While criticism of the PM is currently concentrated on his support for the Speaker after her lavish use of taxpayer-provided travel funds was revealed several weeks ago, that outlandish award of a knighthood to our British Head of State’s spouse in January remains fresh in voters’ minds and can still provoke a negative reaction. Here is an example from Fairfax media, “The damage to the Abbott Government is difficult to overstate, with Bishop’s conduct [House of Reps Speaker, Liberal MP Bronwyn Bishop] seen as symptomatic of an administration out of touch – just like Abbott’s awarding of a knighthood to Prince Philip”. [“It’s too late to wash off the extravagance stain” by Michael Gordon, Fairfax media, 31 July 2015]
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
