THE Paris Olympics are just over a month away and if team Albanese keep practising their backflips, they are a real medal chance in the gymnastics.
The Minister for Immigration would star with his Direction 99 double-backflip.
When the then New Zealand Labor Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wanted to stop Australia deporting sex offenders and murderers across the ditch, the Albanese Government created Direction 99, requiring an immigration detainee’s connection to Australia to be considered.
As a result, 153 people were released, an estimated 2600 more could be released, yet 20 per cent of those already released have re-offended, including the horrific home invasion and attack on a Perth grandmother.
Mr Giles’ backflip has been to promise to amend Direction 99 to put community safety first, but the second backflip has been the minister’s now-discredited claim that drones were being used to monitor released detainees.
The Veterans Affairs Minister did an assisted backflip, saying the military would recruit citizens from any nation, then the Defence Minister clarified it would only be New Zealand first, then the US, UK and Canada.
The Minister for Transport backflipped on draconian National Vehicle Efficiency Standards, softening her landing to reduce the impact on car buyers and Aussie car dealers alike.
The Minister for Energy and Climate Change backflipped and now accepts a long-term future role for gas. If only he would backflip on the reckless and radical roll-out of renewables and their huge transmission towers across Mallee’s prime agricultural land and bushland as well.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland backflipped on requiring social media to verify the age of young users.
Labor backflipped on their 30 hours a week requirement from July 1 for Pacific Island workers. Farmers will be relieved at Labor’s temporary sensible landing point of 120 hours averaged over four weeks, allowing for seasonal surges and quiet periods.
Agriculture Minister Watt also backflipped on the need for an inquiry into the live sheep export phase-out.
Backflips happen thanks to a strong and vocal Opposition. Australia needs a winning team with real skill and commitment, not to backflip, but with strong leadership. A change of government cannot come quick enough.
