Australian Politics Forum

The prime minister's first interview of the year had no hard questions but plenty of easy answers

Tony Abbott: ''The only fight I want is a fight with the people smugglers.'' Photograph: Alan Porritt/AAP
There are a lot of questions most journalists would like to ask Tony Abbott right now.

The last chance to question the prime minister was a press conference on December 18, and immigration minister Scott Morrison's last "weekly" Operation Sovereign Borders briefing was on December 20, so there are quite a few unanswered questions about the coalition's asylum policy, for example.

Such as: are you towing boats back to Indonesia? What is your assessment of the impact this might have on the bilateral relationship? What safeguards are in place for the safety of the asylum seekers on board the boats? Has anyone been injured? What is your response to allegations by some on board the boats that they have been roughly treated? What advice do you have about how this practice sits with Australia's international legal obligations?

Andrew Moore, filling in for Alan Jones on 2GB, was graced with the first prime ministerial interview for the year on Thursday morning. He took quite a different tack.

"I understand the decision taken by the immigration minister and your government not to run a daily commentary on boats arriving here, because you don't want to encourage people smugglers obviously in Indonesia," he began. Hmmm, perhaps he was taking the soft entree/ hard questions later approach.

Not one to miss an opportunity, Abbott cut in right after the soft entree: "And we don't want to give rise to a whole lot of mischief-making. And I'd rather be criticised for being a bit of a closed book on this issue and actually stop the boats. And that's the point; the point is not to provide sport for public discussion. The point is to stop the boats and I am pleased to say that it is now several weeks since we have had a boat and the less that we talk about operational details on the water the better when it comes to stopping the boats."

Moore began again. Surely now he would ask questions.

"The only thing I would put to you is why not announce or talk about the fact that you have sent boats back if you have? Whether it is one, two, five, 10 or none? Because does that not serve the purpose of not commenting daily on boat arrivals in terms of being the opposite effect of promoting it for people smugglers saying this is what is going to happen?"

No actual question about whether the government had towed boats back, just a high lob about why they wouldn't say so if they had.

A gleeful Abbott hit that one out of the park: "The important thing is that the measures have been put in place which have dramatically slowed boat arrivals – that is the important thing. Not to have a micro-detailed discussion about every last particular measure given that having that discussion just causes unnecessary fights. The only fight I want is a fight with the people smugglers and I am pleased to say that just at the moment, I am not declaring victory, I'm really not, it is far too early to declare victory here, but just at the moment things are going much better than they were."

In answer to a different question, Abbott said there "appeared" to have been a conversation between the head of Indonesia's military, General Moeldoko, and the chief of the defence force, General David Hurley, which seemed excessively coy since Moeldoko has reportedly confirmed the discussion.

Yes, the government has a right to seek to implement the policy it took to the election. But surely voters have a right to know how it is being implemented, and with what consequences for the asylum seekers, the relationship with Indonesia, the navy and Australia's international reputation – especially since the election policy involved an explicit commitment that Australia would not "tow" back boats at all.

Heck, voters might want to know a whole lot of "micro-detailed" things, such as how the government intends to implement its policy to repeal the carbon tax, since Labor and the Greens appear intent on blocking it, and Clive Palmer is keeping schtum about his intentions. Not to mention how it actually intends to reduce Australia's emissions.

Moore didn't get far on those ones either.

He asked: "It's hard to work out where to start because there are so many issues. You mentioned the carbon tax which Australians want rid of and you promised to repeal … How frustrating has that process been that Labor and the Greens in the Senate still won't let it go …?"

Needless to say the prime minister finds it quite frustrating, but is determined to do it anyway.

So there we have it. Policy questions lead to "mischief-making". Public discussion of major issues is an unnecessary "sport". Asking basic questions can lead to unwarranted "micro-detailed discussions".

The policy goals justify silence about the means. And for that reason the government, which believes so fervently in free speech, thinks it is reasonable to withhold basic information from the national policy conversation.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/09/when-questioning-tony-abbott-less-is-moore

Listen live to Abbott

On channel 7 and the ABC news they both show the same clip of Abbott and only show his right hand side.

The question is did he have a ear piece in his left ear? If not why was he coughing all the time?

One term tony answer questions?..Tell em they're dreamin :D

I can just about see Moore sitting there with his tongue hanging out wagging his tail and asking those questions.

Rather pathetic even a low standard for GB.

Are the media complicate in Abbott's cover ups and unwillingness to answer questions or are they just to gutless to hold him to account?
The Australian people deserve better

adelcrow wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 6:19am:

Are the media complicate in Abbott's cover ups and unwillingness to answer questions or are they just to gutless to hold him to account?
The Australian people deserve better

They helped to put him in power and will do everything they can to keep him there.

As long as they are doing the job of STOPPING the boats ....

And they are, unlike Labor who were the people smugglers best friend ::)

I didn't care how they are doing it... if they need to torpedo boats and sink them to protect our boarders then by all means... do it....

These reporters are just mischief makers using illegal immigrants as political sport to sell their news papers ...

They ought to be ashamed of themselves >:(

True Blue... wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 6:31am:

Answer this question true blue

What has a asylum seeker ever done to you personally that you want them stop coming to Australia?

These wankers really dont like Abbott being successful with his promises do they. Progressives pieces of commie crap media

Probably just listened to Abbott for the last time.

progressiveslol wrote on Jan 10^th, 2014 at 6:39am:

These wankers really dont like Abbott being successful with his promises do they. Progressives pieces of commie crap media

He is yet to keep a promise but broken plenty.

https://www.lnp.org.au/campaign/deliver-stable-government/

Quote:

Our strong, experienced, united team will deliver a strong and stable government that restores confidence and accountability to you, delivering more for families and a better future for all Australians.

The Coalition will do the right thing for Australia and deliver a strong, stable, accountable government that puts the national interest first and delivers a better future for all Australians.

We will restore accountability and improve transparency measures to be more accountable to you.

We will govern for all Australians, not favour any particular group. We’re all in this together and we’ll encourage all Australians to work together. We will end the class war and the bad blood between Labor and business that is damaging investment and employment.