Megan Jennaway, South Golden Beach
I am in Turkey. I arrive at my destination to find that we do not have a change of government in Australia.
Eight hours ago, when I boarded my bus, it was still possible. The pundits had all predicted a Labor victory. But Scott Morrison had done too good a job of mowing down all opposition with his winning formula of bluster and bombast.
This is the man who infamously desecrated our parliament by brandishing a lump of coal at the nation from within it; who disingenuously told us we had nothing to fear from this harmless little nugget.
This evangelical shape-shifter, this hard-nosed silencer of refugees turned Aussie good bloke who now leads the country, declared that God had worked a miracle last weekend. But the only miracle was that Australians, usually so quick to detect and ridicule hubris, and humbug, fell for it. We’ve sleep-walked into at least another four years – perhaps more (!) – of dangerous climate-change denialism and dullard government.
I am in Turkey. I’m ashamed to tell people I’m an Australian. And I’m dreading going home to a country I don’t recognise; a country to which I fear I no longer belong.
So many of us have the feeling that we do no longer
belong to the lucky country & believe – as well as
know – ORWELL’S predicted ways have slid into
place & dwell in the smug face & dictatorial world
that ought to be seen as the road to Armageddon.
Thuggery [today’s ruling class] is admired. Laws
shuffled at a whim or prayer. The populace – that’s
us, the low-brow lodgers – are suffered. Nice work
if you can get it… & it’s been got by lies & sly
manipulation. Stay in Turkey, Megan. It’s safer.
I really feel for our correspondent in Turkey who has decided to ‘hell with the climate’ I am flying half way around the world pumping CO2 etc from the jet engines into the stratosphere.
There must have been some compelling reason for her to decide it was worth the risk to the world by her going over for maybe a balloon ride, or a look at the old cave houses or even some of the lovely tomato salads that the place is so famous for. (let’s ignore Turkeys slide into totalitarianism and the breakdown of human rights etc… wouldn’t want that to get in the way of a holiday)
She is unhappy about our elected leader and a lump of coal but is happy to create the same problem as coal in her Airbus.
A reality check is in order for our friend here. She worries about his religious beliefs but is happy to holiday in a country which is far harder on people than old ScoMo…
Agree. It is people like her with the “Do as I say not as I do” attitude that pontificate and bluster expecting an echo chamber of approval for her insights from the comfort of a pollution spouting jet to tour the world. Hypocritical Much??