mainchance mcgauran

As you heard on the news yesterday Victorian National Party senator  Julian McGauran has defected to the Liberals. He has not only dumped his party and  betrayed his electorate. He has attacked the party that nurtured him and called it a “spent force” in this state.

And so he has selfishly and self-servingly jumped ship – possibly with the support and connivance of Federal Treasurer Peter Costello. I mean was one of the first people McGauran called even before he told his own party leaders.

National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile has called the defector a turncoat.

He is worse than that. He has conned his electorate. He is possibly a liar. He is a mainchancer. Did he tell voters in his electorate that the Nationals were a “spent force” when they re-elected him 15 months ago?

If McGauran were an honourable man he would instantly resign from the Senate. He would let the Nationals replace him with a National.

And if he thinks that the Liberals are the only party that can win country seats then let him stand – as a Liberal – and see how he does.

Let him see if his constituents voted for him or the National Party in country Victoria.

Even Cheryl Kernot had the style and morality to resign from the Senate when she jumped from the Democrats to Labor. And  then narrowly scraped in at the next election.

You have to ask the question:  How long has this defection been planned?  Who else knew about it?

I believe John Howard must not reward a political traitor. The second best thing, if McGauran’s hide is so thick that he won’t resign, is for the Libs to confine him to the back bench.

I mean, this is supposed to be a Coalition Government. Howard and Costello and Vaile are meant to work in unity. Meant to show loyalty.

But if this gets ugly and the Nats seek revenge by trashing Howard and Costello in the Senate then the Libs only have themselves to blame.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2006