http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/anthony-albanese/ Anthony Albanese is the Labor member for Grayndler and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in the Rudd Government. He supports the South Sydney Rabbitohs. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-opposition-cant-even-oppose-properly/ As the winter fog settles over Canberra and the nation’s politicians return to their electorates, there could be no more relieved Australians than the people of Queanbeyan. Sitting just across the border from Canberra, the city’s small businesses have become a daily stage for the Leader of the Opposition to perform his stunts. Usually directed against the proposed price on carbon, the hyped-up vitriol is mirrored in broader attacks around the country on anyone who doesn’t support his views whether they be scientists, economists or everyday Australians who dare to believe that dealing with climate change is necessary and urgent. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-opposition-cant-even-oppose-properly/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/this-opposition-cant-even-oppose-properly/#item6236 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:40:42 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/getting-rid-of-the-septic-tanks-and-other-labor-achievements/ As friends and family gathered to celebrate my friend Tom Uren’s 90th birthday recently, he had many reasons to be proud of his contribution to Australia.  History books abound that record the unique achievements of the Whitlam Government in which Tom was a senior figure. But there’s a big one that is barely remembered – the role the pair played in getting rid of the septic tank. These famously malodorous mosquito and cockroach breeding pits lay beneath the lawns of suburban homes everywhere, including the then home of Prime Minister Whitlam in western Sydney.  As Tom tells it, by the time he was elected to power Gough had decided enough was enough – a modern Australia deserved a modern sewerage system. So he appointed his Minister for Urban and Regional Development, Tom Uren, to clean up the country by funding new sewerage plants across urban Australia. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/getting-rid-of-the-septic-tanks-and-other-labor-achievements/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/getting-rid-of-the-septic-tanks-and-other-labor-achievements/#item6027 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 19:35:27 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/even-tony-abbott-doesnt-believe-tony-abbott/ Last night under pressure Tony Abbott cracked and told all Australians that they should not believe any statements that he makes.  Tony Abbott said “The statements that need to be taken absolutely as gospel truth are those carefully prepared, scripted remarks”.  This extraordinary concession from ‘Phoney Tony’ was followed by ten minutes of evasion and confusion.   We know that Phoney Tony has been receiving acting lessons but quite clearly he’s acting coach forgot to tell him how important it was to stay ‘in character’. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/even-tony-abbott-doesnt-believe-tony-abbott/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/even-tony-abbott-doesnt-believe-tony-abbott/#item3104 Tue, 18 May 2010 03:29:51 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parliament-is-back-let-the-bells-ring/ Today marks the return of Parliament in Canberra, in an election year. For some this will be of no interest, for others it is a captivating period in which the intrigue, dynamics and more subtle nuances are followed each sitting day. I am firmly of the view that as Australians, we should be very proud of the vigorous nature of our democratic processes. After all, millions of people throughout the world are prepared to risk their lives in pursuit of democratic principles being introduced to their nation. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parliament-is-back-let-the-bells-ring/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/parliament-is-back-let-the-bells-ring/#item2288 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:28:09 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/reckless-drivers-cant-blame-government-for-carnage/ Next Wednesday the National Road Safety Council will have its inaugural meeting in Parliament House. This initiative from Australia’s Transport Ministers is an attempt to get expert advice from around the nation to make practical suggestions aimed at reducing our road toll. The meeting will have a sombre tone. Sadly, the heart-wrenching grief caused by road deaths visited more families last year than the year before. The road toll in 2009 was up by almost 5 per cent to 1,509 deaths, albeit still the second lowest figure in almost 60 years and less than half the average recorded during the peak of the 1970’s (3798). feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/reckless-drivers-cant-blame-government-for-carnage/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/reckless-drivers-cant-blame-government-for-carnage/#item2247 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:55:43 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-eternal-hope-and-despair-of-a-souths-supporter/ This Saturday the pride of the League, South Sydney, will play their last game for 2009. No finals for the men in Cardinal Red & Myrtle Green. Again. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-eternal-hope-and-despair-of-a-souths-supporter/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-eternal-hope-and-despair-of-a-souths-supporter/#item1086 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:40:50 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youre-in-strife-when-wilson-tuckey-is-setting-the-pace/ The Rudd Labor Government was elected with a mandate to take action on climate change.  The Howard Government had been frozen in time while the world warmed around it for twelve long years. This was symbolic of the Howard Government’s failure to embrace a future agenda. Our first action in Government was to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and gain a seat at the international negotiating table. We followed that up with a whole-of-government response which has included investment in public transport, increased support for renewables and the home insulation initiative. At the centre of our response is the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. This has been through an extensive process of development which has included a green paper, a white paper, an exposure draft and legislation that passed the House of Representatives months ago. This week we saw the future of the Liberal Party – and his name is Wilson Tuckey. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youre-in-strife-when-wilson-tuckey-is-setting-the-pace/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/youre-in-strife-when-wilson-tuckey-is-setting-the-pace/#item934 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:40:19 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-have-the-chance-right-now-to-build-a-better-nation/ Whilst Australia’s economy is facing enormous challenges arising from the impact of the global recession, there is another story emerging. It’s a story of consumer spending holding up, of the housing market remaining strong, and of companies sharing around the burden by shortening hours to keep employees in jobs. We are not out of the woods yet, but in the short-term the savage downturn that’s hit many other countries so hard, has been averted here in Australia.  I believe this has happened because the Government has displayed two important strengths in a time of crisis: political courage and long-term vision.  feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-have-the-chance-right-now-to-build-a-better-nation/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-have-the-chance-right-now-to-build-a-better-nation/#item395 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:30:14 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/marrickville-mauler-hits-back-at-bogan-nationals/ Will the Bogans in the House please show up? Yesterday, John Cobb extended the meaning of ‘bogan’ to include ‘not showing up’. I met with his constituents, the Bogan Shire Council, yesterday and listened to their case for a $6 million heated swimming pool. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/marrickville-mauler-hits-back-at-bogan-nationals/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/marrickville-mauler-hits-back-at-bogan-nationals/#item226 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:00:11 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/liberal-neglect/ In their opposition to the Rudd Government’s nation building agenda the Liberals and Nationals have reminded the Australian public that infrastructure development remains a fundamental distinction between Labor and our conservative opponents. A fundamental fact that the Coalition has never understood is that infrastructure investment is not just a cost – it is a long term investment in the productive economy. Investment in infrastructure generates higher returns than investment in other sectors of the economy. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Anthony Albanese) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/liberal-neglect/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/liberal-neglect/#item194 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:25:05 +0000 Anthony Albanese | Author bios | The Punch