human beings we needed to trust our leaders. They outlined their vision for Australia and advocated powerfully for their ideas. 

Contrast that with todays generation of politicians. Explain to me Bill Shorten's vision for Australia. Or Tony Abbott's for that matter. They don't have one. They just grind on bit by bit day by day with minutia. Don't give an inch. Don't let them push you back. But none of it means anything.

Bronwyns way of dealing with her public sinning is indicative of this new culture. "Give them nothing". Nothing that could be construed as an apology. Especially if that is what is called for. The problem with this approach, is that it forgets who the message is aimed at. We the public can detect bullshit. And Bronnies confession without confessing stank. Bigtime.

So to any politicians or political staff reading this. Your culture is terrible. Wake up to yourself. You're not fooling us, just reminding us how we despise liars and removing hope for the future.