http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/sophie-trevitt/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +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/good-guys-are-nothing-without-bad-guys-to-destroy/ Storming a building, in which latest reports suggest there were children, wounding a woman and shooting a man in the head is not your typical story of heroism espoused by the US Military.  It all changes, however, when that man is Osama Bin Laden. There are many theories about how heroes and villains are created. The majority of us are destined to work nine to five and will neither blow buildings up nor end world poverty. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/good-guys-are-nothing-without-bad-guys-to-destroy/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/good-guys-are-nothing-without-bad-guys-to-destroy/#item5781 Sun, 08 May 2011 08:00:02 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/mandatory-detention-conditions-fuel-the-fire/ Christmas Island, Curtin, Northern Immigration Detention Centre in Darwin, Maribyrnong, Perth, Phosphate Hill, Scherger and Villawood Detention Centre… These are the welcoming arms of Australia for the few desperate individuals who make it into Australian waters seeking asylum. They are detention centres that could become “home” for indefinite periods of months or even years. In the early hours of the morning Villawood Detention Centre was set alight, and protestors climbed up onto the roof of the centre. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/mandatory-detention-conditions-fuel-the-fire/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/mandatory-detention-conditions-fuel-the-fire/#item5689 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:00:17 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/will-kyoto-survive-cancun/ The UN Climate negotiations in Cancun, Mexico will be wrapped up this week after two weeks of steady negotiations. Delegates are furiously trying to reach consensus so that decisions can be made by Friday this week. The story that seems to have gained the most traction back home is the question of Kyoto’s survival. Journalists seem to be advocating a range of conflicting messages – from the immanent death of the treaty to the fighting hope of its perseverance. Reality is a little more nuanced than that and the Kyoto Protocol is one of myriad issues that need to be resolved in the next week. None the less, it is certainly not time to write off Kyoto. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/will-kyoto-survive-cancun/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/will-kyoto-survive-cancun/#item4654 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:40:27 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/climate-committee-is-no-citizens-assembly-thank-god/ After all the scorn and criticism surrounding the much talked of, somewhat derided, plan for a Citizen’s Assembly Gillard has just announced a new plan to tackle climate change, in the form of a multi-party climate change committee; investigating and deliberating over the best way to implement a price on carbon. Gillard’s definitely singing a different tune to her pre-election decisiveness that she had “ruled out” the possibility of a carbon tax under any government she lead. Now, after a lot of somewhat hysterical party shuffling, repositioning, negotiating and endless demands and speeches. Gillard is most certainly leading her misshapen, conglomerate government, and the possibility of a carbon tax is most certainly back on the table. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/climate-committee-is-no-citizens-assembly-thank-god/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/climate-committee-is-no-citizens-assembly-thank-god/#item4165 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:50:19 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/do-we-have-a-government-yet-no-thank-goodness/ I stumbled upon a new and informative website today: http://doesaustraliahaveagovernmentyet.com/ It sums up the current political situation pretty well, and what a bizarre situation it is. Gillard stabbed Rudd in the back, Rudd stepped up and helped out his Lady Macbeth during the election, interim-mad-monk-Abbott pushed a relentless campaign, we discovered that there was Julia and then there was the “real Julia” (along with two impersonators) which was confusing, the Greens slid gracefully into the Senate and House of Reps, Bob Katter… I don’t know what Bob Katter is doing, but one somewhat effective campaign video and all of a sudden he’s the force to be reckoned with. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/do-we-have-a-government-yet-no-thank-goodness/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/do-we-have-a-government-yet-no-thank-goodness/#item3923 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 19:40:18 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/shameful-silence-on-the-afghanistan-front/ The 18th Australian soldier, Jason Brown, died in Afghanistan last week. Gillard and Abbott were united in simultaneously expressing condolences to Jason’s family and friends; whilst expressing their determination to remain in Afghanistan (all the while carefully avoiding the war slipping onto the election agenda). Gillard and Abbott are united in their declaration that Jason’s death should not distract from their commitment to maintain a presence in Afghanistan. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/shameful-silence-on-the-afghanistan-front/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/shameful-silence-on-the-afghanistan-front/#item3840 Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:45:57 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wheres-bob-brown-hes-campaigning-just-on-the-web/ I sent a rather indignant email to Bob Brown the other day. I followed it up with an equally frustrated voicemail. Essentially, I berated him for not being the inspirational and credible figurehead that he has been for the environmental movement for decades. I questioned his lack of visibility in an election that arguably presents one of the most monumental and significant chances the Greens have had of becoming a very powerful political force. Senator Christine Milne’s media spokesperson Tim Hollo replied to my accusations (charitably also acknowledging that he understood my frustrations) with the simple question: “Why is the media complaining about the fluff and nonsense and policy vacuum of this election campaign, talking about the Greens having the potential to hold balance of power but completely ignoring the Greens’ policy launches?” feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wheres-bob-brown-hes-campaigning-just-on-the-web/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/wheres-bob-brown-hes-campaigning-just-on-the-web/#item3758 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 19:45:55 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillards-peoples-assembly-ignores-the-people/ On Friday, Gillard announced Labor’s climate change policy in the lead up to the election. She announced her intentions to create a citizens assembly to evaluate the evidence for climate change and confirmed that an interim price on carbon would not be considered by the Labor government at least until 2012. Ironically, she announced this somewhat vacuous, indecisive plan at the University of Queensland – theoretically a place for young people to “move forward” and a place of long-term sustainable innovation.  Furthermore, she made this announcement to an audience of young people.  Young people, who have a stake in their government taking decisive action on climate change to protect their futures. I am all for community consensus when it means taking practical and tangible steps to ensure that the interests of stakeholders are respected in decision-making processes. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillards-peoples-assembly-ignores-the-people/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillards-peoples-assembly-ignores-the-people/#item3653 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:40:48 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/new-look-labor-is-a-free-advert-for-the-greens/ Gillard’s certainly been galloping, but she’s not polling too far ahead. The mad pre-election scramble for support has begun and the latest wild grab for ammunition has taken the form of a controversial refugee policy. Gillard played up to her rapidly forming image as one of the few straight talking, honest pollies when she said she wanted a “frank, open discussion” about Australia’s borders. She then proceeded to make decisions with insufficient Cabinet consultation, and indeed neglected to inform the Prime Minister of the country on which she planned to dump the sea-bound asylum seekers. That, off the back of caving in to the big mining companies, confirming a belief in but lack of commitment to resolving climate change and a remarkable lack of progression when it comes to gay marriage, lead up to the election polls released today. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/new-look-labor-is-a-free-advert-for-the-greens/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/new-look-labor-is-a-free-advert-for-the-greens/#item3533 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:40:38 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-week-in-and-gillards-looking-giddy/ In May, Kevin Rudd announced the super-profits mining tax – which, after the shelving of the ETS and back flip on climate change – seemed to put the final nail in Rudd’s political coffin. PM Julia Gillard inherited this fiasco; but with a quick side step and gestures of reconciliation and camaraderie, she’s managed to get both government and miners beating their drums to a far less war-like rhythm.  The mining tax was announced in response to the Henry Tax Review, and was intended to provide a more equitable distribution of the wealth derived from Australia’s (limited) natural resources. A 40% tax on mining super profits would also provide a surplus of $2.5 billion and could be used to invest in a more sustainable, renewable energy industry (… one can dream). All in all, the mining tax had a rather alluring Robin Hood-esque tinge. Indeed, it had all the fairy-tale spin that one might think would woo working voters’ support. Take money from the wealthy who are leaching off the limited supply of natural resources in our soil, and give it back to the workers’ who have toiled upon that land. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Sophie Trevitt) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-week-in-and-gillards-looking-giddy/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/one-week-in-and-gillards-looking-giddy/#item3466 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 19:30:24 +0000 Sophie Trevitt | Author bios | The Punch