Adam Bandt
Oh Jenny Macklin, it’s only the second day of the year and you’re in a deep mess, made messier by the clumsy efforts of your staff to clean up after you.
And now an argument over whether single mothers of children aged 8 and over should work has turned into an argument about the generosity, or not, of the dole. They are actually two different debates.
But now you’ve opened the door to Greens MP Adam Bandt to challenge you to join him in a week-long stunt that will not reveal anything of substance.
Continue reading "Do you really need to “live on the dole” to understand?" »
So after months of tensions and simmering resentment, the ALP at the weekend indicated it needed some time apart to consider the future of its relationship with the Greens.
In a battle between its head and its heart, Labor’s head started calling the shots, finally admitting what outsiders have been able to see for ages, that entanglement with the Greens is not good for Labor. It’s an emotionally abusive relationship where the Greens have exerted more influence than should have been allowed.
But as divorces go, this one could turn out to be very messy. No dignified exit for this departing party. Labor is determined to air more dirty laundry than one of Charlie Sheen’s exes.
Continue reading "Forget TomKat; the split of the year might ALP-v-Greens" »
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Geoff says:
“When he doesn’t make a $70B black hole disappear - “LIE”!” You do realise that 70b black hole is a labor lie? Do you know where it came from? Turns out you know nothing of this courntry maybe its time for you to leave? Take your labor party with you… Read more »
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Geoff says:
Cobbler mate please please send me your car for me to work on for your next service because when I give it back to you with more problems and then way over charge you all I need to say is I am a labour supporter and you will be ooh… Read more »
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" »
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shoomisax says:
There is a clear disparity in these period, corps very money approval loans permanent citizen of UK. The reason this criteria is so straightforward is that funds after 14 and 45 days to pay back all of your loan plus interest. You should also be in collar for at least… Read more »
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LC says:
Bob Brown had the occasion outburst of insanity, but for the most part he it was him that kept the most extreme elements of their party in line, and he was still (unlike some of his colleagues). For example, when the NSW Greens were demanding a boycott of Israeli goods… Read more »
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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