Smithson: Govt scrambling as Premier comes off worst week in office
Does the Premier’s stance on Writers’ Week risk him being “labelled a hypocrite” as the next Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament looms? Mike Smithson warns freedom of speech issues could be back to bite.
The government is scrambling for the reset button with the Premier coming off his worst week since being sworn into office four years ago.
Peter Malinauskas has been forced off his game by the Adelaide Writers’ Week fiasco and into a rare atmosphere where many have questioned his judgement.
The controversial author, who’s been at the centre of his dilemma, has now issued a second “concerns notice”.
Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah says she gave the Premier one chance to apologise over alleged defamation related to anti-Zionism, which he refused to acknowledge, and now she’s pushing ahead with legal action.
If it proceeds, a court will decide his fate over the messy exchange regarding her axing and subsequent re-invitation to a future festival but, in many respects, the public relations damage was already done.
The first hint of the premier being off his usual controlled game came with an emotional media conference with him being close to tears explaining his stance on delicate issues in the wake of the Bondi attack.
After the new Adelaide Festival board was appointed, the Premier’s office rang around notifying the media of another press conference within the hour.
His Arts Minister Andrea Michaels held the fort in his absence, with the Premier travelling in the Mid North.
But clearly, he’s unimpressed with the new AF board’s decision to reverse its stance over Dr Abdel-Fattah.
It was also a slap in the face to him, and he’s unaccustomed to such defiance.
The Premier’s problems on sensitive freedom of speech issues, or lack of, may come back to bite him sooner rather than later.
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He’s been the architect and strongest supporter of bringing LIV golf to Adelaide.
It’s financially backed by the Saudi Islamist regime’s sovereign wealth fund.
Questions have been raised over the Saudis trying to “sportswash” their tarnished record on human rights violations.
Does he now face the risk of being labelled a hypocrite?
How can he be so appalled by Abdel-Fattah’s view as an anti-Zionist, yet applaud LIV golf with its Saudi-based beliefs, not to mention the enormous financial benefits it brings to the state?
Labor’s brains trust can obviously see potential trouble looming after this unexpected week of turmoil.
They’ve been on the attack against the Liberals.
Last week Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn supported the Premier’s stance on Abdel-Fattah.
But any love he was going to reciprocate has been short-lived.
“Hurn hides history-embarrassing post deleted,” was the headline from one of the latest Labor media releases.
It detailed her support for predecessor Vincent Tarzia’s policy to phase out stamp duty by 2041, but then her sudden deletion of that endorsement
Labor’s social media “trolls” gleefully pointed out it was “despite Mrs Hurn being one of the policy’s most enthusiastic backers.”
They’ve also zeroed in on David Speirs’ former seat of Black and accused the Libs of leaving voters in the dark about the delay in pre-selecting a candidate.
Speirs quit before being convicted of two drug supply offences.
A media release from Labor minister Blair Boyer says, “above all else Ashton Hurn and the SA Liberals must rule out running David Speirs as their candidate … or preferencing a convicted cocaine supplier, if he runs as an independent.”
Labor also did a number on the Liberal’s self-appointed policy watchdog Frank Pangallo.
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In a bizarre Facebook post, purportedly from Pangallo, he made a joke about Lachie Neale’s alleged affair with his estranged wife’s former best friend.
Pangallo even posted revealing bikini selfie-shots from the other woman, Tess Crossley, tagging her in and all others involved.
It was subsequently removed, but not before Labor members had saved a screenshot.
“Why did Frank Pangallo delete this Facebook post?” they asked.
“Was it because the photo montage and music was creepy?
“Was he told to remove it by Ashton Hurn?”
With the Liberals so far behind in the polls, it seemed Labor was more intent on bringing down a few key players than its own positive campaigning.
One gets the impression that Malinaukas and others have been given a wakeup call in the past week.
The tide can quickly turn in politics and when you least expect it.
Writers’ Week is a classic example of a problem snowballing out of left field.
The Premier had no idea of the negativity his involvement would generate.
A minor distraction for him exploded into a daily commentary which dominated state, national and even international headlines for the best part of a week.
He now has more emotional trauma, as does the whole of the Labor Party, with the tragic death of Tim Picton, the brother of current Health Minister Chris Picton.
There is no consolation for that loss, but the hard heads in the party know that after the initial grieving process the show must go on, all the way to election day.
Labor is still destined for an easy victory in March, but the road to get there is more difficult than they would have ever imagined, even just weeks ago.
Malinauskas is already back in the trenches with his trademark mindset of nothing or no one standing in his way.
He’s started as guest announcer on the rebranded KIIS 1023 FM radio waves.
The Liberals, on the other hand, will be seeing a narrow beam of sunshine as the door of opportunity opens slightly.
Hurn will be quietly thinking, it’s not over ‘til it’s over.
Mike Smithson in weekend newsreader and political analyst for 7News.
