10 March 2013

Gazza wants to know where Tony's Centenary invite has got to

| johnboy
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Liberal Senator Gary Humphries has put forth a complain about his leader not getting an invite to the Centenary formalities:

Senator Gary Humphries today expressed his regret that the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, had not been invited to play a role in a ceremony to mark a century since the official naming of Canberra.

The event this Tuesday, at the Foundation Stone on Federation Mall, will include speeches by the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, Minister Simon Crean and ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, but no role for the Leader of the Federal Opposition.

“This event is the culmination of the Centenary of Canberra celebrations, with an appropriate role for Federal political leaders, but to not include the Federal Opposition is a snub,” Senator Humphries said.

A snub we might not have noticed if not for Senator Humphries.

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peitab said :

Of course Abbott’s been invited – he just doesn’t have a speaking role.

And he doesn’t look miffed to not have a speaking role. He probably was briefed with his invitation about the ceremony being an re-enactment, so it was proper for him not to speak, and he probably agreed.

Of course Abbott’s been invited – he just doesn’t have a speaking role.

You’d think, given Humphries’ precarious position, he’d avoid speaking out on stupid stuff like this because it just makes him look petty. Given he generally isn’t stupid, I do wonder if he was ordered to speak out from someone higher up (e.g. Abbott).

Maybe I’m reading too much into this…

Holden Caulfield11:27 am 12 Mar 13

Pfft, Mr Rabbit is at the official ceremony today and based on the footage I just saw on ABC News 24 he didn’t even sing the national anthem.

Stone him!

Tony Abbott attended incognito – I saw him jog around the lake at about 4pm.

Robyn Archer was also incognito – she was disguised as Kim Jong Il and was power-walking between events at about 5pm…

Katy and Julia will be able to swap notes on number fudging and slush funds, without any interference from budgie smugglers.

So I was perusing the “Recent Comments” panel on the right of the screen, when I saw this comment about Mr Abbott that reads “But Tony’s a complete dick. He would suck the…”. My mind was immediately filled with the wildest imaginings about how that sentence was going to end, combined with thoughts of the lawsuit that must be firing up in Liberal Party HQ.

Imagine my relief when I discovered that all that Mr Abbott was going to suck was the life of the party. Or no…the life out of the party…let’s not get those two confused now. 🙂

What a load of absolute crap.

Humphries should be well aware that this event is intended to mirror the original event in terms of speakers – GG, PM, then NSW Premier – now ACT CM, and then Minister for Home Affairs – now Simon Crean.

Shamelessly transparent toadying.

rosscoact said :

But Tony’s a complete dick. He would suck the life out of any party.

End of argument, right there.

FioBla said :

It’s OK. He is a cyclist, you know.

Of course. I guess he will just force his way in anyway, regardless of whether he is invited or not. Typical cyclist!

This thread is why I love the Riot!

It’s OK. He is a cyclist, you know.

“Invite” is a verb. The noun you’re looking for is “invitation”.

You’re welcome.

bigfeet said :

He does have a point.

These sort of things are supposed to be bi-partisan. If the PM is invited to a community function the protocol has always been that the Leader of the Opposition is invited.

It should have been pickled up by PM&C who are supposed to oversee these protocol issues.

But Tony’s a complete dick. He would suck the life out of any party.

Maybe the First Boyfriend had a hand in this?

Zed would have said that better.

He does have a point.

These sort of things are supposed to be bi-partisan. If the PM is invited to a community function the protocol has always been that the Leader of the Opposition is invited.

It should have been pickled up by PM&C who are supposed to oversee these protocol issues.

Growling Ferret7:45 pm 10 Mar 13

Tony declined the invite when Flouro Safety vest was deemed unacceptable attire.

Well there’s Tony’s excuse for not moving into the Lodge in September.

Holditz said :

Well, we are a Labor town.

Quite so, and given that Abbott is Howard-lite (species: Howard scriptor vomitum-manducatio gremio canis) we might as well make a pre-emptive strike. The Bat-Shit Crazy Monk will never live here after all. Kirribilli ahoy!!

Well, we are a Labor town.

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