10 December 2009
ONE refreshing, if occasionally self-sabotaging, characteristic of Tony Abbott is his frankness. This tendency was on display on Tuesday when Mr Abbott announced his notably more ideological frontbench. The Coalition, he said, would move from being "a government in exile, unsure of its role, to being a fair dinkum opposition". The line was both foolish and revealing. Foolish, because "government in exile" unwittingly reinforces the born-to-rule stereotyping of conservative parties. Revealing, because in returning three prominent Howard-era ministers to shadow cabinet, and promoting several hardliners, the dominant message is one of returning — with a vengeance — to the past... read full story
