Mungo MacCallum (Dec'd)

Recent articles by Mungo MacCallum (Dec'd)

Bloody Vics!

Dj vu all over again. In the dim, dark ages before I even arrived in Canberra, I was writing stories about the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party its bullying exclusion, its factional resistance to change, its impotent failure to rise from opposition to offer its disillusioned supporters even a sniff of electoral victory at either a state or federal level.

What to do with monuments!

New statues commemorating heroes like Pemulwuy and other great leaders of the indigenous resistance must be accorded pride of place in a reconciled nation.

Hypothetical protests cost not worth the hyperventilation

Shock, horror. Someone has been tested positive to COVID-19 after the Black Lives Matter protest in Melbourne and Peter Dutton is terrified his worst fears have been realized, he hyperventilated.

There has to be better reason for a beer and a barbecue.

No real Australian would ever knock back the chance of a day off. But having said that. surely it is time for the meaningless ritual of the Queens birthday to be consigned to its use by date.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The patience of our first nation, while remarkable, is not inexhaustible.

Whether we like it or not, it doesnt take much for racism to come out of the underbelly of this country. We only have to think back to Cronulla in 2005. And of course the Adam Goodes story just last year.

The G7 and Trump's protege

Coming from anyone else, an invitation for Australia to participate in the G7 meeting would be seen as a tremendous compliment.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Scott Morrison's cooing of doves.

Morrison has finally built a store of political credit through his deft and lucky handling of the COVID-19 crisis and obviously believes that as long as he keeps moving, there is a fair chance that the punters will forgive him for a few mishaps.

MUNGO MACALLUM. Thanks to Jenny Hocking's indefatigable efforts, national pride has been salvaged.

It has taken more than 40 years, but Australian social democracy has prevailed over British hereditary privilege.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The miracle of being two-faced and saving both faces

In the end, it was all about saving face. The dodgy compromise resolution to set up an inquiry over the origins of coronavirus left everyone claiming a win.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Angus Taylors thought bubbles: from the second rate to the already discredited

Our current government has become inordinately keen on producing road maps, and its most recent cartographer is our constantly embarrassed and embarrassing energy minister, Angus Taylor.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The gruesome twosomes crystal ball

In last weeks truncated edition of parliament, Scott Morrison declared stridently that he did not have a crystal ball.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Vale Comrade Jack Mundey

It is impossible to overstate the legacy of Jack Mundey.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The false promise of a COVIDSafe economy

The latest catchphrase from our government spin doctors is a COVIDSafe economy optimistic and reassuring. And, unfortunately, a cruel hoax, a contradiction in terms.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Eden-Monaro: For whom the bellwether chimes ring

A three cornered contest, they warned us messy and unpredictable. But what did they know? The fiasco of the Eden-Monaro by-election already has at least seven corners, and counting.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The COVID-19 App

I must admit to a moment of apprehension before unloading the COVID-19 app; anything that involves Amazon or Stuart Robert has to be either incompetent or dodgy or both.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Cook and the continuing culture wars.

He was also an 18th century Englishman, convinced of the innate superiority of his race, his culture and his class.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Time to get back in the water

Finally, its safe to get back in the water well some bits of it, some of the time, as long as you behave.

MUNGO MACCALLUM Turnbull's Quo Vadis

So: eight modern Liberal PMs, one prematurely deceased, three (possibly) in the roll of faithful old boys and four definite apostates having left the building. Not much of a record of loyalty over the last 70 years.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The Cost of a Job.

It has only taken a week for the simple beauty of JobKeepers to become a little tarnished.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. George Pell and the faithful choristers at The Australian.

Cardinal George Pell (we must resume his proper title now) is out of prison and is seeking asylum with an order of Carmelite nuns in Sydney. But his real protectors are the loyalists who always refused to believe he was guilty, and are now running a fierce campaign for his immediate canonisation.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Snapback

Well, that should be out of the way for the next four months. Having shrugged off the minor and temporary distraction of parliament, Scott Morrison can resume doing what he is best at marketing himself and his often dubious achievements.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Science and modelling.

In the modelling for COVID-19, the real world evidence is too immediate, too stark to be wished away by nitpicking.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. JobKeeper, perhaps not too little and not too late

Two hearty cheers for ScoMo and his $130 billion JobKeeper package.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-Patriotism is Paramount

The pandemic is not an excuse to close down the parliament, it is a vital reason to keep it going.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Confusion beyond parody.

Barbers are considered essential, but the MPs are considered redundant in a way they have never been, not during wars, depressions and previous pandemics.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Team Australia on the Corona virus

Scott Morrisons National Cabinet is working pretty well so far.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-The personal and social problems of isolation.

Communities encourage and enhance the general well-being and co-operation needed to keep society going, the idea of a common wealth.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-Confusing and often self-contradictory messages on Covid-19

As so often with Morrison, there is no overall strategy simply a series of reactive measures which, he hopes, will do the job unless a next one is needed. and then another one, and another one

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-Morrison's announceathon.

The bulk of the cash splash goes to business, and is unlikely to trickle down into the pockets of consumers in the foreseeable future.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Peter Dutton is human after all

It would be harsh and uncaring to admit a modicum of satisfaction at the news that Peter Dutton has contracted coronavirus.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Morrison's Clayton's Solution

The frazzled Josh Frydenberg more or less admits that his beloved surplus is about to become collateral damage; he will reluctantly kiss it goodbye.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Porky Pies

Scott Morrison has stopped even pretending to mount a coherent argument over his sports rorts plagued administration.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-Scott Morrison is not one to let a chance go by

Desperate for political rehabilitation after his negligence and mismanagement after the bushfires, our leader has taken full control of the situation.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. In the secret world, secrecy is always the default option.

The ASIO response was the same as all his predecessors,not to mention Oliver Twist: more, please.

MUNGO MACALLUM. Avoid the problem by changing the subject.

Scott Morrison's technology diversion remains a roadmap without a destination, without milestones or landmarks, without a recognisable path and without even a clearly defined starting point.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The balancing act is becoming more precarious.

We can no longer pretend that Australia is not largely dependent on our great northern neighbour,its physical and economic health and crucially, its goodwill.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Don't rely on evidence in climate change.

The Coalition war is over climate change and whether the city-based moderates or the reactionary rural rump will prevail.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The Gap report.Hopes dashed within minutes.

We know Scott Morrison seldom takes much notice of those who disagree with him.

The Nats and Barnaby

Barnaby Joyce is focused and determined to the point of egomania, and utterly ruthless in the process. That is what makes him dangerous.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The Culture Wars continue

Turnbulls legacy may not be one he will boast about, but it will certainly be remembered.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The Marketeer

Scott Morrison is nothing if not a marketeer. Or, to put it more precisely, he is nothing except a marketeer.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Bridget McKenzie and the subversion of public funds.

The Auditor-Generals report left no room for alibis and wriggle room.

MUNGO MACCULLUM. Our prime minister knows that most of his ministers are past both knowing and caring.

Scott Morrisons puerile sneer that most of cabinet ministers wouldnt even know who (NSW Environment Minister) Matt Kean was actually contains a grain of truth.

MUNGO MACULLUM. The Land of Hopeless Tories

January 26 is , in the end, no more than an excuse for a self-indulgent and self-deluded piss-up.

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The mob has found him out.

It was almost a throwaway line. In the course of his friendly chat welcoming David Speers to the ABC, Scott Morrison mused that his climate change policy was evolving. And since, as usual he had nothing substantial to say in his ramblings, the commentators, speculators and fortune tellers seized on the remark, investing it with genuine significance.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-The Veil of the Temple is Rent in Twain

If there is nothing you really believe in, consistency is an optional extra.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.- A Tin Eared Prime Minister

For the last three months the headlines have been dominated by bushfires, and the grim prospect is that this will continue for at least another three months to come.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Fed up with pious negligence.

Scott Morrison might as well go back to Hawaii to resume his truncated secret holiday. They obviously dont deserve him in Australia.

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-There is no reason to believe that Scott Morrison is becoming a serious Prime Minister

He is only confident when attacking his opponent.

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