politicalowl

The Owl was not so much worried today by the need Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert felt to take a selfie so he could prove to his old flatmate Scomo that he'd actually been on television. It was what he said when he realised he was live to air that was the greater concern. This custodian of the nation's finances underquoted the amount of money Australia owes by hundreds of billions of dollars. Like most children Mr Robert needs more tuition in his arithmetic.

PM Scott Morrison reprises the hands up exercise from last week, I wonder if they will be putting this to Fatman Scoop #WhoF *@kTonight @AmyRemeikis @murpharoo @GuardianAus #politicslive https://t.co/kPg3EtR5He pic.twitter.com/ze6zW7WS9Q — Mikearoo (@mpbowers) September 18, 2018 With the House of Representatives now resembling a kindergarten this seems the appropriate musical accompaniment.

In announcing this morning that she will contest the Wentworth by-election Dr Kerryn Phelps sounded just like a liberal independent should. There could not be a better message for these times than this one: “I don’t take this step lightly as I know the pressure of today’s politics but the people of Wentworth are crying out for an authentic voice who will stand up to the major parties and rise above the bitterness and backstabbing that has taken over Canberra."  The Sydney Morning Herald website reports how Dr Phelps contrasted her position with that of the recently retired Malcolm Turnbull. Wentworth voters “knew Malcolm Turnbull supported action on climate change, they knew he supported action on marriage equality, they knew he supported a republic,” she said. “And yet he was not able to advance that agenda...because he was restricted by the hard right of his party.”

The Owl can report that full time talk (for NRL followers) and three quarter time chatter (for AFL fanciers) at his club tonight featured the Prime Ministerial attitude to music. Having abandoned and deleting his ex bestie Fat Boy Scoop this morning, declaring his love for Tina Arena, and then declaring that anyone who dislikes Fatboy “a narc”, Scomo has left those in “team Scomo” looking for guidance. Perhaps a quiet weekend catching up with the Seekers greatest hits might be in order.

PM Scomo may well be singing along with his now deleted ex besty, hip hopper Fatboy Scoop, when he sees the latest election betting markets. Labor $1.30 Coalition $3.20 “Who fuckin’ tonight.    Who fuckin tonight, uh oh,     Stop playing, keep it moving,      Stop playing, keep it moving”.

Grattan on Friday: Wentworth preselectors' rebuff to Morrison caps week of mayhem Wentworth candidate Dave Sharna Michelle Grattan , University of Canberra In the early hours of Friday morning, the Liberal preselectors of Wentworth delivered their new prime minister a humiliating public slapdown. In selecting Dave Sharma, 42, former Australian ambassador to Israel and now a partner in an accountancy firm, as the candidate for the October 20 byelection, the preselectors have on all accounts chosen the best candidate. But Scott Morrison had made it known he wanted a woman, a preference that’s been embarrassingly rejected. Katherine O'Regan, who was supposed to come out the winner, ran fifth. Moreover, on Thursday it was learned that John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull were both encouraging Sharma to stay in the contest. So the two former prime ministers managed to do over the current prime minister. The Wentworth Liberals, whose local member and PM was cut down, h

Don't tell me what to do  And don't tell me what to say

The Owl can't help but wonder about the question that Senators today were too thick or too slow to ask: Who did the ex-Abbott staffer Jude Donnelly, when working for the AFL's Gillon McLachlan, ring in the Abbott office on that fateful Sunday morning?  The Owl would love to know the name of the person of influence that fixed things for the polo player. Suggestions in the comments section please.

“I think the events that led to me becoming prime minister were bewildering and they were disappointing. It was a Muppet Show a week or so ago” Prime Minister Scott Morrison talking on A Current Affair

KO-KO  (Spoken) Gentlemen, I'm much touched by this reception. I can only trust that by strict attention to duty I shall ensure a continuance of those favours which it will ever be my study to deserve. If I should ever be called upon to act professionally, I am happy to think that there will be no difficulty in finding plenty of people whose loss will be a distinct gain to society at large. KO-KO As some day it may happen that a victim must be found, I've got a little list — I've got a little list Of society offenders who might well be underground, And who never would be missed — who never would be missed! There's the pestilential nuisances who write for autographs — All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs — All children who are up in dates, and floor you with 'em flat — All persons who in shaking hands, shake hands with you like that — And all third persons who on spoiling tête-á-têtes insist — They'd none of 'em be mis

"She did not deny she had been told she was not wanted in new Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Cabinet before she resigned from it." From the Curtin WA local paper And some Liberals reckon Tony Abbott can be a problem for the government from the back bench.