http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/barnaby-joyce/ 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/australian-politics-gets-curiouser-and-curiouser/ Australian politics at the moment is a strange sort of Wonderland. It’s filled with odd characters – some weird, some slightly sinister – and it’s all more than a little bit nonsensical. Some voters are stamping their feet in frustration at the stupidest tea party they’ve ever been to, while the more violently inclined are calling for decapitation. In the most recent chapter, Greens Leader Bob Brown disappeared back up the rabbithole, sidelined Labor MP Craig Thomson’s alleged adventures have shrunk his stature significantly, while Liberal-turned-Independent Speaker Peter Slipper’s problems seem to be experiencing unstoppable growth. Yesterday mining magnate Clive Palmer announced he wants to join the party. He wants to challenge Treasurer Wayne Swan in a battle that seems to have just a whiff of the personal about it – Swan and he have been engaged in a war of words over the mining tax and the role of billionaires in public life. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/australian-politics-gets-curiouser-and-curiouser/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/australian-politics-gets-curiouser-and-curiouser/#item8368 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillard-can-win-the-next-election-in-three-easy-steps/ I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillard-can-win-the-next-election-in-three-easy-steps/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gillard-can-win-the-next-election-in-three-easy-steps/#item6716 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Logic-eats-the-gay-marriage-scaremongers-for-breakfast/ If you’re like me, you’ve been wondering with trepidation what will happen when the Gaypocalypse finally strikes. Are fudge-packers, nancy-boys, and pillow-biters all names for the same thing, or do they signify a hierarchy of types and sizes, like orcs? Which are most dangerous? And where do the Poohole Pirates come in? Are they like the Men of Harad? What about elephants? Will there be elephants? Will they be pink? Will we be forced to toil in underground sequin mines while Freddy Mercury lashes us with moustachioed falsetto arpeggios? And dear God, why didn’t we listen to Fred Nile? penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Logic-eats-the-gay-marriage-scaremongers-for-breakfast/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Logic-eats-the-gay-marriage-scaremongers-for-breakfast/#item6532 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/carbon-freak-show/ Let’s get a bunch of things straight, right from the top. Yes, Julia Gillard lied. Yes, the carbon tax won’t make a bee’s dick worth of difference in reducing global emissions. Yes, people in a robust democracy like ours are entitled to hold a peaceful rally anywhere they like. Now for one more indisputable fact. Today’s carbon tax rally was a freak show. Worse, it was woefully unrepresentative of the millions of everyday Australians who have genuine concerns about this tax. Here are eight reasons why. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/carbon-freak-show/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/carbon-freak-show/#item6509 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-readers-think-of-the-abbott-soap-opera/ Acting ability is not a prerequisite to land the leading role in political office, but if past experience shows, it can help sometimes. Take, for example, the late Ronald Reagan. Reflecting on his career change and ascent to the top job in the White House, he once said, “I’ve often wondered how some people in positions of this kind … manage without having had any acting experience”. Perhaps Tony Abbott would rather not model himself on Reagan, but it seems he has different ideas about what it takes to become prime minister. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-readers-think-of-the-abbott-soap-opera/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-readers-think-of-the-abbott-soap-opera/#item2765 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/well-that-was-excruciating-barnaby-joyce/ Barnaby Joyce dug himself so much deeper into his I wipe my bum with the productivity commission hole today that it’s in danger of collapsing in on top of him. The ABC’s Samantha Hawley this morning took apart the new opposition regional development and water spokesman limb by limb in an interview on AM. You can listen to it here. Warning, you might be hiding under your desk by the end. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/well-that-was-excruciating-barnaby-joyce/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/well-that-was-excruciating-barnaby-joyce/#item2745 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/tanner-wins-the-week-joyce-wins-the-day/ This morning’s Channel 10 news debate between Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and his Opposition counterpart Barnaby Joyce was the first time the two have gone head to head since Joyce took up the job. . The clash was a good example of how a political debate can appear one way in Canberra and unfold in another when it comes time for people to actually tune in. To give a cricketing analogy, Tanner has won the test match of a parliamentary sitting fortnight but Joyce just won the higher rating Twenty 20. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/tanner-wins-the-week-joyce-wins-the-day/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/tanner-wins-the-week-joyce-wins-the-day/#item2386 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/political-snobs-risk-turning-barnaby-into-a-martyr/ Ahhh, now we get it. Lindsay Tanner is smarter than that “freak show” Barnaby Joyce. In case we didn’t get the message in parliament last week (we can be a bit slow sometimes) Mr Tanner spelled it out again on Meet the Press on the weekend. Not only is Senator Joyce “off the planet”, his team mate Joe Hockey is a “lightweight”. Yesterday in parliament he repeated the lesson again for those who’d wagged the last one or drifted off while doodling on our pencil cases. Mr Hockey is “out to lunch”, and again he filled us in on Barnaby. According to Mr Tanner, Senator Joyce is evidence of “a very big question mark over the leader of the opposition’s judgment for appointing him in the first place.” For someone who’s so much smarter than his counterpart, Mr Tanner seems to have skipped the chapter in Politics for Dummies called “Australians don’t like smug politicians who reckon they’re smarter than everyone else.” penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/political-snobs-risk-turning-barnaby-into-a-martyr/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/political-snobs-risk-turning-barnaby-into-a-martyr/#item2343 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-do-not-want-sexual-relations-with-these-people/ Barnaby Joyce’s move to clarify he is not in a homoerotic relationship with Tony Abbott is the latest example of politicians taking us somewhere we just don’t want to go – into the bedroom. Following hot on the heels of Tony Abbott’s foray into the ‘gift’ of virginity, Joyce’s gaffe unnervingly suggests that the Coalition has things other than the management of the national economy on their mind. For Australians, politicians are a bit like our parents – we innately accept that while they probably have sex, we would rather not confront the fact. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-do-not-want-sexual-relations-with-these-people/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/i-do-not-want-sexual-relations-with-these-people/#item2340 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished? http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-first-parliamentary-week-as-shadow-finance-minister/ Well what can I say about the first parliamentary week as shadow finance minister? Tony wanted a speech and I delivered it at the Press Club. It would not have mattered if the speech had categorically disproved the theory of relativity, the issue would be the slip and when the question came where I had to, on my feet and in my head, quickly add up Labor party expenditure via MYEFO for the next four years, I said billion when I should have said trillion. In that split second my head said trillion my heart said you have got to be joking that is enormous. My head was right but the result is for all to see on YouTube. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-first-parliamentary-week-as-shadow-finance-minister/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-first-parliamentary-week-as-shadow-finance-minister/#item2331 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 I was sitting with some friends and students in the outer western suburbs of Sydney the other day. We were chatting about the High Court’s decision on the Malaysia Solution and offshore processing of refugees. The general feeling was that it was about time someone demanded that Australia meet its international obligations and stop dumping them onto other countries. While there was not much sympathy for Gillard, nor was there any support for Tony Abbott’s posturing. Someone actually quoted their Greek grandmother, who compares Greeks and Italians - saying, “they are the same, but different”. My question: “Would you vote for Tony Abbott if an election was held tomorrow?” was met with a resounding ‘no’. So is Gillard finished?