Friday, May 27

Imagine the suspense as we awaited the return of Kitchen Cabinet and imagine our delight as we discovered that Jacqui Lambie would be the first guest.  We knew we would be in for a treat and it didn't take long before she came out with the headline quote.

Revealing why she'd never resorted to the biff in the Senate, she singled out one senator she had been tempted to take on. 

"Bernardi. He's just an a. . . . . . e.  Typical 'I'm born with a silver spoon up my rear end'," she said.

There's always a certain amount of pleasure in sneering at people like Jacqui, who missed out on the early advantages we had but, to give her credit, on the program she was self-deprecating and refreshingly honest.  She did herself no harm by appearing with Annabel and I just hope people watched it.  If they did, they might have changed their opinion of whether she deserves a place in the Senate.  If we can find a place for some of the no-hopers who get a place there because of their political connections, we can find a place for Jacqui who, at least, is trying to make a difference.

The same thing can't be said of Barnaby Joyce.  The more he appears on TV, the more he worries me.  His latest faux pas, linking the cancellation of live cattle exports with the increase in refugee boat arrivals in Australia is extraordinary.  Does he really believe it?  Everybody understands there is a whole complex set of factors which drives people to take the dangerous step of setting out in a leaky boat in the hope of a new start.  It's not controlled by the Indonesian Government in a fit of pique at a decision by Tony Bourke, no matter how ill-advised.  And this man is our Deputy Prime Minister.