Adam Bandt
With Bob Brown’s resignation as leader of the Greens, Australia has lost its most important left-wing politician.
There was a time when Labor and the coalition were regarded as the Left and Right of Australian politics. Not any more.
In terms of what they stand for, the major parties are almost indistinguishable. The competition between them is about competence, not much else.
Continue reading "Love him or loathe him, a rare man of conviction" »
Australia, which includes the national government and parliament, faces a number of crucial issues.
A short list: the carbon tax; the two-speed economy; problems for the manufacturing sector; real difficulties in the steel industry; coal seam gas extraction versus prime farming land.
Further, there are serious worries about productivity levels; concern about the need for a review and revamp of the industrial laws, which everyone except the unions and the government are suggesting are too rigid.
Continue reading "Shut the hell up and get back to running the nation" »
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Maree says:
Ah, the old “they shoulda spent more on infrustructure”. Brother, is that a well worn out phrase. The answer is: It will never be enough !. Infrustructure spending is complex and filled with economic trapps, as any good business person knows. The BER is a good example. The balance between… Read more »
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Nathan says:
Well if some sensible, responsible economic managers (i.e. the opposition) hahaha are you serious. They are incompetent as well, they can’t and won’t deliver the cost cutting they say that will. Remember the last election and when they send their costing to treasury…...you are having a laugh that they would… Read more »
The new paradigm has begun to play mind games with our federal MPs. Yesterday nobody was quite sure what was expected of them. At times it was a little embarrassing to watch, like some awkward kid consistently dancing out of time at the Rock Eisteddfod
Manager of Opposition Business and chief prosecutor in the case of Gillard v the BER Christopher Pyne copped the worst of it. Pyne didn’t ask for a division on a vote that would have forced a judicial inquiry into the Government’s BER spending. A vote the Coalition lost. Awkward.
No matter, Pyne plans to introduce his bill into the Senate after a session with the choreographer on Thursday afternoon.
Continue reading "The Punch answers the questions of confused MPs" »
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Tripper Smurf says:
MarkK, although I agree with you and say that Rudd was pushed and didnt resign, on paper thats what happened because of the way it went down and the fact he didnt stand. Therefore both your arguments do have merit. However, please look up the history of all the Prime… Read more »
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Ryan says:
@MarK: oh right, I guess I am still confused then because didn’t she tell us she isn’t going to deliver any of her promises but is going to deliver us something she told us she wasn’t going to deliver.. the carbon tax. Read more »
Signs in the window of an adventure tours store on Scotchmer Street in North Fitzroy urge passersby to do two things: climb Mount Everest, and put a member of the Greens in the House of Representatives.
In most electorates these tasks would be of roughly equal difficulty. But not here in the federal seat of Melbourne, where Greens candidate Adam Bandt is the firm bookies’ favourite to win on August 21. With a well-organised campaign and an established electorate profile, Bandt’s challenge looks less like climbing a mountain and more like a sprint down Swanston Street.
“Make history Melbourne” is the campaign slogan, with the general buzz being about making Bandt the first Green elected to the House of Representatives – which would be truly historic, except that it rests on the following qualifying technicality. He would only be the first Green to win in a general election.
Continue reading "Looking for history-makers on Melbourne’s Green streets" »
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Jeremy says:
Yes. All parties preference other parties - the Liberals preference Family First; the ALP preferences the Greens; One Nation preferences the Liberals. The only way not to issue preferences would be not to issue a Senate ticket at all, which would mean that you could only get votes from the… Read more »
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Kirk says:
It’s not rocket surgery. People in the inner city experience the worst excesses of pollution, consumerism, social problems and inequality. Those people are the most likely to vote for the Greens due to their awareness of these issues. Read more »
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