Last week, in the midst of some of the largest protests Australia has seen in generations, the government came under attack by maverick AfD Senator TheSensibleCentre, who applied consistent pressure with strong public and private support for the protests.

In an attempt to stem the bleeding, the government immediately mobilised their allies in the press. The Sydney Free Press, a rag largely devoid of fact, attacked TheSensibleCentre for hypocrisy -- she had been the Minister for Youth for two months before the election, after all. If anybody could be blamed for inaction in this area, it was her.

This wasn't limited to the press. The Deputy Prime Minister levied the charge directly in a speech, saying "however the youth of this country must know that the woman they follow has been the same woman who was the very Minister ignoring you for two months on the job, to the day."

This was a startlingly effective attack. After all, TheSensibleCentre had been raking the government over the coals for their lack of action -- and condemning the previous governments for the same reason.

There was only one problem:

The Deputy Prime Minister was lying through his teeth. The attack, while effective, was completely fabricated.

While it is indeed true that TheSensibleCentre was appointed Minister for Youth under the model-pierogi government, she was not, in fact, minister for two months.

She was minister for two days.

Following disagreements with the government -- specifically, Foreign Minister Youmaton, who is now Prime Minister -- over their tepid stance on supporting Palestinians during an ongoing genocide, TheSensibleCentre resigned just two days after her appointment, leaving the ministry and the government.

It is unclear if the Sydney Free Press and Deputy Prime Minister were wilfully lying, or if they had simply made a mistake. Either option inspires little confidence.

It is clear that the government is on the backfoot, rocked by the forced resignation of their Attorney-General -- who, if you need reminding, implemented plans to arrest and wiretap children.

It is the opinion of Direct Action that, while there is plenty of room for debate and disagreement in politics, our elected representatives should be above outright fabrication. It is disappointing to see the Deputy Prime Minister engage in these lies.

Perhaps, ironically, the SDP should take a lesson from their fierce opponent -- as while TheSensibleCentre has made plenty of passionate remarks, she has always ensured they are grounded in fact.

Direct Action Editorial Board