Morrison’s winning ways once more on show

Award-winning political commentator and author

The last time Bridget Archer alerted the Prime Minister’s office in advance that she was considering voting against the government,she says she had two senior members of his staff literally standing over her in her office.

Archer told colleagues at the time,and has since confirmed it to this columnist,that for almost two weeks she felt bullied,threatened and intimidated by the staffers – one male,one female,both of whom have been around politics a long time who should know better – seeking to persuade her to vote with the government.

Josh Frydenberg speaks to Bridget Archer after she crossed the floor on Thursday.

Josh Frydenberg speaks to Bridget Archer after she crossed the floor on Thursday.Alex Ellinghausen

Archer spoke against thecashless welfare card legislation,then abstained from voting. Her decision triggered a campaign of online abuse from trolls,threatening her and her kids. Archer has five children,aged six,eight,10,12 and 18. She jokes there are times when her home looks as if it has been burgled,but there was nothing remotely funny about what happened last year. It was a terrible time for her and her family.

Lately,constituents in her notoriously fickle Tasmanian seat of Bass,which she holds with a margin of 0.4 per cent,have been stopping her on the street,saying:“we like you Bridget,but...” The “but” drips with portent for Scott Morrison and the government.

So last Thursday Archercrossed the floor to second a motion by independent Helen Haines for a national commission against corruption. Archer regards the right to stand up for a principle,even if it means going against the government and the Prime Minister,as the defining feature of the party. It’s what makes people like her become a Liberal.

To avoid a repeat of her experience last year,the only people she told in advance of her intention were her staff and Haines. She did not even tell the Treasurer,Josh Frydenberg,two nights before when she and other MPs ate takeaway pizza and pasta in his office.

After hinting at a May election,the PM is in election mode spruiking his economic credentials and offering reminders about his track record as a strong leader.

When she burst into tears in Morrison’s office,after Frydenberg had escorted her there like an errant schoolgirl,it was an emotional release,not a sign of weakness.

Archer had no problem with Morrison expressing his displeasure. He said his piece. After composing herself,she said hers. She owned her actions. She did not apologise for supporting Haines,she did not take a single backward step. She told Morrison she was neither a“drone” nor a “warm body” – words he later appropriated to describe rebellious backbenchers and convey to the media his tolerance of them.

Archer told Morrison about his staff,pointedly asking that “they stay away from me”. She also made clear she would cross the floor again if necessary. Archer’s experience underlines the importance ofKate Jenkins’ finding that cultural change to tackle bullying and sexual harassment in Parliament House has to come from the top.

Archer reckons the government has got its priorities all wrong. Although she empathises with Gladys Berejiklian,she believes the ICAC was doing its job,arguing such a body – rather than a religious freedom bill – is essential to help restore people’s faith in politicians.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian after giving evidence at ICAC last week.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian after giving evidence at ICAC last week.Nick Moir

One is a problem which exists that needs to be fixed,the other looks like a fix for a problem which doesn’t exist,as the deeply religious NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet implied on Sky by asking “why now?”

Archer fears the religious discrimination bill could be a “slippery slope”. She says she will vote against it if it impinges on the rights of others,particularly the LGBTIQ community.

At least she will have company with Trent Zimmerman,Dave Sharma and Warren Entsch expressing similar views,which explains why Morrison is in no rush to put it to a vote.

The Prime Minister pretended to be as relaxed about Archer’s actions this time as he was last time,saying what close friends and colleagues they were and what a grand old party he led which allowed members to express themselves freely.

He does that often. Boasts about being good friends with people when really it’s just heavy duty Spakfilla patter,sealing up the cracks or covering his own poor behaviour.

He has done it with Berejiklian too,even though she confided several times to friends he tried to bully her,and while Premier she got her office to tell Morrison’s office to stop undermining and backgrounding against her.

His defence of her last week,describing theNSW ICAC as a kangaroo court,was a calculated exercise. He used it to excuse his failure to introduce a credible anti-corruption commission;he is desperate to get Berejiklian to run against independent Zali Steggall in Warringah,and it would serve to undermine in advance any adverse finding.

Close friends say Berejiklian is seriously considering running. Not to help him,but to help the Liberal Party. Also,it could be a kind of redemption for her,a vindication from the voters if she won.

The timing is tricky. Although she is confident she will be cleared,if she and her lawyers are wrong and there is an adverse finding after she declared,it would make for a messy,risky campaign. For everyone,not just her.

Given the tense relationship between Morrison and Berejiklian,Frydenberg has been acting as the go-between.

Frydenberg has spoken to Berejiklian a number of times,encouraging her to run,saying she was needed federally and would add heft to the government. She has told him and others that she will think about it. She also reassured him she has no leadership ambitions.

Even if she means that,she would be powerless to stop the speculation. The pressure – or the temptation – to become the first female federal Liberal leader or its first female prime minister might be too great to resist.

On balance,those close to her suspect she is more likely to say no,then perhaps wait until the next election when her status is clearer. She would only be 55. She can afford to wait and think about next steps rather than rush to jump back into politics,immersing herself in an arena she once described as a viper’s nest.

Niki Savva is an award-winning political commentator and author. She was also a staffer to former prime minister John Howard and former treasurer Peter Costello.

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