Reasonably curious has been the absence of Prime Minister Tony Abbott from the media over the past little while, as the furore surrounding Bronwyn Bishop and her entitlements scandal boils away atop the political stove.
Abbott and Bishop’s political careers are intrinsically linked, and Abbott’s continued backing of Bishop in the face of the travel entitlements spat has been viewed as extremely detrimental to the Prime Minister’s standing with both the public, and his own party.
The Prime Minister this morning appeared on Sydney AM radio station 2SM of all places and gave his first interview in days, following on from Bishop’s (probably forced) apology yesterday.
Obviously in damage control, the Prime Minister went out of his way to liken himself (and presumably his fellow Coalition politicians) as a man of the people, citing the fact that he and his family flew Economy Class to Europe in 2013.
The trip itself is not actually under any scrutiny – it was a brief trip to visit Abbott’s daughter in Switzerland for Christmas, paid for out of his own pocket, and with all offered upgrades refused. As a laid out occurrence, it’s even admirable.
It’s just the way he worded it.
I mean… It probably could’ve been better.
Much better.
“I took the family overseas at Christmas in 2013 and we certainly made the very long trip to Europe in economy class, but you know, that’s what the people do.”
“The people” just up and sod off to Europe on a whim for Christmas, ay?
In the fine words of the people: Yeah, nah m8.
Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah via Getty Images.
via Business Insider.
