http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/alp/ 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 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +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/butchers-papering-over-the-cracks-in-caucus/ Julia Gillard will need to do more to win over the MPs who have deserted her than the offer of a sizzled sausage and a weekend whiteboard session. The love may have come too late. With Parliament due to resume in less than two weeks, the fragility of the PM’s leadership will be the issue she most has to deal with. And for her, there can be no moving forward from the horrors of last year, until she gets the monkey off her back. For that reason, Labor MPs are left with little doubt that the so called special caucus “planning day” scheduled for the Sunday before Parliament resumes, is all about Kevin Rudd. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/butchers-papering-over-the-cracks-in-caucus/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/butchers-papering-over-the-cracks-in-caucus/#item7603 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/leaked-report-reveals-leaked-reports-cause-leaks/ Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/leaked-report-reveals-leaked-reports-cause-leaks/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/leaked-report-reveals-leaked-reports-cause-leaks/#item7347 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/She-robs-Rudd-of-office-then-rubs-him-from-history/ “She gave us nothing really, no inspiration and no feeling for the party’s mood. She calls Abbott ‘Dr No’ but it’s Julia who’s going to be known for saying no, and sometimes for things she later praises like emissions trading and probably gay marriage.” This damning critique came not from an Opposition MP or conservative commentator, but a moderate member of the ALP’s Left. It speaks to a growing frustration that was all too evident in Sydney last weekend when the PM had to be rescued from the membership following the embarrassing “we are us” opening address to National Conference. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/She-robs-Rudd-of-office-then-rubs-him-from-history/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/She-robs-Rudd-of-office-then-rubs-him-from-history/#item7337 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/alp-conference-this-partys-no-cause-for-celebration/ The ALP national conference is coming up and this time it might actually be interesting rather than an event more scripted than an inflight safety announcement. By this time next week the Labor Party will know whether it has reinforced its claim to stand for something or simply invited internal voices of dissent to an unseemly shouting match. Further, Julia Gillard will know whether the party gave her the authority she needed or was marking her down because of the manner of her elevation. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/alp-conference-this-partys-no-cause-for-celebration/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/alp-conference-this-partys-no-cause-for-celebration/#item7249 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Is-it-time-the-latte-sippers-left-the-bogans/ There has been much bipartisan rejoicing, about the Greens inability to win seats in their latte-belt stomping ground. The glee on the Right is understandable, but the champagne-popping among Labor supporters may prove to be shortsighted. As is frequently observed, the ALP finds itself in the seemingly untenable position of trying to simultaneously appeal to those who — to channel the increasingly Sarah Palinesque Julia Gillard — set their alarms early and lead purposeful, dignified lives driven by love of family and nation. And those who sleep in until 11am, fire up the breakfast bong, then amble down to a café wallpapered with Bill Henson prints of spread-eagled 13-year-olds to fill in an application for yet another round of arts funding while their same-sex partner amuses the nose-ring-sporting barista with acid-tongued denunciations of the ANZAC spirit/the music of Barnesy/hard-yakka-loving brickies and their heroic working families/baby Jesus/Don Bradman. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Is-it-time-the-latte-sippers-left-the-bogans/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Is-it-time-the-latte-sippers-left-the-bogans/#item5571 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-must-have-the-courage-to-change/ On Saturday NSW Labor suffered the heaviest defeat in our 120-year history. Losing an election after 16 years in office is part of the natural cycle of politics. Receiving our lowest vote since 1904, and winning our lowest number of seats since 1898, is anything but cyclical. The voters expressed their fury at the way Labor has run this state for at least the last four years. One in three voters who expressly identify themselves as Labor did not vote Labor on Saturday. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-must-have-the-courage-to-change/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/we-must-have-the-courage-to-change/#item5486 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillard-continues-to-recognise-faceless-men/ The series of natural disasters that have caused so much damage in Queensland are creating new medium and longer term challenges for the Australian economy.  However the Gillard Labor Government is unable to take the necessary action needed to stop the inflationary and multiplier effect its re-regulation of the labour market is bound to cause. Unfortunately for all of us the Government can’t and won’t say no to its trade union masters. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillard-continues-to-recognise-faceless-men/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillard-continues-to-recognise-faceless-men/#item5160 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/education-funding/ Education, especially school funding, is not only a barbecue stopper; it is also a vote changer. Just ask Mark Latham about the impact of the hit list of so-called privileged schools he championed when he was leader of the ALP. No wonder that Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, on taking over as leaders, rejected the politics of envy and argued in favour of school choice. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/education-funding/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/education-funding/#item4985 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-labor-wedged-itself-into-a-bad-policy-on-boat-people/ The heartbreaking boat crash off Christmas Island is the tragic climax of the confused and contradictory approach to asylum seekers that is now strangling the Labor Party. This confusion was perfectly crystalised in a small item buried in the Federal Budget in May this year. In an obvious attempt to throw a blanket on the issue, the Rudd Government had just announced a freeze on processing Afghani asylum claims, signalling it expected to shortly reclassify the war-torn Middle-East country as safe to return to. Yet before any final decision had been made the Government quietly inserted $5.8 million to pay for two immigration officers to go to Kabul to repatriate deported asylum seekers. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-labor-wedged-itself-into-a-bad-policy-on-boat-people/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-labor-wedged-itself-into-a-bad-policy-on-boat-people/#item4719 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/online-nation-divided-over-gay-marriage/ The Gillard Government’s love nest with a fragmented bunch of Greens and independents has been barely consummated before it faces its first big lovers’ row. The dispute over the recognition of gay marriage is not an easy issue to handle for a Government trying to project unity and conciliation. Contrary to the post-election happy snaps of MPs giving each other group hugs, vowing to show a spirit of respect and solidarity, there’s nothing unifying about gay marriage. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Tory Shepherd) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/online-nation-divided-over-gay-marriage/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/online-nation-divided-over-gay-marriage/#item4523 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:45:28 +0000 Much has been made this week of the leaked excerpts from the ALP’s election post mortem by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner. The excerpts leaked were highly critical of Kevin Rudd but the authors now say that there is even more material that has not been released that paints a very different picture. Now, in yet another extraordinary exclusive, an explosive second extract has been leaked to the Joe Hildebrand column. Of course some people say these excerpts have also been selectively edited but I see no evidence of that…