Former PM Scott Morrison’s wish to emulate Julia Gillard in retirement is an attempt to salvage his tattered reputation by drawing on the incredible success of her post-parliamentary career.
When Whitlam visited in 1971,four years before I became China correspondent,MacMahon sneered that he’d been taken for a ride. I’m sure Wong’s visit will be different.
50 years ago,separate bomb scares disrupted election speeches by the Opposition Leader,Gough Whitlam,and the president of the ACTU,Bob Hawke. Just days earlier a smoke bomb was thrown at the prime minister,William McMahon,while on campaign.
Forty years ago,Sir William McMahon’s sudden resignation had thrown the Fraser Government into a panic - but in leafy Bellevue Hill,the ex-PM delivered a media performance that was “as sultry as the weather”.
Labor is poised to return to power undeservedly. If only there were alternatives.