Smithson: Is the Mali-Midas touch being undone by left-field issues?

Brewing issues that the Malinauskas government didn’t foresee may be a hint of more things to come in its second term, writes Mike Smithson.

The all-conquering Premier cruised through his rise to power after Covid, helped along by a lame Opposition which was always unsteady with David Speirs and then Vincent Tarzia at the helm.

It’s a new-look Liberal Party under Ashton Hurn with some top-notch advisers who know how to scrap when the political punches are thrown.

The obvious warning sign for a government, with an overwhelming majority, is that the bigger you are, potentially, the harder you fall.

But tricky issues coming from left field often consume attention the government wishes didn’t exist.

A seemingly simple but compelling problem emerged in the media last week leaving the housing minister appearing as if he lacked a caring spirit.

7News highlighted the plight of an elderly woman who’d heard strange noises in the roof space of her Housing Trust unit.

According to her version, calls to the Trust were largely ignored, giving her the impression they thought she was a troublemaker of unsound mind.

It turned out that a drug-using intruder had been coming and going from her roof space and even setting up bedding and cutlery stolen from her kitchen.

Minister Nick Champion seemed less inclined about her mental trauma and legitimate concerns than he did about the reputation of the Housing Trust.

His lack of empathy was breathtaking.

The government has also been unable to quell the growing tide of discontent over tree removal in two parkland locations to make way for a new golf course and a........

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