The Australian argues that it is time for the Prime Minister to do something in the wake of Senator Bernardis defection: to seize the initiative and demonstrate to his party and the nation that he has a plan by actually taking action.
The defection of one Coalition senator will rattle Mr Turnbull and his colleagues and trigger nervousness about future defections. This is an immediate body blow to the Prime Minister, increasing the imperative for him to seize the initiative, demonstrate to his party and the nation that he has a plan by actually taking action. Prime Minister; it is time to do something.
The longer term repercussions of the loss of a senior senator could be profound.
Whether it has been the inability of the government to give voice to community concerns about Islamist extremism, its lack of success in reining in the budget deficit or reticence to curb the influence of green left activists through taxpayer-funded vehicles such as the Safe Schools scheme, conservatives have been dismayed.
In the best-case scenario for Senator Bernardi, he could provide a more intelligent and experienced conservative alternative. If he forms a new party, apart from taking votes away from the Coalition, it would take them from One Nation, Family First and even the Nick Xenophon Team. This will be Senator Bernardis aim. If he succeeds, he will have created, at least for a time, another force on the right of politics, further splintering votes that were once more or less owned by the Coalition parties. But even if he fails, add to the fracturing on the conservative side of politics. And the beneficiary, almost inevitably, will be the Labor Party.
This week, parliament sits for the first time this year and it is yet another opportunity for the Coalition to start out anew. The country is crying out for the leadership that takes action and shows the way. The government cannot dwell on the repercussions of Senator Bernardis defection. It must busy itself implementing decisions and pressing its policy advantage over Labors opportunism. This is not too much to ask; this is what voters elected it to do.
