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Who needs enemies when you’ve got a Party Room

Tory Maguire

by Tory Maguire

30 Aug 11:15am

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Abbott’s crass logic: trash the Parliament in order save it - this is a caption

Abbott’s crass logic: trash the Parliament in order save it

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Our special forces don’t always need special treatment

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A good holiday is about unrest, not rest - this is a caption

A good holiday is about unrest, not rest

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Filed under: Election 2010, Hung Parliament, Independents, The Nationals, Tony Abbott

117 comments

Update 2pm: Now Bob Katter’s office says he was only “speaking figuratively” about being punched on election night.

Update 12.15pm: Bob Katter has just claimed he was punched on election night, but it’s not clear if he was suggesting it was by a member of the Coalition.

Update 12pm: Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan has outed himself as the maker of the “it’s the devil” call to Rob Oakeshott. Fairfax’s Phil Coorey says it’s one of the Senator’s “standard jokes” when he rings people.

Probably rather be surfing. Picture: Kym Smith

Tony Abbott’s pitch to the country independents is looking a bit flimsy this morning. He’s got one unnamed Lib MP making “devil” calls to Rob Oakeshott’s family, the Nats are jumping up and down saying “what about us?” and over the weekend it emerged Alby Shultz took it upon himself to ring Tony Windsor and give him a piece of his mind.

The Coalition is carrying on like a bunch of school girls (apologies to schools girls everywhere) who don’t actually want to form Government.

Throw in a WA Nationals MP who won’t rule out sitting on the cross bench and the Federal Coalition is making the NSW ALP look like a well-oiled machine.

Oakeshott this morning said the circus was making it difficult for Abbott to negotiate an outcome to the hung parliament situation.

“I do get the sense that they are making this a very difficult process for Tony Abbott to negotiate in good faith on. So I’m not sure whether Tony’s to blame, someone else is to blame or no-one is to blame – whether these are just Rambo-type operations going on from rogue members,” he told ABC’s Radio National this morning.

“We are being asked to have confidence in the ability of either Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott to run a stable parliament,” he said. “Now that includes managing troops.”

He has a point.

Abbott came out of the election campaign looking like someone who’d found discipline. While Labor spent the first few days after August 21 tearing itself to shreds over the result, Abbott was the leader who looked like he could provide the “stable government” the independents said was their number one priority.

But as the negotiations enter their second week, he’s lost that advantage.

Now Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce is saying things like: ‘‘I’m happy to work with any person who wants to make Australia a better place,” as if he’s doing everyone a great favour by toning down his attacks on the independents.

Between his own Party Room, and the demands of three independents who think they’ve turned into quasi Prime Ministers, Abbott must be tempted to tell them all to bugger off.

Most commented

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223The world puzzles over Australia's Prime Minister

117 comments

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    • TheRealDave says:

      11:26am | 30/08/10

      I await with anticipation the usual calls that this is another example of the ‘strength of the LNP and Tony Abbott’ and how the ‘Family Man’ Tony ‘is playing straight’ and ‘fair dinkum’ with his ‘mandate to govern’.

      Dazzle me people wink

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      12:10pm | 30/08/10

      Abbott’s call for a “kinder, gentler polity” has quickly become a bigger joke.  Punches thrown at Katter, Nats saying “what about me”.  With friends like these you don’t need any enimas.

    • MarK says:

      12:18pm | 30/08/10

      Nope he should kick the crap out of the idiot who said it is the devil calling. Simple.

      As for the rest - better to stand up than slime your way in like Gillard and Swan. Good luck with that.

      HAs there been any inference Abbott made any of these calls?

      Just saying the strength of the ALP was amply on display on qanda last week…....empty seat, empty ideas, empty policy shelf, empty ticker…...put up the vacancy sign, nothing to see here.

      73 seats to 72…........

    • Bob says:

      12:28pm | 30/08/10

      The Independents need to ‘man the f#@k up’

      if you can’t take a phone call from heffernan or schutlz who are both clowns who even their own party ignore then how can you be expected to govern the country when the pressure really comes on.

      Every Government has its defining moment - think East Timor, 9/11, Global Financial Crisis ... Whinger and Oakeschott and the other old mate with the big hat and no horse need to harden the f@#k up if they want to play otherwise just get out of the way and support one side or the other.

      Heffernan should do what the Party should have made him do prior to the election and resign - he is an absolute a@se clown - no doubts about it and his sanity must really be called into question.

      At the end of the day if the three galahs don’t know who they will back by now they they are fools.

      It has been over two months since this country had a Government and the way the shennigans is going it will be another month before it is resolved.

    • Evan Findlay says:

      12:49pm | 30/08/10

      MarK,
      There has been no inference that Mr Abbott made those calls, simply those who he represents. The very same people within the Liberal ranks who claim to offer stability of government should the independents, the same independents they are threatening and intimidating, help to form government.
      Are you capable of identifying the irony?

    • MarK says:

      01:08pm | 30/08/10

      Yes Evan I can identify irony.

      I can also identify when people respond to me out of context with the OP.

      And Evan with the updates by Tors don’t you think this whole “intimidate” and “threaten” thing is a wee bit over the top. Windsor seems to think so.

      Whatever floats your boat I guess.

    • S.L says:

      01:23pm | 30/08/10

      @ The Real Dave… Coalition Cheerleader Alan Jones came out this morning on his radio program in Sydney and said “Tony Abbott is looking more and more like Prime Ministerial material everyday!” I nearly threw up!

    • Evan Findlay says:

      01:30pm | 30/08/10

      MarK,
      I find the whole situation rather juvenile. Although if someone has assaulted Mr Katter he should charge the assailant.
      My comments were directed at your question regarding Mr Abbotts involvement and your belittling of the ALP.
      I would suggest that you revise the policies of both parties. I think it glaringly evident that the Liberal party policies and ideas tend to be more about tinkering at the edges rather than substantial reforms.

    • MarK says:

      02:08pm | 30/08/10

      Evan.

      Disagree entirely but thatis politics.

      Oh and if ever a government deserved belittling it was the Rudd Gillard government. Labor thought so itself and tried a swifty. The people thought so too and couldn’t reinstall a first term government with a shiny new female leader in her honeymoon period. It ain’t just me saying it.

    • Evan Findlay says:

      02:33pm | 30/08/10

      MarK,
      And with all the problems that occurred during the Rudd government, some of their own making and a lot due to circumstances beyond their control, the electorate could not muster the courage and conviction to install Mr Abbott. What a sullen and sulky figure he cut when approached by the media in the days ensuing the election.

    • Julie Coker-Godson says:

      06:47pm | 30/08/10

      This happens all the time in politics.  Remember Caldwell and his “chocolate coloured nation” hystrionics?  Then there was Evatt with his “conspiracies”, Eddie Ward the alleged thug….I could go on.  But in recent times both Heffernan and Katter have been well known for being loose cannons.  It wouldn’t matter what side of politics they were on, they are still loose cannons.  Oakshott shouldn’t be in politics if he cannot develop the skin of a rhinoceros - he’s going to need it in the years to come….that is if he can last the distance.  Personally I think we should go for another election if this situation cannot be resolved within the 100 days allowed for the current PM to tell the GG that she can form a government.

    • Sven Gali says:

      09:33pm | 30/08/10

      This doesn’t happen all the time in politics when a hung parliament is being resolved, Julie. Whether Katter is a loose cannon or not is beside the point, but in the current context it absolutely matters whether Heffernan is, and which side of politics he’s on. I doubt that the situation won’t be resolved within 100 days, but I can understand that after the landslide victory to the Coalition that you were predicting daily prior to the election didn’t occur, you’d want to have another try.

    • hot tub poltical machine says:

      11:40am | 30/08/10

      To be fair, we know its mainly one party of the coalition getting it wrong here – and we know it isn’t the one starting with “L” whether you want to make that a small one or a big’un

      Reply

    • fehowarth says:

      12:03pm | 30/08/10

      Yes but the coalition is one party made up of god knows what.  Every state is different.  We appear to have two National parties in WA.  The National party rump has come out of this election with three extra seats.  I suggest that the coalition has many problems to sort out before they are ready to rule.  It may come as a shock to coalition people but no one has won this election.

      History might just find that the people got it right.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      12:07pm | 30/08/10

      hot tub poltical machine says:11:40am; Cough! cough! and Alby Schultz is a memeber of waht party? and the SENIOR Federal Liberal MP (un-named) was forced to apologise to independent MP Rob Oakeshott after calling and claiming to be the “devil” when his pregnant wife answered is really a memebr of the Nationals? lol I love this liberal logic of blame someone else it’s about the only Howardism that seems to have stay long after lil johnny has left the building.

    • PJ says:

      11:41am | 30/08/10

      Hi Tory, I’m sure Mr Abbott would rather be somewhere else, but must accept like any engaged poker player, that he has to deal with the hand he has been dealt. Lets be honest here, he is dealing with politicians, who on balance do not deserve to be so elevated in the food chain of performance expectations. I can see Mr Bruce Hawkers hands all over some w’end press statements. His company is running out of clients and now has nowhere to run to. Regards.

      Reply

    • Sven Gali says:

      09:38pm | 30/08/10

      Well Bruce has three new clients, PJ, whom requested him specifically. Windsor, Oakeshott, and Katter.

    • Evan Findlay says:

      11:42am | 30/08/10

      The coalition don’t want to form government, not if they have to curtail their ideological, economic and social agenda. It’s my way or the highway! But what we will see from Mr Abbott will probably be more accommodating because it may be his only chance to hold the highest office.

      Reply

    • Northern Steve says:

      08:33pm | 30/08/10

      Actually, “It’s my way or the highway”  was pretty much how Labor ran things last term, with the Mining Tax, the MySchool dispute with teachers’ unions, the CPRS, all until it looked like they weren’t going to get their way, at which point they caved in on all three.

    • augusta says:

      11:43am | 30/08/10

      Yes how sad it is to see the Liberal Party and its supporters behaving so badly and this is the group of people who want to govern our country. No thanks not for me.

      Reply

    • Sylvia says:

      12:32pm | 30/08/10

      The worst political behaviour I ever saw was a litany of disgraceful billion dollar wastage and unforgivable, unforgettable four Aussie lives lost to pink batt mismanagement. 
      After the first victim was electrocuted, that government was warned in writing and still they did nothing - with three more lives lost. Far, far worse worse than a few people arguing between themselves.
      I know who I would prefer to govern - and its certainly not this grasping Gillard and Garrett, Shorten, Feney, Arbib, Graham Richardson, and all those hideous Labor backroom organisers and unelected union officials.  Last week we heard about Shorten and AWU’s further interference in a Victorian MP’s career.
      Gillard is uncharacteristically quiet - she’s finished, it doesn’t matter what happens from now, her days are numbered and so they should be for her part in destabilisation of both her party and our country.  Shorten’s future is also damaged because he can never dissociate himself from his role in knifing a serving Prime Minister.
      Labor is the same grubby teapot, they just change the tea-cosy.

    • MarK says:

      12:33pm | 30/08/10

      Yeh doing stuff like knifing a leader in the back and calling a cynical snap election to cash in on a honeymoon period. Or having defeated party members calling that decision a bad one. Or having the former leader not mention the Labor party on any of his election buntings….....

      It would be shocking yes.

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:22pm | 30/08/10

      @Silvia - you do know WH&S is a STATE issue don’t you? If shonky operators aren’t training their staff and not doing safety checks etc its just like ANY other business who has staff injured and killed and is looked after by the relevant STATE Department. maybe you should contact them to find out what they are doing about prosecuting these employers if you feel so strongly about this?

      But hey, that would require you being able to think for yourself. Heaven forbid I’d accuse people of that…..

    • Sylvia says:

      08:06pm | 30/08/10

      Dave, the billion-dollar pink batt project was FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS.  As with any publicly funded project, the buck stops with the department implementing it!  It might be edifying for anyone who doesn’t understand the issue, or who wants to minimise what happened to those people, to read more, to go back over the Four Corners report, and to recall that the government was made aware that there had been a death and serious injury. 

      If a government-funded project places people at risk, then it is the duty of that government to either rectify the dangers, or suspend the project!  If you ask the families, they will tell you that neither of these actions occurred. 

      The first duty of government is to PROTECT ITS CITIZENS.

      As a taxpayer, I STRONGLY object to public funds having been continued to that programme.  If you think the government pink batt programme and the known outcomes are worth excusing, then perhaps you can tell exactly why the same government used its powers to stop it - after four deaths, and not after one? 

      Then go and ask the families what they think.

    • Northern Steve says:

      08:48pm | 30/08/10

      Augusta
      cough (Mark Latham) cough.
      You get baduns on both sides of politics.  It’s the character of the leader that determines how they’re dealt with.
      I remember working one election day, handing out how to vote cards for a friend running for the Democrats.  The only person who gave anyone any grief all day was a Labor supporter.  Should I judge the entire party on one person?  I’ve also been personally insulted and told to bugger off by a Labor MLA for offering to be involved in Youth activities in the electorate (he advertised for people interested).  Never had a stick of grief from a Lib or Nat MP. 

      But then, I’ve never been an independent in a hung parliament smile

    • Chris Topher says:

      11:48am | 30/08/10

      Peter Windsor did elaborate on Insiders that he and Alby Schulz are actually friends and that most of Alby’s phone calls to him this week have been cordial.

      Surely it’s hit the point though where these 3 can at least start solidly indicating which way they’re leaning.

      Reply

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      12:13pm | 30/08/10

      Chris Topher says:11:48am; Peter Windsor? who is he Tony’s brother? Btw it was Tony who appeared on Insiders.

    • Chris Topher says:

      01:14pm | 30/08/10

      They both appeared on Insiders, Tony Abbott was first, Peter Windsor was right after. If you’d watched the entire program you’d probably know that.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      04:32pm | 30/08/10

      Chris Topher says:01:14pm; My point was, it’s Tony Windsor not Peter Windsor as you seem to think.

    • farkurnell says:

      06:37pm | 30/08/10

      Bill Heffenan can now be added with Barnaby as a stupid mate of Tony Windsor’s.At this rate we’ll have a whole cabinet of stupid Tony Windsor mates. There was a reason the LNP muzzled Warren ,Barnaby,Bill & Alby during the campaign. Unfortunately Mr Rabbot has let these guys off the leash or hes’not a strong enough leader to control them.
      But then I’m reminded by Piers and people on this site that labor is the ONLY disfunctional party. I dont see all those of last week whineing for a new election ,today. I say let’s roll the dice and bring it on. I’m sure the ALP has learnt a few lesson from the last campaign and will approach Mr Negative from a different perspective. As they say in the classic ,truth can be stranger than fiction. I think the 3 stooges are far better value, in the long run, for Labor

    • Cat says:

      11:53am | 30/08/10

      This would not be happening if politicians realised that their job is not to represent the country but to represent their electorate. The three independents causing most of the difficulties need a wake-up call and a reminder that they were not voted in to play games.
      If this continues much longer then Gillard and Abbott should go an see the Governor-General together and ask for another election to be held. I know, radical solution and most people would say ‘waste of money’ but it might get rid of the independents and give people a chance to rethink support for the Greens. Neither side of politics is going to be able to govern with the independents or the Greens. We will just go into caretaker mode until the next election.

      Reply

    • David says:

      12:43pm | 30/08/10

      First, another election can’t be called until parliament sits, while there is some convention around nominating a government before this it isn’t set in stone until the first sitting where without fail the opposition calls for a vote of no confidence and the like.

      Second, how exactly are the independents not working for the best solution for their electorates? Sure they have made a series of demands which are focused on a national scale but all serve to aid them in making their decision for their constituents. They must choose the major party who can actually afford (if not deliver) on the promises made to them. They also seek to benefit from changes to parlaimentary process, enabling them to improve their capacity to represent their electorate.

      Such insular and short sighted thinking seems to be the only reason anyone expresses a view remotely similar to yours here today.

      I also doubt the independents would lose their seats should a second election be held, all of them are firmly in their seats. I also doubt the Greens would lose much support given the primary driver for people to swing to their support has been climate change and neither major party has given any indication they will adjust their policy position in that area (the Greens experienced positive swings even in conservative seats across the country). Don’t forget the Greens received a swing larger than the Liberal party.

    • antman says:

      12:50pm | 30/08/10

      Cat, the Governor-General does not have the power to call another election until it is clear that the Parliament cannot work effectivelyu. For that to happen, the AEC has to finish counting the votes first (it’s not the independents holding up the process) and then Parliament has to be called to Canberra to sit and test whether it can work. Only then, if the Parliament cannot function effectively, can the G-G call another election. It’s the law .

    • Andy says:

      11:54am | 30/08/10

      This sort of rubbish being peddled by the media should stop.Tony Windsor for a start said on the week end that Alby Schultz is a good mate of his and that his comments should be taken in context to the manner in which they were meant, and laughed at sugestions he was manacing in anyway. How many times does Windsor have to come out and defend Schultz as he has done over the last 2 days before you report the truth. And Mother Theresa Oakeshott seems to be making it look like he is distancing himself from the Coalition just before he sides with them to save his own job. There’s enough going on in this circus without having media running their own agenda too!

      Reply

    • Bazza says:

      12:02pm | 30/08/10

      Oakeshott has just admitted the phone call message to his home was told to him second hand and didn’t know the source of the caller. People are quickly jumping to conclusions here that it was a Lib MP. For all you know Tory it could be a Labor MP doing it to cause trouble for the Libs. Stick to the facts please!

    • ibast says:

      12:06pm | 30/08/10

      Agree the Schultz thing was more misplaced than sinister, but this devil business is a typical Liberal Tactic.  Look how for years they would get Tuckey to say stuff the party couldn’t publicly support, but believed in anyway.

      I also agree the media is really stuffing this for everyone.  Oakes came out the other day and called the independents behavior a circus.  In fact is is the media that is the circus.  Oakes is once again trying to make his own story.  The Independents are doing very well in a difficult time and are doing more than most politicians in the past 20 years for the benefit of the country.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      12:16pm | 30/08/10

      Bazza says:12:02pm; And along came Bill… Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan that is ;  )  face it Bazza your mob the Liability party are not mature enough to govern.

    • Zeus says:

      12:22pm | 30/08/10

      @Bazza you obviously did not read Tory’s article, Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan has outed himself as maker of the call.  Enough of the Liberal party propaganda which blames everything on Labor.

    • Luke04 says:

      12:29pm | 30/08/10

      Zeus - I think you will find Bazza’s comment was posted before Tory’s update was added. Tory’s original post didn’t have the update and didn’t have the name of the person responsible for the phone call. She obviously didn’t know who the person was either when she first submitted this article.

    • Dash says:

      04:43pm | 30/08/10

      Come on Rob! As opposed to say the mature running of the School Halls program. Or the mature running of the insulation fiasco. Or the mature running of Fuelwatch or grocery choice or the mature promise of “more affordable housing” or the mature promise of 200+ childcare facilities never delivered. Or the very mature promise to deliver “cheaper better childcare”. Then we had the mature “East Timor Policy” announcement which never existed. The mature “biggest moral challenge” backdown. The mature “non-negotiable” profits tax backflip. The very mature killing of a first term PM. And oh lets not forget the mature handling of the economy with record levels of foreign debt, an unnecessary second stimulus which overheated the economy and led to even more debt and rising interest rates. If that’s all mature government, I think a few of us would prefer the immature version. Like say the 64% of people who didn’t vote for your beloved ALP!

    • farkurnell says:

      10:51pm | 30/08/10

      Are you kidding me ,Alby must be living on another planet when he got stuck into Troy Crook ,In fact it was probably the planet paradigm.Alby somehow conviently forgot the Libs preferenced the evil greens, so that Labor would not win Melbourne, and the greens picked up there 1st lower house seat.

    • Paul says:

      12:03pm | 30/08/10

      Try as I might I fail to see why either party would want to form government in these circumstances.  It is likely to be a train wreck and any large or small disagreement will be pounced upon and artificially magnified by the voracious media for a nation rapidly becoming political soap opera junkies.  The independents, nice people that they may be, are not going to make government easy. Do we really expect that once they have agreed to not block supply that they will pass legislation that they do not agree with?  I like the idea of representative government but people this will not be it.

      Reply

    • N says:

      12:09pm | 30/08/10

      Sounds good to me, with the current layout of parliament from this election, it is political suicide for whichever party actually gets the green light to “govern”. As a fairly wealthy individual, I should be able to handle another 3 years of Labor socialism, if it means they won’t be re-elected for a long-time again thereafter.

      Reply

    • AdamC says:

      12:11pm | 30/08/10

      I noticed Wilkie has come out with some little manifesto today. My view is that, while any prospective PM should deal with the indies on certain issues - parliamentary process reforms, matters on which they campaigned, local issues - they should not allow them to dictate national policy. I see Wilkie, for example, wants some kinds of limits on poker machine betting.

      This is remarkable, as gambling is licensed and regulated by the states, not the Feds. It seems some of these indies have become so excited about their unexpected influence they are forgetting the reasonable limitations that must be placed on it.

      Both prospective leaders should be firm with the indies on national policies and not let them hijack the national interest.

      Reply

    • Zaf says:

      12:11pm | 30/08/10

      Barnaby’s cross because the Independents are cutting his grass.  There’s only room for so much home-spun country wisdom in Parliament before people get bored with it.  They’re stealing his schtick.

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      12:14pm | 30/08/10

      Two things (stressing one pointed out above)

      The Schulz to Windsor phone calls are a non issue. If Windsor is not concerned by them, and he calls Alby a mate who gets on a bike every so often, why worry about it? I am sure plenty of unsought advice has been given to all 3 (or 4) independents. Stupid thing to do but lets get real on it. At least it is different to the lick spittle at your service approach Swan has displayed.

      As for the “devil calling” phone call.

      1. Stupidity at its highest.
      2. Has no place and is cowardly
      3. I hate this type of stuff
      4. Oakeshott has shown the first bit of real decency since the election by not naming and shaming him/her which he was in his right to do.
      5. Abbott should make said member of the devil phone call the minister for Mongolian Rock Counting if he gets the booby prize and send him off to woop woop to begin their 3 years in exile

      Again - Abbott wants the job on his terms. He will not take it on what the other 3 want. As has been seen from the last week Gillard really is not the smooth and good operator her urgers have had us believe.

      She is out of her depth in a leadership position - BER, Batts, getting rid of the ETS let alone building stuff on foreign soil before asking the foreign government if that would be ok - a non fix in reality to the mining tax….the list goes on. Her and Swan kowtowing to the 3 amigos is a embarrassment to them

      Reply

    • Just Sayin' says:

      01:15pm | 30/08/10

      I largely agree with you MarK - All except your point 4.  Whenever politicians do this kind of thing, they know that nine times out of ten the name will come out eventually.  He wanted to have a bob each way by shaming heffernan, without actually being the one to do the muckraking.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      01:21pm | 30/08/10

      MarK says:12:14pm; You want us to believe things like the phone calls to Tony Windsor are a non-issue… I say it opens people up to what the Liberal party are really made of. The fact is if the Labor brand is so broken why is it then that in two state elections and one federal election the Liberal party has not been able to toss Labor governments from government or win an election to govern in their own right. Something is truly broken and it isn’t in the Labor party.

    • TimB says:

      01:57pm | 30/08/10

      Rob, you’re wrong. If Tony Windsor himself has come out and said it’s no big deal then it’s a non issue.
      (http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2010/s2996410.htm)
      You and anyone else trying to make something of this should let it go.

      As for Labor not being broken…when it’s hanging on by green preferences, then yes, it’s broken.
      Plus I’ll leave you with a date that I have circled on my calendar: March 26th, 2011. That’s when you’ll see the true extent of how broken Labor is.
      I was iffy about what the Federal result was going to be, unable to make a prediction one way or another. But mark my words, I have absolutely ZERO uncertainty about the NSW state result.
      Barring some form of divine intervention, Labor is going to be utterly demolished. The only question will just how massive the swing against them will be. I for one can’t wait.

      The other thing that’s broken is the stupid preference system that delivers the government that people hate the least. How silly.
      Optional Preferential Voting should be the norm at Federal level. That way people can direct votes & any preferences to only those they actually want in government.

    • MarK says:

      03:29pm | 30/08/10

      Thanks Tim.

      No Rob I don’t want you to believe anything of the sort regarding phone calls. Rather I would have believe what the guy who received the calls said.

      Tip - it wasn’t a journo from The Punch or elsewhere that got the calls it was a certain Tony Windsor. If you think he is lying say so and make stuff up that is your prerogative. Just make sure you look at TimB’s link first. I saw it Sunday so I don’t need to look again.

      I have to admit the journo’s are loving this stuff. All the fake rage stories they can get away with is awesome for them. The silence of both leaders only adds fuel to the “gotta make a story” fire. Into this vacuum come all sorts of fun things.

      You know its a vacuum when a Barnaby reference is made and all he said is he will work with people to make Australia better. I mean wow. What a toxic thing to say.

      Own up Tors - you tossed Barnaby in there to get a reaction now didn’t you? Slow day much?

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      03:52pm | 30/08/10

      It isn’t me bleating on about it being a non-issue. I just pointed out the fact that it shows people what the real character of the Liberal party, so no need to get your knickers in a knot tiny Tim and Mark. And as for the NSW Labor party I am surprised they last the last two elections and would not claim they would have a chance of winning the next. But looking at what the NSW opposition has to offer I doubt that NSW Labor will be utterly demolished as you claim. That will be a wait and see. and where would the Coalition at state and federal level be if it weren’t for the National party. When has the Liberal party actually governed in their own right as just the Liberal party. Fact is they can’t unless they have the Nationals on board. And to tell you the truth that partnership is looking shakey with every federal election. So before you rant on about the Green support of the ALP, look in your own backyard fella. And btw, you completely missed answering why the Coalition have FAILED to toss the Labor party out of office in the last 2 state elections and FAILED to gain enough seats with the Nationals on board at the recent federal election.

    • Dash says:

      04:57pm | 30/08/10

      Rob, only you could make the loss of 11 seats sound like a resounding victory! Yeah the ALP killed King Rudd on the basis that they lost their way - nothing broken there! How much of our tax dollars are still being spent to fix the insulation fiasco - nothing broken with that policy. We had to backflip on the ETS because it was so not broken. We had to backflip on the non-negotiable profits tax because it was so not broken. We had to have a commission hearing into the rorting of the school halls program because it was so not broken. We have ALP Premiers and ex Premiers in the news slamming the “faceless men” must be because everything is running so smoothly eh Rob! If your Labor party are so hot, why did they fail with the greens on board to secure enough seats at the recent Federal Election? Maybe you should answer some of your own questions? Are we moving forward yet Rob? Any sign of the Real Julia? She hasn’t started writing rants for the Socialist Forum again has she? Ph and the next time you see Paul can you ask him where my “read my lips L.A.W.” tax cuts are?

    • MarK says:

      05:06pm | 30/08/10

      Sigh.

      The mystery of the last NSW state elections is explainable - well in part.

      In the earlier one the ALP were fighting an incompetent Liberal political machine. Labor were also at the height of their powers politically with very good spin merchants and a lot of formidable talent on the front bench - and the back for that matter. They had the legitimacy of incumbency and a complacent and dare I say zombie like msm that was in love with the infallible left.

      The last election I cannot explain. The faults of this Labor government were plain to see. But after Brogden had his personal and public troubles Debnam didn’t really inspire. Blame the party but 2007 was there to win.

      We all know what happened since then with one disaster after another. Maybe we like to self flagellate in NSW and cannot get enough of rubbing our own faces in the dung pile who knows? It will forever be a mystery to me that 2007 election in NSW with the return of Labor.

      Now lets see.

      ”  And btw, you completely missed answering why the Coalition have FAILED to toss the Labor party out of office in the last 2 state elections and FAILED to gain enough seats with the Nationals on board at the recent federal election”

      So when did you pose this question that I missed answering anyway? Ahh bugger it who cares I did answer the first bit for ya.

      Oh and failed at this election? I think it was a huge win. All you lefty type people had Abbott dead and buried before last Saturday week. You were gleefully waving goodbye to him.

      At this stage he has 73 seats - Julia has 72.

      Seems to me to be in front so /shrug. Abbott has beaten off the most popular PM ever (lol) - took him 6 months. Abbott has nearly won office and may still do so from a first term government. I fail to see the FAIL (ucwatididthar?)

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      06:27pm | 30/08/10

      MarK says:05:06pm; Ah let me see, you can sugar coat it anyway you like it’s still just dribble and your boy didn’t even come close to forming government. But typically close is a win as far as you right whingers are concerned. And he may still be gone yet. You really do waffle on fella… still trying to claim Crook as your own, perhaps you had better ask him first.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      12:26pm | 30/08/10

      Tors, The Coalition is carrying on like a bunch of school girls (apologies to schools girls everywhere) who don’t actually want to form Government.

      You pretty much sumed it up right there.

      Reply

    • Dash says:

      05:01pm | 30/08/10

      Could be worse Rob, they could be socialist feminist radical homewreckers willing to prostitute themselves before conservative ministers to hold on to power!

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      08:19pm | 30/08/10

      Dash says:05:01pm; you describe rAbbott beautifully, always thought he was a girl, just look at the way he walks. You haven’t been servicing her now have you? Don’t be shy now.

    • neil says:

      12:34pm | 30/08/10

      This situation is just farcical now, let’s get back to the polls and elect a proper stable government.

      Labor are incompetant and self distructive the independants are not capable and the Greens are nutters, so that wether we like it or not means that only a Nat/Lib majority government is viable at present.

      Reply

    • farkurnell says:

      11:20pm | 30/08/10

      are you kiddiin me ,do you call Bill, Alby & Barnaby stable, I do agree thou lets bring on another election and see if Tony can hide the disfunctional coalition from the electorate next time.In addition we might also examine some of the wacko policies of the Nats.Haven’t you been listening to the 3 Stooges -the Bush is tired of the Nats they promise but never deliver.

    • ibast says:

      12:35pm | 30/08/10

      Abbott was always put in as an opposition leader.  Even his own party didn’t think he had a chance.  This week had been conformation of this view.  That has been obvious since the speeches last Sunday.  Gillard spoke about the future of the nation and Abbott attacked the Labor part.

      Reply

    • Kelly says:

      05:31pm | 30/08/10

      And it was really amazing to see Mr. Abbott defy all odds and win back so many seats from the Labor party…. Then again, this probably says more about Ms Gillard’s idea of the “future of the nation’ then Mr Abbott…...

    • jeffb says:

      12:42pm | 30/08/10

      “Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan has outed himself as the maker of the “it’s the devil” call to Rob Oakeshott. Fairfax’s Phil Coorey says it’s one of the Senator’s “standard jokes” when he rings people.”

      Looks like the only joke here is the LNP.

      Reply

    • jeffb says:

      01:20pm | 30/08/10

      Jesus it gets even worse for the LNP,

      “The other destabilising element is the coming High Court challenge to two new Coalition MPs who foolishly failed to resign their positions on local councils before being elected.”

      “Both these chaps could fall foul of section 44 (iv) of the Constitution which prohibits anyone enjoying an office of profit under the crown from nominating for Federal Parliament.”

    • C1 says:

      03:33pm | 30/08/10

      Jeffb,

      I appreciate the heffernan antic is not the done thing - but he is poor;ly regarded anyway and has not been close to any definitive decision making for years.

      Regarding the issue of the two Coaliton candidates - would there be challenges in court if the margins had been higher for either side? prpbably night. Like the old saying ‘patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel’, if all you have to throw at them regarding statutes is the Constitution, then I believe you do not have much to stand on - Unless you went to the Dennis Denuto School of Law.

    • jeffb says:

      03:51pm | 30/08/10

      Those are direct quotes from an article I read today, not my own comments.  Jacqui Kelly was forced to a by-election under the same constitutional provision.

      http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/08/30/how-wilkie’s-early-decision-will-determine-the-government/

      I find it curious that people dismiss Heffernan so easily, why is he an elected member of parliament if he is so irrelevant? Hopefully the Independents go the full course and get some real outcomes for Australia. Every elected member need to be accountable.

    • C1 says:

      04:16pm | 30/08/10

      Jeffb,

      I keep asking that question myself about the likes of Heffernen - and I am a conservative voter!

      I guess he must have photos of people in delicate circumstances.

    • Northern Steve says:

      06:55pm | 31/08/10

      Jeffb,
      It’s a little precious of Labor to be taking court action over LNP candidates because they were councillors at the time of election. At least two of those elected LNP councillors had Labor opponents who were Mayors!  I suspect they probably wouldn’t consider it a legal matter had their candidates won.

    • Nicole says:

      12:53pm | 30/08/10

      If what Katter says is true, why hasn’t anything been said up until now? He obviously wants his 15 minutes to never end. The bloke’s a nutter.

      Reply

    • Blair says:

      12:54pm | 30/08/10

      Front page of The Daily Advertiser here in the Riverina: “I DIDN’T DO IT: Alby denies making phone call”.

      Pfft.

      Reply

    • stu says:

      12:59pm | 30/08/10

      Not ready to govern.

      Reply

    • Greg says:

      04:31pm | 30/08/10

      Ah and what do you call the last 3 years of waste, lies, rorts and debt? Good government??

    • Just Sayin' says:

      01:11pm | 30/08/10

      It’d be awesome if Liberal and Labor formed a unity government and told all the political terrorists to f#ck off.  That includes Barnaby and the Greens.

      Reply

    • Jane says:

      01:15pm | 30/08/10

      Katter never cliamed he was punched, he was talking about words spoken. Mis reported again.

      Reply
    • Tory Maguire

      Tory Maguire says:

      02:12pm | 30/08/10

      Read what he said at the airport. He said he was punched. His office later clarified that he was “speaking figuratively”...

    • jeffb says:

      02:26pm | 30/08/10

      No he said “One of them threw a punch at me on election night” I guess it depends on the context of the question he was answer to really understand what he meant by that. But then again I’m not a journalist, what would I know.

    • neil says:

      02:56pm | 30/08/10

      He was talking about the verbal exchange he had with Barnaby Joyce on the Nine telecast. They were in seperate states!

    • Nicole says:

      03:09pm | 30/08/10

      No he wasn’t neil. He was talking about Warren Truss !

    • Bob says:

      03:37pm | 30/08/10

      its obvious that katter has taken one smack to the head to many - i hope that is his excuse, otherwise he is just plain crazy - that laugh of his sounds like a gut shot hyena ...

    • Rob says:

      01:20pm | 30/08/10

      Your update is incorrect, Bob Katter wasn’t punched, he had a verbal with someone, nothing physical. A bit of a differnece to being punched I would think.

      Reply

    • Justin says:

      01:26pm | 30/08/10

      And to think they managed to offload Wilson Tuckey this election. I suppose a lot of loose canons minus one is still a lot of loose canons.

      PS: Tors, seen you on the Drum on ABC News 24 a couple of times - hope it becomes a regular gig.

      Reply

    • MDMConnell says:

      01:27pm | 30/08/10

      I dunno if this is so bad for the Coalition. I reckon people ARE getting a bit fed up with the Independents and how they’re carrying on.

      Windsor has conducted himself well and his performance on Q&A was impressive. And Wilkie has been the best of the lot in keeping his head down most of the time.

      But Katter and especially Oakeshott have been increasingly silly over the past week. Creating two new states? An Independent North Queensland? Cross-party cabinets? I can see why people are starting to brand them attention seekers and demanding they just get on with it.

      Oakeshott especially comes across as a Wannabe Obama with his Hopey-Changey “New Politics” rhetoric. And honestly, did he really need to make a big public spectacle over a stupid prank call? Windsor was happy to laugh it off, was it really such a big deal that Oakeshott had to make it front page news?

      I do wonder whether people may be quietly sympathising with Schultz and Heffernan on this one.

      Reply

    • Lisa says:

      01:28pm | 30/08/10

      You know,  I’m starting to wonder with these sort of reports if its the INDEPENDENTS that are running an agenda here

      Reply

    • Luke says:

      01:41pm | 30/08/10

      It’s all starting to sound a bit strange? All these reports and none of them really stick. Schultz’s comments were to a mate, nothing else as Windsor explained. Heffernan refers to himself as the devil to people often as a joke as he has now come out and claimed, now the Katter punch up, wasn’t a punch up but only words between him and “someone”. Is it the media or is it Labor feeding them? I smell a rat.

      Reply

    • James says:

      05:20pm | 30/08/10

      No, it really is the LNP members tearing each other to shreds like a pack of wild animals.

    • Biteme says:

      01:49pm | 30/08/10

      I don’t get it? How have any of the Independents been unreasonable?
      In my opinion they are doing what is right. The problem is we have other MP’s and Business Leaders worried they might miss out on something. Well I say screw them! it’s about time we got some transparency and it’s about time we put the people first.

      Reply

    • Peter Oataway, Hay, NSW says:

      01:50pm | 30/08/10

      Nationals have been leaking rural seats to Independents over the past 2 decades.
      I live in a rural area and would vote National if they stopped playing one region or state over another.
      They have developed a bad habit of trying to pick winners with water and regions, and have courted the mining vote and taken their eye off many of the rural communities who’s votes they built their rural party with.
      If the rural vote was supporting the National Party rather than Independents in these 3 seats the Coalition would be probably be in government.
      They didn’t, the Coalition has failed to convince enough rural voters to give it power…that is the mandate
      Like any other political party that fails to get a majority mandate at an election they need to investigate and change something to win those rural seats.
      I suggest Tony Abbott needs to look deeper into the reasons why rural Australia is becoming disenfranchised with the National Party..and not just accept advice back from the very Queensland orientated Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce as gospel.

      I sent Senator Heffernan and Punch journalist Paul Colgan the above comments in an email on Friday morning, maybe Senator Heffernan took my comments to heart.

      Considering he lives at Junee just up the road from the delapidated Wagga Hospital where us Riverina people get reffered too, as our local hospitals do not do surgery. And up the road from our Murrumbidgee River which is suffering under the weight of government water buybacks.

      And he has been a Senator for the Lib’s during many years they were in government, I’m pretty happy he is starting to feel some heat.

      Bring it on.. before the Western Riverina buckles under the strain of too little too late by politicians meant to be representing us.

      Reply

    • Barry says:

      02:00pm | 30/08/10

      Windsor on the news this afternoon said Heffernan is well known to refer to himself as the Devil and there would have been nothing sinister in what he said at all. What’s going on? Sounds like someone is trying to make the Coalition look unstable.

      Reply

    • James says:

      05:28pm | 30/08/10

      Typical LNP behaviour - act like maniacs then try to whitewash the whole thing by blaming the other side! Pathetic.

    • Northern Steve says:

      07:15pm | 31/08/10

      Jame, who’s blaming the other side?  Someone did something silly and owned up to it. Windsor himer said it was no big deal. I think you must be reading the news from some alternate universeto me.

    • MDMConnell says:

      02:07pm | 30/08/10

      The ABC reporting

      (a) Tony Windsor has no issue with the calls and doesn’t feel it will hurt the Coalition’s chances of forming government

      (b) “It’s the Devil” is apparently a standard introduction used by Heffernan when he calls people (!?!). So it looks like Oakeshott has gone off half-cocked on what looks to be a standard, if unfunny, jHeffernan oke.

      So all the self-righteous Labor hacks here can relax now. You don’t have to pretend to be outraged anymore.

      Reply

    • Andy says:

      02:25pm | 30/08/10

      Oakeshott is acting like a little child let loose in a toy shop. I think it’s time he came back to earth and started acting like one of the big boys now. He’s starting to come across a little arrogant and special.

    • KateA says:

      03:33pm | 30/08/10

      Standard joke !!!
      Mr Heffernan thought he was talking to a 4 or 5 year old child.
      How can any sane person justify this as acceptable.

    • MH says:

      04:01pm | 30/08/10

      RoboOak is rapidly morphing into a precious twit and the BobKat has long been there.  For all their protestations about the primacy of stable government, the independents - save for the generally more sensible ToWin- seem more interested in conducting a dialogue via the press over who has or hasn’t been saying nice things to them behind closed doors.  Civility - or perceived lack of it - really has no place in the substantive decision. 

      An interesting aside, slightly off track - the 2PP vote as reported by the AEC a few minutes ago is now almost even (50.04% ALP to 49.96% Coalition).  Not that I think it has anything to do with which side is better placed to govern but it adds another sound bite for TonAb if the counting trend continues and he ends up ahead on both the primary and 2PP votes.

    • Lucy says:

      04:10pm | 30/08/10

      This running to the media everytime someone says something to him (Oakeshott) is annoying. He needs to learn to keep his gob shut and take it on the chin. We are all waiting for his decision, not a running commentary on his “holier than thou” approach. Come down out of the clouds mate, or go and join the Greens.

    • Joolz says:

      03:26pm | 30/08/10

      Oh, could we just have an election already and sort this out?

      Reply

    • mediarubbish says:

      03:59pm | 30/08/10

      You gotta luv it, nothing much happening yet so the Journo’s run around making mountains out of mole hills to entertain themselves and hopefully us until we have a decision on who will be PM. We keep getting these headlines of instability in the Coalition ranks, even though they keep being proved wrong, the only instability I can see is the Journo’s instability. The media need to take a rain check instead of trying to run the country and let the Independents get on and make their decision without the media manipulation and interference that is obviously going on.

      Reply

    • Anthony says:

      04:07pm | 30/08/10

      So apart from the indies getting a little tense and precious, what really happened?

      Reply

    • Carnegie says:

      04:09pm | 30/08/10

      Has anyone noticed that the Coalition has almost reeled in Labors 2PP lead??
      Based on the most recent update (Monday 3:25pm) Labor now leads by only 8000 votes, as late as Friday the lead was 100,000.
      Given that the 2pp vote has been Labor’s chief justification for it forming a minority govt and assuming that the trend continues and the Coalition does in fact take the lead, would that disqualify Gillairds chances of forming govt??

      Reply

    • Dick J says:

      04:25pm | 30/08/10

      I think Winsor, Katter & Oakshott are playing this for all its worth.

      The Alby Schultz thing was just banter between mates blown out of proportion by the left media and probably fed by Bruce Hawkerthe left ‘s cheif spinner.

      Heffernan was making a joke- Oakshott knew it was a joke as did everybody else except Oakshott’s wife - perhaps.

      Katter was engaging in hyperbole as he is prone to do.

      Why are the Independents pretending they are pure as the driven snow by putting this stuff in public. They are playing politics as hard as they can.

      It is abbout time they were called to account.

      Reply

    • Peter Oataway, Hay, NSW says:

      05:02pm | 30/08/10

      Abbbout kattering ttimme tthat the Supermarket duopoly of big time Labor, Liberal doners; Coles and Woolies got pulled into line.
      Most of the hyperbole in this is coming from newspapers and media with an eye on keeping these big advertisers happy.

      These 3 are not getting bullied by these twerps and sycophants.

    • nosthow says:

      04:36pm | 30/08/10

      When I think of the Coalition a word comes to mind and its “Grubby”. Even more Grubby now we hear Coalition members have been phoning the Independents and trying to scare them - and this is the tawdry bunch who wish to form government ? The great ad the “Abbott Family” during the election campaign said it all - creapy and crawly ! Yuk Abbott !

      Reply

    • MH says:

      01:10am | 31/08/10

      And he’s going to be your PM.  That must really hurt.  Especially when you consider it will be a good two terms of soul-searching in the wilderness for the ALP to pull itself back together.  Perhaps you can console yourself watching the Abbott Family ad on a loop for 6 years.

    • MK says:

      04:48pm | 30/08/10

      If the Coalition are acting like children, they must be taking the lead from Bob Katter. In a better world he wouldn’t be one of the people charged with the current task. In a perfect world he’d have learnt to keep his mouth shut. I see what’s going on amongst the parties right now as trivialities if anything. Stupid and not worth paying attention to, it’s just another way for them to detract from what’s really going on.

      Reply

    • Danilo says:

      05:14pm | 30/08/10

      This Oakeshott dude is way too BIg for his boots,he runs off at the mouth like a young in the brain Upstart. (immature)
      He is so wrapped up in his own importance(importance??) when he should realise the NATION did not vote for him or his other two amigos,who are demanding this demanding that- actually you dudes are wearing the public thin,COMMONSENSE Robbie baby is LIBERAL not a fabricating,dysfunctional labor government pLUS Robbie AUSTRALIA cannot Afford Labor anymore- Rob just grow up willya?
      I believe Robbie Tony and Bobbie should be on Stage! The Last Stage outa Town!! (Especially Rob the K**B)

    • Holly says:

      05:41pm | 30/08/10

      But hang on a minute - Barnaby and Warren are getting in on the act now and pointing out that hey can’t be relied upon to rubber stamp legislation.  So how exactly is Tony actually going to provide stable government.

      Reply

    • iansand says:

      06:41pm | 30/08/10

      Perhaps we are seeing the silly shenanigans that go on all the time, but are normally suppressed.

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      09:00pm | 30/08/10

      Pretty much this and the fact that there is a void of “leadership” announcements means Tors and co have to talk all this stuff up a lot..

      Still Heff is a goose

    • M. Diva says:

      07:17pm | 30/08/10

      STOP PRESS News of the World penetrates party backrooms in Canberra,it was fixed, we waz robbed,neither party wanted to win, this explains the real tony and julia, they owed heaps to Singo an channel 9, they both got on with Wilkies bookie at around 9/4,some extremely large bets were laid in Darwin for the draw at 33/1.And geez I thought they loved us voters

      Reply

    • Carnegie says:

      07:26pm | 30/08/10

      Coalition Takes Lead!!!

      As of 7:26pm this evening Julia Gillard’s primary justification for forming minority govt is gone:

      House of Representatives Two Party Preferred Count
      •  Australian Labor Party – 5,339,343
      •  Liberal/National Coalition – 5,339,839

      In every press conference and media appearance since the election The Prime Minister & all other Labor MP’s have trumpeted “that more Australians prefer a Labor govt”. Can’t wait to hear her answer the obvious question at Press Club tomorrow!!

      Reply

    • Louisa says:

      07:54pm | 30/08/10

      You forget Carnegie - “Caretaker” Prime Minister and an unelected one at that.

    • trollbait says:

      08:19pm | 30/08/10

      And so it continues to grow…...

      HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NATIONAL TWO PARTY PREFERRED RESULT
      Coalition   Votes   Percentage %  Swing %
      Australian Labor Party   5,341,929   49.99   -2.71
      Liberal/National Coalition   5,343,460   50.01   +2.7

    • iansand says:

      08:22pm | 30/08/10

      Damn.  I’ve changed my mind.  Given those figures this is a significant development.  I am available for media interviews by appointment.  I could be responsible for a change in government.

    • MarK says:

      08:58pm | 30/08/10

      Oh the lefties will change their tune and claim a dingo took their 2pp vote.

      Like it was only the most important thing when they were in front. This is getting hilarious. So over it.

      Give it to Gillard so Shorten can be PM for a few months - just like NSW Labor everyone can get a turn at the top job and lock in some juicy pension entitlements.

    • Louisa says:

      07:59pm | 30/08/10

      Oh Come on Tory - you vote Labor and all of your blogs are labor weighted.

      Reply

    • Paul says:

      08:14pm | 30/08/10

      Lol, I hope abbot is asking the police to investigate Bill Heffernan’s breach of the telecommunications act.  He’s all about that isn’t he? 

      Besides.. i think its a bit worrying about an MP behaving this way.

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      07:50am | 31/08/10

      Sylvia, Many projects are commonwealth funded, and managed by the STATES.  OHS laws are STATE laws, even though Tony Abbott would have you believe otherwise! Stop believing everything the little liar says and start looking at the objective behind his words!

      Reply
 
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