The PM went on holiday for a few days. It didn’t need to look like a
political crime scene. But as usual, the cover-up made everything 10
times worse
Throughout history, the world’s greatest minds have attempted to simplify Ockham’s razor.
William of Ockham’s principle was a fairly simple thing – “entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily”. Isaac Newton used it to apply to competing scientific theories. Robert Hanlon riffed off it to sum up political blunders: “never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity”. Which brings us to modern politics, where the simplest interpretation – “cock up over conspiracy” – reigns supreme.
Nixon wasn’t done in by the crime but the cover-up. And yet, decades on from Watergate, political leaders and those paid small fortunes to advise them continue to insist the simplest route is the one furthest from the actual answers or truth.
Scott Morrison taking a holiday is not remotely Watergate. But just five days on from his leave being made public, the prime minister, who prides himself on his marketing prowess and spin, was forced into the extraordinary position of releasing a statement expressing deep “regret” for “any offence caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave with family at this time”.
So how did a politician who rarely acknowledges a wrong step, even if faced with the debris, end up sort-of-almost apologising for taking a holiday to Hawaii with his family in a public statement?
Let’s look back.
The Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge sets off a social media firestorm with this one tweet:
William of Ockham’s principle was a fairly simple thing – “entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily”. Isaac Newton used it to apply to competing scientific theories. Robert Hanlon riffed off it to sum up political blunders: “never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity”. Which brings us to modern politics, where the simplest interpretation – “cock up over conspiracy” – reigns supreme.
Nixon wasn’t done in by the crime but the cover-up. And yet, decades on from Watergate, political leaders and those paid small fortunes to advise them continue to insist the simplest route is the one furthest from the actual answers or truth.
Scott Morrison taking a holiday is not remotely Watergate. But just five days on from his leave being made public, the prime minister, who prides himself on his marketing prowess and spin, was forced into the extraordinary position of releasing a statement expressing deep “regret” for “any offence caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave with family at this time”.
So how did a politician who rarely acknowledges a wrong step, even if faced with the debris, end up sort-of-almost apologising for taking a holiday to Hawaii with his family in a public statement?
Let’s look back.
Monday
Michael McCormack, the deputy prime minister, is appointed acting prime minister.The Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge sets off a social media firestorm with this one tweet:
Where's the Prime Minister? We just confirmed with the Deputy PM's office that he's acting PM until at least Thursday. Have they noticed the country is on fire? We have heard rumours @ScottMorrisonMP is in Hawaii #ClimateEmergency
#Hawaii and #howgoodishawaii began trending on Twitter.
The Australian Financial Review publishes a small story, reporting the PM is on holiday with his family.
“The trip was not announced and Mr McCormack’s office referred questions to a spokesman for the Prime Minister.
“It is Mr Morrison’s first holiday since taking his family to Fiji after his May federal election win.”
Samantha Maiden from the New Daily reports the PMO will not confirm where the prime minister is, when he will return, and insists the matter is “not a story”.
"But Mr Morrison’s office insists that claims he is holidaying in Hawaii are ‘wrong’ while refusing to disclose his location or for how long he is on leave.
The prime minister’s office will not confirm whether or not Morrison is in Hawaii. The lack of information or confirmation starts a story hunt."
McCormack says he will be acting prime minister, from his electorate of Riverina, until Thursday.
Wagga Wagga of course back in the early 1900s had its hand up to be the nation’s capital, well it’s taken a bit over a hundred years and it is finally the nation’s capital.
The Australian Financial Review publishes a small story, reporting the PM is on holiday with his family.
“The trip was not announced and Mr McCormack’s office referred questions to a spokesman for the Prime Minister.
“It is Mr Morrison’s first holiday since taking his family to Fiji after his May federal election win.”
Samantha Maiden from the New Daily reports the PMO will not confirm where the prime minister is, when he will return, and insists the matter is “not a story”.
"But Mr Morrison’s office insists that claims he is holidaying in Hawaii are ‘wrong’ while refusing to disclose his location or for how long he is on leave.
The prime minister’s office will not confirm whether or not Morrison is in Hawaii. The lack of information or confirmation starts a story hunt."
Tuesday
#Wherethebloodyhellareyou and #wheresScotty trends on Twitter in relation to Morrison, including missing posters, as the PMO and McCormack, who holds a press conference, refuses to say where the prime minister is, or even if he is in the country.McCormack says he will be acting prime minister, from his electorate of Riverina, until Thursday.
Wagga Wagga of course back in the early 1900s had its hand up to be the nation’s capital, well it’s taken a bit over a hundred years and it is finally the nation’s capital.
But look, it’s great to be actually acting prime minister from my home town. I love Wagga Wagga, I was born here and only two federal members have ever served Wagga Wagga in the federal parliament from our city, born in our city.
Same board shorts & glasses PM seen wearing in photograph on right just weeks ago in Australia 
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