We probably wouldn't laugh much if it happened here –– if, say, David Koch held secret meetings with Republican elected officials at his ABT or NYCB studios to map out "strategy" out of the public's eye and away from the media's attention. But since it probably hasn't happened here, but HAS happened elsewhere halfway across the globe, we can take a moment away from our laser-focused telescopic sights on the RNC's convention coverage in Tampa to be slightly amused.
Down in Queensland, Australia, Premier Campbell Newman, who by the way has formed an advisory panel to figure out how to cut all the "red tape" in the gun permit process so that his government can get guns into the hands of its citizens faster, secretly moved his regular Monday cabinet meeting from his official office to the government-owned Queensland Ballet studios in Brisbane and refused to tell the inquiring media where the ministers, chiefs of staff, and directors-general were holed-up. Premier Newman said it was all just a simple "strategy meeting to map out the state's future" and everyone, including the police commissioner, engaged in a little "stretching". Uh huh.
When the Opposition Leaders, union officials, media, and interested citizens who were accustomed to attending and participating in the weekly cabinet meetings finally caught up with Premier Newman at the barre, things got a little sticky in the ole resin box, as they say:
Premier Newman preparing to pirouette: "Look, there's no secret to this."
Reporter: "It was secret this morning . . . Is your definition of secret different to the ordinary definition of secret?"
Premier Newman's government was accused of being "addicted to secrecy" just as finalization of the state budget looms and is expected to include wide cuts in public service jobs. Hopefully, after all its hospitality, the Queensland Ballet and its new director, Li Cunxin, will be spared.
Here's the play by play in print with highly entertaining audio from ABC News in Australia.
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