Tonight, a week after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten quite confidently took to the Q&A set, a flu-addled Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took a seat beside Tony Jones in Brisbane.
It was an up-and-down affair for the PM from the get-go. Questions about possible kowtowing to the far right of the Liberal party were met with obvious bloviation.
Then, it happened. After answering questions relating to Australia’s commitment to mental health, a video came through. From Manus Island.
Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian Kurdish writer, beamed onto the set’s backdrop. It was revealed he fled the nation due to persecution of his work, but was found to meet the requirements for refugee status.
Australia exiled me here by force 3yrs ago Why am I still in this illegal prison after 3yrs @TurnbullMalcolm? #QandA https://t.co/NEJHz3jBMk
— ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 20, 2016
The exchange that followed made Turnbull’s commitment to the government’s border protection policy seem like a pained choice.
It is a harsh policy. But in government and in politics, often you are presented with tough choices. And the alternative is not a theoretical one.”
“Of course, the gentleman we referred to there, he has other options as well. [He] doesn’t just have to come to Australia.The thing we know, the alternative, if we abandon the strong defence of our border…”
Also worth noting: the Prime Minister never answered what his crime was. Granted, the question was sprung on him (and on us), but his response demonstrated a continual reliance on the party line – numbers, statistics, and Labor – over, God forbid, specifically addressing an individual’s struggle.
Really. Sorry.
Source and photo: Q&A / ABC.
