Labor
FUSS ABOUT NOTHING: Minister Tim’s dive blown out of the water
The Geelong Advertiser’s story on Victorian Tourism Minister Tim Holding’s diving in proximity to the sunken HMAS Canberra tourist attraction has run faster than their Jeff Whalley trying to avoid a burly bouncers at one of Geelong’s renowned nightclubs, possibly the Sphinx.
A great yarn, driven mainly by the fact that Minister Tim has now been all but adopted by the state’s mums given their concern for his welfare and his passion for the great outdoors.
Some might think it a little overblown but the issue was very well played by the Liberal’s designated hitter in Geelong David Koch who managed to express fury about the Minister taking a dive while simultaneously arguing it should be open to everyone.
The truth is – of course – that the minister should be praised for seeing exactly what tourist divers will see, so he can speak more expertly on how exciting an attraction it is when it opens and be an even more persuasive advocate for tourism in Victoria. On his watch, Victoria has overtaken Queensland as a favoured internal tourism destination. Not all down to Tim perhaps but he’d be blamed if the numbers were trending the other way so credit where it’s due.
But it seems Holding will now have to be very careful, every time he does something more adventurous than trek down to Docklands for sub-factional meets or ride across Treasury Gardens towards his ministerial suite. Having saved Minister Holding once, the public it seems wish to be extra especially sure we don’t lose him again. How nice.
But it’s also a reminder of how petty and small politics can be. Cut the guy some slack. And we don’t mean while abseiling.
Holding’s encouragement to his opposite number Louise Asher to follow in his scuba steps was heartily endorsed by members of her party room keen to see her meet her end by any means necessary with some suggesting a “hunting trip” as an alternate.
But easily the most enlightening aspect of the scuba saga has been in today’s Herald Sun which seems to be foreshadowing a line of Tim Holding action dolls. So far they have proposed Scuba Tim, Bush Tim and Rescued Tim. Some will be looking out for Premier Tim.
Discussion
11 comments for “FUSS ABOUT NOTHING: Minister Tim’s dive blown out of the water”
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The Photoshop work in the herald sun is truly awful.
I saw Tim swim past, i asked him if he wanted to join my secret under the sea community, he said he’d think about it.
Pity no one didn’t tie one tonne of lead onto his leg!
Huh? Everyone tied a tonne of lead onto his leg?
They call him DIM Holding for a reason. Thick as two planks.
He went on a diving junket when he should have been working.
The story is a lot of fuss about nothing (good opportunity for a free opposition kick -nice to know Asher has retired without telling anyone, Neil Mitchell to play the theme from Danger Mouse and the Herald Sun photoshop to be used). However Ministers taking advantage of the perks of office (nobody really buys the Ministerial research line, hey that’s what they have the public service for)is a bad look especially for a third term government going into an election year. Brumby should curb MP/Ministerial overseas junkets, taking advantaging of hospitality at the races/ski fields and get them to roll up their sleeves and look like one of the punters (eg: Kosky should take the tram rather than the Ministeral car etc)in an election year.
Holding is a tool of the highest order. His political career is going the way of the HMAS Canberra.
was he looking for seamen?
Sounds like his girlfriend is still arranging his media strategy.
Funny how Timmy goes swimming to find water but he can’t find any for Melbourne as Water Buckets Minister.
Not even a starved shark would want to chew on shit.
This man has been rewarded for his very liberal use of police files, and for having the biggest cross referenced dirt files in town.
These have mainly been used against his own Labor colleagues…
RAT.