Our language about Dutton needs to change
Personally, I thought Labor should have gone for generational change after Bill Shorten’s defeat in 2019. But that didn’t happen. Now we’re at the point where Kym Davey’s article summarises so succinctly why Albanese, along with Marles and Wong, should go now, especially, but not only, with regards to Palestine and AUKUS .
My gripe with Davey’s article is, however, his description of Dutton.
“… Dutton has proven himself an effective Opposition leader.” Not any sort of Opposition that I want.
We need to change that language. Dutton has been an effective wrecker of parliament and trasher of government agencies such as the AEC and CSIRO. But not an effective Opposition leader if we want Opposition to fulfil its old-fashioned role of offering constructive criticism to the government of the day. Saying a belligerent “No” to everything doesn’t cut it.
The effective Opposition in the current Parliament is sitting on the cross-benches, doing a great job.
If we’re going to describe Albanese, Marles and Wong as accurately as Davey does, we need to so describe Dutton as well. In terms of the job he is ‘supposed’ to be doing, he is the very opposite of effective. Let’s start saying so.
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