Katharine Murphy September 30, 2011
Unflattering portrait ... Tony Abbott. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
TONY Abbott is a sore loser, afflicted by ''innate and deeply embedded sexism and misogyny'', and would use a future prime ministership to impose his simplistic views on the country, according to a provocative new book to hit the shelves tomorrow.
The new polemic by academic Susan Mitchell paints an intensely unflattering portrait of the man who would be Australia's next prime minister, sketching Mr Abbott as a graceless, obsessively competitive ''man's man''; a ferocious partisan imbued with conservative Catholic social values.
The book was drawn from press reports, studies of the Opposition Leader, particularly Michael Duffy's 2004 biography, Mr Abbott's writings and the author's observed conclusions. Dr Mitchell deploys what her publisher describes as a ''blistering'' critique in narrating Mr Abbott's life from his childhood to his current period as Opposition Leader.
"There's a narrative missing about Tony Abbott in the political discussion" ... author Susan Mitchell. Photo: Steve Baccon
Dr Mitchell told The Age yesterday she did not interview Mr Abbott for the project. ''That wasn't the sort of book I wanted to write. I wanted to do a more analytical piece than that.''
Mr Abbott's spokesman confirmed Dr Mitchell ''made no contact with Tony or his office in the preparation of her book. She has not sought to interview Tony as part of her research.''
Dr Mitchell said she was motivated to write the book because ''there's a narrative missing about Tony Abbott in the political discussion''.
Dr Mitchell said she saw no evidence that Mr Abbott's views had moderated with time, if anything ''he's become more right wing and fixed in his views''.
She said initiatives like Mr Abbott's paid parental leave scheme - mentioned only briefly in the book - and his decision to employ women as senior advisers, did not demonstrate an evolution in thinking.
Comments
Wow! None of that should come as a surprise to anyone. The question is, why would ANYONE on EITHER side of politics think he would be Prime Minister material?
J | Qld - September 30, 2011, 8:12AM
The thought of Tony Abbott as our Prime Minister scares me. Unfortunately there is unlikely to be a change of leadership before the next election and he will waltz into the Lodge. Where are the leaders of yesterday - men and women who would inspire us, provide leadership, change the country for the better, and not look out of place on the world stage. Other small countries can have this kind of leadership, why can't we? Political debate here is puerile and embarrassing.
atozed2005 - September 30, 2011, 8:13AM
Another Liberal nowhere man sitting in his nowhere land, and like Little Johnny, he will probably be PM.
BBJ | Dinner Plain - September 30, 2011, 8:14A
None of this comes as a shock, but it hopefully may be a splash of cold water to some foks about the demagogue who they're dangerously considering as a legitimate option for Prime Minister. It would be Howard all over again; a right-wing Christian extremist who treats our country like his own personal playground.
He suggested a carbon tax himself a few years ago, but now that it's being championed by the Labor party it's now the worst idea ever. No one is even educating themselves about it, they're taking the very Australian approach - the word "tax" gets used and the shutters go down. He's pandering to the fears and selective ignorance of our community in a bid to gain power, not better our society.
Also remember that Australians tend to disapprove of whoever happens to be in power at the time. Go ahead, vote for Abbott, and in less than a year's time the entire country will be shaking their heads in disbelief that they did. Only by then it will be too late and he'll have until the next election to do as much damage is he can.
Australian's hate people full of BS, but it seems they're willing to overlook it as long as he plays to their fears. Do we really want to be lead into the future by someone who knowledge on climate change extends only as far as "it's no hotter now than when Jesus was around" (not verbatim, but this is actually what he said).Steve | CBD - September 30, 2011, 8:07AM
