I wonder if Tony Abbott ever stops to think what might be the consequences of his actions or words before he performs or delivers them. Those little moments when most people pause to consider the ramifications of what they are about to say, are lost on Mr Abbott. He just opens his mouth and talks, and in doing so, reveals himself again and again to be the consummate hypocrite. Or two-faced. Make your own call on yesterday’s example.
A surf lesson turned into a political dialogue when Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott took an Afghan refugee for a paddle at Sydney’s Manly beach.
Mr Abbott had donned his infamous budgie smugglers, but they were soon covered by a wetsuit when he gave the organised surf lesson to Riz Wakil.
The lesson was sponsored by advocacy group GetUp! after it raised $16,100 to bid on the surf lesson prize at last year’s Canberra press gallery’s mid-winter charity ball.
Mr Abbott made no bones about the fact Mr Wakil had arrived in Australia by boat in 1999.
“He’s an Australian now,” Mr Abbott told said today. “To my way of thinking he’s no longer an illegal boat person.
“He’s an Australian, and he’s entitled to all the rights and all the courtesies that Australians are entitled to.”
Yes, that right, he said:
“He’s an Australian now. To my way of thinking he’s no longer an illegal boat person.
“He’s an Australian, and he’s entitled to all the rights and all the courtesies that Australians are entitled to.”
Let’s consider those statements.
“He’s an Australian now. To my way of thinking he’s no longer an illegal boat person.
Yes, he’s an Australian, but he has never been an illegal boat person, unless of course he was fishing in restricted waters, which I’m sure he wasn’t. But to Abbott’s way of thinking he once was an illegal boat person even though legally there is no such thing. As a lawyer Mr Abbott should have known that, but don’t let the lawful truth get in the way of immoral politics. To my way of thinking he’s an Australian now, full stop.
“He’s an Australian, and he’s entitled to all the rights and all the courtesies that Australians are entitled to.”
So even though Mr Abbott was quite happy to have the boats turned back, those people who manage to make it here are (eventually) entitled to the same rights as all Australians. So why consider blowing ships out of the water if they are filled to the decks with future Australians? But haven’t the opposition been telling us that these boats are packed with undesirables not welcome in this country?
Did you notice the year Mr Wakil arrived by boat in Australia? Yes, 1999 when Howard was Prime Minister. Maybe in Abbott’s view it’s OK for those that made it to this country under Howard (the man legendary for stopping the boats). But from the time he won government in 1996 up until the eve of the 2001 election, 221 boats with refugees were welcomed in this country. Mr Wakil was on one of them. Had have he been on boat number 222 he would have later found himself on the Tampa, and from that day on be known as an illegal boat person.
Yes, the leader of the opposition sure is the consummate hypocrite.
Café Whispers 