A desperate plea from the PM to the Opposition Leader

adam says:

07:42am | 19/09/11

Aco mate, neither side is looking particularly saint like on this issue at the moment.
A pox on both their houses

marley says:

07:51am | 19/09/11

And, obviously, by the same token, neither does Gillard.

Michael says:

07:53am | 19/09/11

I hope your shame passes soon acotrel, you poor bugger I don’t know how you can stand to live in Australia with all the heartless rednecks and rich people enslaving poor folks in the rental trap. Don’t mention the unscrupulous bosses enslaving workers and killing them with greed, and on top of all that the live export industry in cattle and humans…the humanity.

Oh look a hard hitting piece by Mal Farr on tony Abbott, gotta zip folks bye

acotrel says:

08:10am | 19/09/11

@Michael
Your mocking has an unfortunate aspect.  There are elements of truth in all of it !  The cult of the individual has a lot to answer for ! There are a lot of selfish bastards on this planet, most of them support parties like the LNP !

acotrel says:

08:12am | 19/09/11

@Adam Julia is doing the right thing playing the game this way.  Watch Abbott fall in a screaming heap this week when his self serving duplicity gets exposed !

dovif says:

08:13am | 19/09/11

Ace Troll

Rudd’s people have been telling us that it was Gillard’s idea to drop the ETS,  have you figure out whethere there is no ETS, no Carbon Tax, or yes carbon tax yet

BTW from the photo, is Gillard’s nose is growing

Which position does she have today

nihonin says:

08:48am | 19/09/11

acotrel, there may be a solution to the boat people problem, let’s cut out the middle man (the smugglers): http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/research-fellow-argues-auction-system-would-better-address-skills-gaps/story-fn59niix-1226140356950

Amused says:

08:58am | 19/09/11

How dare you condemn Howard and Abbott when Gillard has this policy on the table. 
At least the asylum seekers were safe, housed, and fed on Nauru and were being processed, albeit slowly.  How on earth do you condone the Malaysian solution (sarc)?  Why is it, that you lefties want to come out and attack and attack Abbott, yet turn a blind eye to your lot?

Nafe says:

09:22am | 19/09/11

Ahh so people trading is so much better, Welcome back to the 1800’s. Why doesn’t the Labor party reintroduce slavery while your at it. Maybe instead of the Malysian solution they can heve the Australian solution where Asylum seekers are farmed out to the rich to be slaves while their applications are processed.

Thats just as logical as the Malaysian Solution.

Khalid says:

09:49am | 19/09/11

amused
“At least the asylum seekers were safe, housed, and fed on Nauru and were being processed, albeit slowly.”

At least the detainees were safe, housed and fed on Guantánamo.
Of course the psychological scars never healed, not even very slowly.

Oh how I long for the Howard years and the compassion of the right.

acotrel says:

10:13am | 19/09/11

@amused
‘How dare you condemn Howard and Abbott when Gillard has this policy on the table.’

You wouldn’t have been amused if you’d been imprisoned on Nauru, and came away with a mental illness !

acotrel says:

10:15am | 19/09/11

@Nafe
‘Maybe instead of the Malysian solution they can heve the Australian solution where Asylum seekers are farmed out to the rich to be slaves while their applications are processed. ‘

John MacArthur died a long time ago !

PTom says:

10:17am | 19/09/11

Amused
Abbott is first going to turn back the boats before send them to Nauru.

What is the difference to turning back the boats to Indonesian to Malaysia?
In Indonesian they get nothing, while those taken to Malaysia will education, health and be allowed to get a job.

Erick says:

10:22am | 19/09/11

@Khalid - “At least the detainees were safe, housed and fed on Guantánamo.”

Yes, they were. Most of them gained weight, and they were much safer in the camp than at home.

“Of course the psychological scars never healed, not even very slowly.”

ICB.

“Oh how I long for the Howard years and the compassion of the right. “

Indeed. Howard’s policies were far more effective, and his compassion was more real than the cheap theatrics of the bleeding-heart, Australia-hating Left.

acotrel says:

10:34am | 19/09/11

@Erick
‘Indeed. Howard’s policies were far more effective, and his compassion was more real than the cheap theatrics of the bleeding-heart, Australia-hating Left.’

If you really want to make an issue of John Howard’s actions related to asylum seekers on Nauru, perhaps we could get him tried in the International Court for abuse of human rights ? The High Court of Australia has already spoken twice, and shown his actions to have been in contravention of the UNHCR !

marley says:

11:56am | 19/09/11

@acotrel - actually, the High Court has shown Gillard’s actions, not Howard’s, to be in contravention of the UN Convention (not the UNHCR - how can you be in contravention of an agency?).

Northern Steve says:

02:16pm | 19/09/11

Hey acotrel, in first again, well done.
So what’s the Australia Party’s policy here, now that you’re a katter man?

John the Zombie says:

03:52pm | 19/09/11

acotel im wondering this. Is Nauru was so bad and caused so much damage to their mental health why did they not go back to Iraq or Afghanistan. I am pretty sure that things were much worse off there then in the detention centre in Nauru. Aslo if ppl took two seconds to read Abbott’s policy you would find that the Asylum seekers will be allowed to go off the centre and explore Nauru instead of been stuck in the centre. Isnt the left always telling us to help the pacific Islands, well here is a good way.

Dont be fooled as we all know the actual policy of the left is no detention centres at all but just open borders.

Dave-o says:

08:45am | 19/09/11

Nothing could raise the perception of yours though.

Against the Grain says:

11:02am | 19/09/11

Dave
You shouldn’t be talking with the village idiot, people might take it the wrong way.

Deena says:

11:29am | 19/09/11

@Davo -  Seeing as ATM has been right so far about the ALP and has outlasted all the other Labor crazies (Seano, John Neve etc) you must have a very high perception of both his intelligence and foresight

Against the Man says:

12:44pm | 19/09/11

Oh poor guys only able to call me names but unable to refute my points. Lovin it guys and you wonder why the ALP and Gillard and their supporters are duds. Keep it up 12 steppers, it seems you guys are only really backing up my points

Dave-o says:

02:51pm | 19/09/11

“Sorry, dude” you didn’t make a point worth rebutle

Bazza says:

08:00am | 19/09/11

Good point about her being in partnership with the Greens, why isn’t she making them do their bit. She is rueing the day she got into bed with old Bob.

acotrel says:

10:21am | 19/09/11

@NGS
‘Why would Abbott ever help the useless Government in anything? ‘

Because he has to be seen to still want to ‘stop the boats’ ! 

Unfortunately for him,  he has just got into crying crocodile tears about asylum seekers human rights if the new legislation is passed !  So he’s just painted himself into a corner.  And while he stands there I’m sure he’ll hear all about what happened during the Pacific Solution and John Howard’s cynicism!

Martin says:

11:07am | 19/09/11

@acotrel. Please inform us as to why Gillard is not leaning on her coalition partner Bob Brown for support. He along with the independants have formed minority government with Gillard. It is their responsibilty as the government to implement policy, not the opposition.

Northern Steve says:

02:23pm | 19/09/11

I agree, NGS.  even the highly sensible Office of Budget Honesty laws, which should be an easy bipartisan job, is introduced with a massive attack on the opposition.  The same strategy has been used going right back to Rudd’s ETS.  It just seems like the ALP is more interested in political wins than in good government.

Jp says:

07:08pm | 19/09/11

According to the Liberals, everything that was once Rudd’s fault is now Gillard’s.

Also according to Labor, everything that was once Fraser’s fault, became Howard’s fault.

Also, rain is wet, although the government will sell it as ‘filling the dams’ and the opposition will blame the weather on the government’s mismanagement.

Every major party tries to paint the other side as intransigent and incompetent, and usually impotent (doesn’t listen to you, can’t run a chook raffle and can’t get any policies up, in other words).

acotrel says:

08:41am | 19/09/11

@asproella
It doesn’t take much effort to make Abbott look silly.  All she has to do is sit back and wait, and he’ll do it to himself !

‘this lying prime minister!’

You have to be joking ! ! ??

Martin says:

11:11am | 19/09/11

@acotrel, Abbott has made a laughing stock of yourself and the Labor party that many times it’s not funny. Give it up mate, you are making yourself look like a complete dill.

acotrel says:

11:18am | 19/09/11

@asproella
I agree. Gillard is about to emasculate Abbott over this issue !

acotrel says:

08:44am | 19/09/11

@Maydyay
What will you say when Abbott falls flat on his arse over the asylum seekers ?  He’s painted himself into a corner !

Aitch B says:

09:56am | 19/09/11

@acotrel

You’re joking, right? Oh, sorry…. forgot for a minute there that you’re an ALP stooge.

It’s Gillard’s policy and she’s the one who’s painted herself into a corner through her inept attempts to find a ‘solution’.

acotrel says:

10:28am | 19/09/11

@Aitch B
Julia is simply doing as the LNP always wanted - ‘stopping the boats’ ! What are you complaining about ? The Pacific Solution has already happened, and the High Court judgement clealy indicates that four areas of the UNHCR treaty weren’t observed.  Malaysia MIGHT be in the future, but I doubt it will happen !

Martin says:

11:22am | 19/09/11

@acotrel, your infatuation with Abbott is making you look like a goose, give it a rest, you’re making no sense and stating nothing of fact to back up your statements. The only lot “that are on their arse” are the government. It’s a pretty hopeless situation when you have to go cap in hand to opposition for assitance with asylum seeker policy when your minority government partners wont support you.

Tubesteak says:

09:13am | 19/09/11

Hulk SMASH. Hulk NO.

That part was funny.

We need an Australian version of Yes, Minister based on this. It would be funnier than that other comedy show.

iansand says:

03:32pm | 19/09/11

I claim victory.

Tony of Poorakistan says:

09:30am | 19/09/11

Exactly. Otherwise we look like a pack of dills. All they need do is fly one family member to Indonesia and pop him on the next scheduled boat, then the whole tribe gets to wander over here at the expense of the Australian taxpayer!! Well, at the expense of those of us that actually pay tax, which cuts out the bulk of ALP voters, many of whom get more than they give anyway

acotrel says:

11:13am | 19/09/11

And send anyone who is not of British descent back where they came from ?

B says:

04:41pm | 19/09/11

Your comment:@acotrel

You know full well this is not what was intended.  Stop hijacking peoples comments for your own sick political gain.

RyaN says:

12:30pm | 19/09/11

@mick: do enlighten us please, what exactly has Abbott wrecked?

B says:

04:43pm | 19/09/11

@mick

He is the opposition.  He wouldnt be doing his job if he agreed with Gillard.

SimpleSimon says:

12:19pm | 19/09/11

Surely there’s some comedic value in that?!

adam says:

12:53pm | 19/09/11

wouldn’t have a record of smiting taxi drivers would he?

Kipling says:

02:06pm | 19/09/11

Love that word… Smite…

Reckon you got it in one Adam

susan mackay says:

10:27am | 19/09/11

I love seeing all the Liberal cronies (looking at you Keith Hammersmith) that whine and whinge about PM Gillard, all you have got is NO NO NO NO AND NO POLICY, HA to you for being blinded by the worse opposition!

gra gra says:

10:47am | 19/09/11

Keith, remember your Shakespeare. Two B’s or not two B’s, that is the question.
And the bit about the boats was not Gillard’s quote, it is your quote. But it does appear that Abbott has, again, bitten off more than he can chew, but given that he’s just a chair-warmer I don’t suppose it matters all that much, does it?

Keith Hammersmith says:

02:28pm | 19/09/11

@gra gra,  She said it mate,  she used to harp on and on in parliament when in opposition about it, screaming any time a boat came that it was another failure of policy, If i have time Ill get you a link, or perhaps someone else will be nice enough, (i recall someone linking it some months back when the timor solution fell on its arse)
@Susan,  again as expected, instead of finding solutions labor stooges just harp on about no no no no,  sorry the opposition isnt doing your job for you.  Why cant y’all do a deal with the greens and the independents?  This isn’t about Abott, its not his responsibility to fix bad government policy.  You may notice that we arent whining or whinging about Julia Gillard, we are just astounded how a government can be doing this badly and take no blame whatsoever.
Seriously,  Labor is the government, if every time they fail it is someone else s fault what kind of government are they?  If i tried tell my boss every time something went wrong it was my competitors fault, he soon would tire of that right?  Look at the polls,  the Australian people are tired of it.
Quit Blaming Abott for bad policy failures, and get on with solving your problems yourself. - Or move over and let someone with the balls do it.

Keith Hammersmith says:

02:41pm | 19/09/11

Here you go gra gra,  found the quote from a transcript between Laurie Oaks and Julia at
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Transcripts/Pages/Article_091019_073628.aspx
have a read, you,
“LAURIE OAKES: What about you?  What about you?  Another boat on the way, another policy failure – is that right?”

“LAURIE OAKES: You see that press statement was dated April 23, 2003 and it’s issued by the shadow minister, Julia Gillard.  Why was one boat arrival then a failure of government policy but 30 plus arrivals this year is not a failure of government policy?”

take your time,  read the whole article if you wish

RyaN says:

02:27pm | 19/09/11

@Horns Up: “lead by a man who is only interested in winning the next election.” great stuff because I certainly would be a little displeased if the people working to save us from this carbon tax aren’t actually going to try to win the next election and represent the views of the vast majority.

Horns Up says:

03:24pm | 19/09/11

Populist nonsense. He’d say the carbon tax was the best thing since budgie smugglers if that was popular.

That’s the point and the problem.

\m/

RyaN says:

05:27pm | 19/09/11

@Horns Up: if it represented the will of the majority for sure, that is what politicians are there to do, represent the will of the people! Just in case you forgot what their purpose actually is, then again being a rusted on Labor supporter you probably have never seen the will of the people being expressed by your comrades.

TimB says:

05:40pm | 19/09/11

@ Horns Up, that’s crap.

In ‘09 when Abbott challenged Turnbull, people were apparently in favour of an ETS and/or action on climate change. Everyone political commentator in the land said his stance would wipe out the Liberal party vote. It was hardly a position based on ‘populist nonsense’.

He took a massive gamble based on principle. And it paid off. Paid off spectacularly. You know why? Because people have finally woken up to what a scam this entire carbon pricing idea is.

Horns Up says:

08:49pm | 19/09/11

Oh please Abbott had to take a contrary position to Turnbull and now he’s taking a contrary position to the ALP. Abbott’s stand was nothing to do with principle and everything to do with saying whatever he needed to to win the argument. And let’s not be silly enough to pretend that he won the leadership on the basis of one issue, not after email-gate or ute-gate (depending on which side you barrack for).

Abbott’s refusal to work with the government on any issue and failure to get one change through parliament demonstrate that.

PS. Ryan, I lost interested at rusted on Labor blah blah blah. I always find it pointless and tedious when rusted on supporters start lecturing other people about being rusted on.

\m/

TimB says:

09:13pm | 19/09/11

“Oh please Abbott had to take a contrary position to Turnbull…”

What? Why? Why did he *have* to do that? How does that make any kind of sense?

Think before you type.

RyaN says:

09:42am | 20/09/11

@Horns Up: thats ok, I didn’t expect you to have an actual logical answer.

Horns Up says:

04:30pm | 20/09/11

Abbott has spent his whole time as leader saying, no, being negative and pushing a position of “that sucks but we don’t have a better idea”. Pretend that Abbott is a man of principle if that makes you feel better but it’s fairly obvious that Abbott has settled on this negative tactic that the thinks will win him the election. A man of principle would be more focused on not only holding the government to account but also presenting a better option, not just a default option.

Ryan, if you want an answer try a grown up question.

\m/