Tim Worstall

March 16, 2009

No, not an offer from myself, rather the latest from the slightly bizzaro world of Australian politics.

Pauline Hanson has been an on-off presence on the fringes of the political scene for some time now. She’s attempting to get elected once again but this has been slightly derailed by the publication of some photos allegedly of her taken by an alleged ex-boyfriend. The photos are not for family viewing, being of a young lady (err, actually, given the poses, perhaps “lady” is not the appropriate word) in and out of a series of lingerie.

Hanson’s defense is that, while she may superficially resemble the subject, she doesn’t know the man, the place where they were allegedly taken didn’t exist at the time they were taken, she was married at the alleged time, not a shop girl, she’s never been a shop girl and anyway, it isn’t her. Which is what leads to her offer to show her belly button to prove it isn’t her.

All rather odd I think you’ll agree, but then Australian politics has never been a place for the fainthearted. Paul Keating, the ex-Prime Minister, had a robust way with words: “We’re not interested in the views of painted, perfumed gigolos”; “if this gutless spiv, and I refer to him as a gutless spiv”; “the brain-damaged Leader of the Opposition.” These were actually said in Parliament, during debates (not as asides) and just for the avoidance of doubt amongst those who don’t speak Australian, no, these are not compliments.

Rum place, Australia.