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Outright denial of foreign offer is another failed test BY:DENNIS SHANAHAN, POLITICAL EDITOR From:The Australian March 01, 2012 12:00AM IN denying a report in The Australian yesterday that she had offered Bob Carr the post of foreign minister, Julia Gillard went over the top and allowed for no nuance or backpedalling. "The story that's on the front page of The Australian newspaper today is completely untrue," the Prime Minister said at a hurried four-question press conference. No ifs, no buts, "completely untrue" in its entirety. Two hours later in parliament, Gillard played the lawyer, parried questions and fudged. The reason was simple: the story was substantially true, couldn't be denied and anyone who did so would be guilty of misleading the parliament. Deliberately misleading parliament for political gain is a resignation offence. Once more Gillard had put herself on the spot, proved publicly inept, failed the commonsense test and looked evasive. Her supporters groaned inwardly and the former NSW premier felt queasy. These are the agreed facts from the "completely untrue" story that not even Gillard disputes: Carr was offered the Senate vacancy and the position of foreign minister; Gillard spoke personally to him at least twice on Monday night; after the conversation Carr believed he was going to be foreign minister; Carr was prepared to come to Canberra on Tuesday for an announcement; Stephen Smith and Simon Crean objected; and finally the offer of foreign minister was withdrawn on Tuesday morning and the alternative of defence (Smith's portfolio) or trade (Craig Emerson's) was offered. Does anyone in politics think a call from the Prime Minister after the NSW ALP head office had offered the job (correctly and with great political advantage) did not involve a confirmation of that "offer" from Gillard? Carr did and began to make preparations to become foreign minister. Does anyone think that the offer made in good faith wasn't pulled because other ministers didn't want an "outsider"? Several of Gillard's most senior colleagues think so and Carr feels he's probably better off out of the whole sorry mess. So why deny something so overwhelmingly correct and just create new doubts about your political judgment? The answer would be that denial is a reflex action under pressure backed by the hope media manipulation will carry the day. After so many ill-fated denials and obfuscations in recent months, Gillard risked another because the alternative was to be seen to be lacking authority and credibility as Prime Minister only 24 hours into a new era of "assertiveness". If Smith now gets the job of foreign minister, Gillard's impotence on ministerial selections and renewal will be confirmed. .

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