Andrew Robb, Liberal successor to Alexander Downer, demonstrates that he has been a good pupil of his predecessor and learnt how to break the Big Stories with a suitably whiny inflection:
The Federal Opposition says a delay in the appointment of a new Australian High Commissioner to London amounts to an insult to the United Kingdom.
The post has been vacant for about six months since the end of the Richard Alston’s term.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Andrew Robb says the post is critical, because both countries are closely involved in military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and have a strong trade relationship.
Mr Robb says the delay is most likely due to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s desire to micro-manage all decisions.
“It’s quite critical that we have a senior appointment there and to allow the position to lie vacant for six months is irresponsible. I think and it’s starting to amount to an insult,” he said.
During Howard’s reign, the USA left the post of ambassador to Australia vacant for 18 months. I don’t recall Howard’s mob complaining furiously about how they were being insulted by the White House.
Has the opposition made a single point of substance this year? Half of their crap is trivial nonsense and the rest, like this one, simply draws attention to their own double standards and inconsistency.
