Steve Bullets Fielding

Australian Senator Steve Fielding snuck into the federal upper house on a slim vote that was compounded by sly preference deals in 2004. He has occupied a crucial balance of power of vote into the current parliament. He's on my odium list for his deciding vote in support of the dismantling of university student unionism -- a silver bullet -- and for his practice of whacky protest stunts. His ascendance to parliament arose through his preselection by the Family First party, which is affiliated to the evangelic prosperity-gospel-styled CityLife Church.

Along with just about every other nation the Australian government is 'stimulating' its economy. As the opposition party --the Liberal-national coalition -- has decided to block passage of the bills for the current $A 42 billion stimulus, it will be left to the Greens, South Australian independent Nick Xenophon and Steve 'Bullets' Fielding to make up the majority Labor needs to line up the stimulus, roll up a $950 note and pass it over to us, with a gentle nudge to the ribs and a wink.

So, we are about to be exposed to the odious Fielding once more. And what a whack-job this man is. Indeed, he is always talking about bullets -- odd for a Family First man.

In Feb. 2008 Fielding was quizzing a family breakdown expert at a Senate Standing Committee and was non-plussed:

I know there is no silver bullet here, but I would have thought we would have got it down to four or five core issues that are driving relationship breakdown. I am not just talking about marriage here; I am using the word ‘relationship’ to mean marriage or de facto, it is the same thing, because it really is across the board. I have this gut feeling, but I need you folks to tell me. That is why I am asking the question. I have been on this track now for at least two years. I am genuinely interested to know not just what strengthens marriage—and I think it is important you have done some work there—but also the common elements driving relationship breakdown. I am not after a silver bullet, but it is the 80/20 rule.

So, Silver bullets are what ultimately triggers a significant event, Steve? As in mortgage stress is the silver bullet for marriage breakdowns? Am I on the right track here, Steve?

Let's try another example, from today:

The global financial crisis is urgent and it is serious. I mean realistically we're talking about probably 800,000 jobs potential, over the next four or five years. And that's serious, that's serious for Australia, so it does need a mammoth response.

Now what the Rudd Government has put forward, is a mammoth response, it's the largest in Australia's history, and Family First will support a package, but we want to make sure it's the right package.

Now it's not just Family First, there are other experts and people out there who I think should have their say on this package, because once we spend this money, we don't have any more. Once we fire this bullet, we don't have any more. And so this bullet needs to be spot on.

OK. So, this time the bullet is a silver one, although you don't call it that. But let's assume that's what you intended. However, Steve, this time the bullet is going to trigger a good event: a recovery. I get it. But why bullet - why do we have to go around popping caps into policy and social problems. Why are you such a whack job, Steve? Are you the Silver bullet of the senate?