The hothouse which is Parliament

is currently under closer scrutiny than usual.

I had an English friend, now sadly deceased, who migrated here and used to say that listening to the parliamentary broadcasts was "marvellous theatre".  She loved it, especially when her "team" was in power.

I don't feel the same way. I often cringe at the way they treat one another. It isn't getting the job done. At times all the not-so-honourable members seem to be interested is undermining their opposition. They either want to stay in power or get into power.

We are losing our federal MP. She's had enough. The GetUp group went too far and the Opposition has encouraged them in their efforts. I have to admit to bias here. I have no time for GetUp. Members of it have harassed me for daring to question their tactics - thereby proving my point.

I am actually not a particularly political sort of cat. I would never join a political party. I have voted for more than one party's policies. Perhaps that is problem. I vote according to policy rather than party. 

But politics has been particularly toxic lately. A Minister will apparently be making an announcement today - to the effect that he was the one under investigation in a rape allegation. He has now apparently employed a defamation lawyer.  There have been demands for days that he "out" himself - and do it before the legal process had run its course. There are claims he should do it because a Shadow Minister "outed" himself when similar claims were made.

I am worried about all this. The alleged victim took her own life last year. She can't bring charges and she can't defend herself. Her family did not want charges laid but a journalist thought she knew better and started pushing others into agitating for an inquiry. It has gone from an informal complaint by a woman with a mental illness to a political disaster for both sides. The Minister in question has not had an opportunity to defend himself until today. He had to let the police inquiries run their course in two states and at federal level. Yes, he could have "outed" himself earlier but that would have interfered with the ongoing investigation. Journalists and others, seeking a story which would bring about his downfall, would not let go of the story. 

It has always been couched in terms of concern for the alleged victim but were they really that concerned? The victim has never been named  - rightly so. Members of her family still have to go through this emotional trauma as well as the trauma of the suicide of someone they undoubtedly loved.

If the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator can be shown not to have both been present at the event where the alleged act took place then what? Will the media apologise, cease - and move on to something else? They will continue to milk the story as long as they can. They will still demand the resignation of the Minister. It will be seen as part of "politics today". 

It should not be like that. The story will continue to hurt the family involved. It will do harm to many. It may be the very reason other victims won't even report such matters.