Question Time live: 11/08/09

HarlequinBeetle says:

01:57pm | 11/08/09

watching Q time on ABC: comments will follow

Chris Mo says:

02:32pm | 11/08/09

Get on with the ding dong.

George says:

02:39pm | 11/08/09

Here’s a topic for your media commentators: How come no newspaper nor broadcaster has judged that forcing up household expenditure by the equivalent of a 2.5pc hike in the GST—as the emission trading scam will do—is not judged to be a frontpage or top of the bulletin story? Particularly when it is clear that the tax will keep rising. Aren’t draconian government-levied imposts on families considered to be news anymore?

Chris Mo says:

02:50pm | 11/08/09

Nah George, those big bad Rugby League players are heaps more important.
(Go the Cowboys, moooooo.)

Paul says:

03:14pm | 11/08/09

George - because the commentariat is capable of thinking laterally, rather than trying to quantify every aspect of policy with a dollar sign and an unscientific wacko ideology? Just a guess…

Kathy says:

03:45pm | 11/08/09

Open letter to Mr Turnbull
Dear Mr Turnbull,

While I was watching you during Question Time some weeks ago, and this morning on video, I was wondering if you are the kind of person who finds it impossible to apologise for your mistakes. Well maybe you apologise to your wife or even friends if you’re ever caught out making what you are prepared to admit is a mistake. But I wonder if this translates into an ability to admit to a wider audience that you’ve been rotten, or stupid, mean, wrong, etc.?

Quite recently the President of the US made a public mistake that lots of people didn’t like, that is, he called a policeman stupid and racist. But he more than made up for it by not only apologising, but meeting the person arrested, and the policeman, on the White House lawn for a beer. That was a generous, humble, and statesmanlike act, which is surely acknowledged as that even by people who are lukewarm about Obama. Not only did he apologise (just words) but he acted as well. He thinks that being likeable rather than smooth tongued and defensive (like you) is important, and he’s right.

You don’t seem to have the ability to do this at all. Really arrogant, bullying people, who always blame others and other things when they stuff up, and don’t try to make up for what they’ve negligently or knowingly done, don’t seem to have the ability to let themselves go and apologise generously and humbly. That’s probably because they don’t relate to how others feel or more likely, don’t give two hoots. In my experience most bullies don’t apologise because they enjoy being bullies and don’t intend to give it up, so why should they say sorry?

Frankly, it’s pathetic, that you now say you’re a victim of someone else’s malfeasance, when it looked far more in Question Time as if your own enjoyment made you grab any excuse to act like a bullying bastard. How would you go as a world leader being like that? You should have the guts to apologise for the things you said and did because of your own negligence and bad attitudes towards others, even if it’s only because you’ve come to a realisation that people warm to, and trust, people who can apologise in a dignified and generous hearted way, and try to make up for their wrong behaviour with some positive action. No wonder your popularity rating is abysmal. You must have been one of those real attack dog lawyers in court who didn’t care what they said and did just so long as they won. Shudder.

Les says:

03:49pm | 11/08/09

I tell you what - doesnt Andrew Robb look ok at the despatch box ? He sounds good too and looks like an older Kevin Rudd. Given his name was mooted as a future Leader all goes well for Andrew so far. In all a good Question Time highlighting the Oppositions sad position of not yet having an ETS - still Andrew may come up with something ?

Craig Rowley says:

04:10pm | 11/08/09

If you couldn’t see that a Lib was standing and asking ‘em, you’d have thunk some of the Lib’s questions were actually Lab dorothy-dixers.

The Coalition (a misnomer yet?) must’ve been so focused this morning on opposing each other that they’ve missed their opportunity today to act like an effective Opposition and put well considered questions to the Government.

iansand says:

08:05pm | 11/08/09

Kathy@3:45 If you have ever met Mr Turnbull in the flesh, or even dealt with him in any sort of business, you would cease wondering.