Most evenings you'll find me listening to a talk show called Paul Murray Live on the Sky News Channel. It is starting to have a certain resemblance to Fox News, but they do have a few token lefties on the panel each evening to keep things lively. Sky News is reckoned to be wholly and utterly right wing by many Aussies.
In the morning, while I'm getting ready for work, I listen to the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company, similar to the BBC in England). Many Aussies depending on their political bent consider the ABC to be either mid-stream or wholy and utterly to the left and nearly communists (and barking mad).
One evening recently as I was doing my household chores in the evening and watching the conservative news I heard the announcer say "If you're in Townsville next Wednesday night, join us for a chat with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison. You can ask him anything you like. Just send an email to <insert email here>.
I thought, why not. I wouldn't want to ask a question, but no doubt it would be educational and entertaining.
So, the following week, I received my invitation to the event, and was surprised to see that it was a) held in a nice pub, and b) that there were only about 50 or so people there. No reporters, just a couple of microphones and a set of chairs set around. It was nearly the most low-key thing I've ever seen in a political setting.
A half hour before the PM was to arrive we were given a few quick instructions by Paul Murray (our host). Ask whatever you want, but keep it respectful and clean.
The host said "You all know I like to swear, but we can't because this is live tv. And you know how that Q & A show goes?" We all said yeah. Q&A being a highly scripted and edited show on the ABC.
He said "Well, this ain't f-ing Q&A." To which the entire audience whooped and hollered.
I found myself a seat next to two older men and made chit chat until the host announced, "And here is our Prime Minister Scott Morrison!" And there he was, striding down the pub towards a couple of chairs set at the front of the room while everyone clapped. No one stood up. There was no "Hail to the Chief" or other patriotic song playing. No flashing of cameras, other than those held by audience members (mostly smart phones). There were no secret service guys in dark suits, although there were a couple of guys with ear pieces, casual shirts and long trousers. No thongs. Guess you gotta draw the line somewhere.
The host got the PM to say a few quick things, and then the questioning started. Mostly about local worries such as funding for the drought-stricken farmers, extra funding needed for drug addicted people, and was Australia going to pull out of the Paris Accord (dealing with man-made climate change).
From where I sat, the PM seemed to handle it pretty well. His answers seemed reasonable and thoughtful. After a hour of questions, the PM made himself available to the people to have their picture taken with him.
I couldn't pass that up, so here is me with the PM, and the second picture is with Paul Murray the tv host.
I was going to post the picture of me and the PM on Facebook, but because politics is so polarized these days I didn't.
So I decided to post it on here instead. I imagine though I would get a similar response in the states if I posted a picture of myself with Trump. Although as my brother Eric said "It's not like I'm going to be rubbing elbows with Trump anytime soon".
