The Speaker slips away…

farkurnell says:

08:24pm | 09/10/12

At this rate the Independants are going to be the biggest group in the parliament. Once again this whole sordid mess shows what a low standard of politicans we have from all parties.Unfortunately for Australia the cream that should have risen to the top in Canberra has for many years now turned rancid.

Alfie says:

10:04pm | 09/10/12

Corrupt independents with their own self interests supporting a morally corrupt government.

Australia deserves better than this.

Christian Real says:

06:34am | 10/10/12

Nihonin
Slipper has always been an Independent since he resigned his Liberal party membership.
FromWikipedia:
Slipper is an Independent member of the Australian House of Representatives,representing the Division of Fisher Queensland,a seat which he has held since 1993. He previously represented the same division for the Nationals from 1984 to 1987. Slipper was affiliated with the Liberal party’s Queensland division from 1993 until its merger with the Nationals Queensland division to form the Liberal National Party of queensland in 2008,continuing to sit in the Federal Liberal party room until he become an Independent upon his election of speaker in 2011.

respect democracy says:

08:40am | 10/10/12

The opposition moved a motion to remove the Speaker of the House, Peter Slipper, on an accusation of denigrating women, and obscenely so, in private text messages to a staff member.

In Switzerland, There is no opposition party, no presidential veto, and no strict party discipline.

In Switzerland, the people are the supreme political authority with many political rights.

Switzerland’s direct democracy means that all proposed amendments to the constitution are decided by referendum. Any other federal law can be put to a referendum if 50,000 citizens sign a petition - meaning that Switzerland’s federal system can be changed by its citizens.

There is one thing for sure if we were a democracy with the same right as the swiss citizen we wouldn’t have a flaw system and we wouldn’t any rat in our house.

If Tony is happy to protect a system with so many faults in it and is refusing to rectify them than it is as guilty as the rat.

Repect democracy and no more rats.

Jenny says:

09:19am | 10/10/12

@Alfie
Our system is worse than a mafiacracy, at least the mafoisis would have the courtesy not to use their own house as a bordello.

If Tony is happy to maintain and protect a faulty system with this king of problems, how can we trust him?

Steve of QBN says:

08:50pm | 09/10/12

But these were sent from an employer to an employee.  Send this sort of stuff to your boss do you?  Do you expect to get this sort of thing from your boss?  No?

Steve of QBN says:

07:42am | 10/10/12

After thinking more on this, here is another slant.  Do not put into a text message, tweet, email or blog what your would not be game to say in public.  The text messages are only “private” until they used as evidence, then they come into the public domain.

As I said earlier, this was not a joke between mates.  It was a text from an employer to an employee, sent in the work place and appears to be designed to foster a non-professional relationship.  Sure, you can be friends at work but this was going beyond normal office camaraderie.

David says:

07:40am | 11/10/12

I think the concern here is that the content of the text message can be indicative of the type of person who would send them. Many people would have concerns that a person who thought in that way was in such a position of power and helping to shape our society.

Peta says:

08:18pm | 09/10/12

Egg, Face, Sharwood.

Tim says:

08:39pm | 09/10/12

How so?
Gillard did own Abbott in the debate this arvo. Doesn’t stop Slipper from quitting if he feels like it.

harry says:

11:56am | 10/10/12

Slipper didn’t just resign. he apologised unreservedly for the behavior that the Government sought to defend, he also said he understood the arguments the Opposition was making about his ability to operate in the role of speaker.

I love Julia says:

02:19pm | 10/10/12

Julia is a legend, she is by far the best PM we have ever had in this country. Our PM is a shining beacon ” a light on the hill” an example of the very best our country has to offer. She is abely supported by a fantastic team of Plibersek, Roxon and Kate Jones. Strong labor women creating strong policies for women not sexist policies or equitable policies but ones designed especially for women. The reduction in the single mothers allowance is a great example, this will ensure that women are not trapped at home with kids but will be able to get out into the real world and get jobs in the union as adminstrative staff or even higher up like that wonderful Kathy Jackson . They may even get a political position in the labor party , the quota system is working really well, it definately makes the cream come to the top so to speak.I say well done Julia dont answer that sexist pigs comments in question time , make him listen, really looking at his watch all the time its really annoying , and sexist.. As Ant sharwood has said you really owned Abbott its all come good now soon everyone will love you again and they will forget that silly lie about the carbon tax. I mean really I love paying extra for tax who wouldn’t it will stop the polar bears from jumping off icebergs. I digress a little sorry about that but really why aren’t more people thinking about the bears.  Really clever move supporting Slipper too, I can see that you are one step ahead of every one with this one, its all part of the plan, install useless male leadership position, useless male fails and even better sends disgusting texts about womens parts, stand up for useless male to show how you are on moral highground, then when useless male steps down appoint, female to the position, brilliant stuff. You are truly gifted Julia.

Troy says:

01:54pm | 10/10/12

My thoughts exactly!
Gillard, Roxon, Plibersek and Macklin only care about women when it suits them, nd when they can score points on Tony Abbott.
But they will defend a real misogynist when it is to there advantage.

SusieQ says:

09:50pm | 09/10/12

How could anyone vote for him - what does that say about them? Does it mean that what he said in the text messages was OK with them? Absolute filth - him and anyone who supported him. I must say resigning is the most honourable thing he has ever done.

Robert Brough says:

12:45pm | 10/10/12

Yes, Susan, I totally agree with you about Slipper’s unsuitablility for Parliamentary service. But it’s a bit rich for the likes of you to call the 34,235 voters who elected Slipper to the seat of Fisher in 2010 on behalf of the Liberal Party of Australia “absolute filth”. Please tell me you’re not coming to the southern end of the Sunshine Coast for a holiday soon or you could be facing some angry Fisherians

Mel says:

07:37am | 10/10/12

Very flawed yes - a gentleman - absolutely not. It’s surely a matter of time before his wife selvages some dignity and leaves him in the dung pile of his own making. Despite his showy pomp and ceremony, the ‘man’ is nothing but a grub - which is insulting in itself to my garden variety grubs. And Gillard has the audacity to call him a ‘man of distinction’.

nihonin says:

07:58pm | 09/10/12

I dunno, the sun seems to shine in everyday, it’s just the turds start to stink a bit more from it, as accountability withers more and more. 

nihonin says:

08:01pm | 09/10/12

Good points gnome, but they won’t be remembered.  If you can’t spell it, for gawd’s sake turn on spell checker in your web browser.
 

PW says:

09:29am | 10/10/12

So er, which side of politics did this liar, bully, cad and thief represent at the last umpteen elections, Graham? Or has his shiteness only come about in the last year or so?

Troy says:

02:04pm | 10/10/12

@PW, Yes no doubt he was a Liberal MP, and he continued to get pre-selected over many years, and as we know in his speech yesterday that Abbott even came to his wedding.
But Gillard owned him when she made him speaker.

sten says:

10:29pm | 09/10/12

Yes I was thinking the same thing

Wayne Sissing says:

10:02am | 10/10/12

I think Julia, and her handbag brigade have demonstrated that it they that are misandrist’s. It is they that are constantly raising the gender issue, not Tony, whom seems quite happy as a married man, with three daughters and a gay sister. The misandrist Julia has demonstrated her true feelings all her life if you truly wish to look.

ruru says:

07:33am | 10/10/12

Slips had a target on his forehead as soon as he became speaker of the house & it was a matter of time before he went down. His former Liberal mates, knowing full well of Slippers weaknesses coached the ’ sexually harrassed & traumatized’ rat Ashby to help do him in.
Silly old Slipper - done over by txts!
Should’ve know better.

ramases says:

07:39am | 10/10/12

Mal will always try and turn everything around so that its always Abbot who is the bad guy whilst Julia and her band of malcontent ride away unscathed on their not so white chargers. It doesn’t matter that by supporting Slipper the Labor Party has shown that they do not value women, just that Abbott might be a misogynist, no proof of course but then again Mal has never needed proof has he.
  Julia showed yesterday that by trying to gain political points by her tirade against Abbot and her support of Slipper that women and decency are the last things on her mind as survival takes precedence over common decency.

cheap white trash says:

08:58pm | 09/10/12

@Babs,Gillard and Labor would’t no what morals are,its not in the Liebor Genes,it’s about winning,and ‘‘What Ever It Takes’‘morals dont come in to it.

Barbara says:

09:18pm | 09/10/12

Tony Abbott looks even worse than ever for having supported Peter slipper in his eight successive preselections knowing he was unfit for the job. Slipper did the honourable thing by resigning and as a result made Abbott look like a man with no morals whatever and terrible judgement. This man needs to go!!!

lostinperth says:

09:16pm | 09/10/12

+1 - And as much as Farr likes t smear Abbott, thats the truth. Slipper ws totally unfit for the job and even he realised that. Pity the ALP didn’t

Joe Blow says:

09:50pm | 09/10/12

Straws… grasping much?  Gillard and the Labor Party today showed they had poorer judgement and less concern for Parliamentary integrity than teh best known rorter in the system How embarrassing for all lefties.

Christian Real says:

06:54am | 10/10/12

More of a liability for the Liberal National party, that could be why they orchastrated these accusations against Slipper.
As nothing has been really proven yet,and Slipper has not yet had a fair trial in the courts of law,then one can only presume that the man is innocent until proven otherwise.
That is, and has been how the law operates in our Country,regardless of Tony Abbott and his lynch mob that is called the Liberal National Party opposition.
Slipper was a member of the National party,then a member of the Liberal party before he became an Independent when he took over the speakers role.
The ALP only endorsed Slipper as Speaker, he never was or never has been affiliated with the ALP at any stage.

lostinperth says:

09:30pm | 09/10/12

You need a dose of reality.

What will be remembered is Gillard blindly defending a speaker who then resigned because even he admitted his behaviour was totally unacceptable.

Just how bad is her political judgement, first to appoint him when he was expelled from the Libs for bad behaviour, then to defend him and attempt to interfere in a judicial process over sexual harassment claims.

Screaming personal insults over the chamber at someone shows a Pm who has lost the plot and is not coping with the stress caused by her repeated bad decisions.

Abbott on the ropes?? hardly.

In cricketingterms, Gillard has just trod on her own wicket.

Greg Ettridge says:

06:30am | 10/10/12

Julia is on the way up credibility wise, surely she has now hit rock bottom cannot go any further down.
As for “Mussel man”, even though he appears to be a deeply troubled individual, he at least knows when it is time to resign.
Julia won nothing yesterday, all she did was cement in everyone’s mindset, what a disgustingly bad leader she is with absolutely no moral standing.
The 69 others she lead over the cliff with her, should be totally ashamed.

Jay2 says:

08:57pm | 09/10/12

He came from Liberals who were trying to rid themselves of him and then ol’  SlipperyPete was snatched up by Labor, who had him to the very end.

As far as Abbott beating Turnbull by one vote, first, I don’t care because I’m not a Liberal voter anyway, but it’s a bit rich mentioning that considering Julia knifed Kevin the voted for and residing PM to get where she is.

nihonin says:

08:58pm | 09/10/12

True (one of many screen names used by one person), but only one PM and political party tried to keep him the Speaker’s seat today.

elhombre of Dubai says:

08:59pm | 09/10/12

It hurts having your face rubbed in it, doesn’t it ? Poor labor voter. You made him speaker, you own him and EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU that voted to keep him in that position have shown your true, morally bankrupt rotten souls. Nothing you do or say about TA will ever have any traciton again.

Steve of QBN says:

09:03pm | 09/10/12

And they were going to dis-endorse him at the next election.  And then Gillard has this great idea…....

JT says:

09:14pm | 09/10/12

Yep he did and the Coalition were getting rid of him. So while ‘‘our side’’ was kicking him to the curb for being the disgrace he is, your side picked him up, welcomed him in and promoted him to Speaker of the House.

There really is no level Labor and it’s supporters won’t sink.

Tim says:

09:26pm | 09/10/12

No don’t say that, the Liberal memory on this site doesn’t go back that far. He was a Labor member for years wasn’t he?

Alfie says:

10:15pm | 09/10/12

As Abbott said: he is Gillard’s problem now.

Jay2 says:

09:22pm | 09/10/12

Your last sentence is erroneous because you imply Julia actually had credibility to lose. I challenge you to name a time in her political career where she had any??

Christian Real says:

07:30am | 10/10/12

Martin,
It is not Labor’s smear campaign against Abbott as you and other falsely claim, but it has been reported in story after story on the internet for quite some time,all you and others have to to is surf the internet a bit more instead of echoing Abbott and others.
(SMH) “Bully tactics came out early in Abbott,says former rival”, written by Damien Murphy on September 8,2012
(The Sun-Herald) “Fellow students recall a champion of the right.”, written by Kerry-Anne Walsh and Candice Sutton on July 18,2004.
(SMH) “I saw Abbott throw punch,says former student.”, written by Mark Coultan and Phillip Coorey on September 14, 2012
(SMH) “Punch ‘witness’ comes forward with tales of anarchy in the SRC”, written by Phillip Coorey on September 13, 2012
(SMH) “Sparring in the ring of truth.” written by Robert Manne on September 17, 2012
(News.com.au) “Tony Abbott say’s he can’t remember punching wall near fellow student.”, AAP September 08, 2012 @ 12.59PM
(The Sun-Herald) “Abbott: I was charged with indecent assault”, written by Michelle Grattan on July 18,2004.
(SMH) “Then as now,you never knew what ABbott really stood for.”, written by David Patch on September, 2012
There are too many news stories surrounding Tony Abbott’s days at Sydney University and he should stand up and be a man, instead of hiding behind his wife.
If the stories are not true or correct like Tony Abbott claims,it is a wonder that he hasn’t sued these newspapers for libel.
The mere fact that Tony Abbott is saying or doing very little about what has been said by former students that were at Sydney University with him makes one wonder if Abbott is hiding parts of his past that he doesn’t want to make public.

Borderer says:

11:37am | 10/10/12

Christian Real
Why would he sue? He would be giving the claims oxygen, Craig Thomson sued the paper till they produced the evidense and then there was that whole 3 year investigation. TA is leaving it alone so there is no more story or opportunity for innuendo. They could produce facts which I’d say they are short on given one of their witnesses was “nearby” and didn’t actually see it…. oh and it was 30 odd years ago….

Christian Real says:

08:23am | 10/10/12

Are you for real,are you an Australian I think not. it is quite obvious that you don’t understand politics or how our parliament works.

marley says:

12:00pm | 10/10/12

@Christian Real - an it’s quite obvious that you don’t have a sense of humour.  I quite like the idea of beheading the lot of them, so as to “encourager les autres.”

Greg Ettridge says:

06:40am | 10/10/12

This an employer texting an employee, are you kidding me.
Make your bed, you lie in it.
Peter Slipper is in my eyes one sick puppy living off the public teat, milking it for every cent he can get.
His one redeeming feature at the moment is he has more Political fortitude in his little toe than Julia has in her entire body, the worst Prime Minister in Australia’s history.

Hugo says:

08:06am | 10/10/12

Nicky, I am not surprised that you cannot see the leadership in Abbott’s actions. Yes, he was a friend of Slipper but, despite that, he advocated that Slipper be removed. That, Nicky, is leadership…doing the right thing. Gillard, on the other hand, again showed her desperation and lust for power.

P. Walker says:

10:48am | 10/10/12

OMG youdy beaudy, tell me you have all the time in the world to write and defend the this incompetent government (for workers anyway)...not employed?  On the dole?  what a load of Labor drivel.  I suppose welfare has been purchased from the Labor machine, eh?
Perhaps you are employed by Labor, Union or Getup?

youdy beaudy says:

08:46am | 10/10/12

Hey Susan, Guess what, this Punch is an opinion page and i gave mine and i didn’t put shit on anyone elses drivel as you call it. As far as sticking up for an incompetent mob well that is just your opinion and everyone who writes an opinion on here thinks that their opinion is right including you ole girl.

As i suggested and obviously you didn’t read as you picked through there on my opinion to put shite on me, why don’t you sweep your own perfect backyard and try to get your driveling to stop driveling because at the moment i am trying to wipe it off my keyboard..

And you run down Getup, well at least Getup does some good and makes some changes from time to time. What do you contribute. The only person who has the right to criticize are those who contribute something not those who don’t contribute. And Boring hey, well that could be disputed. Have a look in the mirrror at your own perfect image. Good idea to clean it sometimes, if you do you might die of shock.

And the shrieking woman well that statement just tells me that you are an Abbott glued on. A bloke who hangs around with a bloke who was convicted in another country of public toilet scandal. Well, go figure, we know what you support. I think Abbott should look at that association. Talk about run down Slipper. And just think, families and little kiddies have to go into public toilets sometimes. Shame, Shame , Shame as one bloke we know used to put it. Get a life for gods sake, that’s if you have one. If you’ve got all the answers why don’t you get your drivelling mouth and run for PM Yourself and quit annoying me, Don’t insult my intelligence., And guess what Julia isn’t posing as PM, she is the PM and a bloody good one at that. She sure stuck it to your man who is obviously like you against women. She’s a winner in my eyes.!

English Nazi says:

10:41am | 10/10/12

DRIVEL:  look it up you youdy beaudy - it is an appropriate term to use, and Susan used it correctly. You tell Susan not to ‘insult your intelligence’, but you call that ‘intelligence’ into serious question yourself by repeatedly hammering her on the perfectly coherent and appropriate use of a particular word.

Certainly not the only offender who seems to think the word is ‘dribble’ (last time I ‘wrote dribble’ it just made the page wet)...but one of the more belligerent. Perhaps English lessons are in order?