Chris Pyne

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" »

As is the custom for a Speaker of the House Harry Jenkins yesterday welcomed new members of Parliament with a quote from the British band Chumbawamba: “I get knocked down, I get up again, you are never going to keep me down.” Amen.

It was sound advice, and considering the nature of the new paradigm, we can soon expect a private members bill that would make the playing of Tubthumping compulsory before each Question Time so we can “get into the mood” for democracy.

But perhaps a few others should have joined the speakers list with cautionary tales of what not to do. Here are some interesting topics that could’ve made quite the Power Point presentations for the new kids:

Just a lot of advice from Peter Slipper

Continue reading "The old lessons new MPs should be taught" »

As Labor braces itself for a voter backlash in Kevin Rudd’s home state of Queensland and the dysfunctional ALP-run fiefdom of New South Wales, there are two South Australian seats which will attract close and nervous attention from both sides of politics on election night.

It’s been a long time since South Australia has been anything other than a brief whistlestop during the national election campaign, with the major parties doing little more than upholding their obligations by paying just one visit to Adelaide, more out of politeness than anything else.

This week showed how vital SA will be on election night. I returned home this week for a flying 24-hour visit and spent half the day at the ritzy Burnside Village and the other half at the much earthier Parkholme shops, just down the road from where I grew up, talking to voters about their assessment of Gillard and Abbott.

Continue reading "Labor prays for salvation in the City of Churches" »

Drifiting off during Question Time yesterday it was tempting to wonder what Evesham State School looked like and what its one student might do with a $250,000 library all to herself.

What if the one student at this school is some kind of genius who needs to read 35 books each afternoon Good Will Hunting style?

Well, after contacting Evesham State School in remote central Queensland it turns out it hasn’t received a cent of the fabled $250,000 and, according to its principal and teacher, it won’t receive any of it.

Continue reading "The one-pupil school isn’t getting any money after all" »