Andrew Dickens: Andrew Bayly did the right thing

How many times in the middle of an intense argument with a stupid work mate have you been tempted just to smack their stupid little face. But you don’t.  

In fact, you know that you can’t even touch them. You can glower and scowl and talk with a low harsh intensity.  

But no touchy touchy and no raised voices.  

It’s hard but being civilised and rational and being grown up demands you keep control.  

Andrew Bayly didn’t. But what is good is that he knew it.  

Sometimes you have to hold yourself to account is what he said when he resigned. That was a great line. Wouldn’t you love more people to hold themselves account.   

Some might say that he was just trying to get urgency in getting things done. But that’s not so.  

In these uncivil times we need to remember that basic courtesy and respect for others must exist.  

If the strength of your argument is so strong you will not need to shake some sense into anyone.  

And I think the world would be better if we had people who were not so inclined to call anyone they disagree with a moron. To threaten them if they have a different point of view.  

There are some who are making political capital out of the gap between Friday's resignation and Monday's announcement. But that's just petty. He just spent a weekend pulling himself together to face the music.  

Andrew Bayly has acted with honour and the next version of Andrew Bayly will be even better. He’s got a ton of experience, and he’s learnt a harsh lesson.  

And you know he learnt it because he punished himself. 

But he leaves a problem for the National party. 

They're running out of experienced talent. 

 

 

 

 

 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
How many times, now, be honest with me, how many times,
in the middle of an intense argument with a stupid workmate,
have you been tempted just to box their leather ears
thump some sense into them? Obviously you don't. In fact,
you know that you can't even touch them. You can
glower and scowl and talk with a low, harsh intensity,
but no touchy touchy, and no raised voices. Unfortunately, Andrew

(00:20):
Bailey touchy, touchied and raise his voice. But what is
good about this is that he knew it. Sometimes you
have to hold yourself to account, is what he said
at his press conference when he resigned. What a great line.
Wouldn't you love more people to hold themselves to account.
Some might say that he was just trying to get
urgency and getting things done, but that's not so. These
are uncivil times. We need to be civil. We need

(00:42):
to remember that basic courtesy and respect for others must exist.
If the strength of your argument is so strong, you
will not need to shake some sense into anyone. And
I think the world would be better if we have
people who were not so inclined to call anyone they
disagree with a moron, or to threaten them if they
have a different point of view. Now there are some
we know who who are making political capital out of

(01:02):
the gap between Friday's resignation and Monday's announcement. Personally, I
think that's petty. He just spent a week in pulling
himself together to face the music, and when he faced
the music and told us that he was resigning, you
can see how close he was to tears. I think
Andrew Bailey acted like a fool with his staff member,
but he acted in his resignation with honor, and the
next version of Andrew Bailey will be even better. He's

(01:24):
got a ton of experience. But this leaves a problem
for the National Party. They're running out of experienced talents.
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