Never before have Australians witnessed their alternative government blame their current government for a terrorist attack. In the midst of that, we have seen what the Jewish Council of Australia has called a “divisive pro-Israel wishlist” adopted as the only answer.
NSW premier Chris Minns has used the massacre to announce his government will adopt gun reform discussed at national cabinet as part of a major crackdown on protests. Neither Minns or his Liberal counterpart Kelly Sloane, who is in wholehearted agreement, have managed to explain how further limiting protest would make anyone safer or improve social cohesion.
I’m not sure i’m willing to lay it all at conservatives feet though. I’ve been pretty unhappy with a lot of journalists coverage, like PK and Fran Kelly (and their guest in that first week), Chris Minns hasn’t acted judiciously with pronouncements.
I suppose my problem with your comment comes down to how to define conservatism. I have real trouble now viewing the ‘MAGA’ type reactionaries on the ‘right’ of politics as in any way conservative. There is so much they do smash, or want to break down, from environment, to institutions that traditional 19th or 20th century conservatism would be aghast at. Its some form of revanchivist radicalism so far largely undefined, but i think these people need to lose the conservative label though. So i suppose thats holding me back from agreeing with you more fully.