Rope barriers at parliament round out prickly week for government

If the government wanted to signal it was in touch with community concerns, walking through Hollywood-style velvet ropes and gold posts at parliament was probably not the best way to do it. 

The ritzy accoutrements, aimed at separating politicians from the media as they arrive at parliament, seem more "let them eat cake" than cozzie living.

It was an image the government could have done without as it closed out a particularly challenging week.

Media barriers

Let's start with the extraordinary scenes of Labor MPs trying to shepherd their colleague, Riverton MP Jagadish Krishnan, past waiting media and into parliament.

Journalists have been asking MPs questions at that entrance for decades.

It's not the only way into the building, but it's often the only one media are waiting at.

Which makes it all the more extraordinary that when Dr Jags, as he's known, chose to walk through that entrance, MP Terry Healy tried to get between his beleaguered colleague and reporters before fellow MP Pierre Yang tried to pull him through the doorway.

The contribution of Cockburn MP David Scaife, who told reporters to be "ashamed of yourselves", didn't help — although he apologised the following day, saying he had been worried about politicians' safety claiming the entry was blocked by the media.

When the barriers were installed the following day by parliamentary staff, not a single MP who spoke that morning was supportive of them.

The premier's office subsequently admitted one of its staff had asked two unnamed MPs to "support" Dr Jags on his way into parliament.

"This is now a government with total contempt for transparency," opposition leader Basil Zempilas said. 

"They have lost a handle on how to act, both in the chamber, outside the chamber, and with just about everything that they do."

Optics of restricting media

The issue of course isn't really the barriers — which are more of a symbolic than practical obstruction — or whether MPs like the media or not.

It's about the ability for an issue in the public interest — the business dealings and disclosures of Dr Jags — to be fully ventilated, and the appearance which is created when that doesn't happen.

The former GP is being sued in the United States over accusations of failing to pay back a million-dollar loan, which he's vowed to "vigorously defend". 

Reporting in other media — which has not been verified by the ABC — has also raised questions about whether Dr Jags complied with the rules by telling parliament about his debts and any gifts he receives.

The opportunity to ask him directly about those issues was lost when he was swept into parliament.

The next day, during an ill-fated bid by the opposition to force an inquiry into the issues, Dr Jags said he was in the final process of selling a network of doctors' surgeries he had built and that "all outstanding matters will be resolved upon settlement".

"I have taken legal advice about my parliamentary declarations and I am confident that these are in order," he added.

Child protection sore point

The other lingering headache for the government is its handling of issues in the child protection system, first brought to light by media reports more than two months ago.

Some progress was made when Cook and Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski met with Dorothy Papertalk, who says the system failed her three grandchildren before they were murdered by their mother. 

But those problems do not begin or end in the child protection system, which is why elders and the opposition started questioning what role Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch was playing in improving the lot for First Nations communities. 

On Monday the premier denied it had taken Punch months to visit Port Hedland, before his minister admitted later that day it was his first visit since July. 

The pair eventually managed to explain Punch's role in listening to Aboriginal communities and providing that information to cabinet, but couldn't really explain what difference that had made. 

On Thursday he quoted from Pilbara Indigenous leader, Doris Eaton, who wrote that his attendance at an on-country meeting was "greatly appreciated" and a "great example" of collaboration.

But he failed to mention less favourable parts of that letter, including a section which notes her requests from 2024 and 2025 "are yet to be fully addressed or realised" and encouraging him to share her "concerns" with colleagues to instigate "much needed action".

On the backfoot 

The government was left on the backfoot this week, forced to defend longstanding issues instead of focusing on anything constructive it was doing.

"I want to be talking about cost of living, health and housing, that's my priorities and that's what it will always be," minister John Carey said on Thursday.

And there is plenty to talk about in that space, including concern that the federal government's negative gearing changes may reduce rental supply. 

It's yet another potential challenge facing the government at the end of a year which has grown increasingly difficult, after it lost a heartland seat in Secret Harbour to One Nation and struggled to gain support for its university merger proposal. 

The summer break presents an opportunity to reset and return with a fresh focus in the new year.