Morrison's Fall and a Shake-up in Canberra

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/21/1100533342/australia-scott-morrison-concedes-election

I wanted to comment on this a couple of weeks ago but like many readers I'm getting pretty beat up right now financially and work is consuming a lot of my time. At present a forecast of rain means a loss of income for the day but it gives me some time write and catch up on things.

Scott Morrison's defeat in the 2022 Australian Election was a pretty stunning piece of news, though some Australia watchers weren't terribly surprised. He was very unpopular and while lauded in the US, his domestic constituency turned against him – and yet I must confess I didn't see it coming. And now everyone's is waiting to see what's going to happen with the new Albanese administration. A shake-up to be sure, but perhaps not as radical as some think.

It would seem we're likely to see a shift in terms of immigration policy and a turn toward more 'green' initiatives (or more likely green-washing) and yet when it comes to key energy issues and foreign policy – it looks like Albanese is going to retain the status quo. Washington isn't thrilled but Albanese will do. He appealed to a segment of Australian society but at the end of the day there are powerful interests at work and unless he wants them to turn against him – he must toe the line.

The question many have is why did Morrison capitulate and concede so quickly? Now he's no longer prime minister, and he has also abandoned the leadership of the Liberal Party – Australia's mainstream Right-wing faction. He remains an MP but has in short order gone from the zenith of political power to being a low-level representative of the Sydney suburbs.

Ostensibly he conceded so that his successor could be part of the Quad meetings in Japan but such claims ring hollow.

One is left wondering is there a scandal in the wings?

Or, I wonder if he's even going to finish out his term as MP? Will he still be there in 2025? If not, where's he headed?

It may be time to 'cash in'. We'll see. The serious money comes after serving in office and it's not hard to imagine Morrison getting plugged into to some Right-wing and Evangelical think-tanks in the United States, and then maybe returning to Australia to start something new or join up with the one of the growing number of such organisations. There are millions to be made.

We saw this recently in New York when Congressman Tom Reed resigned. Tainted by a sexual harassment scandal, he didn't bother to finish out his term and has subsequently taken a job with a big New York City lobbying firm. It's highly unlikely that he had the credentials to be hired at such a company. His legal background is less than impressive and yet as a congressman he has connections. And because he stood by and advocated for certain industries – he's due a reward. Now he'll have a lucrative job and in all likelihood won't have to work very hard to earn very good money. He can earn some nice fees for 'services rendered'.

Let's just say that should Morrison go down this road, he won't end up being a low-level lobbyist for Right-wing political causes and corporations. He'll have a bigger and more visionary role. It will be interesting to see what direction he turns. I can't say that I wish him well but I am curious as to what's happening and why.

And of course, while Albanese will keep the requisite energy and foreign policy positions in place, his election reveals that the electorate is not happy and Australian society like so many of its Western counterparts is in a state of upheaval. The Murdoch press will run a campaign against Albanese and we'll see where things stand in a couple of years.