Peter Dutton comment piece, from July

Luke Hancock
Aug 27, 2017 · 4 min read

DUTTON BRINGS “SAFETY AND SECURITY” TO HIS NEW EMPIRE

As the world stares into the abyss of Nuclear war back in July the Prime Minister came to bear with an unsettling declaration, one that has the potential reforge the very soul of the nation.

Surrounded by military officials and soldiers wearing black gasmasks armed with assault rifles, Prime Minister Turnbull addressed the country. That conference may have set the stage for a 1984 style future for the nation.

A world leader addressing his country, a nation of twenty-four million people. In that address is the announcement that the military now has executive powers in the event of a terrorist incident. They will take charge if the need arises.

One could be forgiven for thinking this was a scene from a war film, or a despot in a distant third world nation. It wasn’t its a first world nation and a Commonwealth country. It was a foreboding insight into what would be next.

No more than two days later came another press conference and another announcement. This time revealing a much darker future, one where the safety and security of a nation rests in the hands of a single individual. A “super” intelligence ministry and with the political rival of the prime minister commanding the Home office style organisation dubbed the Office of National Intelligence (ONI)

In this one of the Coalitions most difficult times the Embattled and constantly besieged Prime Minister needed the support of the Minister to safeguard his leadership position.

In dismayed and confused voices opponents of Dutton’s new political position were quick to point out that it wasn’t his prowess as a minister that got him the position but was in fact a House of Cards level stratagem that Frank Underwood would be proud of.

Standing on the brink of nuclear war the world is a powder keg waiting for that one drunk sailor to carelessly light the fuse for a destructive end Australia will now see a major shake-up in National security.

A phrase by the award-winning writer and syndicated columnist Eugene Kennedy echoes the sentiments and concerns by the opposition and the general populace.

“As in the Divine Right of Kings, hierarchies invest those who preside at the top of their pyramidal structure with absolute power to rule over the lesser ranks that spread down like a marble staircase to the broad foundation stones of those with no power at all.”

With the announcement citizens took the comment sections of the internet to voice their opinions and concerns.

“LNP tactics to scare us all and then tighten laws and control to make us think we’re safer. All the while trouncing our civil liberties with nary a protest.

Totalitarianism is one step closer.
Yesterday it was gas masks. Listen out for the jack boots next.”

Were among the frustrations from the public.

“This is a monumentally bad idea, no matter which political party controls it. This kind of all-encompassing centralisation of power is inevitably turned upon the citizenry.” Said a grandfather visiting from the Gold Coast, a day where he should be enjoying Melbourne weather but now stands fearful for the future of his grandchildren.

The more people that commented the more a theme started to unravel, overt as a Soviet flag pulsating in the wind at a Fourth of July barbecue in 1963.

On the other side of the fence Liberal supporters stand against the grain and had no issue with voicing their opinions

“Peter Dutton is great. However,” Get up” trying to get him to lose his seat. Dutton will be great in this role. The bad news is when Labor get in again we will have a leftie bleeding heart in charge and let in all the boats again.” Said a Melbourne grandmother.

In a self-justifying attempt to ease the perception that incompetence was one of his fortes, Dutton gave several statements.

“The new ministry would never have been announced if there was contrary advice.”

“I had my first conversation with Duncan Lewis, the head of ASIO, and with Andrew Colvin, the commissioner of the Australian Federal Police in the last 24 hours or so,”

“I can tell you that both of them are excited about what the Government has announced and they are looking forward very much to the new arrangement.” Said Peter Dutton, words that for better or worse will be bookmarked for the future’s sake

Prime Minister Turnbull faced severe criticism for ordering the creation of the new department those critiques stem from his public denouncement in 2008 where he was against the creation of a similar department of homeland security type organisation, but has now created one nine years later in response to the mounting threat of terrorist attacks.

The Government cited the release of the Coroner’s report into the Lindt siege incident from 2014 for granting military powers in the event of a terrorist incident

The Lindt siege incident occurred when lone wolf attacker Man Monis took eighteen people hostages in a Sydney café and ended a day later with three deaths including Monis himself.

In June 2017, another terrorist incident occurred this time in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton which left two dead including the hostage taker, three police officers injured this terrorist incident was claimed by the Islamic terrorist group ISIS.

In the July of 1945 Kenneth Bainbrige director of the trinity nuclear test coined the phrase “We are all sons of bitches. He said that immediately after witnessing the unparalleled destructive nature of the Nuclear Bomb.

The moment the decision was made, did Turnbull turn to his staff and say those same words. Because in politics, Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

)
Luke Hancock

Written by

Freelance Journalist, completely irresponsible, highly inquisitive and always ready for a chat at 2 am.