Nemesis
Each episode of Nemesis, the ABC’s morbidly fascinating three-part retrospective series on the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison governments of 2013-22, begins with a word association game. The ensemble of parliamentarians and former ministers is asked to describe the three featured prime ministers in a single word. Tony Abbott is called, among other things, ‘strong’, ‘negative’, ‘clever’, ‘dishonest’, ‘aggressive’, and ‘disciplined’, and, in the words of former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, ‘pugilistic and [someone who is] also willing to] give you a hug’. Malcolm Turnbull is dubbed ‘incredibly intelligent’, ‘ruthless’, ‘flawed’, ‘urbane’, ‘superficial’, ‘visionary’, and ‘disappointing’. After much hesitation, Scott Morrison is labelled ‘genuine’, ‘divisive’, ‘determined, full-throttle’, ‘slippery’, ‘misunderstood’, ‘driven’, ‘controlling’, ‘smug’, and ‘disappointing’.
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