http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/wayne-swan/ 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 2010 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +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/note-to-swan-and-treasury-show-me-the-money-problem-with-our-ets/ In conventional Wayne Swan fashion, he was triumphant as he unveiled Treasury’s stern rebuttal of Frontier Economics research report into an alternative emissions trading scheme. Given the Rudd Government’s deeply flawed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the Coalition had commissioned the report in order to inform discussions about a better carbon trading scheme. But yesterday Mr Swan informed reporters that a $3.2 billion hole had been found in Frontier’s alternative by the Treasury Department. So where is the modelling? Mr Swan has refused to release it and until he does, Treasury’s alleged rebuttal amounts to zip. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/note-to-swan-and-treasury-show-me-the-money-problem-with-our-ets/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/note-to-swan-and-treasury-show-me-the-money-problem-with-our-ets/#item1457 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/interest-rates-whos-to-blame/ Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/interest-rates-whos-to-blame/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/interest-rates-whos-to-blame/#item1408 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-recession/ What a lovely recession we’re having. Or not having. This morning’s GDP numbers were supposed to reveal the recession was a close run thing, with only a handful of flat-screen TVs and school gyms keeping the economy going in the right direction. But 0.6 per cent growth in one quarter would be pretty tidy in a normal year, let alone the year after the greatest global financial meltdown in generations. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-recession/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-recession/#item1090 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-photos-capturing-a-political-crisis-on-camera/ One of the most exciting periods in politics for a long time began on Friday the 19th of June when little-known Treasury official Godwin Grech turned up for a Senate inquiry into the Ozcar affair. His sensational testimony led to him being chased through Parliament House. He was followed into a lift and to his car by a horde of media. It was the start of a frenzied week in politics, when the news from Parliament House was interesting again, and Question Time became the best show in town. It swung wildly from Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull calling for Kevin Rudd to resign to the Liberal leader being under all the pressure. The first photo is of Treasury official Godwin Grech under pressure and showing it in the Senate inquiry. When he was giving his evidence there was a crackling in the air – you knew it would be an all-in when he left the room. I was one of the first into the lift and a bunch of others piled in. Others were much closer to his face, but by reaching up and shoot downwards I was able to capture the swarm of media around him. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article, Behind the picture http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-photos-capturing-a-political-crisis-on-camera/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-photos-capturing-a-political-crisis-on-camera/#item542 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/memo-mps-public-has-had-a-gutful-of-utegate/ THE biggest casualty in the Utegate fiasco has not been Malcolm Turnbull or Kevin Rudd or Wayne Swan or the oddly-named Godwin Grech, whose unusual handle meant he was almost pre-ordained to wind up as a bit player in some low-rent antipodean rehash of a John Grisham thriller. The biggest casualty has been the taxpaying, voting public, which has watched the nation’s political leadership descend into an orgy of ludicrous name-calling, one-upmanship and abuse. [Note: There’s some proper ute-related action in this YouTube vid.] The allegations at the centre of the Utegate affair were deeply serious. As such, it’s a bit rich to declare boldly that any discussion of the affair was, of itself, a waste of time. It wasn’t a waste of time at all. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/memo-mps-public-has-had-a-gutful-of-utegate/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/memo-mps-public-has-had-a-gutful-of-utegate/#item436 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/live-blogging-utegate-showdown-in-canberra/ 8.52pm: That’s a wrap. What a day. That was possibly one of the best episodes of the 7.30 Report ever tonight - Rudd’s line about a “garden variety making-things-up” was a classic. Thanks to all of you who contributed during the day, particularly to the live coverage of a brutal couple of hours in Parliament. There were well over 1000 comments from readers - you can replay it below. A couple of closing comments: Confirmation the email was a fake casts last Friday’s Senate hearing in a different light. Liberal Senator Eric Abetz appeared to be quoting the email when he questioned Godwin Grech. It now seems possible one or both of them knew, or suspected, it was a forgery. And we should ask again why Grech’s superior, David Martine, interfered with the questioning of Senators on certain details. Wayne Swan shouldn’t be off the hook. There remains a straightforward question over whether he misled Parliament when answering questions about a mate of the Prime Minister. After the extraordinary theatre in Canberra today it’s easy to lose sight of this. I suppose the question is whether the crippling blow landed on the Opposition today will hobble it for the rest of the fight. Looking forward to the papers in the morning. 7.08pm Evening news roundup, and Kochie in Canberra. On the Nine Network, Laurie Oakes says Malcolm Turnbull has egg on his face. Rudd joined Peter Overton outside Parliament House for a stand-up interview. He said he had “absolute confidence in the Treasurer”, adding that he had helped “many many many” car dealers. At the end he said Liberal Party elders should tell Turnbull to go. I would call upon the senior people of the Liberal Party, the experienced hands of the Liberal Party - Mr Costello, Brendan Nelson, Senator Minchin - to tap Mr Turnbull on the shoulder and say it is time to go. Seven’s news was headed “Turnbull in Turmoil” and had some of the great grabs from today, to wit: Albanese: “Bring it on”. Turnbull: “He has lied to this House.” Hockey: “Have you got something to say Prime Minister? Have you got something to say?” Rudd: “Be man enough to apologise and resign.” Seven’s verdict: Swan has explaining to do, but Turnbull’s fighting hardest for his political life. Something to look forward to tomorrow is Kochie with the utegate latest from Parliament House. As Anthony Albanese might say, bring it on. 5.11pm: Turnbull’s former adviser speaks to the Herald Sun. Excerpts: A FORMER adviser to Malcolm Turnbull has denied involvement with the email at the centre of the Ute-gate affair… ... There is no suggestion that Mr Lindwall - a former staffer to both Peter Costello and Mr Turnbull -has engaged in any wrongdoing, but it is understood the Australian Federal Police want to speak with him to determine his involvement, if any, in the affair. Late today Mr Lindwall told heraldsun.com.au he had nothing to do with the fake email. “I don’t know anything about the email, I can tell you that,” he said. Mr Lindwall admitted to knowing Mr Grech, adding: “I used to work in Treasury, anyone who worked in Treasury would know Godwin.” Read the full story here. 5.02pm: Twittermania - Tweeters have been piling in all afternoon with comments on “utegate”. See the stream of utegate comments here. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/live-blogging-utegate-showdown-in-canberra/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/live-blogging-utegate-showdown-in-canberra/#item414 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-explained-its-not-just-about-an-email/ The OzCar scandal, or utegate if you prefer, involves Australia’s three most senior politicians - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Treasurer Wayne Swan, and Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull. Below is a summary of what each is accused of and how it affects them. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-explained-its-not-just-about-an-email/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-explained-its-not-just-about-an-email/#item409 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-reading-round-up/ Highlights from this morning’s newspapers of the coverage of the utegate affair. See how the various titles around the country report and analyse the utegate crisis ahead of today’s showdown in Canberra. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-reading-round-up/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/utegate-reading-round-up/#item413 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dodgy-brothers-rudd-swan-utegate-emails/ Kevin Rudd might think that momentum has swung back his way in the Utegate scandal with the email implicating him and his office looking almost certainly like a fake. For the PM to have referred himself and his office to the Auditor-General, and to have gone one further and called in the AFP, are the actions of a man who is confident that the continuing sweeps of his email system will not throw up any nasty surprises. But the more the ALP goes on about the fake email, the more obvious it becomes that it’s the only email the Government wants to talk about - because the others are so damning of Treasurer Wayne Swan, whose conduct has conveniently not been included in the terms of reference for the Auditor-General’s investigation. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dodgy-brothers-rudd-swan-utegate-emails/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/dodgy-brothers-rudd-swan-utegate-emails/#item410 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.” http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fun-it-may-be-but-locking-up-journos-is-pointless/ We knew something was up when the party pies ran out. There was a whiff of the end of times that the cheap percolated coffee couldn’t quite hide. And so it came to pass. The state Budget lock up was no more. South Australia – first state to give women the vote, to ban plastic bags and forbid groups of people who ride motorcycles from hanging out together, has now become the first state to lose the lock up. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Mark Kenny) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fun-it-may-be-but-locking-up-journos-is-pointless/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/fun-it-may-be-but-locking-up-journos-is-pointless/#item374 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:41 +0000 Wayne Swan went on the front foot this afternoon in response to the 0.25 per centage point interest rate rise the RBA has just announced. Before Joe Hockey could race to the back of the NSW Parliament to accuse the Government of being responsible for the rise, Mr Swan predicted he and Malcolm Turnbull would try to pin it on him and the Prime Minister. “Never forget that if the Liberal Party has their way Australia would be in recession right now,’’ Mr Swan said. ``For the Liberal Party to claim now that interest rates can stay at record lows is simply laughable and demonstrates their lack of any economic credibility whatsoever.”