More bad news for Turnbull - Shane Stone

Just as Malcolm Turnbull's approval rating starts heading down to the Dr. Nelson (and John Howard) levels, he has to suffer a brain fade from the unranked MP Shane Stone with a silly attack on the Nationals. Talk about kick a man while he is down. And the fact that he sprouted it as if he was helping the Party just puts the icing on the cake.

Young Shane seems to have had a memory lapse and isn't much of a thinker when it comes to "think what happens next" scenarios. The most recent problem was the debacle in the last sitting of the Senate when the Infrastructure legislation was passed after the Libs sensibly folded and sided with the Government. The Nats had promised the Farmers they would never allow the $$$ to be spent anywhere except to the direct benefit to the Bush so they felt obligated to vote against the move.

With a little bit of thought the coalition parties could have dealt with the matter rather more professionally but I think matters proceeded too quickly for them to think about it. The end result was some Libs voted with Labor, 2 lined up with the Nats to oppose the change, and the rest milled around like lost sheep outside the chamber when the numbers were counted. Bob Brown (Greens) had great fun pointing out their distress and is probably still laughing after the latest effort.

I don't have a problem with the Nats voting against the legislation even though a logical argument can be mounted that the Bush benefits from the whole economy doing well. It's a slightly complicated view and might be a bit beyond them. If they can't make the mental leap then the hard core of their support base won't be able to make it either. Besides, now that their default Leader John Howard has left the game, they need to show some backbone.

The Libs though, have a great deal of cheek to suggest the Nats are too independent. The whole episode did a lot more damage to the Libs as far as professionalism is concerned. They looked totally out of it and even childish when hiding outside the chamber. Chaps like young Shane seem totally out of their depth when valuing the Nats. The Nationals are in coalition precisely because they should be different. If another Howard comes along Farmers need to have a faction they can vote for that is Conservative but with more of an environmental focus. Something Howard was incapable of.

In making his ill considered comments, Shane has damaged the facade of a Coalition Team, has challenged his Leader to show some backbone in demanding discipline, has drawn attention yet again to their silly behaviour last sitting, and made himself look like a bit of a dodderer.

Not a bad effort for someone not regarded highly enough for a shadow ministery. Maybe that was the problem. Perhaps he is feeling overlooked, but if that is the case I don't think this has done much for his future career.