Turnbull implodes under the weight of own contradictions

We all knew the Tories would were morally flexible, but this latest backflips takes policy backflips to the level of Olympic gymnastics.

Malcolm Turnbull, after attempting to introduce a cigarette tax increase in order to avoid paying more for his health insurance, exposed his hypocrisy for all to see: on the one hand he argued that increasing taxes on a product, even as part of tax harmonization, was a cynical tax grab that wouldn't decrease consumption, and at the same time that tax increases are a valid method of suppressing demand.

It was a policy so stupid that even Bronwyn Bishop called it out (an MP well versed in policy contradiction; she once called for banning of the Muslim headscarf, but not the Jewish skullcap since Muslims apparently employ it merely as an "iconic emblem of defiance").

Today Malcolm Turnbull buckled under the weight of his own contradictions and performed a stellar backflip announcing he would abandon his argument copping criticism from the Labor party he attacked for announcing the policy as well as far right nutjob Steve Fielding.

To demonstrate the full desertion of principle here, I conclude this post with a list of comments made by the Tories as they advocate against their current position, fervently defending cheap sugar laced alcohol blatantly marketed to children as a principled stand:

- "The alcopops tax has got nothing to do with health measures. It’s all about raising revenue." - Malcolm Turnbull (here)

- "This is just a revenue grab – nothing more or less" - Malcolm Turnbull (here)

- "We do not support the alcopops tax. It is a fraud" - Malcolm Turnbull (here)

- "It is not a health measure. It’s a revenue grab." - Malcolm Turnbull (here)

- "One thing the Government could have done was choose to not put up the price of alcohol but it did and it has flowed into the inflation numbers" - Malcolm Turnbull (claiming alcopops cause increases in inflation, here)

- "[the alcopop tax is a] $1 slug on responsible Australians who happen to enjoy a pre-

mixed Bundy and Coke or Scotch and Dry" - Brendan Nelson, a medical doctor, promoting alcopops (here)

To ask Malcolm Turnbull why his party now supports a policy that they (and they alone) believe is a "revenue grab" and a "fraud" that has "flowed into inflation numbers" and constitutes "a $1 slug on responsible Australians" why not email Malcolm at Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au ; I have; awaiting response.


Read the full debacle here.