FEDERAL Labor leader Bill Shorten must have been delighted when a local radio reporter served up a classic Dorothy Dixer during his Geelong visit on Monday.
Dorothy Dixers, as political tragics would know, are set-up questions that backbenchers ask of ministers in the same party so they can prattle on in parliament to their mutual advantage.
Our snout’s Dixer began with a preamble about federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson campaigning on the East West Link project, which state Labor has abandoned.
“I was just wondering your thoughts on the sitting federal politician spending so much time on state issues,” the reporter helpfully enquired.
Mr Shorten, who knows a chance to kick a Liberal head when he’s served one, happily gave the longest answer of the interview.
LUCKILY, for the Labor leader at least, the reporter had a chance to ask one other question.
Here was a shot at professional redemption; to put on the spot a man aspiring to lead this great nation.
So was the question about his falling support in opinion polls the same day? Was it about his jobs plan for Geelong?
Not on your nelly.
“If people want to talk to you today what areas of Geelong are you going to be in around what times?”
A free kick and a free ad in the same four-minute interview – they should have thrown in a set of steak knives as well.
A STORY on the Indy’s website has exposed the depth of local appreciation for Geelong Botanic Gardens, in unfortunate circumstances.
The report detailed overnight vandalism that damaged $40,000 worth of outdoor artworks and plants, including the gardens’ renowned collection of succulents.
Indy Facebook followers were united in their condemnation, posting comments with adjectives like “senseless“, “disgraceful“, “upsetting“ and “horrible“.
But Paula Stiles preferred a proactive response.
“I know where I’d like to shove those cacti …” she posted
Hear, hear, Paula – and ouch!
AFTER tearing up East West Link contracts on the basis the project offered inadequate return on investment, the Andrews Government must have a different metric to Simonds Stadium.
The home of the Cats again failed to reach its seating capacity on Sunday, with fewer than 24,000 patrons at the Freo match despite room for 33,500.
The stadium’s never come within cooee of filling since the completion of three upgrade stages, costing around $130 million.
But now the Government’s spending another $70 million on 2500 more seats. Given the stadium can’t fill its existing capacity, the return on investment would be zero cents in the dollar.
East West Link? Forty-five cents in the dollar.
Empty footy seats? Priceless!
