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The notion of a parallel universe has always sailed way above my head. String theory, quantum mechanics, the Big Bang - they're concepts beyond my comprehension and, I suspect, that of most of us struggling to get by in the here and now of the one universe we sort of know.
But lately, my suspicion has grown that there might be several parallel universes.
How else to explain that renowned champion of gender equality, Tony Abbott, suddenly coming to the realisation the Liberal Party needs to pick more women for preselection?
The bloke who in opposition in 2010 used a photo opp at a drycleaners to say an emissions trading scheme would penalise housewives who did the ironing.
The bloke who as PM had only one woman in his cabinet.
The bloke who appointed himself as Minister for Women.
The bloke who lost his seat to a woman, independent Zali Steggall.
The bloke who just recently backed Alex Antic's successful bid to have Anne Ruston shunted to the number two spot on the South Australian Senate ticket.
Antic himself seems to inhabit a universe all of his own, dismissing the outcry which followed the Ruston rolling as grievance narrative from a disgruntled political and media class playing the gender card.
Never mind Ruston was a minister in the Morrison government while Antic was a shrill backbencher better known for embarrassing the Morrison government through his strident anti-vaxxer commentary during the pandemic.
Never mind either that in the universe that was the 2022 election, a swag of women - teals not Liberals - shredded the party's own blue ribbons in a slew of heartland seats.
Only when you inhabit a parallel universe can it seem a good idea to preselect Tim Wilson, who lost Goldstein to Zoe Daniel, over two Liberal women who also ran and might have stood a chance of winning the seat back.
The evidence of the multiverse runs deeper than the arcane machinations of Liberal branch politics. It's visible right at the top.
Only someone in a parallel universe could seriously put up nuclear power as part of a solution to the cost of living crisis. You and I, stuck here in this universe, want solutions and relief from our financial troubles now, not 20 years down the track, which is the most likely timeframe for a reactor to be built in this country. Energy relief when the AUKUS submarines arrive. That's the barrow the opposition is pushing. And it's a very blokey one at that.
The universe to which the Liberal Party needs to return if it wants a shot at government is made up of men and women. Capable women should be encouraged to stand for parliament. But as the party struggles to find its identity, women are being overlooked, as male ambition trumps common sense.
Even when the party is confronted with stark figures from 2022 - fewer than 30 per cent of women voted Liberal and 14 of the 18 seats the party lost were taken by women - women are still being denied preselection. The party doesn't have a woman problem; it has a man problem. Too many of them are running for Parliament.
Unless it fixes it, the party will continue to drift like Major Tom into the irrelevance of the parallel universe of its own making.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Has the Liberal Party become too blokey? Should it have a quota system so more women are elected to Parliament? Is the party lurching too far to the right? Email us: echidna@theechidna.com.au
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- Major supermarkets should be subject to a mandatory code of conduct with teeth, including penalties of up to $10 million, an interim review has recommended. Craig Emerson's first report into the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct claimed a "heavy imbalance in market power between suppliers and supermarkets" necessitated the change.
- Qantas has announced the biggest expansion to its Frequent Flyer program in 35 years. The airline is offering 20 million more reward seats to its loyalty members with the launch of Classic Plus. The change is touted to make it easier for frequent flyers to travel overseas to places such as London, Tokyo, New York and Singapore using Qantas points, even during peak periods.
- One of Australia's biggest lobbying firms is backing a proposal to enshrine a code of conduct for the industry into law as a bid to boost transparency. Managing director of lobbying firm Hawker Britton, Simon Banks, said a code of conduct legislated by Parliament was needed to ensure standards were kept.
THEY SAID IT: "If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman." - Margaret Thatcher
YOU SAID IT: A steak that sells for $361 - like the one billed to the Seven Network as it wooed Bruce Lehrmann for an interview - is surely the definition of gluttony and excess.
"I've eaten no meat for 45 years and my GP says I've got the cleanest arteries he's ever seen for someone of my age," writes Krystal. "My switch to an organic, whole food plant-based/vegan diet has significantly improved my health, wealth and happiness."
Deb writes: "Echidna echoes my thoughts yet again. The $361 steak was also a shock to me, particularly as Lehrmann was seemingly a prized senior staffer in the Liberal Party. I can only imagine the enormous amount that so many politicians' meal allowances are costing the Aussie taxpayer, even if they only spend half what that steak cost."
"I tend to think my generation of boomers (those who are said to be blamed by self-entitled youth for everything) has an inbuilt resistance to engaging in excess," writes Pam. "Over the years, there have been opportunities where corporates seeking to gain my business have suggested I choose the most expensive meal or red wine on the menu purely because they were paying. My reaction has always been to seek to choose from the quality in the mid-range. I just can't bring myself to do it - my parents raised me to avoid spectacular excessive consumption."
Sue writes: "$361 for a steak? You have to be kidding me! It reinforces my belief that the values reflected in the way our society works, which is different from the values reflected by most of us, is that while the wealthy can have their way, the rest of us don't matter. That amount of money would cover our weekly expenses, and help to subsidise my son's family. We eat red meat very rarely because we can't afford it."
"It's to be hoped that these engorged dietary Darwinists will suffer an ignominious end by the laws of 'survival of the fattest'," writes David. "They are emblematic of the worst in our society and no doubt feel they have the right to build the biggest, drive the biggest and eat the biggest indulgences possible. As they stuff themselves, they say stuff the rest; their empathy for less fortunate others is tissue-thin."
Lee writes: "The cost of that steak is over the top. That money would feed hubby and I for a fortnight and then some. We have started having vegetarian two nights per week as a cost saving, much to hubby's disgust. The information coming out about the money paying for things for Lehrman astounds me."
"I agree entirely with your thoughts on wealth inequality and indulgence," writes Michael. "It's just greed, gluttony, entitlement, and obscene behaviour, and a window into the sleazy world of the political class and Network 7/TV media culture. If this type of behaviour is representative of the political and media classes then heaven help us. I wouldn't be prepared to pay $51 for a steak, let alone $361, and budget less than that for a fortnight's groceries for two adults. This must be galling for all those who are desperately trying to survive week to week, and for those charities trying to support them."
Brian, the old bloke, writes: "For that much, I would expect a taxi there and back, a bottle of Gold Star-class red wine and overnight accommodation."
Four decades in the media, working in print and television. Formerly editor of the South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times. Based on the South Coast of NSW.
Four decades in the media, working in print and television. Formerly editor of the South Coast Register and Milton Ulladulla Times. Based on the South Coast of NSW.
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