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Bad Behaviour Hurts a Government More

Friday, 2nd June, 2006

Any Liberal members who think that having Julia Gillard ejected from the House of Representatives twice in a week is good politics should have a chat with Paul Keating. The former Labor Leader was an expert at stirring up an opposition with colourful language but realised that the chaos he created hurt his Government more than it did the Opposition irrespective of the fact that it was the Opposition behaving badly. That's why Mr Keating opposed the televising of Parliament.

These days Tony Abbott plays the agent provocateur at a standard almost up to Keating's. Those behind him on the government benches love it but a Parliament that cannot be controlled by the Speaker is a bad look. And the loser from that will be John Howard not Kim Beazley.