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Govt’s new dance: The Haneef Bluff

31 July 2007 in Politics by Stilgherrian | 3 comments

Despite calls for various people to resign over the Mohammed Haneef debacle, the government’s going to bluff their way out of it.

Kevin Andrews, in my estimate (and yours) the head which should roll first, is staying schtumm.

Mr Andrews said he would be happy to release the information but was not about to act improperly. Asked if he ever expected to be able to release the information Mr Andrews said: “I don’t know. I take advice… I will continue to do that because I think it’s important that I act on advice when I make decisions.”

Good thinking, Kevin. Listen to your advice, yes.

So, with Haneef out of the country and everyone saying nothing, we’ll soon forget. My guess is that sooner or later — but certainly before the election — we’ll find some other nearly-terrorist to arrest. This time the charges will stick. And buried down in the bottom of the story will be the news that Haneef’s been given his visa back.

Mind you, I could still be wrong. The day is but young…

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  1. jason’s avatar

    jason on 31 July 2007 at 9:01 pm

    Maybe the baby overboard scam has made the aussie public overly cynical and faithless in our political and justice system. Everyone is jumping to mock and tupple our public figures without even knowing the full story. Kevin Rudd asking for an inquest also seems a bit meddlesome given he knows how the process works and the restrictions better than any of us in the general public.

    Notice also that the Indian press is blaming Australia for creating mistrust for their expatriate doctors. But maybe the Indian gentlemen who sent a buring jeep into Glasgow airport are partly responsible also.

    Anyway. Thanks go to our police force and investigators. No doubt this has been a very stressing time for them.

    Reply

  2. Stilgherrian’s avatar

    Stilgherrian on 01 August 2007 at 8:49 am

    @jason: I reckon if the public is “cynical and faithless”, the government only has itself to blame. Actions speak louder than words, as the saying goes, and the Howard government has systematically increased central power and secrecy with little (no?) matching increase in the safeguards to prevent misuse.

    Sure, we don’t see the “full” story — no-one ever does! — and “the media” doesn’t help by making every little molehill of a glitch into a mountain of disaster. Sensible analysis seems to be in short supply.

    As soon as I find the time I’m going to write a longer essay on this point…

    I agree it must have been stressful for the police and other investigators — especially as they’re portrayed as “Keystone Cops” and worse. As I’ve said before, I have plenty of respect for the men and women who don a uniform and do the grubby jobs that keep the shiny surface of liberal democracies looking so nice.

    I also respect the investigators who — largely unsung — figure out the deepest of puzzles on appallingly low salaries when their brilliant minds might otherwise make millions for the likes of Macquarie Bank. Thank the gods, they choose otherwise!

    I am continually disgusted when their honesty and dedication is returned only with political interference and manipulation. The political masters are not worthy of their servants.

    More soon.

    And thanks, as always, for though-provoking comments.

    Reply

  3. jason’s avatar

    jason on 01 August 2007 at 10:21 am

    Yeah, I think we’re on the same page, just different sides of the page.

    Politics is so media driven. Everything that the Coalition of the Willing ever did was a performance rather than a carefully considered action. But if it wasn’t for media exposure perhaps Haneef would still be jailed up somewhere (rightly or wrongly) without anyone knowing (wrongly). It’s a funny thing. Although I doubt that sort of thing would happen in Australia today, who knows?

    Reply