http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/election-2010/ 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 19:00:12 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +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/I-cant-believe-I-almost-voted-for-the-greens/ I never thought I would fail to cast a vote in a Federal election, and I never thought I’d be relieved that I didn’t. But I did, and I am. In my defence, I was somewhere in the boondocks of Turkey when the election was under way, and had pretty much dropped the ball on sorting out my postal vote. It may or may not say something about the administration of our electoral system that I’ve never been queried on this failure to exercise my franchise, but I’ve got to say, not having to make a decision has relieved me of the burden of responsibility for doing so. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/I-cant-believe-I-almost-voted-for-the-greens/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/I-cant-believe-I-almost-voted-for-the-greens/#item5988 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-cost-benefit-analysis-of-an-australian-political-junkie/ At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-cost-benefit-analysis-of-an-australian-political-junkie/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/a-cost-benefit-analysis-of-an-australian-political-junkie/#item4732 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/10-of-the-best-performing-mps-of-the-year/ It’s easy to attack politicians. No better evidence perhaps than the bitchy list we compiled yesterday of MPs we think disappointed or just disappeared. But we’re not just a bunch of naysayers here at The Punch. Indeed we appreciate politics and politicians are great deal, otherwise we wouldn’t bother writing about it. So here’s a list, in no particular order, of MPs who have tried and triumphed in 2010. Well it’s been one hell of an effort by Tony Abbott: feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/10-of-the-best-performing-mps-of-the-year/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/10-of-the-best-performing-mps-of-the-year/#item4557 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/10-of-the-most-underwhelming-mps-of-the-year/ Calling this political year a long one is a little like Usain Bolt recenlty describing himself as “quick”. This year’s political highlights were as extraordinary as they were painful. The language describing them is consistently one of violence: a spiked ETS policy, a Prime Minister stabbed in the back, an election on a knife edge and, finally, a hung parliament. On the battle field that was federal politics in 2010 we had those that thrilled and those that failed. Tomorrow we’ll give our verdict on the best performers. But today, on the second last day of Parliament sitting for the year, The Punch presents, in no particular order, our most underwhelming MPs who have disappointed or just disappeared in 2010. How are you still a Minister Peter Garrett? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/10-of-the-most-underwhelming-mps-of-the-year/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/10-of-the-most-underwhelming-mps-of-the-year/#item4546 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/time-is-running-out-for-Julia-to-find-her-mojo/ Julia Gillard may be running out of time to stamp her authority on the government as the first murmurings of unease emerge. A curious lack of courage on something as simple as allowing its MPs a conscience vote on same sex unions raises fears that the new government may be bundled up with the old in voters’ minds. During the election campaign the question of who Julia Gillard was became central. It even led Ms Gillard to declare that she would come out from behind the campaign artifice and allow voters to see the ``real Julia’‘. The idea was sound but announcing it was just plain dopey. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/time-is-running-out-for-Julia-to-find-her-mojo/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/time-is-running-out-for-Julia-to-find-her-mojo/#item4460 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/who-are-you-julia/ What does Julia Gillard believe in? Let’s start by considering her history as a guide. Julia Gillard started her political career in student politics at the Labor Club at Adelaide University. After moving to Melbourne, she worked assiduously to rise to become the head of the peak student union body, the Australian Union of Students, by 1983. Unsurprisingly, given student Labor politics is largely characterised by more radical left-wing ideology than the mainstream Labor Party, Gillard was also secretary of the Socialist Forum at university. The parliamentary register of interests indicates that Gillard remained a member of this Forum until 2002, which included her first four years in Parliament. Looking at this, you might be led to believe that Gillard strongly favours the left-side of politics. And it is true that Gillard had, at least up until 2009, been a member of the Labor Party’s left faction. But, in fact, when Gillard wrested power from Kevin Rudd earlier this year, she did so with the backing of the dominant right faction of the Labor Party, the hard left favouring Rudd. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/who-are-you-julia/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/who-are-you-julia/#item4328 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/lets-ditch-preferential-voting-but-only-in-the-house/ If our election on 21 August had been held under British, Canadian, Indian or American rules, we wouldn’t have had to wait. We would have known the results that evening.  It would have been a landslide to the Coalition.  Their majority would have been about the same size as that of the Rudd government. The three independents would have had no role in the formation of the government, and neither the Green MP nor Mr. Willkie would have been there. There is no perfect electoral system, and none is sacrosanct. Politicians being human, they prefer the system which they think will favour them. But circumstances change. What favours a party at one time can disadvantage them at another.  feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/lets-ditch-preferential-voting-but-only-in-the-house/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/lets-ditch-preferential-voting-but-only-in-the-house/#item4183 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/so-should-we-call-parliament-off-next-tuesday/ If the Australian people were faced with the prospect of this weekend’s AFL grand final not going ahead because neither team could agree on the umpire, this nation could be faced with a level of social unrest that could force East Timor to come to our aid. Fortunately this crisis only goes to whether our Parliament can sit or not so it will be fine. With the decision by Tony Abbott not to honour parts an agreement on parliamentary reform we are still faced with a speakerless House of Representatives, and now the awkward question of whether we’ll return for Parliament next week or not. There are a couple of things to consider about Abbott’s decision and Gillard’s reaction to it. Needless to say it’s all about concern for political hides rather than anything to do with parliamentary reform.  feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/so-should-we-call-parliament-off-next-tuesday/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/so-should-we-call-parliament-off-next-tuesday/#item4105 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/would-the-real-regional-australia-please-stand-up/ Two weeks ago we were being told by the federal independent MPs that regional Australia had been neglected and was run down after years of not getting back a fair share of the riches it creates for the nation. Today an alliance of regional towns is out spruiking themselves as alternatives to metropolitan life, by virtue of their great housing, cheaper living costs and an abundance of career and investment opportunities. They can’t both be right. So which is the real regional Australia? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/would-the-real-regional-australia-please-stand-up/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/would-the-real-regional-australia-please-stand-up/#item4091 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/stop-the-presses-the-media-arent-that-crap/ Sometimes a response to a polling question comes along that makes you re-evaluate your preconceived ideas, where the public’s refusal to confirm your gut instincts forces you to have a fresh look at the evidence before you. Asking people to cast stones at the media’s reporting of the federal election seemed like a simple enough exercise, the public would confirm the media did a poor job and we could all wring our hands about democracy once again denied. But hold the presses. Something is amiss. Fewer than a quarter of respondents to the Essential Report join the party.  One third rate the coverage at election time ‘good’, a further 40 per cent ‘average’. And far more say the media ‘gave fair coverage of all parties’ than thought they favoured a particular side. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/stop-the-presses-the-media-arent-that-crap/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/stop-the-presses-the-media-arent-that-crap/#item4080 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 At this time of year, the Australian political junkie is in a state of melancholy induced by the end of parliament and politically associated TV shows like QandA, Insiders and Lateline. Sometimes the weight of these melancholic feelings are of such significance that the political junkie may begin to ask, in typical political terms, “should I give the game away?”. If you are asking yourself this question, I suggest it would be most prudent for you to commission the committee of your brain and soul to conduct a cost-benefit analysis on whether you should continue moving forward with politics, or begin to move away from it, in 2011.