Parliament
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.
Continue reading "Quit moaning - we get the politicians we vote for" »
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.
Continue reading "The wooden puppet who dreamed of becoming PM…" »
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Andrew (Andy) Alcock says:
David’s point about the Liberal Party backflip on the GST is a very valid one. The situation with a minority government has changed many of the ideas that the ALP wanted to introduce. Kevin, you claim that Howard was compelled to introduce the GST. This would not have been the… Read more »
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David says:
Whilst you give Howard a convenient excuse for back-flipping on the GST (something about “extraneous event, quite outside the control of a government”) why don’t you allow the same excuse for Gillard? Do you think forming a minority government was part of her plan when she set the original policy?… Read more »
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.
Continue reading "Labor and Greens did a dodgy deal on mining tax" »
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Stephen M says:
Since when has the need to compromise been evidence of having no scruples? What would we call a union between Labor and the Coalition to shut down the cross bench members just to win the numbers….not that we would ever see that….or have we? Politics regardless of the doctrin a… Read more »
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Groucho says:
We’d all do well to check our facts. What happened: http://www.smh.com.au/national/government-sheds-light-on-deal-20111123-1ntqr.html No “offering cash in secret to get a law passed”. Just another tacky News Ltd beat-up. Piss poor effort, Punch. Read more »
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.”
Continue reading "Abbott will keep flogging the carbon horse, of course" »
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John says:
@Madcat No, I’m not, but it looks like you might be. You should probably stick to those conversations with monkeys, which apparently you prefer. More your speed. Read more »
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John says:
@ Jet If you can’t discern the difference between “why he voted for Labor at the last election” and “So is that the only reason you voted for Labor?” then your comprehension of English is beyond help, and you really should move onto someone more on your level. Madcat,… Read more »
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.
Continue reading "Festival of Obvious Ideas #3: Slash Parliamentary terms" »
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Paul Darwen says:
Why not just abolish the upper house, like Queensland did back in 1921. Read more »
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Marius says:
What truth might that be? Are there any imaginary deities involved? Read more »
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.
Continue reading "Carbon tax reax: It’s all over bar the shouting" »
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Fanny says:
That’s going to make tnihgs a lot easier from here on out. Read more »
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Chris L says:
Oops! Looks like you’ve lost the argument, Andye, after B pointed out so succinctly where your statement was in error. That’s a real debate winner that post! Read more »
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?
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MaRY says:
I think most commentors/posters could run this country rather well….honestly consider it. However, while the claimaint may not place charges against the “alleged pedophile”, maybe Xenophon may save another child from the hands of the possible real “grubs”. Children need to be protected even if it means one man has… Read more »
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Nathan Helder says:
The Catholic Church needs to be named and shamed for what it has done. By doing nothing or backing down we loosely say to them that they can get away with it. Free Speech belongs to all, including politicians, and they should feel free to speak up about problems like… Read more »
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.
Continue reading "Labor’s dilemma: Plan B is to stick to Plan A" »
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Ben says:
Alternatively Labor could be described as the blind leading the blind or the lunatics in charge of the asylum. Read more »
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Martin says:
Then my sincere apologies Matt Read more »
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.
Continue reading "End of the (Parliamentary) world as we know it" »
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Drew says:
It’s quite fun to see the venemous reactions here. Q: How do you know you are doing something right? A: If you are p***ing off a conservative. Keep it up, Bob. Read more »
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Drew says:
“Liberal Senate leader Eric Abetz is a long way from light-hearted. He believes Greens leader Bob Brown is “just oozing with arrogance, oozing with hubris”, which will turn off most voters.” Quite hilarious, I wonder if he has looked into the mirror lately. Can anyone say “The Godwin Grech Affair”? Read more »
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?
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stephen says:
Ps. How come you didnt print my retort mod. ? it wasn’t all that insensible, but i was baiting for jims response. he’s getting a pest. and he’s from, I think, tempe. pps bad news ! Read more »
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I'm with you says:
Shock! Career academic studying politics, houses left-wing views! Read more »
Those of you who are eagle-eyed and able to connect the dots may have noticed our elected representatives have been participating in a scheme in the service of our nation this week.
It was suggested by outgoing MP Lindsay Tanner, who reflected that the political scene was far too serious lately and in dire need of some levity. To combat this he suggested something bold, something daring.
Parliamentary joke time.
Continue reading "Did you hear the one about Parliament joke time?" »
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Seano says:
You and your loony rants are irrelevant. Seek Help! Read more »
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Against the Man says:
Sorry 5 yr old…..a lame attempt but I appreciate the effort. Now if you can defend the Gilltard government and their poor showing in the polls I’ll be impressed but I think like Seano you lack the intellect or the opposable thumbs to do so Why do you ALP twits… Read more »
The Federal Press Gallery’s Midwinter Ball was last night and this morning Bob Brown will be calculating how much contamination from big business he has received.
Senator Brown, the Greens leader, has attended past Midwinter Balls and to my knowledge has emerged with a smile and no scars.
This year he seemed to have forgotten what it is all about. The venue, the Great Hall of Parliament House, was “insidious”, he said recently. He was forced to dine with corporate executives, and it all resembled a strategy to divide and corrupt the Greens.
Continue reading "Brown’s getting his knickers in a twist over Ball" »
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BobC says:
Discombobulated!! What a great word - especially in reference to someone called Bob (!!). Thanks AdamC for expanding my vocab!! Read more »
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antigreen says:
the GREENS are the usefull idiots ot the REDS Read more »
John Faulkner last night raised an issue which is undoing the authority of the ALP and the Liberal Party, and turning voters to alternatives which have thrived over the past three years.
Faulkner, who would not have spoken out in his Wran Lecture address had he not reached a painful decision that criticism was necessary, identified this issue as a failed commitment to party democracy.
He is prouder of the internal fights he lost than of the fact that these days fights of those dimensions never happen in the 21st century Australian Labor Party.
Continue reading "Faulkner tells: How Labor must fight to survive" »
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Cassandra says:
Shiver me timbers, them’s some great inofmratoin. Read more »
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Brad says:
Ms Gillard remains because she is a woman. In a few days it will be the 24th June… One year on and she is doing worse than Kevin Rudd. (Keep you head up that day Kevin you did not deserve that) Ms Gillard is still the ALP choice not because… Read more »
The world as we know it will end on July 1, this year. That is the day the Greens take power in the Senate. James Arvanitakis explains.
Not that long ago, I toyed with the idea of setting up my own doomsday cult. The problem is that I failed to find any of the basic ingredients that attract followers: charismatic leadership, the ability to ask for money from complete strangers, a doomsday message and a specific date to rally support. I have always been fascinated by doomsday cults. Every time I hear that a charismatic leader has picked a specific date for the end of the world – be it the arrival of extra terrestrials or the predicted Rapture – I get out my diary, mark the date and begin to make plans around it.
As readers of The Punch would know, the most recent episode was the claim by the Harold Camping and the crew over at Family Radio predicted the world would end on 21 May 2011. Using the date to rally friends and family, a group of buddies went out for a farewell bonding session a few days beforehand. I also organised a weekend to enjoy time with loved ones just in case. To tie things up I also left a farewell message on my Facebook page and completed all my marking.
Continue reading "It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel Green" »
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DJ says:
End of world may come ‘at any time’—Jesus will come any day and any time. This is good news for Christians but also there is still the Good News for the unsaved who can get saved before the end. Take a look at this: http://end-of-the-world.mobi/jesus-saves/end-of-the-world-who-can-rescue-you/ Read more »
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Justin says:
There’s some smart people on here. And there’s some dumb statements that are being made. “The Greens can, however, block the passage of every bill through the Upper House.” - Michael N Well, no, not if the bills receive support from both major parties. “they are a bunch of city-centric,… Read more »
The argument that much of Australia’s media and associated journalists are cultural-left in their leanings is proven by last week’s events involving Senator Penny Wong being insulted by the infamous ‘meow’ interjection and Bob Hawke’s very public description of Tony Abbott, the leader of the federal opposition, as ‘mad as a cut snake’.
If the Canberra-based media commissariat is fair and balanced, there’s no doubt that the ex-ALP Prime Minister’s snide and offensive description of Abbott would have received the same coverage and condemnation as Senator Bushby’s interjection.
Given the hue and cry against Senator Bushby’s catcall against Senator Wong, it only stands to reason that if critics are consistent they will also have to call old silver budgie to account.
Continue reading "‘Mad as a cut snake’ as insulting as ‘meow’" »
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Max Rawnsley says:
I would have thought being as mad as a cut snake was good news, a sign of life, given the banal, drivel emanating from both Gillard and Swan. Read more »
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loulou says:
@C R…....I’ll vote for you - for your perseverance alone Read more »
Welcome to this week’s I Call Bullshit. Nonsensical headline. Sorry. Now, to the point. Amid debate on trifling topics such as the future of the nation and the world, the most robust conversations at the moment are centering on a single “meow”.
More accurately it was a sort of “reeeeee-ow” that Liberal Senator David Bushby uttered when Finance Minister Penny Wong (justifiably) snapped at him for interrupting.
And so the crowd was heard to shout “sexism”! Well, I call bullshit. It wasn’t sexist.
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Cherlin says:
That’s not just the best ansewr. It’s the bestest answer! Read more »
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Andrew says:
Paul Keating? Worst Treasurer?? I mean, I know his wildly pro-cyclical policies “set the sails for growth” and then he massively overcooked “the recession we had to have” but he’s a genius compared to Swan. 6 months into a deflationary global recession he publishes the May 08 budget themed on… Read more »
International Whores Day is commemorated each year in June around the world to acknowledge the origins of the sex workers’ rights movement.
On June 2, 1975, sex workers in Lyon, France decided to protest against the continual police harassment and violence against Lyon’s sex worker community.
This was coupled with the French government’s refusal to meet with the worker representatives or support any legislative changes in the sex Industry.
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Elizabeth says:
You are assuming they want your money - could it be they are protecting their own? For example if I engage in certain actiivies that require a certain level of disposable income and my partner is not able I may be expected to fill the gap. I have had plenty… Read more »
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DaveinPerth says:
If memory serves, Prince Phillip also expressed the same sentiments in a speech. I presume in his case, he wasn’t claiming to be the ‘customer’. Read more »
Three days ago we saw a reaffirmation of the long-standing strong relationship between Israel and the United States with the visit of the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington DC and his second speech to the Joint Session of Congress.
Australia counts both the Unites States and Israel as close friends and allies.
The Prime Minister’s speech to Congress could not come at a more critical time for the Middle East and for the world.
Continue reading "Netanyahu and the Middle East’s epic battle" »
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Harquebus says:
H.264 Read more »
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stephen says:
Well you’re right about the heat between Iran and the Saudis, and that the involvement of Pakistan with the Sunnis has always complicated the US’s treatment of Afghanistan’s southern borders ; yet, somewhere down the line China’s influence is apparent : waiting, looking, watching. Good or bad ? Who knows,… Read more »
This morning news was that pollies are complaining they’re overworked. Tory said they should harden up. Here, Evan Williams says we’re being rough on our leaders.
Pollies should whinge. Their work is perhaps not as physically disturbing as a sewerage plant, but surely it is more emotionally and intellectually destructive.
If you make a minuscule mistake at a sewerage plant, the punitive measure that follows would probably be a ‘shit happens’ pun from your boss. Conversely, if you make a similarly low-level mistake in public life, the punitive measure that follows is nationwide scorn and ridicule.
Continue reading "We’re maggots who kick pollies when they’re down" »
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Edward James says:
@ Anthony Meaney. There are so few actual party members in the two parties not much preferred, they are hardly representative of the masses. Yet it is this minority which imposes its political constraints on the population. I do try to encourage voters to pursue their elected representatives in public… Read more »
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Edward James says:
What has ceased to surprise me Bruce, is the number of politicians party members and their supporters who can go dumb when confronted with the truth about systemic corruption involving politicians generally. It is not limited to the two parties not much preferred Greens and Independents are just as guilty.… Read more »
Our politicians need our help. They’re overworked.
According to news.com.au, Federal politicians “who ride in taxpayer-financed cars to board taxpayer-financed flights to get to work, say a tight schedule and winter fog is forcing them to leave their families early and forgo functions in electorates to fly to Canberra on Sunday evenings”.
They also suffer in their jocks with dismal pay, appalling superannuation, and disgusting Parliamentary offices. And their bosses are nitpicking bastards.
Continue reading "Tiny violins are playing for our politicians" »
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Joan says:
Too right, Ryan. Tell her she’s dreamin’. Read more »
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RyaN says:
@Joan: I think she mightn’t be to Tims taste. Read more »
Today marks the centenary of the launch of the competition to design the national capital city of Australia.
On May 24, 1911, Minister for Home Affairs King O’Malley announced an international competition for the design. In 1899, the Colonial Premiers had decided that the permanent capital would be in New South Wales, not less than 100 miles from Sydney, and a Congress was held in Melbourne four months after Federation in 1901 on the planning of a capital.
Dalgety was first chosen as the site of the future capital in 1904, but four years later the Canberra Yass region was selected as a replacement. The site for the Australian Capital Territory was transferred to the Commonwealth of Australia in January 1911.
Continue reading "Canberra: A bastardised version of the ideal city?" »
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HSV says:
Canberra is not a nice place to live or raise a family. The rest of Australia thinks Canberrans are stupid, greedy and bad drivers, and I have to agree. Living in Canberra for 35yrs allows you to see it for what it was and now is. Cant wait to sell… Read more »
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Just Sayin' says:
“But, like a non-artificial city I’ve also lived in - Ottawa - it’s the capital because no one wanted to go through the Melbourne vs Sydney fight any more than they wanted to go through the Montreal vs Toronto fight.” No, it’s the capital because architects of our constitution wanted… Read more »
Well, it’s the morning after the night before! What’s your assessment of the Budget? Too tough? Not tough enough? Who missed out?
Weeks of drip-fed leaks failed to elicit much excitement about this budget, as Australia collectively rolled its eyeballs at the now-traditional claims that this was going to be the toughest of tough budgets. The general consensus seems to be that it could have gone further, pushed through some serious reforms, and Australia would’ve had some respect for it - instead of just pitying the poor thing.
Anyhoo, for all the latest news, head to news.com.au, where there’ll be graphs and experts and analysis and blogs, the budget speech video, and all sorts of goodness.
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buckyboy says:
The Bogan-baiting bar is set at a $900 bribe…..until that bar is raised, ‘feeding the chooks’ is a futile political vote winning exercise. Read more »
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buckyboy says:
Bawaaaaaaaaah…....Hey Chongy, it’s now 7 PM, do you want to repost you 7.55am post? Read more »
Christians do support legal assisted dying.
This may come as a surprise to most readers, but it is true. What’s more, 74 per cent of people who claim to have a religion strongly support the right of doctors to provide a lethal dose, according to a 2007 Newspoll. Newspoll - a reputable public opinion polling company, as distinct from newspaper polls that can give skewed results. Exclude religion and we find a massive 91 per cent are in favour of medically assisted dying.
Included in this support are four out of five Anglicans and three out of four Catholics.
Continue reading "The Christian lobby versus Christian compassion" »
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Anne Stocks says:
Not sure what is it you are going to tiral werwrwrwr, maybe it was what I stated on my post, such as ... Hello Mr Ian Wood and good by, we have decided that you are expendable it is costing the Taxpayers of this Country too much money to care… Read more »
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werwrwrwr says:
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In a face-off between a simple argument and a complex one, the former usually wins hands down. Over the last year and a half, this is where Tony Abbott has had the edge over Julia Gillard.
True, Opposition leaders can do this more readily because their chief task is criticism.
Delivering programs is inherently more complex. For governments, the normal budget jiggery-pokery notwithstanding, the sums must add up.
Continue reading "Labor’s shifting deckchairs while Abbott fiddles" »
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Adam says:
@ Scranbag - No negative connotation was attached to my use of the words “admit”, “truth” or the rest of my post. I just thought we had moved from using my original approximations to trying to be as precise as possible. As such, I was trying to constructively highlight some… Read more »
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Scranbag says:
AWE is an average itself, and obscures any skews from low or high disprortionate contributors. Assuming all those paying the flood levy will all be FT Employed is an approximation in itself. The $3311 average tax deduction is ATO 2007/2008 data, as sourced above. And yet another, non-current approximation, then,… Read more »
Hurrying along a Parliament House corridor this week, I was pulled aside by a Canberra insider with strong links to Labor.
“I want to let you in on a secret,” he said sotto voce, theatrically hamming up a non-existent threat of eavesdroppers.
“This government is just not very good.”
Continue reading "The worst-kept secret: This Government’s just no good" »
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Kevin Hicks says:
It seems through your vehement attack on Liberal supporters you are guilty of the sin you accuse us of? Climate Change is now scientifically proven to be a fallacy and as there is a consensus in the scientific Community on this, it is factual. It is hard to develop policies… Read more »
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Kevin Hicks says:
12 August 2010 - Swan on the ABC: Treasurer Wayne Swan has promised a re-elected Labor government will not put a tax on carbon during its next term of office. Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey pressed Mr Swan on the issue on Thursday, demanding to know whether Australia would be… Read more »
Wayne Swan could be forgiven if he puffed out his chest a little during a TV interview in New York couple of days ago.
“You’re a combination of what, in the US, would be Timothy Geithner and Joe Biden all in one person,” said CNBC business anchor Erin Burnett.
Geithner is the US Treasury Secretary, Biden the Vice-President. All Burnett was trying to do was explain Swan’s twin roles as Australia’s Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister, but she made him sound like some kind of super-politician.
Continue reading "Super Swan ready to hang tough on Budget" »
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Steve says:
The Redman. The reforms commenced by Hawke/Keating and continued by Howard/Costello insulated Australia from the GFC to a large degree. You can blame the Americans but I can’t see the logic of blaming Howard and Costello. History will show that Wayne Swann put the country into hock to stave off… Read more »
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Steve says:
I am sorry to hear about your job loss and hope you find a position soon. During the Howard years every single person who lost their job could blame work choices, well according to the unions anyway. Now that the ALP is in power and there is no more work… Read more »
It was another poor week for the Government, and one in which the Opposition didn’t have to lift a finger.
In fact, Tony Abbott just rode off into the sunset swapping the noisy “gutter politics” of the last weeks of Parliament for the majesty of the open road. His lycra-clad parade along the 2011 Pollie Pedal charity bike ride gave us a new variant - gusset politics.
But Julia Gillard’s misfortune had nothing to do with nagging suspicions of where the alternative PM keeps his spare pair of socks.
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TimB says:
Yep, no answer of substance. Just like Gillard. No wonder you like her so much. Read more »
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Aasq says:
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. Read more »
Every man and his dog – and there are plenty of dogs involved in this story – has a reason the NSW Government went down so spectacularly at the weekend. But really there is only one: NSW Labor is simply excellent at what it does.
The NSW Right is – or at least was – such a supreme political and campaigning machine that it wins not only more often than the Liberals but more often than it should for its own good.
In the last 35 years in NSW Labor allowed only a hiccup of Liberal rule before it broke the back of the Greiner Government in 1991 after a truncated three-year term and then sent it to Coventry for 16 years at the next election.
Continue reading "NSW Labor governed not wisely, but too well" »
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Kristian Bolwell says:
Sorry Joe but a central argument of your article is confusing. I fear you miss the point. You seem to be in support of privatising electricity and sugest the spin in support of such a scheme was off kilter- if only the all important message had been correct the people… Read more »
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Chris L says:
John, just treat ATM the same as nossy, Joan and the other rusted ons. Whatever side they’re on, they’re not really paying attention. PS I count Pers as an exception because, even though she’s loyal to a fault, she at least tends to do some research. Same with Gregg although… Read more »
If a protestor at the carbon tax rally last week had held up a sign saying Prime Minister Julia Gillard was a “dead carcass, swinging in the breeze”, what would the reaction have been?
Vitriol is part of political life. But there is no one who can spew it out with the calculated cruelty and contempt of former PM Paul Keating. He could craft the sort of insults that other politicians would be proud to be associated with.
Mr Keating has now made headlines for his attack on John Robertson, NSW MP and potential party leader. He said Robertson wore the political deaths of a couple of dozen Labor members around his neck, and was a “lead weight” in Gillard’s political saddlebags. It was not a bad effort. It wasn’t his best.
Continue reading "An Ode to Paul Keating and his razor-sharp tongue" »
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DLB says:
I think you’ll find this quote was originally from Churchhill. Read more »
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Govt@FauxCitizen says:
@Rod L,, Well it seems PJK has at least one dedicated fan left willing to barrack for him, I don’t need a speech when I visit a war memorial to shed tears, espescially from someone as arrogant, insincere and disconnected from the working class as H.R.H. Keating. To compare Geeces’s… Read more »
Dr Phillip Nitschke’s pre-emptive move to set up a euthanasia clinic in Adelaide shows he has missed the purpose of the legislation before the Parliament.
The Criminal Law Consolidation (Medical Defences – End of Life Arrangements) Bill 2011 is purely aimed at giving a family doctor who has a long history with their patient the ability to use this legislation as a defence against a criminal charge should the medication given to their patient at the request of the patient result in the patient’s death.
The legislation does not legalise voluntary euthanasia. The legislation does not legalise assisted suicide.
Continue reading "Euthanasia clinic: A publicity stunt that muddies debate" »
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True Believer says:
@Stephen Thank you for a well-balanced post and telling it how it is. People who have done evil things under the guise of “being Christian” have caused much harm to many. They do not represent our Lord who never preached hatred or murder. He told us to love our enemies.… Read more »
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Elphaba says:
Regardless of why people believe you should or shouldn’t have the right to end your life, and what influences their beliefs, I agree, the option should be made available for the individual to choose. I’m sorry that your formative years were poisoned by the disgraceful representations some people think passes… Read more »
If you love federal politics, then you won’t want to miss this. Join Malcolm Farr and The Punch team for Question Time live here at 2pm.
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Freedom says:
Both Federal Politics have made us vomit, plays deadly cat-and-mouse game.Tony Abbot is not a wonderful leader in Australia,very stupid boy, and low level. Today in matters of government is,how blind,is like a child,who boldly reset checkers,but no idea about the game checkers Read more »
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Frank says:
I think Julia has a John Howard Crush Read more »
There’s plenty of action on the streets of Canberra today with the anti-CarbonTax protestors out in force. Will the same be said of today’s Question Time? Join us here from 2pm to find out.
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David Roberts says:
For gillard it is all about yhe money Read more »
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Frankie says:
Well Old Rabbit ABBOTT is at it again didnT John Howard Bring a law about sedition or have i read that wrong somewhere the Liberals can only field 1500 to 300 thousand what does that say to the average Punter that the Skeptics havent got a leg to stand on. Read more »
They’re back! Join us here from 2pm for all the fun of Question Time Live.
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Rosie says:
Watch out folks, we will soon have the asylum seekers that ran a riot on Christmas Island introduced into society because the Gillard Labor Govt are too busy pandering up to the Greens. The Australia rule of law will be put aside for the Green’s humanitarian reasons.Humanitarian advocates will say… Read more »
True equality is impossible. We are not born equal, and we cannot be made equal.
But equal opportunity for all is a noble and realistic goal.
In a fairly short time – say, a century – women’s position in society has altered dramatically. This time one hundred years ago women had few rights. They were second-class citizens.
Continue reading "All men (and women) were not created equal" »
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n_dude says:
@Alex - not sure if that is true, can you quote your sources. Anyway, if it was the case, then wouldn’t it be cheaper for the organisation to hire all women graduates? Why would organisations unnecessarily raise their labour costs when they can get the same quality of labour for… Read more »
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Syl says:
Alex Same qualifications does not equal same position. If there is a company paying men more money than women for the same position I’d suggest you report them because it is illegal. Unless of course your making it up. Read more »
Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s carbon tax announcement represents one of the most brazen and fundamental pieces of political dishonesty in recent memory. That she chose to make the announcement surrounded by the Greens Senators and independent MPs upon whom her government depends gives us a telling insight into the factors at play.
If we look at the situation objectively there are only two possible explanations for such an announcement. The first is that Julia Gillard knowingly and deliberately told an enormous lie before the last election in a craven attempt to win over conservative voters. The second is that Bob Brown and the Greens are in charge and the Prime Minister has been reduced to little more than the public face of a Greens Government.
Judging from their public comments over the past few days, Senator Brown and his deputy Christine Milne both clearly subscribe to the latter view:
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Jamesgo says:
4 billion us dollars was spent on the instantly part of western europe in weight-loss products, including prescription hard drugs.What could you do? you may do without generic viagra cheap a big your youngster fact that acne is generic viagra cheap a guardian, you’ll wanna be there and indifference… Read more »
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DirkEstima says:
http://translate.google.ru/1/ http://translate.google.ru/1/ http://translate.google.ru/1/ http://translate.google.ru/1/ http://translate.google.ru/1/ Read more »
Tony Abbott was struggling to find a fresh answer to yet another question about his opponent’s flaws, and appeared to equate what she had done with murder.
He was being interviewed on 2SM and John Laws asked about his repeated accusation that Prime Minister Julia Gillard had lied to the electorate.
Were there other politicians who had lied?
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hicnicHedlent says:
Po podwyzszeniu kapitalu, przeprowadzeniu dzialan restrukturyzacyjnych inwestycyjnych noclegi mazury przeksztalca sie z bankruta w aktywny, silny podmiot gospodarczy zdolny do konkurowania z innymi nowoczesnymi cukrowniami. Nasz obóz letni w tym wlasnie roku mial miejsce w niewielkim mazury noclegi miasteczku blizej znanym pod nazwa Nowogard. Wszysciutenko powalac drozny dennikowaty przysiedziec gruntoznawczy… Read more »
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hicnicHedlent says:
Dlugo kazalem sobie czekac na te trzecia i zarazem ostatnia obiekty noclegowe czesc relacji. Zostan naszym Dystrybutorem i buduj swój zwycieski zespól. Zdobycze punktowe nie byly juz tak imponujace, wolkowyja noclegi jak jeszcze kilka lat. Elewacje ozdabiaja okna w prostokatnych opaskach, jedynie w ryzalitach hotel czesc okien zamknieta jest pólkoliscie… Read more »
In a climate change debate which so far is exclusively about integrity and conviction there is only one winner - Malcolm Turnbull.
Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott would not even podium if constancy of belief in climate change policy were an Olympic event - they might not even get through the repechages.
There is solid testimony that the Prime Minister, when Kevin Rudd’s deputy, actively lobbied within government last year to have the timetable for an Emissions Trading Scheme dumped because of the unfriendly politics around it.
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Perseus "Percy" Remus says:
Malcolm, you must be so proud. What with all the integrity and conviction Malcolm Turnbull showed yesterday when he turned his back on putting a price on carbon by voting against a motion by the government in support of this? The government’s policy is clear, set a price on carbon… Read more »
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George says:
“The truly objective scientist should be asking whether MORE, not less, atmospheric carbon dioxide is what we should be trying to achieve. There is more published real-world evidence for the benefits of more carbon dioxide, than for any damage caused by it. The benefits have been measured, and are real-world.… Read more »
What was it that we women set out to achieve so long ago I can hardly remember the detail? Did we want to take over the world? Did we want to make men subservient to our will? Were we angry enough to march in the streets for our right for equality? No to the first two and yes, to the last.
I remember the US author Deidre Bair telling us at a Writers’ Week that what we wanted was equality, we all had men as friends, lovers, husbands, sons, brothers, we just wanted to have the same opportunities as they had and that bitterness had no place in a brave new world.
Well, for some it had, those most mistreated in some cultures, but for most of us women living in affluent Australia, it didn’t seem too hard to expect that we could easily settle for equality of opportunity. So, why now, in another century ,is it still so hard to achieve that equality?
Continue reading "SA Parliament: Where have all the women gone?" »
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Anggelo says:
Hmm, smehoow you've managed to condense the rantings of the many anti-censorship feminists (self included) into one little space. Congrats. It seems like in an effort to reclaim the Sacred Mother and Warrior Woman models, they forgot about the sacred slut, the crone (oh, just remembering that one), the lover… Read more »
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Markus says:
@Fi, Currently, it is entirely possible for women to account for 100% of seats on merit if there was such a number of qualified, experienced candidates. There is no similar mandate requiring men to account for a single seat. That the affirmative action rule exists at all is proof that… Read more »
Antipodean Greens have established themselves as the rudest on the planet, with the New Zealanders easily winning the local derby.
Tomorrow Prime Minister Julia Gillard will address the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington in what her Kiwi counterpart, conservative John Key, had hoped would be a first.
However, NZ Greens co-leader Russel Norman and colleagues have made sure the Parliament won’t be in session when she arrives, making it just another speech and not a high-level honour.
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Tony says:
Rosie, had the Independents swallowed all the sweeteners and promises Abbott bent over backwards to provide, he would have stopped the boats (by using mental powers—oops he’s hasn’t got much of a brain with only Masters and Bachelors degrees), introduced the flood levy saying that his hero John Howard had… Read more »
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Your name: Marion says:
Your comment: Gillard is special because: 1) She’s Australia’s first female PM. 2) She’s a migrant who managed to survive the rubbishing ockers would have dished out from childhood and are still doing so. 3) She is smarter than Abbott and can think on her feet. He has admitted that… Read more »
Julie Bishop late yesterday confirmed that there had been some throwing of crockery in the shadow cabinet room and the office of her leader Tony Abbott.
It was a comment which also confirmed that the Opposition lost the week to the Government because it could not get its leader out of the spotlight.
``It’s a shame that the Labor Party doesn’t have robust policy debates within its cabinet,’’ Bishop told Parliament.
Continue reading "Clashes mean Coalition loses first week of Parliament" »
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Eldo says:
Imagine how much more we would lose if the Born To Rule were in power. Read more »
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Paul says:
Gutter journalism in the reporting of this story…I don’t think so. You need to ask yourself the question, ‘When given the news tapes by the DoD to review the coverage, why did the Liberal Party insist on the footage of Abbott discrediting a dead soldier being cut from the “officially”… Read more »
Communism was a really good idea – stay with me here – and so is democracy. Unfortunately, neither ended up the way their idealist inventors imagined.
If you lived through the ‘Reds under the bed’ era this might come as a shock, but at its core communism is really rather nice. It would be great to think that we could treat everyone as equal and be sharing, caring community.
The fatal flaw, though, is communism didn’t really take human nature and greed into account, so ‘What’s mine is yours’ evolved into ‘What’s mine (and yours) is the dictator’s’.
Continue reading "Democracy is dead. Long live democracy!" »
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acotrel says:
I’ll bet this story never appears in the Australian media?: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/08/murdoch-newspapers-phone-hacking Read more »
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NESLIHAN KUROSAWA says:
Hi Danielle, I spent most of childhood and some of my childhood years living right next door to the old Soviet Union and Eastern Block “Iron Curtain” countries. Having read most of the Russian classics by Tolstoy and Dostoyevski, message of Communism to me was all about “total and utter… Read more »
Liberal Scott Buccholz has been to seven funerals for people taken by floodwaters in his Queensland electorate of Wright, which includes the tragic town of Grantham. That’s one death for every month he has been in Parliament.
No wonder Buccholz was in tears even before he had gone far into his speech to Parliament’s condolence motion. The emotional wear and tear would have been enormous. The big man had to take off his glasses at one stage to tend to fast-filling eyes.
Julia Gillard also teared up during the debate on the same motion, and there will be many who will claim her brief surrender to emotions was contrived.
Continue reading "Tears flow like floodwater, and not a crocodile in sight" »
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Tom says:
NicoleG, did you tear up when my closest friend got prostate cancer? You miss the point, you pompous ass. Read more »
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Seano says:
There are plenty of similar websites attacking Tony Abbott would you consider them any more seriously? Or is only right wing propoganda valid? Read more »
Abused kids deserve better than spin.
As the Federal Convenor of Parliamentarians Against Child Abuse and Neglect, I applaud the Baillieu Coalition Government for making the welfare of all Victorian children a priority in 2011.
The announcement last week of an inquiry into the systemic problems in Victoria’s child protection system is overdue and welcome. Such an inquiry is much needed not only for all those who work in the child protection system but more importantly, for those who are living with abuse.
Continue reading "Throwing money at child abuse won’t make it go away" »
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Kristy says:
Our system needs a complete overhaul, too many children are being neglected and abused and seriously, it is DISGUSTING!! I was a victim of child abuse and DHS were involved and they did NOTHING! There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about what I… Read more »
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Coopers says:
Referring to the question, “...some 240,607 cases were not ‘substantiated’ and it begs the question, why?”, cases are frequently settled in corridor negotiations. Where it can’t be resolved, the matters are then booked for contests. Unlike civil litigation, the Family Division of the Children’s Court of Victoria is not… Read more »
Prime Minister Julia Gillard faces a number of unresolved problems in 2011. These include the continuing backwash of the school buildings and ceiling insulation, more opposition over the mining tax, and the carbon price.
Hanging over her head is the Green takeover of the balance of power in the Senate in July.
None of these would engender a mood of a happy new year. What she needs is a win – a policy which will have widespread public support. She may have found one: removing the cold hand of central bureaucratic domination from State public schools.
Continue reading "Has Gillard (finally) struck on a winning policy?" »
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Owen Brown says:
I am a Science teacher and I am sbolutely confident that I am a high quality teacher. In this heavily unionised industry one must force upon themseles a sense of modesty, whilst teachers far below your own charisma, skill and energy get secure jobs simply because they were there first… Read more »
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Binny says:
I agree; and not only that, but often it is the experience of teaching in some of these places, that makes an average teacher into a great teacher. The cross-cultural experience is often an advantage both teachers and students. Something that wouldn’t occur, if the teachers weren’t pushed out of… Read more »
It’s tough getting off a slippery slope. But we need our politicians to build an off ramp, quick smart, on the slippery slope known as legal prostitution.
Even the hard-nosed readers of The Australian business section must have felt some moral disquiet when they read over the holiday break that the Sydney brothel, Stiletto, could be on the stock market in 2011.
There is something dystopian about a society where mum and dad investors and Super Fund bosses could monitor the stock market on their iPhones to see if their CEO has been working prostitutes productively enough. We will know what kind of society we have become if the stock is reported in the market round-up at the end of the 6pm news each night.
Continue reading "We must not list brothels on the stock market" »
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Chris Tony Clabour says:
@ Grow Up, Whilst the country might not be run soley on the basis of things that Chris Gardiner approves of, you could always pop into any PCYC in the state of NSW where you will be sure to be told that, that organisation is in-fact run solely by Chris… Read more »
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True Believer says:
@Dianne: I never said people who say they are Christians are perfect. Any true Christian knows they are just forgiven sinners. If some turn back to sin that is sad, but their choice. I too have listened non-judgmentally to many, many people’s problems, but I never had to involve myself… Read more »
ABC’s Insiders program rather cleverly used Kylie Minogue’s latest jingle - Get Out of My Way - as the soundtrack to their summary of the final week in Federal politics before Parliament adjourned for the year.
It was the constant refrain of the Government in the last few weeks of Parliamentary sitting – that the Opposition should just “get out of the way” and pass through Parliament the legislation that will clear the way for the full roll-out of the National Broadband Network.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard shrilled repeatedly during Question Time that the Opposition should “get out of the way” of the Government’s $43 billion white elephant. The Government argues that the Coalition is “anti-reform” for refusing to cave into Gillard and Conroy’s demands that we simply stand aside as legislation worth $43 billion of taxpayers’ money is put through the Parliament without a modicum of accountability.
Continue reading "We’re the Opposition, it’s not our job to just roll over" »
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Andy says:
NBN Co. operates as a private company. The total cost of the building the NBN is estimated to be $43. The investment by the commonweath is estimated to be $25b, the rest comes from private investment and commercial finance. The greens ensured any future sale of the NBN needs to… Read more »
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Seano says:
@Timmy - always amusing when you try to be clever, you’ll get it if you keep trying I’m sure. At the end of the day, unlike you and your cronies I’m free to criticise or support whomever I like. But you keep sticking to the formula and bowing to the… Read more »
Like a distant fog-horn through the acrid smoke of political battle, an early English wicket in the first Ashes Test on Thursday morning echoed across the divide between real life and politics: Summer’s here!
By late afternoon, as the scheduled end of the parliamentary year came and went, and politicians huffed with even more indignation than normal, the origin of that fog-horn, let’s call it the ``life’’ side, upped the ante, perhaps aware its initial message had not been heeded.
What happened next, one of the genuinely golden moments in Australian sport, made for a stunning contrast on Capital Hill.
Continue reading "Siddle’s hat-trick signalled the end of the political year" »
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RIDGEWAY says:
Please keep up the good work and I hope we can be successful.. Good wishes, nero 11 serial number, nero 11 serial number, http://neroserial.blogspot.com nero 11 serial number, 9219, nero key , nero key , http://neroserial.blogspot.com nero key , =OOO, nero crack , nero crack , http://neroserial.blogspot.com nero crack , … Read more »
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TimB says:
Can’t say that I did accuse Howard of anything, but to be fair I’ve only really been paying attention to politics for the past 3 or 4 years. I should also point out that I personally don’t use the “ABC is biased” argument. It’s intellectually lazy IMO. Arguments should be… Read more »
It’s the last Question Time of the year. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage.
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Fiddlesticks says:
Rich. And WFs post count is? A large number, somewhere to the right of hypocrisy. Read more »
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Wayne Fehlhaber says:
acotrel : Probably because they don’t sit around on their collective arses all day like some do. Bits and bytes don’t really matter much to the average man on the street. Labor bloggers are an exception i guess. Read more »
It’s easy to attack politicians.
No better evidence perhaps than the bitchy list we compiled yesterday of MPs we think disappointed or just disappeared. But we’re not just a bunch of naysayers here at The Punch. Indeed we appreciate politics and politicians are great deal, otherwise we wouldn’t bother writing about it.
So here’s a list, in no particular order, of MPs who have tried and triumphed in 2010.
Well it’s been one hell of an effort by Tony Abbott:
Continue reading "10 of the best performing MPs of the year" »
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jf says:
Not a bad list until I got to Shorten (please) and then Brown. One is a snide, sly bully with an ambition so strong that, if left unchecked, is sure to cause another 10 year + conservative reign. This man cares about no-one other than himself. As for Brown, so… Read more »
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jeffb says:
I’m not sure you understand what an agenda is MarK because what you just outlined is not even close to acceptable for any major political party in Australia. You list some of Abbott’s achievements, none of his plans for the future. I say again, the only person with a positive… Read more »
After first demanding a seven-year confidentiality agreement on briefings on the NBN Co business plan, the Government has now agreed to release a summary of the plan for all and sundry thanks to a deal struck with Nick Xenophon. Join us for the second-last Question Time of the year, live from 2pm.
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Anjuli says:
When a reporter asked why the report was not released before now if she was releasing it ,after all ,but instead of answering the question she just went on willy nilly about other stuff and the reporter let her get away with it. It is about time the gloves come… Read more »
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Ben81 says:
So you were impressed by Labor parroting their usual catchphrases instead of answering questions, you’re easily pleased. Read more »
Calling this political year a long one is a little like Usain Bolt recenlty describing himself as “quick”.
This year’s political highlights were as extraordinary as they were painful. The language describing them is consistently one of violence: a spiked ETS policy, a Prime Minister stabbed in the back, an election on a knife edge and, finally, a hung parliament.
On the battle field that was federal politics in 2010 we had those that thrilled and those that failed. Tomorrow we’ll give our verdict on the best performers. But today, on the second last day of Parliament sitting for the year, The Punch presents, in no particular order, our most underwhelming MPs who have disappointed or just disappeared in 2010.
How are you still a Minister Peter Garrett?
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Dorothee F says:
I agree with mark; no plibersek??? Tania PLibersek did for nearly 3 years, absolutely nothing; 3-4 months to reply to a letter, which was ONLY PORKBARELLING & CARROTS. This is shameful of the highest order; such a waste of taxpayers’ money. USELESS. Read more »
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mark says:
no plibersek? this list is a farce. Read more »
Independent Nick Xenophon looks determined to spoil the Government’s party regarding the NBN, which is set to yet again dominate Question Time. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage.
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Wayne Fehlhaber says:
Sven , enjoy this anomally while you can , it will soon be corrected. ! Even the dogs are barking Labor’s death knell. Read more »
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Dave says:
Gillard is heading for the biggest come uppance of any primeminister. She thinks she is so clever at question time ,she is brilliant at being like a spoilt child who is fighting for her toy the NBN and cannot quite get hold of it. She still doesnt realize that people… Read more »
If anyone is counting down the days until Parliament rises for the year it must be Julia Gillard, who would welcome a few months to get things back on course. This morning she was greeted with more bad polling, with Labor still in a losing position on two-party-preferred and Tony Abbott’s approval rating on the move north. Join us live from 2pm for the fourth-last Question Time of the year.
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nosthow says:
@acotrel - this is the same Turnbull who tried to bring down a PM with a fake email is it acotrel ? Politician - he cant even spell the word fella ! Read more »
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Wayne Fehlhaber says:
Sven Gali : enjoy the anomally - while you can - the correction is on its way. Oh and be assured - Tony Will be here but Joolya remains very much in doubt. Read more »
“We want what they’ve got” is not a valid argument for gay marriage.
I have to agree with Professor Kerryn Phelps that the quality of debate over same-sex marriage is depressingly tepid.
But to be fair, it’s not just the defenders of traditional marriage who exhibit a lack of intellectual rigour in mounting their case.
Continue reading "Marriage: Not for gays, and maybe not for anyone?" »
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Guilo says:
The best post so far is the coca cola and water comparison. What the homosexual community wants is ACCEPTANCE by society for the chosen lifestyle which is repucnant to the rest. Hence “Gay” is more acceptable than ‘Homosexual”. The word marriage has a clear definition. The word “gay” used to… Read more »
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DOT says:
Perfectly put, and @Paul Horn, ...marriage is under our current definition meant to be between two people. the problem is discrimination due to gender furthering the terrible discrimination globally of gender roles and abusive sexism. Maybe someday, we will be debating to legalise polygamyist marriage, but ti seems a bit… Read more »
If yesterday’s Question Time had a last-day-of-school feel about it, expect today to provide even more mayhem. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage.
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Lucy says:
Yes another “outstanding performance” by JG, answered no questions, slagged the Oppostion and her acting was deserved of an acadamy award. Brilliant stuff! Now can we please have a Prime Minister intead of an actor. Read more »
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The Badger says:
which question in particular required a yes or no answer little annie? Read more »
Watching the debate over the merits of gay marriage, I feel like I am watching a scene from the movie “The Castle” where the totally underprepared solicitor for the plaintiff gives as his sole argument: “It’s the vibe”.
That pretty much sums up the quality of the arguments being put forward by those opposing marriage equality. While supporters of gay marriage have abundant and cogent arguments about why it is right and fair, its opponents have nothing more to offer than “I don’t like it” or “that’s what the Marriage Act says”. They put forward no justification because there is no justification.
The Marriage Act says that marriage is between a man and a woman because John Howard changed the wording as recently as 2004.
Continue reading "“It’s the vibe” is not a valid argument against gay rights" »
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Mary says:
Rubbish, I nothing against two people loving each other but two men having gay sex is just wrong. Therefore its wrong to marry cuz you gonna have sex arent you? You have more risk of disease, health problems etc. More risk of bowel cancer, prostrate cancer, HIV and related diseases.… Read more »
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the apologist says:
Steely, just to let you know, i’m out and about in coming weeks. I’ll try to reply promptly, but if responses are slow you’ll know why. Thanks for the conversation, I appreciate it - not sure how long it’ll kick on for (it seems to have been going for some… Read more »
Will we be able to hear the debate over the whir of leaf blowers in the Parliament House courtyards? Join us from 2pm for live coverage of Question Time.
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acotrel says:
I suggest that if Abbott ever gets up, he and Wee Georgie will have us back to the fifties. It’ll be like another episode of ‘Happy Days’, bikies and all? Read more »
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acotrel says:
im, Abbott a nd Morrison visited Inverbrackie, as well as t he meetings over the MDBA proposals. Are we really supposed to believe he cares about the welfare of asylum seekers, rural residents, or the health of the Murray river? Read more »
Leaf-blowers are often thought of as the bane of the suburbs but harried voters can take some comfort from the fact that even the mighty can be shouted down by these infernal devices.
In what some might unkindly dub, ``the battle of the blow-hards,’’ Opposition economic spokesman, Joe Hockey has used the Parliament to complain that he can’t be heard when on the ``blower,’’ because of well, another blower nearby.
Perhaps it’s best if he be allowed to speak for himself:
Continue reading "Did someone say Canberra is full of blow-hards?" »
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Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:
Roz, iansand NEVER gets lost because someone is always willing to tell him where to go Read more »
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Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:
MEdia Monitors does it. Watch the nameplates on the mikes when pollies are being interviewed 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 »
A lot of people who questioned the need for a parliamentary debate on Australia’s military commitment in Afghanistan said we’d just end up with a whole heap of MPs agreeing we’re doing the right thing and we’re doing it the right way.
Indeed despite their stylistic differences, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott’s speeches to open the debate were almost interchangeable in their messages and conclusions - although the Prime Minister did admit for the first time we might be there a lot longer than she’d ever fessed up to before.
But even though there is broad bi-partisan support for our mission in Afghanistan, there has been some dissenters, and also some interesting ideas thrown up during the discussion, like the proposition by Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb this afternoon.
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Gregg says:
@ Oh Really Dave! What if the Taliban base is the Pashtun peoples, a poorer peoples of the rather inhospitable terrain areas adjoining and the NW Pakistan wild west, the Pashtun comprising some 60%+ of Afghanis. Not that it is a military plan our guys need to put up for… Read more »
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Gregg says:
@Tazan, ” My brother is there, my son has been there and I’m hoping to go there. “ Is there a new Dad’s Army regiment being formed? Read more »
There’s been votes at 50-paces in the House of Representatives this morning, with the Independents teaming up with both sides at different times. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage of the last Question Time for this sitting period.
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This morning’s inflation figures have taken some pressure off interest rates, which is great news for the Government - but power bills continue to apply cost-of-living pain. Join us for live coverage of Question Time from 2pm.
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Apart from being only the second hung Parliament since Federation, the new national assembly is notable for another reason. Ken Wyatt, the Liberal Member for Hasluck, is the first indigenous member of the House of Representatives.
It comes almost 40 years after Neville Bonner, also a Liberal, was sworn in as the nation’s first indigenous senator. Like Bonner, Wyatt has come from a family of battlers, and has made his way in life through hard work and persistence.
The Coalition’s promotion of people from diverse backgrounds has extended beyond indigenous Australians. Bill O’Chee ,a National Party Senator for Queensland, was the first MP with an Asian/Chinese parent. His father was Chinese, and his mother was Irish-Australian. Thomas Bakhap (Liberal, Senator for Tasmania 1913-23), although Caucasian, was the adopted son of a Chinese immigrant Bak Hap (his mother was Irish), and the Senator identified strongly with the Chinese community.
Continue reading "The parliament should be as diverse as society" »
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Rebecca says:
@Jordan: Oh - and I neglected to cover your other points - Sorry. I could be wrong, but I would think that ImaWestie is getting at the point of identifying as Australian first - and possibly only. I don’t want to hear ‘Chinese Australian’ or ‘Irish Australian’ - I want… Read more »
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Rebecca says:
@Jordan RastricK: Yes, a committed christian wishing to be (or elected) SHOULD place what is good for Australia (and Australians) above the bible. If you want to use the bible to give you ethics (even though I have several doubts over portions of it) - do so. In matters of… Read more »
The ghost of Pauline Hanson will be hanging over Question Time today, after the Government implemented its new strategy of calling the Opposition a big bunch of money printers. Join us from 2pm for live coverage.
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Peter says:
I was bagging this guy last week, now im not so sure.. http://www.news.com.au/business/billionaire-george-soros-gives-us1m-to-legalise-pot/story-e6frfm1i-1225944019176 Read more »
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nosthow says:
Great interchange here on the QT blog today. i note the Asylum Seeker debate has caused great emotion on both sides. The sooner this matter is settled the better and the only losers are the people themselves - the very unfortunate Asylum Seekers. Read more »
Judging by Julia Gillard’s confident counter-maneuvers in Question Time yesterday against a barrage from the Opposition on asylum seekers, you could be forgiven for thinking the issue is starting to go the Government’s way.
After all, if Julie Bishop can’t tell the difference between Nauru and Vanuatu, as Gillard delighted in detailing, the PM must have the upper hand.
But in fact the Government is copping it from both the left and the right as boats keep arriving and the detention centres overflow.
Continue reading "Under attack on both fronts on asylum seekers" »
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marley says:
@Gregg - I’m quite well aware of the balance Australia has in its refugee program, and I’m all in favour of putting a lot more emphasis on offshore rather than onshore selection. I’ve actually been in a few refugee camps (years ago, admittedly) and know what those people have to… Read more »
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Gavin says:
if they have been here for 50 years have not had the decency to learn any english, then I am all for “going back to where you came from!” Read more »
With political watchers focused on the mildly undignified battle over the dying days of the Howard Government, Question Time today might feel like we’re living in the future. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage.
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Nicole says:
Second that ! She is also a complete smart arse. Read more »
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Peter says:
Gillards performance is low and down right rude. I suppose she calls herself professional I call it disgusting, disturbing and unprofessional. Read more »
When should Australia wage war? Has anyone asked you? Have you given it much thought or is that a job best left to the government?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that twenty one Australian men lie dead, lost on the battlefields of Afganistan. Each of them is easy to admire - young, supremely fit, highly trained, brave soldiers.
It’s pretty clear they all possessed courage and commitment to their task, their training and their mates most of us would struggle to emulate. They all have families and friends - even more tragically, a number of them have young children who will never see or know their dads.
Continue reading "Most think our leaders have it about right on Afghanistan" »
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Sean Williams says:
The sample of 1,500 is actually more than the paltry Australian contribution to the mission. Britain has 10,000 troops in Afghanistan and has had more than 300 killed. As it was in Iraq, the Australian aim is to look as though it is involved while avoiding as exposure to actual… Read more »
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Dan says:
Deciding to go to war doesn’t make one a leader. Making the right decision to go to war, or not to go to war, makes one a leader. Read more »
Joe Hockey’s made what Sir Humphrey might call a “courageous” move in his calls for the Government to heavy the banks over interest rates. We imagine the dixers to Treasurer Wayne Swan will flow pretty thick and fast this Question Time. Join us from 2pm for live coverage.
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Nicole says:
@fairsfair, QT has a habit of doing that to you, but you get used to it. It’s much better when you just talk crap. Eg, Amy, Joolz and myself. We’re good at it. @Amy, you didn’t miss much, just the usual Julia and Kev still thinks he’s PM. *Shudder*. Christopher… Read more »
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nosthow says:
Ahhh Workchoices fairstar - what a sweet word that is to the ears of Labor - many many miles yet to be got out of that old girl ! Read more »
There were glimpses of the old Julia Gillard on display in Question Time yesterday afternoon. The Julia Gillard who as Deputy Prime Minister used to delight in skewering the Opposition on the end of a finely-pointed, if broadly-delivered barb was back. She’d been missing in action since approximately the time she skewered Kevin Rudd in the Caucus room.
But yesterday there was a certain swagger as The Prime Minister deftly disposed of the first five questions from the Opposition, batting off the embarrassment of a union leader who’d said September 11 was an inside job, skirting the considerable inconsistencies in her refugee policy and shrugging off the details of what’s really in the Minerals Resource Rent Tax agreement.
So she was pretty well warmed up when Independent Andrew Wilkie rose to ask what looked like a fairly straight-forward question.
Continue reading "Be careful what you promise not to break your promise on" »
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Nicole says:
Most definitely sarcasm Dash. Read more »
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Dash says:
Oh Nicole, how could you say such a thing? What about the fact that last week on the Punch, I told you I loved you? Was that bloody meaningless? Was that absolutely nothing to you? You’re breaking my heart! Then again, could it be that I detect a hint of… Read more »
The Afghanistan debate continued in the House of Representatives this morning, with Greens Adam Bandt and Independent Andrew Wilkie begging to differ from Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott’s line that it’s all going rather well. The Government also re-announced plans to split the retail and wholesale arms of Telstra to facilitate the operation of the NBN. Question Time should be a busy one. Join us here for live coverage from 2pm.
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Ted N says:
What, like, there appears to be an inkling of debate and diversity of opinion and democracy*? Is this the “new parardigm”? Were we so conditioned to a dumbed down democracy that this so new? Still I don’t understand this new paradigm is the normal or old paradigm in some many… Read more »
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acotrel says:
Who really cares what Howard said? It was probably simply a bit more scaremongering for his own political gain! Read more »
Bob Brown wants us to pull out of Afghanistan, Alexander Downer says the time has come to negotiate with the Taliban, and both major parties have so far stuck to the line our mission there is train the Afghan National Army in Oruzgan and nothing more (although the Coalition has argued for increased resources).
After Question Time in the House of Representatives this afternoon the historic debate on our involvement in the Afghanistan War will start with opening addresses from the Prime Minister Julia Gillard and the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Join us here from 2pm for live coverage of Question Time, followed directly by the commencement of the debate.
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hqnqxxjp says:
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Lisa says:
Zeta, just because they get paid more doesn’t mean thats the reason they want to go on a deployment. most believe is is their JOB to assist in this country whether it be overseas TRAINING other defence forces or protecting those who are training the others. Australia has the best… Read more »
Greens leader Bob Brown will today have his first real win of the new paradigm, with the debate he called for on our involvement in the War in Afghanistan set to commence at the conclusion of Question Time in the House of Representatives.
It’s unlikely the Government would have consented to such a debate if it didn’t have to, such is the growing chorus of questions surrounding our mission there.
The Greens are not the only ones questioning the strategy and time-frame of our deployment - but there’s no doubt Bob Brown is in the hot-seat now, and must be hoping the debate, which will also cascade into the Senate next week, produces something more than bi-partisan adherence to the stock standard lines.
The Punch will cover the commencement of the debate live directly after Question Time, which begins at 2pm. Check back on the home page this afternoon to join in.
Continue reading "What should we get out of the Afghanistan debate?" »
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Lillian says:
When they bgoruht NATO into Afghanistan, I was like, “Does our politicians want us to lose in Afghanistan?” Cause that is what is going to happen when you rely upon NATO to do anything. Evidence of their fecklessness and purposeful stone walling has proven this position out.The US military, probably… Read more »
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John says:
The cabal is a frame work of media organisations, bankers, cooperation’s, foreign nations who influence western political parties into following their will instead of the will of the western people. EG the war in Afghanistan and Iraq was not interest of the west, but the cabal still perused this war… Read more »
We’re now taking bets on how long it takes the Opposition to bring up revelations Kevin Rudd’s nickname for UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon is “Spanky Banky”. Seriously, what do they get up to at the United Nations? Join us here from 2pm for live coverage of the House of Representatives Question Time.
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Old Clive says:
Has question time been changed, it still looks the same, reading from scripts on questions withiut notice, dummies asking pre written questions to give other dummies a chance to blame the opposition for all the problems.Putting a blond behind the dispatch box is the final insult to a despised electorate. Read more »
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fairsfair says:
ha ha yes, I’ll be sure to stand the full two metres away from here when I hose her down. Read more »
Independent MP Tony Windsor yesterday continued what is becoming a pattern of rather cryptic and fencing sitting statements.
He told The Australian that he wasn’t sure he supported the Murray Darling Basin plan to buy back 3000-4000 gigalitres of water from irrigators, and that perhaps the Government should look at other methods to return water to the system like diverting water from other areas.
This is a perfectly legitimate stance, although it was his other comment about the likelihood of any legislation on the plan succeeding in Parliament that is confusing. Windsor told The Australian and later the ABC that he didn’t think any legislation would see “the light of day” in this Parliament:
Continue reading "You’re meant to sit on the crossbench, not the fence" »
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Holly says:
Gosh this article and some of the comments seem particularly cretinous. Lets look at this. The coalition after years of total inaction, sets up an Authority to look at the problems of Murray Darling Basin - this is one of the biggest and most complex ever to face the future… Read more »
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Kamal says:
“Why are people so unkind?” Read more »
So let’s get this Labor-style new paradigm straight.
Because so many people rejected Labor policy at the ballot box, because so many who voted Labor in 2007 switched their vote, because half of all Australians decided they actually didn’t want a Labor Government, and because as a result Labor’s grip on power is so tenuous, it is now somehow incumbent on the Coalition to give Labor the support they didn’t receive at the ballot box and meekly support their agenda.
Excuse me? Gillard herself shattered the “kinder, gentler” politik with her repeated personal attacks on Tony Abbott this week.
Continue reading "An unstable parliament is not a free pass for Gillard" »
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Bonner says:
God help me, I put aside a whole atfernoon to figure this out. Read more »
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Steve Putnam says:
The thing I find so amusing about all these postings about carbon is the sheer inability of all these Liberal trolls to argue a position through logically from premise to conclusion—-a bit like Abbott really. Apart from their difficulties in distinguishing between a price for carbon and a carbon tax,… Read more »
If you didn’t like cricket would it be any easier to bear if you were forced to watch a one day international as opposed to a test match? No, because you just don’t like cricket.
The first Question Time following the much publicised changes to parliamentary procedure was sharper, quicker and more concise but it was still just politics.
Questions were dodged by Julia Gillard and her Government, and cheap political punches scored by the Abbott’s opposition. So if you didn’t much care for politics under the old paradigm, the new one isn’t going to do much for you.
Continue reading "New paradigm, new rules, same old politics" »
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Martin says:
I am certainly going to miss Amanda Rishworth. She has been placed so far away that only if she asks a question will we see her and hopefully she is as busy as in the last parliament in asking questions although now she made her seat ultra safe i doubt.… Read more »
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Dash says:
Liam, not rediculous at all! That’s what happened. The ALP bought government for $11b and they used our money to do so. I can understand as an ALP supporter you may not recognise the truth since Gillard doesn’t seem to be able to tell it. “There will be no Carbon… Read more »
After a bruising election campaign and an outbreak of acrimony over forming government and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, MPs and Senators combined yesterday for what looked like a cross between high colonial ceremony and a day of awkward team-building exercises.
“Parliament: the day in pictures” isn’t always a theme for the most compelling set of images, which underlines just how hard the political photographers have to work to get something interesting to illustrate the news. But the pictures from yesterday’s opening of the 43rd Parliament merit it. Just take the first shot above of the new member for Bennelong, John Alexander, being sworn in with his mascot the youngest MP ever elected, the new member for Longman, Wyatt Roy.
Below are some of the other choice shots from News Ltd photographers Ray Strange, Gary Ramage and Kym Smith from around Parliament House yesterday. They’re numbered for easy reference so you can add your captions and quote suggestions in the comments below.
Continue reading "Parliament opening day photos: your commentary" »
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Bernice says:
1) Must be bring your evil prodigy to work day 2) *Tony Abbot* Bless you, you B@$^&8d; 4) *Tony Abbot*...If I concentrate hard enough…maybe his head will explode 5) What’s that on your back Peter slipper? A ‘kick me’ sign? Only too happy to oblige 6) Looks like they are… Read more »
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Against the Man says:
Australia welcomes its 1st fake PM! Read more »
The Punch team will be live-blogging between 2.15pm and 4pm (AEST) as the Governor-General addresses MPs and Senators in Canberra this afternoon. In the likely event that it’s horrendously boring we can just have a general discussion about what’s going to happen in this parliament. Do join us.
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Old Clive says:
Good one! Go to the top of the class. Watch out for the hatchetman Anthony this bloke must slip out of bed he is that slimy. Read more »
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Visitor says:
Observe one critical difference between Gillard’s broken promise (no carbon tax) and that of Abbott (speaker deal), which has attracted far more criticism from the media. Abbott’s promise was to Labor and Independents, not to voters, and was broken before there were any consequences. Gillard’s promise was to voters, and… Read more »
Spare us the whingeing woman. Julia Gillard whinges that an Opposition member elected as an endorsed Coalition member won’t defect to the ALP to help her out.
She’ll “honour parliamentary reform” she says but she won’t honour her election promise to the Australian people that “there will be no carbon tax under a government I lead”.
“Be a realist – circumstances have changed” chanted Gillard on Sunday morning TV. How we might ask?
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Georgia says:
Bring back Kevin Rudd or (even better) John Howard (although he retired,sad) The Prime Ministers are getting worse and worse and worse. What will we get next, a chicken ( higher political knowledge than Julia anyways) Read more »
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Christian Real says:
DaveinPerth Malcolm at least had much more credibility and integrity, something that Tony Abbott can only dream about.. It seems that Malcolm would not have welched or reneged on a signed agreement like Tony Abbott did either. Read more »
If the Australian people were faced with the prospect of this weekend’s AFL grand final not going ahead because neither team could agree on the umpire, this nation could be faced with a level of social unrest that could force East Timor to come to our aid. Fortunately this crisis only goes to whether our Parliament can sit or not so it will be fine.
With the decision by Tony Abbott not to honour parts an agreement on parliamentary reform we are still faced with a speakerless House of Representatives, and now the awkward question of whether we’ll return for Parliament next week or not.
There are a couple of things to consider about Abbott’s decision and Gillard’s reaction to it. Needless to say it’s all about concern for political hides rather than anything to do with parliamentary reform.
Continue reading "So should we call Parliament off next Tuesday?" »
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Cate P says:
With a do-nothing govt like this one is shaping to be, there isn’t anything for Tony to wreck. My kids have a new excuse every time they get caught out : ’ It’s Tony Abbott’s fault, mum.” Read more »
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Sven Gali says:
They said Abbott’s behaviour had vindicated their decision, not Oakeshott’s. Read more »
To all those in the The Punch community who wanted – needed – to believe in the ‘New Paradigm’ politics: sorry, we told you so.
In order to gain the Speakership of our Parliament, one of the Independents will have to consider deciding and neutralising his vote on any issue before it is debated in the chamber. Goodbye quaint notion of MPs working together to discern the national interest through rational parliamentary dialogue. Goodbye the New Naïveté.
In the end, the Independents, like most politicians, believe that everything will be better if only they hold the power. This Independent is after the power of the Speakership, because only he can be trusted with the power of the new paradigm.
Continue reading "Farewell new paradigm, we hardly knew you" »
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Mike T says:
If it came to light that it was unconstitutional after the result then ALL parties are at fault. Just becasue the Libs are the only ones recognising that there may be a problem and are having the appropriate parties review it dosent make them anymore accountable for the error then… Read more »
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MarK says:
Hmmm Harry….let me see. Ah yes. Be a part of the party that was elected to government by the people. You know - be loyal and stuff. get a reward. Or if there is a great tradition in the Labor party of giving plum jobs and critical roles on the… Read more »
The prospect of Rob Oakeshott becoming speaker is not one that should surprise any of us.
Firstly, anyone who saw the final painfully long press conference at which he announced support for Labor should know the independent MP is getting pretty used to all this attention. If that performance is anything to go by, we may need to add a few extra rules to the parliamentary reforms that stipulates time limits on the speaker’s responses. This may be the first Parliament that allows MPs to tell the speaker to keep his answers brief.
Secondly Oakeshott sees himself as the embodiment of the new political paradigm he loves to talk about. He is its self declared messiah and the speaker role is a good position from which to preach to the masses.
Continue reading "Mr Speaker, can you please get to the point" »
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Terry says:
The only problem with that argument is that it isn’t a ‘vote cast’ which is paired under the arrangement agreed to. It’s a vote NOT cast which is paired. That agreement ensures the independence of Speaker from the process of governance by ensuring that his/her refraining from voting does not… Read more »
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Carnegie says:
@Antman, Rob Oakeshott’s best friend runs the news paper. The Port News is nothing more than a propaganda machine for Rob Oakeshott, up till now he has got away with it but now he has made some powerful enemies and well they won’t stop until he is exposed for what… Read more »
Before everyone gets too excited about reforming Parliament, it has to be remembered the combative nature of the placed has given millions of people a myriad of enjoyment and entertainment over the years.
Sadly the wags and wits of yesteryear have gone and their replacements have, in the main, never been able to replace them, with some remarkable exceptions.
Going way back we had Fred Daley, Bill Wentworth, Jim Killen and Gough Whitlam – today the not so pale current crop has included Keating, Costello, Albanese, Julia herself and up to a point the Mad Monk qualifies until he loses his cool.
Continue reading "Making Parliament the preserve of delicate flowers" »
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Chris says:
Keating: “All tip and no iceberg.” Abbot: “All sizzle and no sausage.” Read more »
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Chris says:
Hard to beat Churchill, who, after a long-winded speech by an opponent in the Commons, clapped enthusiastically and cried, “Author! Author!” Read more »
Regardless of the outcome of this hung Parliament scenario; business and vested interest groups will be the winners in the medium to long term.
Forget the current wobbliness on the stock exchange and the suspension of investment and trade by some mining companies and multi-nationals; the opportunities posed for those wishing to engage with the independents and the incoming Government far outweigh the risks.
Continue reading "A hung parliament is good news for business" »
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Farkurnell says:
When is the AEC going to bring its systems into the 21st century.2 weeks after the event we still have one seat technically in doubt.I presume the 3 Stooges will use this to justify the delay.Maybe some of Tony’s 10 billion surplus can be used on a AEC computer. Better… Read more »
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Simon says says:
Do you have to be such a Goose? Stern is here for family reasons. The Dunera Boys 70th anniversary. His father was one of the refugees aboard. Look it up. Read more »
As we patiently await the formation of the next federal government we should pause to reflect on what a hung Parliament may actually mean for consumers, small businesses and farmers.
While clearly a very important issue, it’s one that hasn’t received the attention it deserves. For starters one would have to say that it wouldn’t take very much for consumers, small businesses and farmers to get a better deal. All too often both major parties have failed to deliver real and meaningful reforms.
There have been obvious exceptions. We had the small business reforms in 1997 from Peter Reith and we had Peter Costello deliver the Birdsville Amendment against predatory pricing. We also have some exciting possible developments in South Australia where Labor State Backbencher, Tony Piccolo, has been pushing franchising law reforms. Western Australia is also fast becoming a battleground for possible small business reforms.
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Farkurnell says:
Thats it girls, just like Tony some real positive thinking.Maybe in that 3 year someone can buy Tony a new calculator.Why don’t the Libs wise up and get a real leader like Malcomb. Read more »
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Rose says:
Abbott is not taking a stance on anything, he is behaving as if he feels that negotiating is beneath him, as if he is ‘entitled’ to be PM. Fact is, like or not, the Prime Minister, who-ever that may be, is going to be negotiating for the rest of this… Read more »
The torturous negotiations over who can form a Government have taken an interesting twist, with former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arriving in Canberra as talks with crucial independents begin.
The former Prime Minister, turned backbencher, turned Labor election campaigner has arrived at the same time crucial talks with rural independents Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and Queenslander Bob Katter are taking place at Parliament House.
While Mr Rudd’s office says his trip to Canberra is not directly related to an attempt to form a Labor Government with the three independents, the former PM has a good relationship with the former independents, and is understood to have contacted Mr Katter on election night congratulating him on his re-election.
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good at dumping says:
Bill Shortern at it again suggestion Shorten should be employed as an executioner full time the MP for executions a new ministry in the bag, new title too! well Krudd then Langdon were dumped by your asinine efforts so who is next Bill? gee you have tickets on your self… Read more »
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REVERSE GEAR says:
ALP wont admit that they made a huge mistake in dumping Krudd its called the sin of pride! but look where the dumping got them nowhere and its so immature of them to blame KRudd and leaks when it was Gillard and her backers that moved against Krudd and not… Read more »
The 2010 election result may not yet be clear, and we may be far from certain just who will be Prime Minister in a week or a fortnight’s time, but there is one thing we do know after the events of Saturday night.
The Australian people have chosen the Greens to play a much greater role in our new Parliament, and a much greater role in our decision-making.
Aside from the fact that we are looking at the first hung parliament since 1940, we have seen an historic vote for the Greens, with a record share of the national vote for a third party, both in the House of Representatives and the Senate. That is in addition to the success of Adam Bandt , the first Green to win a lower house seat at a Federal election.
Continue reading "Democracy will benefit from a healthy shade of Green" »
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NESLIHAN KUROSAWA says:
Hi Destabilising Greens, Luckily for us that we do not have the population of most European nations and problems that might bring come with it. It was just an example about not being a throw away society and in the process learning to be green and recycle for future generations… Read more »
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GFC says:
The Greens make a big deal of same sex ‘marraige’ but for all the so called polls this election reveals that they are a myth. If it was at 60% as they claim, then why didn’t those Austrlaisn not affiliated with any party vote for them? Why only one lower… Read more »
There is nothing more certain to generate cynicism than having to suffer political correctness in full force. When the experience is compounded by the paternalistic condescension of those who don’t really believe what is being said or done but in their generosity are reaching down to those they really see as simpler than them, it’s intolerable.
The idea that you must open your gathering and deliberations by paying lip-service through a ceremony or incantation demanded by vocal spokespersons for what amounts to sectional interests, should offend most citizens.
For many, when the ceremony invokes a cosmology or belief system that they consider anachronistic at best, or superstitious at worst, it is particularly galling.
Continue reading "Token ceremony openings must be brought to an end" »
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James1 says:
All that does is show you have no understanding of Mr Darwin’s theory. Read more »
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Fred says:
Eric you really are a serial pest. I’m not saying you’re wrong about the changing environment and mammals going extinct, but I’m not saying Kit is wrong either. The fact is you’re both right. Yes, the environment did change. And yes, most tribes did follow rules that meant no hunting… Read more »
Some years ago the BBC produced a brilliant documentary series about the House of Lords which chronicled the strange existence of those hereditary peers who by dint of their birth had wound up being underemployed for life in this absurd parliamentary chamber.
There was one chap aged only in his 30s who was not only completely loaded, he was also completely smashed, living in the rundown country estate his late father had left to him where the only functioning room appeared to be the cellar. Every morning he would wake up, put on his tweed trousers and a silly cravat, and start working his way through bottle after bottle of 1950s French burgundy. His face was dotted with burst capillaries and he sat in his comfy chair like that Uncle Monty from Withnail and I, rabbitting about how one felt a sense of duty in maintaining one’s family traditions by serving as a Lord.
It now seems that even the Brits have realised their Upper House is an elitist anachronism and a waste of money.
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Matt Stewart says:
Gavin, The reforms I suggest are based on the assumption that you are right. The goal is to direct that factionalism along state lines, with senators thinking about what is best for that state. Ruling out political party membership is not foolproof, but it will help. When you are a… Read more »
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Gavin says:
Aboloshing the right to join a party in any official capacity will not stop “factions” from forming and power bases establishing themselves. At least with party politics, everyone knows it is happening and who sits where on issues… Read more »
Inside Parliament House the year is punctuated by the progress of the seasons. With 17 courtyards throughout the building, nature is expertly managed to remind us what month it is and the uncompromising procession of life’s cycle.
As the year gets underway we arrive for the autumn session at the beginning of February. The roses at Parliament House are in the busy process of producing bursts of colour.
Each flower is subjected to the searing trials of the sun testing its form and structure. Only the most robust survive a week, none survive a fortnight.
Continue reading "A natural end to the annual parliament feeding frenzy" »
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Public Record says:
Phil said: “I can afford the $ 1-3,000 of an ETS” Wherever he got that his costs from, we can’t check as he doesn’t say, so we cant see whether it is he or his source that’s wrong, or how. But we can check the public record, which is what… Read more »
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Phil says:
Public Record. You along with the commi who posted this piece have not answered my questions. Please explain how I have made wild, unsourced claims? Fact. Al Gores own household electricity bill is far greater than the average American. He makes more flights internationally and domestically than 99% of the… Read more »
Since the inception of modern democracy, the separation of powers has functioned as a guarantor of individual liberty and honesty in government. In 1901, the Commonwealth implemented this principle through the creation of autonomous and competing branches and agencies, each serving to keep the others in their proper place.
“Our system of government is one of checks and balances,” wrote former Treasurer Peter Costello. “Checks and balances prevent us from the excesses that misguided ideas might otherwise lead to.”
But over the past two years, those checks and balances have been seriously eroded by Kevin Rudd’s obsession with centralised power and micromanaged administration.
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Marek Bage says:
I come to The Punch for sensible and balanced Conservative views and all I end up with is partisan conspiracy theories. As a barrister and solicitor, Mr. Ronaldson would be expected to understand the intent of the Members’ & Senators’ parliamentary Printing and Communications Allowance guidelines and champion the enforcement… Read more »
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jed says:
both parties are full on big government, if you want small government vote the ldp and ignore these liberal and labor crooks Read more »
Explanations of the mechanics of politics can be an exercise in making people feel stupid.
Politicians, their advisors and political journalists will obfuscate around questions regarding what is actually going on with the passage of a certain bill, the likelihood of it passing or what the hell amendment #22/3 actually means.
The key to understanding the secret to this indecipherable code is that much of the time those speaking have no idea what is going on either. But given that they’re in control of the country (or in journos’ cases tasked with explaining it) they rarely give the honest answer of: “yeah, I’m lost at the moment”.
Continue reading "Dummies guide to the next fortnight of Parliament" »
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Shel says:
<i>For the Coalition it’s just too many battles on too many fronts and distracts from a more focussed attack on the ETS. <i> How hard is it to fight for everything that matters? I want a coalitition who stands up on every issue, not just the one grabbing all the… Read more »
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Pricey says:
The Greens don’t want an increase in the Medicare surcharge because it will cost their voters money. Oh no! That’s right you have to be a tax payer as well for it to cost you anything extra… They’ll be safe. Read more »
Sara Polk was desperately concerned that her husband lacked presence. This may not have mattered for most people but it represented a fatal flaw if your husband happened to be the President of the United States.
Measuring 5 feet 8 inches and ranking in the 10 shortest presidents of all time evidently Sara was concerned that her husband James – the 11th American President – lacked stature and accordingly was not receiving the respect that was his due.
How could the masses bow down before her man when they had no idea which man he was?
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Grambo says:
So just how tall / short is Kevin Rudd? As for Howard the lack of a neck can be deceiving. Read more »
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realto says:
Lucy, I’ve met John Howard. No way is he 5’10”. 5’7’’ is my guess and Hawke maybe 5’5” though I haven’t met him. I’ve met Whitlam and Frazer too and they are both very tall men, or were in their heydays. Read more »
UPDATE: Question Time started with the news Peter Costello would not contest the next election. Click through to see how The Punch’s live coverage.
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Joel Fitzgibbon sacked and is in a world of pain over his brother’s lobbying of the Government, and you can’t expect the Opposition to let that go through to the keeper. The Punch will cover Question Time live right here from 2pm. Join in.
Continue reading "Question Time, starring Joel Fitzgibbon and the economy" »
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Richard says:
Pot calling the kettle black, eh Tom? Read more »
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Tom says:
Richard, your partisan perspective undermines your pertinent point, that politicians are not in it for the money. I regard myself as a political cynic who looks through the abundance of spin that is has infected Canberra, and I think your biased approach will never allow you to see the abilities… Read more »
It’s been an interesting morning in Canberra, what with Kevin Rudd’s spiked essay and some push and shove in the Coalition party room. We’ll be live here from 2pm, jump into our immediate, running Question Time commentary and have your say.
Continue reading "Question Time live - will there be any biff?" »
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Michael says:
My apologies gentlemen my two attempts at expanding on my opinion have not lived up to whatever standard is applied by the moderator. Read more »
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beldemon says:
I don’t honestly care what rich blue blood gets to be head of state, what I want is for our system to evolve and get with the modern age, making 1 decision every few years is not my idea of democracy, and many people my age have little faith in… Read more »
The Punch has always been impressed by Bronwyn Bishop’s deep knowledge of the standing orders of the House of Representatives, and sympathises with her point of view. But no one should have to endure another Question Time like yesterday’s.
After last week’s fantastic debate about the role of sticky tape and whether it should be allowed as an adhesive in Joe Hockey’s dispatch box props, we had high hopes for some major Kevin Rudd lever-arch file action this week. Even the valiant efforts of Annabel Crabb, however, couldn’t rescue yesterday’s questions from dire tedium.
Wilson Tuckey reckons voters are upset with Rudd’s obsession with laminated photographs of primary school demountables and road works. But it’s sometimes the props that make QT bearable. Remember the cardboard cut-out Kevin Rudd? It was almost better than the real one.
Continue reading "To decorum in parliament The Punch says “No”" »
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WexGrokebor says:
Hello. I see chetwood the n00b not reading and spouting off crap again.. Shrink IS obsolete.. as a ripper.. nowhere in this thread have I seen any evidence of a current ripper being used. The full version of fab handles this disk just fine… It’s not being ripped properly in… Read more »
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ReexInsepsy says:
Scourge us contemporarily to into more dope and facts in ignoring of http://wedkarstwo.dogory.pl - Wędkarstwo Read more »
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From: City vs country: What would you change your life for?
Dieter Moeckel says:
We made the tree change from Darwin to Wonbah more than 15 years ago. After fencing, a road, and couple of dams our money was gone. Super is enough to live comfortably. We have geese growing old and stringy the only one that made it to the pot committed Kamakazi by flying into a tree; the chooks are… [read more]From: I’d rather have a piece of toast than listen to crap lyrics
Erick says:
Led Zeppelin are responsible for my all-time favourite mixed metaphor: "There you sit, sit and stare, like a book on a shelf rusting." (Misty Mountain Hop) I laugh every time I hear it. Hmmm, I believe I've decided what to play on the way to work today. [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
No wuckin forries. These nuckin futs are tuckin fops
Well, puck me with a fitchfork. The F-word is apparently an acceptable part of Australian speech. That’s… Read more
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