RIP Malcolm Fraser

[twyngwyn]

Died this morning - breaking news

[i-need-a-martini]

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@polksaladallie wrote:

Nikki Savva (right wing journalist) said on Insiders that Fraser in his time as PM was the most reviled by the left, and came to be the most revered by the left in later years.

Once again, stating facts.  Different journalists all praising him while not pretending that all was rosy.

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Of all the people who spoke about Fraser Abbott was the only one to make it a political speech.

All the old Labor people briefly mentioned the constitutional crisis and praised him for his contribution while Abbott did little of that and bagged out Labor, again demonstrating his infantile approach.

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Yes I noticed that.

Seriously the man is an idiot. While some his colleagues  spoke warmly about Fraser as a man(and I say some because many refused to say anything - what a petty bunch of so-and-sos), all Abbott could do was make a veiled comparison between the Fraser Government and the Abbott Governments stepping in to fix an economic mess.

Or asking Liberals to look beyond his latter years and respect him for what he did post-Whitlam. Apparently bringing an end to Whitlams "excesses" is the most important thing he should be remembered for.

At Least Howard, Costello and Tunbull turned in respectful,  well considered and appropriate eulogies.

[bright.ton42]

Or asking Liberals to look beyond his latter years and respect him for what he did post-Whitlam. Apparently bringing an end to Whitlams "excesses" is the most important thing he should be remembered for.

Well one of them imo. It is perfectly natural to list the achievements of one who has passed, and in my view and many others this needs to be remembered. 

[i-need-a-martini]

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@idlewhile wrote:

Appalling comments from that old trout Anne Summers on The Drum.

She couldnt hide her hate and  disdain, she was shut down for the rest of the program.

This  on the very day of Malcom Frasers death.

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What rot.

She said he ":was tough" - an assessment that every other person (all of them conservatives or Liberals) agreed with. She also said what is obvious - that in their tributes everyone on the left has not mentioned his role in the dismissal and that everyone on the right has barely mentioned the fact he turned his back and was extremely critical of the Liberal Party.

She was not shut down - there were many panelists on the segment (5) and all were given one chance to speak.

In fact she praised him on his establishment of the family allowance scheme and his role in Rhodesia. She also rightly pointed out that many of the things he is praised for today (anti-aparteid stance, Vientnames, human rights etc) all occurred after he left office. She wasn't making a criticism, she was simply stating this as a fact.

So what part was apalling exactly?

But I tell you what WAS apalling - the eulogies (or lack of them) from the Liberal Party.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@bright.ton42 wrote:

Or asking Liberals to look beyond his latter years and respect him for what he did post-Whitlam. Apparently bringing an end to Whitlams "excesses" is the most important thing he should be remembered for.

Well one of them imo. It is perfectly natural to list the achievements of one who has passed, and in my view and many others this needs to be remembered. 

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But that's the problem isn't it? Abbott barely mentioned any achievements - just banged on about him beating Whitlam in a landslide and stopping the "excesses.".

[bright.ton42]

Well I don't know.....    in this clip Abbott does nothing but laud his achievements and in glowing terms.  How anyone can twist  this around to sound disrespectful (and I don't mean you martini)  is beyond me. 

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-remembers-malcolm-fraser-for-his-f...

[gleee58]

Abbott's script read like a shopping list and when he rambled off script, in the attempt to make it all about him, he was just wrong.  Fraser did not resign because he (Fraser) had changed.  He resigned because it was his view that the Liberal Party had changed.  

In his speech when Abbott reeled off the list of Fraser's acheivement he basically confirmed that it was not Fraser who had changed.  Most of those policies are not of the type Abbott supports.   Fraser never did come around to supporting Abbott and that narrow speech devoid of emotion was a perfect example of why he never would.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-14/malcolm-fraser-attacks-abbott-treatment-human-rights-commissio...

Mr Fraser denied suggestions Ms Triggs had a political agenda or that the commission had a case to answer

"Absolutely not. She is fulfilling the charter laid out in the legislation," he said.

"Even Australians who take a very, very hard line about asylum seekers - and unfortunately there are more than I would like to think - are probably a bit uncomfortable with the kind of treatment that has been meted out to children in detention by the Australian Government in their name."

Mr Fraser said suggestions Ms Triggs should resign were "total absurdity".

"If anyone should resign, the Government should resign," he said.

[i-need-a-martini]

He starts by saying it is a sad day. And "particularly sad for thse thast cheered him on in those stirring days" when he led the "fight" against a "bad government".

As PM "he restored economically responsible government" . He was "determined to turn on the lights and restore australis economic fortunes. It was the greatest win in Australian politics

Yes he talks about self government in the NT occurring and the FOI act established under his leadership. He also talked about deregulation of our finacial system, the Barrier Reef Marine PArk established and the creation of the office of the Ombusdman. But Whitlam was the one that got the ball rolling on many of these things. He also talked about the banning of sand mining on Fraser Island,  the establishment of the Crimes Commission and the AFP.

Yes he was PM when  the Land Right Act for indigenous people was introduced but the Bill was put up by the Whitlam Govt.

Funny he didn't mention one of the most important things that every occurred in this country that helped all Australians - the introduction of the Family Allowance scheme.

He says "I made it my business to renew my contact with him on becoming party leader" (as if it was a chore that he really didn't want to do).

He says his politics had changed over the years so then needs to resort back to talking about a "triumphant election win".

His comments at the end were almost dismissive "I didn't always agree...but appreciated his wisdon borne of long experience" 

And thanks to Tammy for her work in the "upkeep of our 4 official residences".  Seriously??

There was nothing personal. Nothing warm. Throughout the speech he looked pained, as if he couldn't quite say the words. It was a political speech more than a eulogy.

Compare that to how other politicians remembered Fraser from all sides of government.

[idlewhile]

Fraser was reviled by conservatives when he was in power.  In his later years he went so far to the left he felt more at home with the Greens and Labor. 

I never liked him but I did admire his courage and determination to rid the country of the Whitlam government, the worst government in Australians history if you don't count the Rudd/Gillard disasters.

He did that emphatically and resoundingly in the 3 subsequent elections, something the left don't like to remember.

Conservatives are not into  myth making, they are more into telling the  truth and are more circumspect in reflection of past achievements.

Not like the myth making we were served up after Whitlams passing.

[myoclon1cjerk]

I'm not so sure about that."Tony Abbott's a decent and honourable man" sounds like a myth to me.

[j*oono]

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@idlewhile wrote:

Fraser was reviled by conservatives when he was in power.  In his later years he went so far to the left he felt more at home with the Greens and Labor. 

I never liked him but I did admire his courage and determination to rid the country of the Whitlam government, the worst government in Australians history if you don't count the Rudd/Gillard disasters.

He did that emphatically and resoundingly in the 3 subsequent elections, something the left don't like to remember.

Conservatives are not into  myth making, they are more into telling the  truth and are more circumspect in reflection of past achievements.

Not like the myth making we were served up after Whitlams passing.

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You watched Bolt, did you?  Word for word.