Late last year Liberal Party Deputy Leader Julie Bishop complained in Online Opinion that Foreign Minister Bob Carr had undermined the Prime Minister's authority on the UN vote on Palestine . He had 'run a guerrilla campaign' among the backbench to 'get his way' in Caucus, so as to 'roll her' in Cabinet. Such treachery must be condemned because 'a prime minister without authority cannot function ... for very long'.
As a politician and lawyer she knew Carr infringed no constitutional rule or convention; it was, in fact, common or garden Westminster politics, with members free to discuss proposals and compete for support. She was, it seems, committed to a view which goes further than doctrines of party unity and joint cabinet responsibility — ministers must support a prime minister's views even before Cabinet addresses them.
This view of politics helps explain why there has been so little controversy in the Liberal Party on issues such as the Iraq War, the Apology, refugees, same-sex marriage, gambling reform etc. which divide the nation. It explains why there were only five 'conscience votes' during Howard's reign and why 'crossing the floor' is so rare.
But this impressive record of loyalty is also a history of moral self-subordination and, contrary to the Deputy Leader's views, a matter for shame rather than pride. She is, in effect, taking to extremes a doctrine of unity which is responsible for much of what is wrong in politics.
To understand why, consider reconciliation. The Liberal Party denied an apology during the years of the Howard administration, but changed its policy as soon as a new leader made it expedient. No one sought a 'conscience' vote when the policy began or was rejected but all members, with the exception of Howard, joined in the celebratory sitting in Parliament House.
Likewise with Labor, whose members sign a pledge of loyalty. It seems astonishing now that, despite opposition to the Iraq War, no member would support a formal inquiry into the evidence said to justify it, including claims now known to have been fabricated by Rafid al-Janabi, known as 'curveball' by US intelligence officials.
It is hard to dismiss the conjecture that this was because Labor leaders were wedded to the alliance and back-benchers were sworn to unity. They