During Scott Morrison's time as our national leader can you actually remember when he has ever taken responsibility for anything? I can't.
More and more I am finding people are commenting to me that Scott Morrison has become a prime minister known for abdicating responsibility, on any issue.
The handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, "that's a matter for state premiers", the 2019 bushfires, "I don't hold a hose mate" and now the botched submarine deal with France, "it's important that we just move on."
It is a fair assessment of Scott Morrison's character to say Mr Morrison is all talk and no responsibility. A prime minister who is of the view that, "it's not my job mate." Well Mr Morrison, you are the prime minister. The buck stops with you, nobody else.
The way Scott Morrison conducts himself as the Prime Minister of Australia is not something I have seen on either side of politics, ever. And that is not a compliment but a damning indictment on his government.
Mr Morrison's inability to take responsibility is fast becoming an election issue.
Australian communities have been pushed to the brink during the pandemic. Most Australians have felt particularly vulnerable during this time due to job insecurity, lockdowns and an inability to connect with family members, price squeezing and now COVID-19 fatigue.
Ultimately, people are crying out for leadership. They want to know that their prime minister is in control and can lead their country back to normality.
When they see their prime minister at a press conference blaming state premiers and not taking responsibility; this lack of leadership seriously affects our spirit to defeat the virus and retake our country.
At a national level I think Scott Morrison has failed. But has he also failed at a local level as well? Unfortunately, I believe he has - and he has scored another own goal.
Politics is often about who gets what, when and how much. Just ask Bridget McKenzie. Senate Estimates revealed that Northern Tasmanians are still waiting for the commencement of capital works builds promised by the prime minister and the Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer three years ago.
These include, but are not limited to, $10 million for the Albert Hall Redevelopment project, $15 million to establish the Northern Suburbs Community Hub and another $10 million for the Launceston Creative Precinct.
Federal budgets actually used to mean something. Governments would provide funds for priority projects within communities and there was an expectation that they were delivered with good administration before the next election. Not under Scott Morrison's broken promises.
If a government hasn't been able to deliver a project it announced at the last election, almost three years ago I don't think it deserves to be re-elected.
I am confident that Tasmanians have figured out Scott Morrison and Bridget Archer. Scott Morrison has turned Australian politics into a marketing exercise.
But like the character of Don Draper in Mad Men, Scott Morrison's highly calculated identity is starting to fall into a period of decline. Empty promises are now in vogue under this government to the exclusion of positive outcomes for the community.
Northern Tasmanians deserve the delivery of priority projects which will improve the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of community members. They don't want fly-in visits topped off with a lazy event at a local pub or football ground with the prime minister pretending to look popular.
Politics needs to return to being driven by outcomes instead of slick and sleazy marketing tricks made famous in advertising campaigns of years gone by. Governments and leaders should be judged on their record and their ability to lead in a crisis.
As the political year draws to a close I urge voters to remember that Australia's current prime minister is a prime minister who doesn't hold a hose. A prime minister who hasn't been able to roll out the vaccine on time. A prime minister who failed to build purpose-built quarantine facilities. A prime minister who ignored the Royal Commission findings into the aged care sector. And now a prime minister who knows how to make a spreadsheet but can't deliver what the spreadsheet says.
The Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer and Prime Minister Scott Morrison need to take responsibility for the projects they announced but have failed to deliver to the people of Northern Tasmania.
I am asking Ms Archer, the prime minister and the de facto Member for Bass Senator Wendy Askew to detail to Northern Tasmanians why these projects have not been delivered, let alone commenced?
As this government prepares the next budget papers I ask what exactly is the point of the 2021-22 Federal Budget? Is it just more ink on paper with no actual meaningful outcomes attached to it.
So as the next federal election looms please ask ... What has Scott Morrison and the federal government actually done to improve your quality of life? And as a community, do you think we deserve better leadership? How you answer these questions should determine your vote.
- Helen Polley, Tasmanian Labor senator
