Nov 29 2007
Toil and trouble
Federal Coalition. Today’s Liberal leadership contest is of course being amply covered elsewhere. I will say only that the 6-to-1 odds on Brendan Nelson from SportingBet look remarkably attractive from what I’m hearing. Warren Truss is set to take the Nationals leadership unopposed following the withdrawal of Peter McGauran. No by-elections loom at this stage, but I suspect they will be happening sooner or later in Higgins, Mayo, Berowra and perhaps Lyne.
Queensland Liberals. The state Liberal Party has been plunged into a constitutional crisis by a four-all leadership deadlock between incumbent Bruce Flegg and challenger Tim Nicholls. Flegg and his three supporters voted down a leadership spill motion yesterday, prompting state president Warwick Parer to declare he must “do the honourable thing and stand down”. The two groups might end up holding separate party room meetings today, each claiming official status. Nicholls is associated with the Santo Santoro/Michael Caltabiano faction of the Queensland Liberal Party, and is supported in the party room by John-Paul Langbroek (Surfers Paradise), Jann Stuckey (Currumbin) and Steve Dickson (Kawana). Flegg represents the moderate “western suburbs” faction and is supported by Mark McArdle (Caloundra), Ray Stevens (Robina) and Glen Elmes (Noosa), at least for now: the Courier-Mail reports Flegg’s supporters are united by animus towards the Santoro faction, and would be willing to back a candidate other than Flegg to keep Nicholls out.
Western Australian Liberals. It had long been understood that the looming federal election was the only thing preventing a challenge against Liberal leader Paul Omodei, and the talk is that a spill will be on next week. On Tuesday the ABC reported that Omodei was about to be tapped on the shoulder and asked to make way for Vasse MP Troy Buswell. Omodei – a dangerous man to be around at times – today told the media any colleagues who did so would be “very lucky if they don’t get a good right hook, and they’ll be lucky to get out of the room standing up”. Like his Queensland counterpart Tim Nicholls, Buswell is a first-term MP. Meantime, former leader Colin Barnett has announced he will not seek re-election for his seat of Cottesloe at the state election due in February 2009. Barnett has told The West Australian he has thought better of retiring immediately, because it “wasn’t the right thing to do and a lot of people in my electorate want me to stay”. His enemies in the Liberal Party say he’ s only staying to block any move to recruit Julie Bishop to the state party leadership by having her take his seat at a by-election.
Northern Territory ALP. Clare Martin and her deputy Syd Stirling have both pulled up stumps and moved to the back bench. The Northern Territory News reports that leadership rival Paul Henderson delivered Martin a “gentle ultimatum” a few weeks ago. Martin accepted this without demur as she had lost her enthusiasm for the job following the federal government’s intervention into Aboriginal communities. Mutterings first emerged last November that Martin’s inaction in indigenous affairs had cost her the support of the most of the Aboriginal members of caucus, and that a challenge by Henderson would win the support of 10 out of 19 party room members. Martin and Stirling have both vowed to remain in parliament until the election due in mid-2009, so it does not appear we will be treated to by-elections in Fannie Bay and Nhulunbuy.
In late election counting news, Labor’s Jason Young is back in front of Andrew Laming in Bowman, if only by 21 votes. The pattern of voting in 2004 suggests Young has cleared his biggest hurdle now that pre-polls have been counted (mostly if not entirely), and should be able to keep his nose in front on remaining postal (where he has performed strongly so far), absent and provisional votes. In Herbert, Defence Force votes have slashed Labor’s lead from 528 to 36: the outlook appears better for Labor’s George Colbran now those are out of the way, but like Bowman it’s still close enough that anything could happen. Liberal member Peter Dutton’s lately acquired lead continues to widen in Dickson, and the Liberals are home and hosed in La Trobe and Macarthur. The only reason McEwen is not on the list is those votes we were told about which were wrongly sent to Scullin, on which I have heard nothing further. Defence Force votes have cut Labor candidate Damian Hale’s lead over CLP member Dave Tollner in Solomon from 718 votes to 427, but he should still get up unless there’s a surprise lurking in the remaining pre-polls. The trend in Swan contains to favour Liberal candidate Steve Irons, now 136 votes in front, although there will be very little in it either way. Anyone wishing to discuss these results is encouraged to use the dedicated threads linked to in the sidebar.
A couple of other seats worth noting. The Greens camp has been talking up a possible late-count boilover in O’Connor, where Nationals candidate Philip Gardiner could theoretically overtake Labor’s Dominic Rose and surf over Liberal veteran Wilson Tuckey on preferences. At the moment Gardiner is some way behind Rose, 20.42 per cent to 18.37 per cent. It is argued that most of the 9.28 per cent vote that went to various minor candidates will go to Gardiner as preferences, although a good many went straight to Tuckey in 2004. The other question is how many of the 6.68 per cent who voted Greens followed the card and gave their second preferences to the Nationals. If the combined 15.96 per cent from minor parties delivers the Nationals 2.06 per cent more than Labor, Gardiner might be in business. In 2004 there was an 18.8 per cent minor party vote that split 7.8 per cent Labor, 5.7 per cent Nationals and 5.3 per cent, but the Greens were running split-ticket how-to-vote cards as opposed to their direct recommendation to the Nationals this time.
A late-count surprise has been a narrowing of Labor’s margin in Flynn, where postal votes have split over 70-30 in favour of the Nationals. This is because postal voting is a favoured method of voters in isolated rural areas, although the size of the gap is still a surprise. Whether or not the Nationals are still a show depends on whether there are more postals to come. Today’s Courier-Mail states that “postal votes were counted today”, which sounds like it means they were all counted, in which case the remaining 590-vote Labor lead should be enough. Pre-polls have in fact been running quite heavily in Labor’s favour, and absent votes are unlikely to buck the overall trend.
Corangamite is now on the AEC “close seats” list with pre-polls and postals having favoured the Liberals 57-43, cutting the Labor lead from 2217 to 767. However, there should be few if any remaining pre-polls and postals, and Labor did quite a lot better on the uncounted absent and provisional votes in 2004.
There has been no significant progress in Senate counting this week, but it might yet be worth keeping an eye on the Australian Capital Territory. The Liberal vote is clear of a 33.3 per cent quota on 34.1 per cent, which will need to drop at least 1.5 per cent if the Greens are to sneak through for an upset. At the 2004 election it actually increased by 0.22 per cent.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Our Kev may be boring, Glen, but he’s never wasted $6 billion on the Super Hornets or anything else for that matter.
Yet!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Glen i will agree with you on one thing when Rudd starts speaking he waffles on, i thought on election night he was unbearable, on and on about nothing, on the other hand old sneaky spoke well and was very gracious.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Glen quoting yet more News Ltd anti-Rudd polemic isn’t going to cut any ice here. We’ve had a whole year of that shite and no-one believes a word of it. (Has Caroline Overington been sacked yet?)
November 29th, 2007 at 11:42 pm
994 And you thought the Liberals were going to keep him accountable. It’s a new era Glen, it is a new league that the Liberal Party and the journalists will struggle to keep up with.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
#
1000
Greensborough Growler Says:
November 29th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Glen, you have the attention span of a gnat.
If Moses was talking about the Ten Cmmandments you would only be interested in the best three.
Only one of them mentioned “you shall ensure Howard loses his seat”
November 29th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Adam,
Has there been anything anywhere from Overington since Saturday?
November 29th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
1001
Marktwain - he hardly wasted 6b dollars, SuperHornets are good aircraft, the US still uses them as Aircraft Carrier jets.
Oh and last time i checked Lord Nelson doesn’t like eating ear wax lol
1003
Adam - this isnt being critical of his policies just that he waffles on and on about working families and the like he doesnt get to the point i mean he’s going to have to get used to this because he’s only had to ask questions in Parliament not answer them.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Agree Adam …the ‘oz’ is very similar to ‘fox News” in the USA also owned by Murdoch….very ‘right wing’
except George Mega who I find logically critical of both Partys
November 29th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
I hope unlike the Victorian Parliament Labor and the Howard Government, Labor uses HOR responsibly and answers the questions because really the Howard Government treated the house with contempt.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Marky, good luck if Keating wasn’t going to do it why will Rudd?
November 29th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
[except George Mega who I find logically critical of both Partys]
The Australian lost its best writer on Sunday…
November 29th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
All I can say Glen is that the Tories had better learn to run on two or three hours sleep. If the Tories bludge along at the rate they have this year Rudd will eat them for breakfast and they will never be able to handle him.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Steve, I have a soft spot for old LS because he do’es have a genuine sincerity about himself. Pity about the rest of his crew!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Kiddies, the evil Oz just won this …
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Haneef-story-gets-Thomas-a-Gold-Walkley/2007/11/29/1196037077365.html
November 29th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
What an election:
1. Conservative winter over.
2. Howard got what he deserved.
3. Overington gets herself fired.
Trifecta!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:51 pm
Unfortunately I have no faith any Party will remedy the appalling question time in the Reps. Actually the Senate under both Labor & Liberal Governments have been a lot better
November 29th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
[Marky, good luck if Keating wasn’t going to do it why will Rudd?]
Keating used Question Time brilliantly, he wouldn’t of won the 1993 election without it.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Shows on. Has Mega George left the ‘GG’?
November 29th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
[Shows on. Has Mega George left the ‘GG’?]
I think he’s referring to the death of Matt Price
November 29th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
1014
Marktwain Says:
November 29th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Kiddies, the evil Oz just won this …
http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Han
That is 31 winners
Fancy having 31 ‘Brownlow’ medal winners OR 31 ‘Daly M’ winners
November 29th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
[Unfortunately I have no faith any Party will remedy the appalling question time in the Reps.]
It is nothing but theatre, always has been, always will be.
[Shows on. Has Mega George left the ‘GG’?]
No. I was referring to the passing of Matt Price.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Fantastic work, Hedley Thomas, again.
See what pushing on an issue can achieve?
Is Overington fired?
Back shortly. Hard drive full.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Talking about Murdoch, Kenneth Davison in The Age wrote an interesting piece regarding Rupert when he said and i quote
Murdoch gets his power by owning two thirds of Australia’s capital city daily news paper circulation and is reinforced by the gullibility of our politicians.
Rudd is no exception. After Murdoch run a blatant campaign in favor of the coaltion it failed to shift public opinion. Therefore Murdoch editoralised on the eve to support Labor in three of his most influential papers, to ensure he backed the winner.
In return Rudd has indicated he will willingly support much of his agenda. It remains to be seen how much transalates into commercial advantage for News Ltd.
( The Age, Monday 26 November, Page 6, Business Section).
November 29th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Correction
The only 2 even writers at the ‘oz’ were George Mega & Matt Price ( a sad loss)
November 29th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Glen, look and weep.
THE HOWARD Government’s controversial decision to go against the advice of Australia’s air force chiefs and buy 24 Super Hornet fighter jets is likely to be investigated by the Commonwealth Auditor-General.
Ian McPhee said he would consider examining the circumstances surrounding Defence Minister Brendan Nelson’s decision to spend $6.6 billion on the Super Hornets. If he did investigate, it would be in the 2008-09 financial year.
In response to a request for an investigation from Opposition defence spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon, Mr McPhee said the Super Hornets were a major defence aquisition. If an investigation were held, it would focus on governance issues related to the decision to buy the jets.
Last November, Dr Nelson stunned RAAF chiefs when he told cabinet’s National Security Committee that Australia needed to buy an interim fighter to ensure a “capability gap” did not emerge between the 2010 retirement of the F-111 fighter bomber and the 2013 arrival of the Joint Strike Fighter from the US.
Just weeks earlier, the nation’s two most senior air chiefs said an interim aircraft such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet was not necessary.
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/08/05/1186252546263.html?s_cid=rss_
November 29th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Correct, Ron Brown, and most of the winners are photographers. Picture tells a thousand words, I think the saying goes. We journos really are up ourselves.
That being said, Thomas’ series on Haneef was good. Balanced out the absolute tripe his Newsie colleague, Paula Doneman, did on the “SHOCK TERRORIST PHOTOS OF GOLD COAST APARTMENT BLOCK AND GLORIOUS OCEAN VIEWS” scuppered scoop. That was hilarious. Not.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Very cynical of 3 Murdoch papers to support Rudd on election eve …AFTER producing a negative Labor presentation during the campaign
November 30th, 2007 at 12:00 am
How disappointing that the likes of Nelson, Bishop and Haase will go down in history having voted against the sorry to the stolen generation people. It will happen soon enough anyway regardless of their good or ill will. What a mean bunch. By the way some of these stolen generation people have actually been enormous contributors to our society despite the damage done in their childhoods.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:02 am
1009 Marky -[ I hope unlike the Victorian Parliament Labor and the Howard Government, Labor uses HOR responsibly and answers the questions because really the Howard Government treated the house with contempt.]
They did indeed treat the House with contempt - continuing a trend begun under the previous Labor govt it must be said, but the extent to which it was taken over the past 11 years is not comparable.
Generally though - we can go on about personalities and details, but the main game now is - can the Rudd govt bring back the ‘fair go’? Can they bring back more of our lost laconic egalitarian atmosphere that can reduce the difference between the poorest group and the richest? They have not started well in education policy, which is where this starts, and will continue the obscenity of open slather for first-start religious schools apparently. If any area needs a rethink and a good dose of leadership, it’s this one. No-one here can applaud the ‘education revolution’ if any mug group of freaks can continue to apply for and get govt money to start a new school. This has been going on for not quite 11 years, but for a good part of it. If anything will hasten the classification of Aussie society it will be a failure by the new Govt to fix that. I know they won’t cancel state aid, but the rort of the start-ups and the excesses of across-the-board subsidies must go.
Whew, sorry about the rant.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:02 am
Ron- Murdoch gets governments and ousts them except Hewson in 1993 and Kennett 1999 he gets all governments to do what he wants.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:05 am
example of Murdoch bias:
the $420 million ‘regional rorts affair” did NOT get published in the Melbourne sun at all
the $281 million tax payer funded work choices adds got no lead articles
the AMA in Tassie repeatedly said the mersey hospital transfer could not go ahead
as there were not enough speciaists
the WA union leader expelled in the campaign got front page in the Melbourne Sun
etc
but Garretts joke got headlines despite a channel 9 witness supporting Garrett version
November 30th, 2007 at 12:07 am
WTF is going on in McEwan. No up date for 2 days. Everything, something or nothing is going on.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Very little about Jackie Kelly Gaffe in the Melbourne Papers as well and for memory not on front page of Australian.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Glen just for the record here is the Australians take on the Super Hornet wasteful scam from Nelson.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21342853-31477,00.html
November 30th, 2007 at 12:09 am
Hahahahahaha….me first
Thanks for voting, here are the results so far:
Do you think Brendan Nelson will male a good opposition leader?
Yes
0% (0 votes)
No
100% (1 vot
November 30th, 2007 at 12:09 am
For those who are not clued up on this ‘Nelson” terminology please go here -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_hold
November 30th, 2007 at 12:10 am
#
1033
marky marky Says:
November 30th, 2007 at 12:08 am
Very little about Jackie Kelly Gaffe in the Melbourne Papers as well and for memory not on front page of Australian.
You are 100% right
As you say the bias is not only what is written but also what storys are omited
November 30th, 2007 at 12:12 am
Try not to read his papers, never buy them, just look at headlines. But Murdoch is the person who inhibits change for the better in this country and it is time our governments did something about his influence.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:12 am
1033 - they must have quarantined it to Sydney - the Sydney Tele had plenty of it. I wish I’d known the full reporting picture because I upped my forecast of ALP seats from 100 to 104 on the back of the Lindsay spectacular!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:15 am
Oh Dear, Trouble in paradise for the Federal Opposition!
THE Queensland Nationals have thrown another match into the firestorm engulfing conservative politics, threatening yesterday to walk away from the federal Coalition.
At the end of a week which has upended the national political landscape, Nationals powerbrokers will meet today to discuss their radical threat to effectively create a new party in Federal Parliament if maverick Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce is not promoted.
Meanwhile the state Liberal Party remains deadlocked over its leadership options as Bruce Flegg continues to defy the wishes of the executive and refuses to quit.
And the federal Liberal Party is set for a testing time under its new leader Brendan Nelson, who yesterday edged out ambitious former minister Malcolm Turnbull after also seeing off a challenge from another former frontbencher Tony Abbott – who vowed to be back. Dr Nelson dodged questions about how he and new deputy Julie Bishop would guarantee stability in the party, after winning the leadership ballot by only three votes from Mr Turnbull.
“Well, you will just have to watch and see what I do and how I do it,” Dr Nelson said.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22844647-952,00.html
November 30th, 2007 at 12:19 am
By the way - it wasn’t a Jackie Kelly ‘gaffe’ - it was the NSW organisation caught red-handed in what they have been doing for some years - breaking the law and every moral and ethical standard through false publications associating their rivals with bad things such as terrorism.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:20 am
A week is along time in politics. Remember a week ago the Lindsay scandal was all over the media. I never realised how much of a bimbo Jackie Kelly really is.
Today we got a new cabinet ready to be sworn in & a opposition falling like 10 pin. How sweet it is!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:20 am
4 Corners did a program on the Super hornets and its replacement the F35
The progam suggested that australia has had air superiority for 60 years but when the F35 arrives it will be inferior to the russian supplied equivalent many Asian countrys have ordered
leaving us for the first time in our history from 2012 lacking air superiority. The US airforce have another fighter 9think F25) which is the best in the world but will not sell it except to Israel
November 30th, 2007 at 12:23 am
Ron Brown the F-18 Super Hornets are stop gaps, ie extra defence until we receive our 100 or so F-35s. You are critical of buying F-35s but if the US wont sell us F-22s what are we to do buy Russian aircraft no thankyou!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:23 am
Neilbris at 921.
Your post appeared when I resumed.
SORRY! Re read it. Gotcha!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:26 am
1044- Glen we didn’t even investigate the F22’s.
The Japanese were interested and the US would have sold it to them.
Australia didn’t even bother.
Luckily the incompetent corrupt Liberals are now out of power.
Royal inquiry time.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:28 am
So it has finally been revealed that Howard himself was behind the problems of the Queensland Liberal Party currently playing out.
A DEJECTED Liberal leader Bruce Flegg agreed to resign during last year’s state election campaign, it has been revealed.
The offer came after talks at Liberal Party headquarters on Saturday, August 26 – two weeks before polling day.
A resignation speech and media release were even drafted.
But hours before Dr Flegg was to front his colleagues and the media, then prime minister John Howard strongly advised against dumping the failing leader – despite polls predicting the Liberals would lose every seat except one on September 9.
Dr Flegg yesterday said it was “preposterous” that a leader would be asked to resign during an election campaign and said he “couldn’t recall” being asked.
But two Liberal Party heavyweights yesterday independently verified the plan, but refused to comment publicly.
The plan came after Mark Textor, managing director of campaign strategist and pollster Crosby/Textor, provided polling indicating that all but one state Liberal – Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek – were set to lose their seats.
State director Geoff Greene called the snap meeting with Dr Flegg, state party president Warwick Parer, former MP Ian Prentice and former state president Bob Tucker.
They agreed then-MP for Chatswood Michael Caltabiano should lead the party.
But later in a teleconference, Mr Howard persuaded Mr Greene not to proceed with the rash move, calling it political suicide.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22844882-3102,00.html
November 30th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Asanque, last time i checked the US have not sold any F-22s to anybody and even if they did they would take out what makes it so good (stealth capabilities)!
Anyway Rudd is locked into the F-18Cs and the F-35s.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Bennelong.
Are we close to concession speech?
November 30th, 2007 at 12:32 am
He might as well just call her up no need to make a fuss about it.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:33 am
There we go!
ABC Radio. Brendan Nelson. We see no need to apologise to Aboriginal people.
Sound of knives being sharpened.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Glen -@ 1044 If so, then - we support GW Bush to the hilt in an illegal enterprise in Iraq, even when he is a pariah at home, and what do we get? Diddly-squat, compared to Israel. They get the latest and best, we agree to pay 6.6 Billion for a stop-gap, until we are alowed to have the no longer best in 10 years.
No wonder the experts on the 4 corners doc said we failed to consider all options - and who cares if the current second best is Russian. Last time I checked the point of my umbrella , the cold war was over.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:36 am
We got an FTA JV…yes i dont like not having the F-22 but this is the US we’re talking about they can do and sell to whoever they want.
JV Russian aircraft hmmmmm have you seen some airshows those Russian planes burn very quickly lol
1051
Crikey Whitey - that’s only going to get Malcolm pissed off the centre-right and right who elected him will be happy like me Viva Lord Nelson
November 30th, 2007 at 12:39 am
ABC ON LINE
Nelson sees no need to ’say sorry’
Posted 2 hours 33 minutes ago
Dr Nelson says he does not see a need to apologise to Indigenous Australians.
Dr Nelson says he does not see a need to apologise to Indigenous Australians. (ABC News: Damien Larkins)
Newly elected Liberal leader Brendan Nelson says he is not in favour of the Labor plan to say sorry to Aboriginal Australians.
Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd says there will be a formal apology to the stolen generation of Indigenous people.
Dr Nelson says he wants to discuss the issue with his Liberal colleagues, but he says he does not see the need for an apology.
“We in my view we have no responsibility to apologise or take ownership for what was done by earlier generations,” he said.
The beaten Liberal leader candidate, Malcolm Turnbull, also supported the apology and said it was a mistake for the Howard Government to have refused to say sorry.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:40 am
Crickey @1049 - Agreed that it is done and dusted. Wouldn’t hold breath for Howard concession.
Tomorrow we will hear McKew’s “Mr Howard phoned me earlier today to offer his congratulations…” speech.
Hope her mouth is drier this time…
November 30th, 2007 at 12:43 am
Mine is still slavering, Nico.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:43 am
You aren’t alone Crikey.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:44 am
Nico - you aren’t suggesting Maxine had partaken of a libation when she spoke on Saturday are you? I mean, she didn’t dance - well not quite - and that’s my signifier.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:45 am
I’m just saying she was licking her chops like the Big Bad Wolf looking at the straw house.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Greensborough Growler at 966 - I just looked it up. It appears that Punch was about three months older when he became a Minister than Kate Ellis is currently. Has anyone ever been a Minister in their 20s? Ellis is only 30 years and 68 days old.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Seems the Razor Gang will be wearing a velvet glove.
THE incoming federal finance minister has played down Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd’s pre-election threat to “take a meat axe” to the public service.
Lindsay Tanner last night said the new government’s aim is simply to hold back expansion of the public sector rather than carrying out mass sackings.
“What we anticipate is reining in growth a bit, because the growth in the public service in recent years has been running significantly ahead of growth in employment in overall terms,” Mr Tanner told ABC television.
“I don’t believe there’ll be any need for redundancies. There may well be some need for movement of people and resources around from one part of an agency to another or one agency to another.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22846239-5003402,00.html
November 30th, 2007 at 12:50 am
Top Gun just cannot tell the truth.
[It is a theme he has repeated for years. Back in 1993, though, he was captured by television cameras just days before the election shouting at a crowd that “I have never voted Liberal in my life”.
Questions about his character arose when he later told interviewers and a Liberal pre-selection panel that he, in fact, voted Liberal during the years he belonged to the Labor Party.]
November 30th, 2007 at 12:52 am
He probably had to say he voted Labor being in a Union and all LOL!
November 30th, 2007 at 12:52 am
I once thought I’d be dead by the time I was 30, now it seems young. It’s sad in a way for people to go through the party youth and into the party organisation then into a seat. What do they really know? 3/4 of 5/8 of very little I’d say - no, sorry, they know how to put their hand up when required at a meeting. At this point I’ll admit to not knowing nubile Ms Ellis’ pedigree in this regard, but I suspect I’m half right
November 30th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Hey there, Little Red Riding Hood.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:54 am
JV @1064 I agree, in part. There are places in parliament for career politicians without real experience. But, thankfully, there aren’t many such places.
November 30th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Nico - maybe those hydroponic plants should remain in positions of support rather than expecting to represent people and make critical decisions for people with real lives - harsh I know, but reasonable? (Thinking suddenly of Nicole in SA - he says desperately trying to think of a similar male - those outside the fold aren’t always gurus either!)
November 30th, 2007 at 1:02 am
There’s always the Eurofighter Glen, last time I lchecked Australia had more than one ally.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:06 am
JV - Like the analogy.
Have had this discussion with a few of my closer friends of late who have asked whether I aim to go into politics. My answer is always that life should come first and political service is more effective when inspired and informed by the experiences of that life.
That said, Ellis seems to be performing quite well. Her actually having something to do will be the litmus test, and I will follow keenly. Would definitely consider putting her through Dr Gallop’s MGA course.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:10 am
1068
Chris in LDN - It’s called the Eurofighter for a reason, its built for Europe. But although they are trying to market that fighter abroad it is far wiser to buy US equipment, after all interoperability is very important to us IMHO.
Oh and last time i checked the French and Germans aren’t allies like the Brits and Americans are but thanks to a Conservative as Chancellor and President they’re much more liked now by me
November 30th, 2007 at 1:16 am
You’re absolutely right, Glen. The Eurofighter was built for Europe. Test flights show that it doesn’t go as fast in the south Pacific.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Goodnight all. Play nice Charlie and Glen.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Me too gnight all
November 30th, 2007 at 1:37 am
This is interesting. Going by this article on 2 of PM Rudd inner ministry a ex union hacks & only 1 from the outer ministry. So much for Liberal scare campaigns!
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22842499-5014046,00.html
November 30th, 2007 at 2:13 am
guru @ 1074:
I think by the Libs’ broad definition most of the ministry are still considered unionists, but frankly I and most other Australians aren’t worried by that. Heck, Brendan Nelson was a unionist, and one of the finest of his ilk, back in the day - among the crowd that would have campaigned in favour of a Bernie Banton! Sad to say that subsequent AMA Presidents, especially the current one, have really diminished the office …
November 30th, 2007 at 2:17 am
Hmmm - Glen - Have you heard of NATO?
November 30th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Tony Delroy. Issue of the Day. Leadership. What the callers said.
Line return means next caller.
Delighted, looking forward. Pleased with Rudd lineup.
Old Tom, regular caller, all Labor. Scathing over Nelson. Delighted at the stupidity of this decision..
Next. Saddened, Brendan Nelson, no apology, aboriginal people.
What has been, over the past decade. Erosion and setbacks in Natural Heritage Fund. Erosion of and setbacks. Health care, dental. Rural infrastructure, rural aged care accomodation. GPs, Bush. Same as.
Maxine. Congrats. Caller returned to voting for first time in twenty years. Not particularly pleased with Labor policy. Maxine, though, motivational. Rudd campaign, very positive feel to it. Howard campaign negative, backward looking.
Looking forward himself.
On Peter Garrett. Voted Labor, really excited Peter in there. Agrees with aboriginal issues caller, but everyone is the same, have to go through hard times. I’m excited.
Claudia, upset with media. For criticising Kev on length of speech, after seeking always short sound bites. Now complain. Therese Rein, journalists, in Canberra seeking school for her son. Made something of an if, that Therese said, and drummed it into something like they would not be living at the Lodge.
Peter. Brendan a turncoat. Former ALP, 20 yrs. How can you trust a man who?
Compares Costello brothers. Lindsay, pamplet issue, indicative of conservative attitude, this country, they will do anything to stay in power. Tony refers back to Graham Richardson, anything it takes. Caller reverts to Bali bomber link in pamphlet.
Labor could be in a little bit of trouble. Staunch Liberal voter. From equally staunch Labor family member voters. Wondering where Labor will be in 3 years, Labor may rue where US potential recession may leave it. Kevin is brilliant young man and well intended, said most sincerely. Not a great fan of Nelson. No concern over his changing from one party to another. Capable, but he won’t be there in 3 yrs. Liberal Party has tendency to destroy and go for each other.
Dave wants a leader who won’t lie, says this is what I’m going to do, do it and if it stuffs up, just admit it. Caught Howard out about saying not doing and vice versa. Cites GST. Goes on to cite AWB, Howard putting himself beyond being blamed.
Too early to talk about leadership. (This from a man who I have heard well before the election, talking of distrusting Labor). Rudd, minister for all, if he sticks to it, good, otherwise I’ll be in there with to shoot him down. The lady (Julia) looks good. Education and work are allied.
On Nelson. Looking forward to when the Panzer tanks start arriving in the country, he ordered them and he deserves to be there when they turn up. Small man all over. Wrong decisions defence equipment. So, so happy and optimistic about Kevin Rudd. Cannabis for hemp. (not talking smoking) Clothes, rope, etc.
Caller knows Kev via Labor Party affiliation. Concerned over Kev going too far right, will they deliver on social objectives, consult with and empower the community. It is more than visiting a homeless shelter. Optimistic, but guarded.
James believes it is time for a change for a more youthful…This Liberal govt just dispensed with, thank God, as an ex infantry, this Howard Govt bought American tanks, not Leopards. American stuff tends to break down all the time, according to his mates in the armoured division.
For your project, William, in part.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:12 am
Re: the pig heads left on the site of the proposed Muslim school in Sydney - there’s no way a negative decision against the school can be viewed as anything but tainted in view of the blatant racism and bigotry behind the opponents of the application - the leaders have openly referred to Muslims as “towelheads” and stated “We don’t want their kind here”
Some people have these funny ideas:
“If i don’t use racial/ethnic/sexist/homophobic/religious slurs I’m not bigoted” (No, it’s your actions that make you a bigot) (also you don’t get to decide what’s bigoted or not - only the victims do)
“If i don’t intend to be a bigot then I’m not one” (um, yes you are a bigot if you act as one)
They miss the clear logic that a person who is the subject of bigotry would best know what bigotry is - whether it’s racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia or religious prejudice.
November 30th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Glen, the Eurofighter looks to be a reasonably capable aircraft. Certainly, we shouldn’t place critical reliance upon aircraft/parts/ships/etc from any one nations - that ’s basic strategic thinking. The USA may not always be able and willing to supply us with parts and new aircraft.
Better would be if we did what we’ve done with the ANZAC frigates and the Collins subs - build them ourselves, adapting other peoples’ designs to our own needs. FYI, the ANZAC is based off the German Meko-200 frigate.
Also, what’s wrong with the Su-30 or the Su-35 from Russia? Or, if you really want cutting-edge, look at the MiG-35.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:51 am
“Queensland Liberal Party officials have given state MPs a one-week deadline to resolve their leadership row.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/30/2105683.htm
It must be difficult to secure a majority in a ‘team’ eight of eight.
November 30th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
“982
steve Says:
November 29th, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Rain was on earlier complaining about lack of Ministers from Canberra. Turns out there are four from QLD and four axed.”
But QLD didn’t get slapped into the naughty corner
SOK though - we’ll sulk for awhile, and then get over it.
Canberra Times today is doing some sulking for all of us, at least our ACT Territory Chief Minister *loves* us!
and Bob McMullen said “Canberra has not been forgotten..”
Onyer Bob
December 1st, 2007 at 8:49 am
This is Connor gusfases 2nd son thanks for knocking out the baddys