AFTER a politically torrid 2014, Tony Abbott had hoped to start the new year with a clean slate. But his decision yesterday to bestow knighthood on a 93-year-old foreign royal has once again placed his leadership and government on shaky ground.
Now, a political expert has predicted that the Abbott Government could face annihilation at the ballot box if it refuses to change its tactics.
The Prime Minister probably gave the Australian republican movement its biggest boost in a decade yesterday when he awarded Australia’s deeply unfashionable knighthood to Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, Prince Philip.
The decision quickly attracted a round of national head-scratching which, this morning, has expanded to worldwide ridicule.
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Newspapers throughout the country have had a field day with the news, mocking Mr Abbott mercilessly, and even the UK press has got in on the act, celebrating the announcement with gleeful listicles recalling Price Philip’s most embarrassing gaffes.
Queensland’s Courier-Mail dusted off an old version of its masthead and dated the edition as “January 27, 1955” for today’s paper lampooning the PM. Source: CourierMail
But while Prince Philip’s knighthood prompted a chance to engage in our favourite national pastime — lampooning the prime minister — the bestowal of “sir” to a nonagenarian who already holds the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Order of the Garter and Lord High Admiral of the Royal Navy could cause bigger problems for Mr Abbott.
The Liberal leader’s colleagues have broken ranks to express despair and anger over the unpopular decision to appoint Prince Philip as a knight, sparking a harsh political backlash.
Liberal MPs have backgrounded journalists about their anguish over the knighthood move and, extraordinarily, at least three of his federal MPs have put their names to their criticism. Liberal-National MP Warren Entsch said that “for the life of me, I can’t understand why”, while Queensland MP Ewen Jones said he “didn’t see the point”.
Tony Abbott greets Prince Philip in France last year. Picture: AFP Photo/Leon Neal Source: AFP
Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian, of Monash University, said the “strange” decision to honour Prince Philip was feeding into a negative conversation about the beleaguered government.
“With the Rudd-Gillard government, once voters and the media think of a narrative, it’s really hard for the government to spin it around,” he told news.com.au.
“The (Abbott) government’s narrative is that they haven’t been able to do anything, Abbott’s leadership style is not working. There’s a negative story attached to the government.
“They must somehow shift the momentum. The mould will be set if they don’t do something soon and they will have a really, really hard time — and most likely will lose the next election.”
Dr Ghazarian said Mr Abbott’s decision to honour Prince Philip was “clearly political”, designed to strengthen Australia’s ties with the monarchy and Britain.
“(The backlash) does come at a fairly bad time in terms of the position he is in because there is rumbling about his leadership style,” Dr Ghazarian said.
“It’s not a misstep, but perhaps a miscalculation in keeping in touch with others’ ideas.”
Tony Abbott among the people … but is he listening? Source: News Corp Australia
Despite party room rumblings about Mr Abbott’s political choices, there is no real appetite for a change in leader.
The Coalition is more than keen to learn the lessons of the Labor leadership soap opera that played out during its two terms in government.
“It’s the argument that Abbott has been using and it’s his strongest argument: ‘If we change leaders, we are sure to face defeat at the election’,” Dr Ghazarian said.
“Having said that, (the Coalition) must do something. They’ve got to change their approach, sell their message and ultimately get voters to take the journey along with them, rather the government than telling them what is the best option.”
Arise Sir Philip … Was awarding the 93-year-old Duke of Edinburgh with an Australian knighthood the wisest political move? Picture: Stuart C Wilson/Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Dr Ghazarian said it would also be wise for the government to change its tactics with the unpredictable Senate crossbenchers to ensure better outcomes for its reforms.
Former Liberal senator Sue Boyce told news.com.au that Mr Abbott’s decision to honour Prince Philip was “almost Whitlam-esque” in that it “prioritises pure ideology over good government”.
She said Mr Abbott was a “very proud and enthusiastic monarchist”.
“I thought the derision that met the first appointments of knights and dames would have stopped this sort of nonsense,” she said.
“In the overall scheme, it is a small decision, but it will overshadow the very major things this government has got to do.”
Queen and country … Tony Abbott at a citizenship ceremony in Canberra yesterday. Source: News Corp Australia
Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK and former Liberal cabinet minister Alexander Downer yesterday declined to buy into the controversy.
“I’m now a diplomat, I soar above the world of politics,” Mr Downer said yesterday, after his hosting of an Australian food and wine event attended by Prince Charles’ wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
“Obviously nowadays having spent many a long year engaged in political controversies, I now eschew them.”
So, 27 days into his “reset” 2015, Mr Abbott is stuck with a major problem. Without the faith and confidence of his colleagues, he has little hope of getting his controversial Budget measures — especially university deregulation and the GP co-payment — over the line and have clear air for new reforms later in the year.
The first cabinet meeting of the year early next month will be one to watch.
Thanks for the knighthood, Tony. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images Source: Getty Images
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