Teflon Porkers ... Will the Mud Stick?

Thanks to Alan Moir for permission to display the cartoon.

To date, the Sty has been silent on the AWB scandal, believing that the government would not authorise a Royal Commission if there was the slightest chance they'd be implicated in any wrongdoing. Perhaps I've been a little too cynical. Past commissions have gained a life of their own, ending up biting the hand that created them. Fitzgerald in Queensland is one that comes to mind.

The commissioner will be hard pressed to absolutely state that the Ministers knew about the AWB's actions in Iraq, but he can be unequivocal that they should have known. This is a good result, and much better than I'd expected.

It's hard to see how Vaile's reputation won't be damaged by the revelations ... or should I say, by the numerous answers of 'I can't recall' and 'I don't remember.'

Ditto for Downer, as we can expect similar answers from him tomorrow. Even in Dolly's mind, the likelyhood of him progressing in the ministry, ie, to Treasury if Howard retires, must be zero.

Only the teflon coated Prime Minister is unassailable. His two underlings will shield him from blame.

In past situations, there may have been resignations, but we all know Westminster government accountability is dead. The best we can hope for is to rely on the collective memory of the electorate. A depressing thought.