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Sunday February 12, 2012

What we're talking about

  • Christine on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' isn't it funny how DHS don't recognise the psychological effects of domestic violence on children and continue to allow ... more
  • Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' There is a family In the Cairns Area who are Foster Carers.Atherton Child Safety have threatened the carers and own ... more
  • duncan on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i have spent time with this family. it is a house full of love. "mum", grandfather and older sblings.this cannot be an issue ... more
  • Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Family Law is different from the rest of the law in this country.. Ie. Family Law is based on probability: ie if it might ... more
  • carol annetta on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' having known this family for some time i am disgusted with the treatment she has received. it seems more of a witch hunt ... more
  • Maureen Hillary on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Derryn,I have counselled traumatized parents as a result of DHS staff.There are great staff workers who care but they ... more
  • Janet Tavener on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I am a visitor to this country.My attention was drawn to the case of these children and their foster mother by a relative of ... more
  • sam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Happening in Tasmania also.Wewon a court case over 8 months ago and due process still hasn't been done.We spent 17,000 ... more
  • Anne Glover on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I just cannot believe what the DHS has put the Foster Mother, and the children through - I thought the DHS was supposed to ... more
  • Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' DHS are the most disgraceful organization I have ever had the displeasure of becoming involved with. They are so ... more
  • Vicki on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hi Derryn,I have known this carer since primary school, she has always put others above herself. Being a carer myself I know ... more
  • Gran'ma Pam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' As any of us with any sense know, these children should NEVER have been taken from this lady (mum) in the first place, they ... more
  • Dominic Lombardo on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I see my daughter every six months DHS are conducting a vendetta against me I have not been told why I can only see her ... more
  • cassy houghton on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hello Derryn,Firstly i would like to thankyou for your support and the willingness to help this beautiful family.I ... more
  • Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Im a carer also in Qld. I see this happen way too much from our Government. They are starting to use Carers own children as ... more
  • paul on "I'll pay the fee," says Hinch I believe what Liberal Party has done is stupid. But I feel for candidates like Joh Bauch and James Buonopane who want to ... more
  • Andrea on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Why are these public servants allowed to blatantly flout the law without the same consequences the rest of society faces? I ... more
  • birth mother on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i am the birth morther of these 4 children and i just want to say dhs dont care they just want the kids in care so they can ... more
  • Frances Goff on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Derryn, Firstly, Happy BirthdayHaving worked in a primary school for 15 year I have seen some terrible things regarding DHS ... more
  • Karen on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hi Derryn, I have known these children through "the system".for all of their lives. I have had regular contact with them ... more

Australia's first bloke

Posted by: Derryn Hinch | 27 July, 2010 - 4:16 PM
Tim Mathieson

It was no coincidence that Tony Abbott used his opening statement in Sunday’s debate to point out that he and his wife understand  what it is like to 'raise a family, to wrestle with a big mortgage, with grocery bills, with school fees'. The not-so-subtle hidden message was: Julia Gillard isn’t married, doesn’t have kids, what would she know?

He left out the fact that he is a Catholic. That must have been tempting because his opponent is an atheist.

It was also no coincidence that Abbott’s wife, Margie, appeared on the campaign trail with him yesterday at a child care centre. She runs one.

There was also the report that Abbott had been overheard in a Canberra restaurant  on Sunday night commenting on the absence of Gillard’s partner, Tim Mathieson, from the debate audience.

He didn’t deny it. Just said: 'You shouldn’t believe poisonous gossip.'

It was enough for Julia Gillard to confront the issue at a press conference in Tasmania yesterday.

She said Mathieson would not be on the road with her because he was not a party official, not a candidate, not a minister. Neither were Janette Howard or Therese Rein.

Ms. Gillard said: 'Obviously, for my partner, Tim, his job is being supportive of me. He is very supportive of me.'

Decades ago an unmarried candidate fought the election. In 1990 Andrew Peacock campaigned with his daughters and his future wife, Margaret St. George.

Julia Gillard has made it clear that if elected she will move into The Lodge and so will he. 'Where I live, he lives'. And that makes sense.

Of course we’ve had prime ministers who moved into The Lodge with their wives while mistresses lived elsewhere.
So who is Tim Mathieson? The man who is now Australia’s First Bloke.

He’s 54. He’s a former hairdresser who still cuts his mates’ hair and blow fries his partner’s famous ‘do.  He is now working in property development. He’s been a knockabout sports lover and ladies’ man. Critics say he’s a main chancer who left several business partners, including family, in the lurch.

In a revealing piece in the Weekend Australian Kate Legge quotes a friend, David McNamara, saying that when they first met Julia Gillard they thought Mathieson was 'batting out of his crease'.

Mathieson has been married and has two adult children to Dianne Stark and also has a 31-year-old daughter born out of wedlock who lives in the United States.

His absence from the campaign trail may have been promoted by the credo of Dennis Thatcher, husband of another political red-headed Prime Minister, Margaret.

The nigh invisible Dennis was 'Always present, never there'.

Footnote: Did Julia Gillard actually say ‘Obviously, for my partner, Tim, his job is being supportive of me. He is very supportive of me.’? Or, as several emailers claimed, did she twice say that Time Mathieson was ‘ very supportative of me’.

Not only changing ‘t’s into ‘d’s – as in ‘Labor Pardy’ and ‘communidy’ but making up words as well.

PLAYING NOW: Susan Mitchell, author of Stand By Your Man, speaks to Derryn Hinch.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Sets a great example for the country and the image to the rest of the world.

    davidr Wednesday 29 September, 2010 - 5:33 PM

  • Vili, learn to spell, and no need to SHOUT!

    JOHN from Heathmont Thursday 29 July, 2010 - 3:33 PM

  • I know Tims family, they all live in Shepp, and they lovely people.

    janet page Thursday 29 July, 2010 - 3:30 PM

  • how about we dont vote because we dont like any of them,what would happen besides being fined but it could be worth it.then having any of those two leading out country.

    maureen Thursday 29 July, 2010 - 11:34 AM

  • I am so over this 'family values' stuff. Since when do 'family values' automatically mean 'husband/wife and kids'? Families come in lots of different versions. Anyone who judges a leader or potential leader on their outdated version of 'family values' is obviously clueless. At least Julia Gillard and Labor generally have the best interests of the country at heart - Abbott and the liberals do not. Regardless of the wife and kids.

    Loz Thursday 29 July, 2010 - 1:13 AM

  • HI DONT BELIVE ANY POLITICIAN , AND WHO CARES , WHOS GONNA WIN NOTHING GONNA CHANGE , ALL THE PROMISERS GONNA GO EVERYTHING GONNA BE A SAME THANKS

    vili Wednesday 28 July, 2010 - 2:13 AM

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