http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/parliament/ 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/quit-moaning-we-get-the-politicians-we-vote-for/ Democracy can be a fragile creature; one that thrives best on respect for its institutions and a public belief in the ultimate equity of its processes. At the very core of Australia’s democratic system is the principle that we, the people, decide who will form our government. It is a system that eschews powerful technocrats and (apart from our outmoded ties to the British monarchy) rejects the concept of political representatives gaining office through breeding and patronage. It has worked for us for more than a century and serves us well today. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/quit-moaning-we-get-the-politicians-we-vote-for/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/quit-moaning-we-get-the-politicians-we-vote-for/#item7463 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-wooden-puppet-who-dreamed-of-becoming-pm/ In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-wooden-puppet-who-dreamed-of-becoming-pm/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-wooden-puppet-who-dreamed-of-becoming-pm/#item7449 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/labor-and-greens-did-a-dodgy-deal-on-mining-tax/ The Government gets a piece of totem legislation through the House of Representatives and immediately turns the victory into an extraordinary case of excessive executive secrecy. In partnership with Greens Leader Bob Brown, the Government decided it was perfect reasonable to deny Parliament, its own MPs and the general public details of how it would pay to ensure support for the mining profits tax legislation. If a private individual tried this, offering cash in secret to get a law passed, they would end up in jail. Probably they would share a cell with the member of Parliament who took the money. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/labor-and-greens-did-a-dodgy-deal-on-mining-tax/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/labor-and-greens-did-a-dodgy-deal-on-mining-tax/#item7216 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/abbott-will-keep-flogging-the-carbon-horse-of-course/ The Opposition will keep fighting the carbon pricing scheme because there isn’t a lot else of similar weight which would recommend a vote for Tony Abbott’s troops at the next election. And it’s easier than coming up with functional policies Mr Abbott could call his own. The Nationals’ Barnaby Joyce joined the chorus of outrage after the passage of the Clean Energy Future bills: “It is not a defeat; it’s an adjournment.” feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/abbott-will-keep-flogging-the-carbon-horse-of-course/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/abbott-will-keep-flogging-the-carbon-horse-of-course/#item7104 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-3-slash-parlimentary-terms/ Welcome to the second day of the Punch Festival of Obvious Ideas, our salute to stuff that should be said. Here, we have a look at why we need to force some politicians to earlier elections - and no, it’s not about who you think. Babies torn apart then pieced back together, or left on a shelf to die. A cover up of mass medication in the water, poisoning us all. Random drug tests for kids. Welcome to the weird world of Upper House MLC Ann Bressington. Ms Bressington, who only got 32 primary votes but surfed into the SA Parliament on the ever-popular Nick Xenophon’s coattails. Ms Bressington, who set out on an anti-drugs platform but quickly became a one-woman lightning rod for paranoid conspiracy theorists. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-3-slash-parlimentary-terms/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/festival-of-obvious-ideas-3-slash-parlimentary-terms/#item6943 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/carbon-tax-reax-its-all-over-bar-the-shouting/ And you can be sure the shouting’s not over yet. Before the carbon tax begins on July 1, 2012, we may even see blood shed if Opposition Leader Tony Abbott goes through with his pledge. But the tax now just has to be rubber stamped by the Senate. There were some histrionics on the floor of Parliament with the Liberal’s Sophie Mirabella being thrown out (we wonder which way she was planning to vote?) and THAT so-called “Judas kiss”. The very vocal opposition to the carbon price will not settle into acquiescent bitterness, so this won’t be the last you hear of it. For now, here’s what was said on the inarguably historic day in Australian Parliament. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/carbon-tax-reax-its-all-over-bar-the-shouting/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/carbon-tax-reax-its-all-over-bar-the-shouting/#item6915 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/should-xenophon-have-named-the-priest/ Senator Nick Xenophon says he faced a “serious moral dilemma” when deciding whether to name a priest accused of raping Archbishop John Hepworth 40 years ago. No shit. On the one hand, as Xenophon explained under Parliamentary privilege last night, he was privy to certain information and frustrated at what he called the “Catholic Church in South Australia’s mishandling of sexual abuse claims”. And unlike most of us, he had the power, the protection and the platform to do something about it. On the other hand he named a man who may be innocent, who indeed categorically denies the accusation, who is not even the subject of a police report at this stage. Parliamentary privilege protects Mr Xenophon from legal action. But it doesn’t protect him from accusations he abused this privilege, one which should be used sparingly. What if he’s wrong? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/should-xenophon-have-named-the-priest/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/should-xenophon-have-named-the-priest/#item6714 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/labors-dilemma-plan-b-is-to-stick-to-plan-a/ Tony Abbott has undermined his own multi-billion dollar climate change policy declaring the bipartisan target of 5 per cent emissions cuts by 2020 was “crazy” given China’s growth. In an exercise the Government has dubbed “audience shopping”, Mr Abbott told a seniors forum in Queensland on Monday that China’s burgeoning emissions growth would wipe out Australia’s carbon efforts in days. “The other crazy thing about this is that, at the same time that our country is proposing to reduce its emissions by 5 per cent, just five per cent, the Chinese are proposing to increase their emissions by 500 per cent,” he said. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/labors-dilemma-plan-b-is-to-stick-to-plan-a/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/labors-dilemma-plan-b-is-to-stick-to-plan-a/#item6318 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-end-of-the-parliamentary-world-as-we-know-it/ Next Wednesday night Nick Xenophon will host a party where, as per Greek tradition, guests will be invited to drink, eat and smash lots of plates. This will symbolise Xenophon’s shattered hold on the Senate balance of power, and mark what he says is his increased irrelevance. Former balance of power co-holder Steve Fielding has left the Upper House, and the Greens will have arrived in record numbers, ready to do Green business. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-end-of-the-parliamentary-world-as-we-know-it/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-end-of-the-parliamentary-world-as-we-know-it/#item6192 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/democratic-by-name-not-by-nature/ Whenever I mention to people that I am a researcher in politics, they talk to me about elections, the government and how they often feel slated by the behaviour of their politicians. Ask what the best political system is, and people will tell you it’s democracy, of course. And if you ask them what’s most important in a democracy, clearly they’ll answer it’s the right to vote. Why?Because it gives ‘us’ all some sort of voice; a say in who will represent us in parliament. If it wasn’t for voting, a minority would certainly take power and rule only for their own interest. Let’s consider these statements and ask ourselves a few more questions. How many of us really think our vote matters and truly influences the way our country is run? Apart from token measures, who truly believes there is much of a difference between our two major parties? More to the point, how many of us vote for the ‘least worst’ rather than for a party which truly represents our ideas of what society should be? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/democratic-by-name-not-by-nature/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/democratic-by-name-not-by-nature/#item6174 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 In a democratic polity like Australia, there is a compact between the governing party and the governed people. Under it, the people make a choice and thereby give their consent to be governed after having been informed of the policies and platform of the respective parties. This information is provided in a variety of ways: through official party platforms, policy documents, media releases, communications to organisations and individuals, and media statements. Together, it constitutes the basis upon which the citizens make a choice at an election. Some of this material is vague and general, but much of it is detailed and precise. Parties make commitments to do – or not to do – certain things, knowing that their word will be relied upon by the people in casting their votes.