Because they’re totally not trying to use public service resources for electioneering purposes, it has been revealed that the Foreign Affairs minister Rob Nicholson wanted his department to produce a minimum of three media statements per week regarding the security threats posed by terrorism. While they would draw from events around the world, the statements would have been a steady stream delivered to media inboxes in the hopes of getting some kind of traction. Fortunately, the civil servants in the department realised this was ridiculous and pushed back, saying it wasn’t a priority for them to fulfil these requests, and good on them for doing so – it’s not their job to try and help the party build a narrative for their election campaign. And no doubt, we’ll likely hear a lot more about the security question from the Conservatives going forward, because it’s not like their economic record is doing them any favours right now. Of course, the irony in all of this is that it would appear to feed directly into the aims of terrorists, which is of course, to create fear. If the government is going to deliver nothing but a stream of statements saying “Ooh, terrorists! Be very afraid!” then doesn’t it mean that they’re letting the terrorists win? Even if they follow it up with the chest thumping about how awesome the government is by taking such a strong stand against them, etcetera, etcetera? I’m at a bit of a loss as to how this is a brilliant strategy in the bigger picture.

Good reads:

• As his first order as Chief of Defence Staff, General Vance launched “Operation Honour” to end sexual misconduct in the Forces.
• The Federal Court has ruled that the government’s new process for refugee claimants from “designated countries of origin” is unconstitutional.
• Stop talking about coalitions. For the love of all the gods on Olympus, stop talking about it.
• Lt-Gen Whitecross says that boosting female recruitment for the military is a challenge, but we’re already ahead of most of our NATO partners.
• There are accusations of campaign expense shenanigans in a Liberal nomination race (but the occasional messy race is part of the price of open nominations).
• Colby Cosh looks at how spousal immunity in criminal prosecution was quietly eliminated by the government.
• In the National Post, I look at the problem of the Auditor General demanding independent oversight in the Senate.

Odds and ends:

Dmitri Soudas, former Executive Director of the Conservative Party, is now a Liberal.

Eve Adams’ nomination battle is this Sunday.

The first leaders’ debate is now less than two weeks away, so here’s where you can catch it.

https://twitter.com/terenceyoungmp/status/622164961167560704