Parliament
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" »
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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Nodanedouart says:
Hi, I finally got a quick internet access, it’s nice to come with you regards, Nodan , <a >ingenieur</a> Read more »
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ignotly says:
I have tried going into tools, internet options and adjusting every thing there that it tells you to..eg third party cookies etc. I have also read a dozen forums on how to enable cookies and i have done every thing that i can think of but it still wont let… Read more »
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