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Question Time Live: 27/02/2012

The Punch Team

by The Punch Team

27 Feb 01:30pm

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Filed under: Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Labor Leadership, Parliament, Politics, Question Time, Tony Abbott

41 comments

Now the real fun starts. Julia Gillard might have trounced Kevin Rudd in the Caucus room this morning, but she lost some skin in the battle. Expect Tony Abbott and his team to pounce like a pack of hyenas in Question Time. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage.

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41 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • antman says:

      12:45pm | 27/02/12

      So, still reporting the serious business of governing our nation as a blood sport? The media, in my view, shoulders most of the blame for the sorry state of politics and government in this country. Start reporting (and investigating - remember, journalism used to require its proponents to become familiar with their topic and actually investigate matters, not just report what was spoon-fed to them) on governmental and parliamentary affairs with the seriousness and gravity that it deserves adn maybe the politicians will take their jobs more seriously and not treat it as a never-ending game of points-scoring on minor issues and technicalities. Politics should facilitate the operation of government, not dominate it, but the media will never let that be the case.

      Reply

    • Couda says:

      03:01pm | 27/02/12

      Totally agree. i remember in my early years, pre Fraser, how I read the debates of the old war horses of politics. it was educated and articulated. the current bunch of journo’s couldn’t blow out a candle

    • Jimbo says:

      07:54pm | 27/02/12

      Good point. Though it would help if the politicians themselves didn’t act like lower primates in parliament.

    • john says:

      12:46pm | 27/02/12

      LOL Question time,

      TA: Question without notice to the PM. Will the PM inform the house if Rudd will challenge again if Labor doesn’t do well at the polls.?

      We all heard Rudd said he will not challenge, but he can always say in the future the party might ask him to challenge.

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      01:25pm | 27/02/12

      He said he would not initiate a challenge.  That is different to not challenging.

    • Erick says:

      12:55pm | 27/02/12

      Did anyone else notice how, immediately after the result of the vote was announced, all the Labor parrots immediately started squawking about Tony Abbott?

      Message from headquarters, perhaps?

      Reply

    • Aitch B says:

      01:11pm | 27/02/12

      @Erick

      It appears that he still scares the shit out of them…...

    • SimonFromLakemba says:

      01:50pm | 27/02/12

      I think he scares the sh*t out of the 60% of the public who don’t want him as PM.

    • TimB says:

      02:46pm | 27/02/12

      Not wanting him as PM is not necessarilly equivalent to beign shit scared of him Simon.

      By that logic a similar percentage would be shit scared of Gillard. Speaking for myself, I’m not scared of her, I just think she’s a terrible PM and I hate her policies.

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:02pm | 27/02/12

      I think any sane, rational Australian should be shit scared of what that regressive moron would do to this country and people if he ever got his paws on the reigns of power. I forsee a plethora of fridge magnets and embarrasing anti-everything rhetoric on the near horizon as we slip further and further back in the field.

      Gonna make nice headlines for his backers though.

    • mr g says:

      03:52pm | 27/02/12

      @TimB. I think that you realised Timmy that Simon meant that 60% of Australians are shit scared of what would happen to Australia if the demented one were ever given access to the till and to the reins. And despite your fend, I think that you know that this Nation’s fear of the Mad Monk is absolutely justified. You do know that, don’t you Timmy. You just don’t have the loyalty to this Country to admit it.
      I still can’t get that uncontrolled rage-look on Abbott’s red and apoplectic face when the journo asked him to explain his “Shit happens!” dismissal of the cause of that young Australian digger’s death. There’s your hurdle, and there is our election poster.
      Feel free to reply. With facts, not same old, same old. Good!

    • Robert Smissen of Rural SA says:

      04:24pm | 27/02/12

      Mr g you moron, the editing of Tony saying “shit happens” was well proven to be crap & taken out of context with some very dodgy editing & was indeed not about the digger dying, but even a cretin, if they were honest would know that.

    • Bear says:

      01:37pm | 27/02/12

      The tone of Tonys questions are usually from somewhere under that concrete edge of the gutter that sometimes has a gap between it and the road. But oh, the Libs are so righteous and high and mighty and wonderful….

      Reply

    • AdamC says:

      02:29pm | 27/02/12

      Maybe the Coalition’s questions would get out of the gutter if Labor did? Leaving their knives in the kitchen would also help.

    • Cobbler says:

      01:44pm | 27/02/12

      He scares the shit out of me.  He uses the word ‘theologically’ in relation to policy.

      /shudder

      Reply

    • tropical says:

      03:05pm | 27/02/12

      What a load of ‘cobblers’.

    • Rosie says:

      02:51pm | 27/02/12

      The speaker is biased! Watching Question Time some of us look to the opposition explaining to us why we were exposed to the shocking behaviour from those that represent us in Parliament. Members of parliament owe it to us, once again we won’t get the truth from the Labor party so it should be up to the Opposition and to some extent the media.

      The Opposition must go on the campaign trail explaining to us why we shouldn’t begin believing or trusting the Gillard Labor govt after a week of blood letting and humiliating the nation.

      Reply

    • Rick of the Dustbowl says:

      04:08pm | 27/02/12

      What the bloke that the Lib’s wanted to do over and send into the political void of the back bench is biased?............mmmmm maybe they should have let sleeping dogs sleep…..er

    • ZSRenn says:

      03:00pm | 27/02/12

      @ all the anti Tony parrots

      Just because it worked before doesn’t mean it will work again. The voters have seen this fruitcake and the worst government in Australian history in action.

      Tony looks like a fucking genius when compared to this lot!

      They have woken up to the fact that bereft of any other argument, the the fear Tony campaign is all you have left.

      I hate to quote him but I will this time. Bob Brown said

      “Australians are smarter than this and they do not like to be patronized!”

      Reply

    • Rick of the Dustbowl says:

      04:02pm | 27/02/12

      So your using baby now? thats Sienfeilds

    • Bye says:

      03:49pm | 27/02/12

      Arbib Gone!
      He said for those who think Labor are gone with 18 months before the next election…“they don’t know politics”
      I say there’s your problem…people like Arbib have lost touch with reality…reality being the electorate.

      Reply

    • Robert Smissen of Rural SA says:

      04:28pm | 27/02/12

      Love to know what caused that, can’t say that I’ll miss the little creep though

    • Tracker says:

      04:30pm | 27/02/12

      Maybe Arbib meant to say “they don’t know LABOR politics”. Those scum bags don’t have much respect for democracy so I wouldn’t put it past them to keep power at all costs. I must admit I have been wondering what they have up their sleeve for Election 2013…

    • Donny says:

      04:42pm | 27/02/12

      And I reckon he is just the first, rats deserting the sinking ship comes to mind !

    • Terry2 says:

      04:52pm | 27/02/12

      Why would Abbott try to score a point by referring to Ms Gillard’s 71/31 vote as not being a conclusive margin of confidence when his own accession to leadership was a vote of 42/41: hardly overwhelming support.

      Reply

    • Tropical says:

      05:16pm | 27/02/12

      Well it is quite simple really if you have the mental capacity to think outside the box.
      If the Coalition had a ballott on the leadership, there would be no challengers - it would be a walkover for Abbott.
      How much he won by is irelevant, like any race he was first past the post, deal with it.

    • Joan says:

      10:17pm | 27/02/12

      That’s hilarious, Terry. Did he really say that? Malcolm Turnbull must have been laughing his head off.

    • Terry2 says:

      07:31am | 28/02/12

      Tropical the point that Abbott was making during question time was that there were 31 caucus members who did not support Gillard’s leadership - that’s 30% - and why I saw it as ironic coming from him with 41 of 83 opposing him - that’s close to 50%. When the Liberal hierarchy finally acknowledge that Abbott cannot lead them to government, I agree with you, the transition to Turnbull will be conclusive.

    • Don C says:

      09:16am | 28/02/12

      Indeed, Terry2.

      Other than being elected unopposed, 71—31 being THE biggest winning margin ever recorded in a Labor leadership ballot. Ever.

      And PM Gillard has achieved victories on both resounding scales. Both against…

      Kevin Michael Rudd.

      Yesterday, it was back to policy, parliament and fighting Tories - with Gillard, Albanese and the Labor front bench in top form and in full cry, whether on policy, tactics, or rebuffing personal attack.

      It was just splendid to watch.

    • pieman says:

      05:11pm | 27/02/12

      @Aitch B,Here you are wasting your time on the blogs again; when you should be off reading and researching up on Agenda 21. Then you will not be such a waste of space. There is no All Aussie govt and there will most likely be no All Aussie lib govt.Both parties are totally controlled by their Agenda 21 UN, IMF masters.
      You are either ignorant a troll or stupid, I just cant work out which one!

      Reply

    • Laurence Rucker says:

      05:14pm | 27/02/12

      Labour have lost my vote, and I know many others who will do the same. They have lost touch with their grass roots which are the workers who formed the party. There is no way they will win the next election and we need to get rid of the idiots who voted for her. AND as for arrogant and rude that suits her more than Rude. She also lied to the people which is unforgiveable. Abbott will be the next primeminister, and Bligh will also be gone in March… Can’t wait…

      Reply

    • Mattb says:

      05:27pm | 27/02/12

      Well, what a non-event that whole episode was.  The only winners were, suspiciously, the MEDIA. Sold more papers and had more hits on their websites today. Gotta love ten news, just overheard them comparing it all to the “race that stops a nation”, explaining where everyone was when the result was announced. Pathetic, the media in this country are becoming like the umpires in AFL, believing that they are bigger than the game they are ‘umpiring’. Some of the rubbish questions I heard asked on radio today were downright fuckin embarrassing, ‘was there clapping and cheering’ was one of them. Pfft. Grow up.

      What are we, the voting public, left with?. A PM that’s hated but has some half decent ideas and policies and an opposition with shit policies, an equally hated leader and an election in 18 months they seemingly can’t lose. And to think this is the representation our tax dollars buy us….

      Reply

    • Kat says:

      06:43pm | 27/02/12

      A couple of questions from today’s parliamentary events, that anyone lucky enough to witness, or has checked up on, can pls feel free to respond to.

      How many MPs were ejected from the House? I heard that the motion to suspend Standing Orders was in the Govt favour 72 to 69. I understand that this was a precursor to a no confidence motion, which consequently was not taken.

      Excluding the MP Michelle Rowland who is on Maternity leave, labours numbers are 75 to 73.
      This means that 7 votes were not cast. Who were the members who did not feel the need to vote, or is it that because of ejection, they were not permitted to vote?
      Can anyone comment on,  if if an MP is ejected, can they return for a division?

      Given the importance of what could have passed today, if the total number ejected was not 7MPs, what was the business they were attending which was more important?

      Which side lost more MPs through ejection? I saw footage of 3 LNP, and 1 Labor. But that only accounts for 4 votes.

      Which side did each of the Independents choose in the division? Did any of them abstain and does this account for numbers missing. I trust from the outcome the majority of Ind’s backed the govt or a different result would be expected, but I am keen to know who did what and whether any alliances shifted.

      Thx in advance, while I go searching if any media outlet think we the public have a right to have these questions explored, or answered.

      Reply

    • Don C says:

      09:38pm | 27/02/12

      I feel, given the usual combative partisan style of many a Punch post, that I ought to first declare that I do not and have not ever worked there, nor for any political Party. I’m simply an interested member of the public, and the information I give is put forward in good faith as the best of my understanding.

      The division numbers will be in the daily Hansard tomorrow. I didn’t hear them clearly.

      However, you’re making much out of nothing.  41st such motion put by the Opposition, to be so lost.

      In fact Abbott had previously declared, earlier in the day, that he would “not initiate a motion of no confidence”. He’s said nothing to the contrary since.

      If you seriously believe there to have been substantial errors of procedure, as you appear to be trying to imply, I suggest it is a waste of time flying such a kite on such a combatively partisan blog such as this.

      Further, it is worth pointing out that, had they been at all concerned in any way at the time about the probity of the numbers,  Opposition Leader Abbott and the Leader of Opposition Business Pyne could both have immediately availed themselves of the forms of the House to bring their concerns to notice and the issue to a head. They did not.

      Your proposition thus implies that both the Opposition Leader and his Leader of Opposition Business are so incompetent as to
      a) not notice at the time or
      b) not know the procedure to object or dissent.

      You may wish to consult the House of Representatives Guide to Procedures; and the House of Representatives Practice, 5th Edition.

      Your alternative is to address your enquiry direct to the Speaker’s Office, to the Office of the Opposition Leader, or to your local member. Or indeed to all of the above.  Addresses on the Parliament house site, along with all the documents previously referred to - freely available to the public, in the proper place..

    • Troy says:

      10:06pm | 27/02/12

      5 members were ejected.under order 94a

      Andrew Robb (LNP, Goldstein)
      Ewen Jones (LNP, Herbert)
      Mike Kelly (Labor, Eden-Monaro)
      Peter Dutton (LNP, Dickson)
      Warren Truss (LNP, Wide Bay)

      The vote was defeated by a margin of 72-69

      Robb was by this point allowed back and voted Yes. So that leaves 1 vote (Taking away the other 4 ejections who could not vote as they were still not allowed back under order 94a, Rowland and the speaker) now looking at the list I can see this is the one unaccounted for

      Darryl Melham (Labor, Banks)

      As for your other Kat. The independents did basically what you’d expect them to do. Wilkie and Katter voted Yes. Oakeshott, Windsor and the Greens Adam Bandt voted no

    • Kat says:

      07:10am | 28/02/12

      Thanks Don,
      My questions were to get the facts on what happened in the house, which I was not able to view, and media hinted at a range being thrown out.
      So I wasn’t implying anything at this stage. I guess we see what round two brings today, when L N P are quiet as a mouse in the lead up.

      Troy, much appreciated, however I had already discounted the speaker, so there’s one more.

      If only the media saw fit to tell us who it was. I will check to see if the Hansard records who fell where.

      Has anyone else been getting a regular 404 error on the new look Parliament website, incidentally? Not conspiracy theory just wondering if browser settings need changing!

    • Geoff says:

      08:20pm | 27/02/12

      Labor will never learn.  I used to like Gillard I thought she was better/more intelligent than this.  I thought she’d be a better PM than KRudd, but that dream has gone.  Mugged by reality.

      “Tors; One thing Kevin Rudd did with clarity over the weekend was articulate an attack on Tony Abbott that was more than just the old “Mr No”... “

      ROTFLMAO…  all he did was regurgitate the same old lies from the Hawker Britton play book…  Abbott doesn’t have a problem with women, he’s a Rhodes scholar with a degree in economics, he isn’t Dr No, he doesn’t live in the past and he’s not a religious nut.  Kevin would be a better candidate for that last one.  He’s a church going sociopath.  All the list can be well and truly dismissed as lies or propaganda.

      There is something very wrong with Labor today and the people who populate it in parliament.  What happened to the Conservative Left Wingers, hell even Rudd described himself as a Conservative yet now Labor only thinks of itself as a Progressive Party.  Now that is a joke.  Maybe they can’t spell regressive.

      Reply

    • Don C says:

      06:09am | 28/02/12

      Best piece of outright spin from yesterday?

      “I dont do deals”
      Anthony John Abbott
      Member ofr Warringah
      Leader of the Coalition

      Persumably we’re supposed to forget that, when it came to the crunch in 2010, he was without a shadow of doubt offering to do deals. And failed complelely.

    • Geoff says:

      07:48am | 28/02/12

      So what?  both parties were in negotiations to form government…  obviously Julia did bigger and better deals than Abbott was prepared to do.  julia even let herself be turned into a liar to get the Greens votes.  Your argument or whatever it was… is moot

      The Greens were never going to “deal” with Abbott, nor were Dopeshott and Windsor there was no reason for a party like the ALP to kowtow to such minority numbers and give them such an out of proportions say in government.  Julia negotiated away her authority and credibility.  For no real reason.

      Reply
 
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