We haven’t heard too much from the Government about John Hewson’s Ferrari recently. Nor will we between now and the election. The Prime Minister, Paul Keating, likes to be the champion of the battler, the worker, the down and out. He has portrayed the Labor Government as the helper of those who cannot help himself.
Until four months ago, Mr Keating made much of Dr Hewson’s wealth, especially his Ferrari. He can no longer do that because Mr Keating is himself a millionaire, four times over. At least on paper. So the moment he makes a personal attack about Dr Hewson’s wealth, he will invite an attack in response. That will not stop colourful personal references of other kinds, because they are an important part of Mr Keating’s political armoury, and he is very good at it. His line this week that Dr Hewson, the “”flim-flam” man, only “”discovered his heart when he discovered fear in it” was a gem.
But there was no contrasting the Ferrari-owning of the Opposition Leader with the plight of the clients of the Australian Council of Social Service. That would be dangerous ground.
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