CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT – WEDNESDAY

The buzz of the media room was disordered as photographers prepared cameras and checked flash units, and television crews scurried about positioning boom microphones and setting lighting, arranging recording gear. Journalists arranged recording devices toward a clear space on the lectern and waited for the deputy opposition leader, Barton Messenger, to make an announcement in response to the incendiary story in the Hancock media of a corrupt prime minister.

The national broadsheet’s morning edition published a front-page story accusing Prime Minister Gerrard of an alleged corrupt deal with the Indonesian president, linking government funding for offshore immigration centres with commuting the death sentences of two convicted Australian drug smugglers.

Bylined by Anita Devlin, the article alleged the prime minister was about to skim a secret commission of forty million dollars, but the fraudulent scheme was foiled by the parliament, forcing the prime minister to an election. The article alleged the deal would still be completed if Gerrard were to be returned as prime minister.

Anita hadn’t written the published story, but her initial draft and incisive research were used to provide substance to the claims. A photo of the prime minister lounging by his pool with a drink in his hand at his Sydney residence was used under the headline: I WIN, YOU PAY.

She immediately telephoned Tony Hancock to complain about the use of her name for a story she didn’t write but was quickly dismissed by the owner. ‘It’s called editorial licence,’ said Hancock in response to her complaint.

‘My column said nothing about the drug traffickers and my research touched on Gerrard’s wife going to Europe with him retiring soon. You never mentioned it. You’ve just said a deal is done and he needs to win the election to get his money, which is absolutely wrong.’

‘Your research implied there was something going on, so that’s good enough for me.’

‘There’s nothing going on and that’s the point,’ barked Anita before taking a few deep breathes through her nose to calm herself. ‘Where did you get that hideous photo of him?’

‘He always loves lying by the pool in his skimpy bathers. I used an old shot of him I had on my phone. Do you like it?’ Hancock laughed. ‘I was at a summer barbeque last year. He’s going to hate it.’

‘That’s the point. He won’t hate you, he’ll hate me, and that stuffs up my future access to his government colleagues.’

‘I rewrote the story using your material and I thought giving you credit would probably help your future access.’

‘You think this byline will help my access?’ snapped Anita, shaking her head. ‘Making these allegations will be a disaster for my access.’

‘Not in our television division.’ Hancock was firm and short, leaving Anita looking at her telephone with incredulity when he suddenly disconnected.

Gerrard was yet to respond to the allegations, so as planned by Wolff, Messenger was to add another dimension to the story with the big lie agreed by the leadership team. The media assembled for the morning briefing after being advised the opposition wanted to add to the story with new allegations.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming.’ Messenger took his place at the lectern. ‘After today’s startling revelation in the Hancock media, it’s important to remember the coming election is about leadership. Who do Australians trust to lead them for the next five years? Who do they trust to provide good government in all its dealings? What ethics and standards do Australians expect from their political leaders; and, what transparency do they want from their government?’ Messenger paused for emphasis.

‘Do they trust a prime minister with unanswered damning allegations hanging over his head as referred to in this morning’s press, or do they trust a new era of integrity, honesty and transparency?’ He quickly referred to his notes. ‘A Stanley government will ensure at all times we are open and honest with the Australian people. We believe in strong relationships with our neighbours based on honesty and mutual obligation to respect each other’s customs and culture.

‘Indonesia is a strong, long-term friend of Australia and we welcome our free-trade agreements and the cross-border cooperation we share with them. We see our relationship as enduring, and we are very conscious of the ongoing vital need for our governments to work together for the stability of the region. We do not expect to involve ourselves in Indonesian domestic affairs and we do not expect our friends to intrude in ours.’

Cameras clicked rapidly as Messenger moved his pose, looking to various parts of the room. ‘Today’s allegations against Prime Minister Gerrard are disturbing, and if found to be true, should condemn him from ever standing for public office again. I note the prime minister has failed to respond to the allegations, therefore adding weight to the veracity of the story in the Hancock media. Why hasn’t he responded to the allegations – does he have something to hide?’

Messenger looked up from his notes and gazed directly at the television cameras. ‘We call upon Mr Gerrard to immediately respond to these serious allegations made against him and explain himself to all Australians by answering the following questions.

‘Why did the prime minister, during a period of national mourning, attempt to force the parliament to approve funds for the construction of detention centres contrary to other government announcements? Was there a secret deal concocted by the prime minister with the Indonesian president? What guarantees can the prime minister give to the Australian people that there will be no further dirty deal when parliament resumes? And, under what circumstance is Mrs Gerrard now in Europe instead of Australia supporting the prime minister during this election period? These are the questions the opposition will seek to have answered before election day next week.

‘If the Stanley opposition is successful in gaining the Australian people’s trust and we are given the privilege of being asked to form government, then we will establish an Auditor General inquiry to investigate this sham deal and determine if there was a secret agreement, reviewing the money trail before we approve further funds to Indonesia. That is our commitment to the Australian people and we will not let you down.’

Messenger paused, swallowed harshly to clear his throat and coughed, quickly taking a sip of water from a glass positioned on a shelf within the lectern. ‘The lack of transparency by the Gerrard government is not new and we have come to learn over the years that it is standard practice to keep the Australian people sidelined from major decisions, especially on significant policy.

‘I can now disclose more startling evidence of the Gerrard government potentially overstepping its mandate when it comes to securing our borders, again, more specifically, with Indonesia, and we have to ask – why?’ Messenger looked about the room and settled his eyes on Anita, but she looked down at her notebook, quickly doodling, anxious about what she was about to hear.

‘Sources close to cabinet have recently briefed the opposition about a top-secret policy paper being considered by the government and it has been virtually ticked off for immediate implementation after the election. I have it from very reliable sources close to the government that a re-elected Gerrard Government will immediately begin to negotiate with the Indonesian government a new border and immigration agreement between the two countries. A new policy has been proposed to cabinet that a re-elected Gerrard Government will open the borders for the free movement of citizens between our two countries.’

A sudden noise erupted as journalists and cameramen commented to each other and cameras shutters clicked continuously. Messenger waited for the din to subside before continuing. ‘This new open border management agreement, similar to the immigration arrangements we already have with New Zealand, will mean open borders to the largest country in our region and allow their citizens to enter Australia without restriction just as our New Zealand cousins enjoy.

‘This proposed Gerrard government initiative will mean the years of tight border controls will be relaxed and allow any person with an Indonesian passport to enter without visa and reside in Australia without restriction. As a consequence, the anticipated surge in residency from citizens of our northern neighbour will see a significant increase in the demands for government services and support.

‘We are advised by these very reliable sources close to the government that this secret policy proposed has been prepared and will be legislated within two years of the re-election of a Gerrard government.’

Messenger gnawed his bottom lip and continued reading. ‘This proposed government policy is at best a slap in the face to all Australians who have directed their governments for many years to maintain strong borders and stop the scourge of people smugglers taking money from illegal immigrants to get access to Australia.

‘The Australian people are strongly opposed to free movement of nationals from other countries to ours without following strict guidelines for residency or citizenship. This proposed new immigration plan continues the arrogance of the Gerrard government toward Australian culture and follows today’s allegation of corruption at the highest levels of government.

‘We call upon Prime Minister Gerrard to immediately address these serious allegations and either confirm or deny his secret plan for an open border policy with Indonesia and come clean with the Australian people.

‘Who do the Australian people trust – a government too friendly with our neighbours to the north, or a Stanley government who will bring honesty, integrity and transparency back into government?

‘Thank you very much.’ Messenger quickly left the media room as journalists shouted questions.

Anita Devlin sat at the back, arms tightly crossed over her chest, wiping a tear from her cheek with a thumb.

‘Boss, you need to respond. We can’t have this rubbish out in the electorate for too long.’ Miles Fisher was frustrated with Gerrard’s lack of response to the increasing news broadcasts announcing a secret government policy to open the borders with Indonesia.

‘It’s a fucking lie, so why give it air!’ Gerrard growled.

‘If you don’t respond they will keep pushing it until you do.’

‘It’s Hancock and Jameson who are behind this, I fucking bet you,’ said Gerrard. ‘Those bastards have done the big lie thing before, about twenty years ago.’

‘What was the result?’

‘I was elected,’ snarled Gerrard. ‘And I’ve been paying for it ever since. They think this will hurt me, but it won’t. We’re still way ahead in the polls.’

‘I’m not sure this issue left without a response will play out well in the electorate,’ said Fisher beginning to pace. ‘There is already an anti-immigration mood and the candidate in Melbourne has stoked the heart of the racism beast. The Islamophobes will be out next. You urgently need to publicly respond, boss. Or at the very least, issue a media statement.’

‘Okay, let’s do a release. Let me dictate the wording,’ retorted Gerrard angrily. ‘Are you ready? And use this word for word – Prove it!’

Wolff was standing in the night shadows across the street from the all-night convenience store. He had taken extra care not to be seen, avoiding CCTV in various properties and traders. He’d walked the final half-kilometre and now he waited. Watching who was coming and going, waiting for the moment when the right people would turn up. He figured the late crowd would be filtering in soon for supplies, but he wanted the right kind of citizens to be in the store when he acted, so he waited.

Earlier he had watched the news broadcasts with their expert editorial commentary regarding Messenger’s allegations of open borders with Indonesia. The political commentators had called it for what they believed it to be: a huge lie.

The condemnation in the community was universal and many groups came out to speak on the issue, suggesting Messenger was a fascist causing increased racial tension within the community. Perfect. There were suggestions of xenophobia by the Greens and the Human Rights Commissioner asked for citizens and residents offended by Messenger’s highly provocative remarks to contact his office with a formal complaint.

Meredith Bruce defended the government, denying any plans for an open border policy with Indonesia and calling the allegation a lie. She accused Barton Messenger of knowingly and willfully besmirching the government with garbage political allegations causing irreparable damage to international relations and adding fear to many in the community. ‘This is a lie and Messenger knows it. I would have thought he was better than this rubbish.’

The Indonesian Ambassador denied any knowledge of the plans, but left the issue open by saying, ‘These are things for the Australian government and not for Indonesia to comment on at this time.’

A spokeswoman for a right-wing extremist organisation called for an end to Muslim immigration and Rukhmani’s speech highlights were being replayed on various broadcasts. The Australian Broadcasting Commission commentators claimed Messenger was a racist with anger in his heart, not worthy of being in the parliament let alone deputy leader of the opposition, and called for his immediate resignation.

The nightly news current affairs programs left an empty chair at the interview desk, accusing Messenger of being too frightened to appear to answer questions. ‘We live in a multicultural society where we have accepted diversity for many harmonious years,’ opined Barry Meagher, the respected commentator. ‘There is no evidence of racial tension in the community and this allegation from Mr Messenger is ill considered and totally without foundation. I would go so far to say it is a deliberate lie.’

A perfect result for Wolff.

The elites were disparaging the allegations as a deliberate lie, but citizens in the suburbs hearing the story second- or third-hand from workmates or at school pickup would not have heard the denial of the story and the lack of evidence to support the Messenger claim. They only heard the message that the borders will soon be open. Wolff coveted a difference to the election narrative so there was a clear choice between the parties. He told Messenger that a lie will be someone’s truth and to dismiss the negativity being heaped on him and get back to campaigning. ‘You don’t have to raise it again, and if folks ask you to recant, then refer them to the prime minister’s lack of response.’

A group of laughing young people approached the store, prompting Wolff to prepare for his attack. Wolff assessed the young Asians would be the perfect witnesses. He wanted them on the early morning news broadcasts anxiously talking about the frightening incident and how they were now too scared to walk the streets at night. They would be perfect players in his campaign strategy to win Melbourne by potentially provoking a racist response from the viewing public. The group innocently filed in to the store, moving to the various shelves for their late-night food supply.

Wolff picked up the glass bottle at his feet and lit the inflammable cloth wedged into its neck that dangled into the petrol liquid inside. When the cloth was strongly alight and warming the bottle, he stepped from the shadows and hurled it high toward the store. He aimed for it to land on the gas bottles for sale stacked in a metal guarded pallet by the front door. Hoping for chaos if it smashed into the gas storage, he knew the ignition wouldn’t be enough to cause an explosion, but the fear of an explosion would make great television.

The bottle bounced off the window and dropped into the display, smashing and exploding. He watched as the customers began yelling and gesticulating to the cashier while moving deeper into the store away from the door. The cashier ran to the fire with an extinguisher, but it was already out of control, quickly spreading to other products on display out front with flames licking up the wall and into the roof, rendering the fearless cashier’s firefighting efforts almost negligible.

Wolff could hear the distant wailing sirens of the first responders and began to move away as spectators assembled to watch. He was very pleased with his first efforts and moved off to extend his strategic urban attacks to his next location, the local mosque. He planned to daub graffiti decrying Islam and then move on to the nearby Catholic church spraying similar messages about Christians, making sure his spelling was questionable. He had already smeared anti-immigration slogans on the cenotaph in nearby botanical gardens and once the Catholics were insulted, he figured his little battle waged against the community was enough for one evening.

When he reached his hotel in Carlton, he called Rukhmani. ‘Jaya, I have written a press release I would like you to post this evening. Do you have a problem with that?’

‘What am I calling for this time?’

‘You’re seeking assurances from all political parties they will refrain from inciting racial violence and come to the negotiation table to resolve the increasing community conflict.’

‘What conflict?’

‘There have been a number of various incidences of community unrest in your electorate this evening and the news will be carrying it in the morning, so if you get this out now you will be invited to comment.’

‘What unrest?’

‘Fires and the desecration of churches.’

‘My god, anyone hurt?’

‘I wouldn’t have thought so, but I suspect it will stir up a fight in the community, especially driven by radicals on either side. You need to be seen as the calming influence,’ said Wolff. ‘Our country and its culture are under attack in your electorate and you need to lead on this.’

‘But I’m an unelected independent candidate.’

‘You are also an immigrant, highly articulate, a university professor and you can provide a solution to these troubled times for the voters of Melbourne.’

‘What’s that?’ laughed Jaya.

‘Overthrow Gerrard.’