Australian Politics thread [merged]

[Francois Jackson]

So what's everyone tipping here?

My tip is Abbott and gone in 12 months replaced by shorton who will be gone 12 months after

stuff this a circus. Just goes to show its not the people who elect the leader it's the dillusional party room people.

Turnbull would suit most of us. Greenys left right everyone wins but I can't see it happening.

[dwaino]

Can't see Tony24 lasting even 12 months with 39 votes against. Forget the 60 odd for, more than a third of the party were ready to toss him. Discount the front benchers and it's more than half. They'll keep coming, death by a thousand cuts.

[Penelope]

So what's everyone tipping here?

My tip is Abbott and gone in 12 months replaced by shorton who will be gone 12 months after

stuff this a circus. Just goes to show its not the people who elect the leader it's the dillusional party room people.

Turnbull would suit most of us. Greenys left right everyone wins but I can't see it happening.

The system is broke, and broke badly. In saying that those that continually blindly vote for a particular party because thats who they barrack for shoulder a fair portion of the blame.

They treat us all with contempt, but people don't send a message at the polling booth, so they have no incentive to to change. They know that a large number of people simply bend over, take it with a smile and then put 1 next to their name on the next ballot paper.

In recent times there has been a small change with independents and small parties starting to have more influence, but this is also partly to do with the voting system. The issue with this is the two major parties will band together to convince people that this is not good and possibly change things (with either the people being ignorant to it or with their blessing) so it continues to be basically a two party system (as they did against Pauline Pantsdown) and we still remain with a choice of a poo sandwich or a douche bag

[one-eyed]

Abbott survived the spill motion 61-39.

Abbott still more popular amongst Liberal voters compared to Turnbull or Bishop according to the latest Newspoll:

Latest Newspoll:
2PP votes: LNP  43 (-3)   ALP  57 (+3)
Primary Votes: LNP 35 (-3) ALP 41 (+2) GRN 12 (0)
Abbott: Approve 24 (-9) Disapprove 68 (+10)
Preferred LIB Leader (Abbott/Turnbull): Abbott 25 Turnbull 64
Preferred LIB Leader (Abbott/Bishop): Abbott 27 Bishop 59
Preferred LIB Leader (Abbott/Turnbull, LIB voters): Abbott 54 Turnbull 40
Preferred LIB Leader (Abbott/Bishop, LIB voters) Abbott 57 Bishop 37

[No More]

Our great leader has suffered a major blow today. Unfortunately the great one wont last much past the budget. Its time to bring in the new great conservative leader of the masses Malcolm Turnball.

[WilliamPowell]

Angus, with respect under our electoral system the public has never directly elected the leader. Each party elects it leader.

Although, Rudd got the ALP to change how the Fed Labor leader is elected with the membership having a 50% say

Problem with politics in this country today is each side are only interested in winning as opposed to having any real plan for our future. They are not prepared to make tough decisions because they are afraid they will get kicked out of office.

On the odd occasion when they decide to make a tough call they seem to attack the most vulnerable (lower income earners) rather than (1) looking at their lurks & perks (eg hockey claiming a LVAFH allowance on his wife's house) and cutting them or (2) targeting higher income earners or (3) getting rid of ridiculous funding schemes like the disgraceful ministers in schools program.

Last week you said I was so far to left it wouldn't matter who led the current govt I wouldn't vote for them. On that you are wrong. FYI I didn't vote at all at the last Fed election because I was so disgusted with all sides. They offered nothing of substance, no leadership or real plan for the future. They all just sooked an moaned about the other side. But I don't shy away from the fact that there is no way I would even consider voting for a party that has Abbott as a leader. He is simply terrible. Think today has proved that with the support within his own party were it now sits

Currently as it stands I still wouldn't vote for any of them until they all prove to me they have something to offer. They are all as bad as each other and just like al said they treat us with contempt, they (none of them) deserve our respect let alone our vote

[Penelope]

apparently our constitution does not specifically say the leader of a party  and therefore PM does not even have to be an elected member of parliament.

With the spill motion, Rabbit pulled off his most cunning ploy yet. He equated them getting rid of him to what happened with the ALP saying things like "we are not Labor". this would have swayed a number of the fence sitters.

All this pales in comparison to the circus here in the NT. The CLP got rid of their leader a while back while he was in Japan. Then last week they had a 1 am press conference to say they have again spilled their leader, Giles and his deputy, and that Willem van Holthe was to replace him

Giles in his full arrogance refused to give his resignation to the Administrator because;
 "Quite frankly, I don't think that Willem Westra van Holthe has the capacity, capability or the tenacity or the professionalism to be the chief minister,"
Willem is now his deputy leader.

But it gets better. Willem and his deputy to be are both ex coppers. Recently the head of the filth was stood down amongst accusations he interfered into an criminal investigation into an ex g/f. This intensified calls for a judicial inquiry into the police force as there is other rumours of unsavory behavior. Giles has resisted this saying you don't have inquiries based on rumour and unsubstantiated claims. Now he has accused the police of playing a role in this unsuccessful coup (without providing a hint of proof) and has said there will now be an judicial investigation into the police force, basically saying where there is smoke there is fire.

Add to this, our local council had a trespass notice issued against the mayor, preventing him from entering the council offices, so in each tier of government ruling my life, the clowns are well and truly running the circus.

[tiga]

Found out the real reason why Abbott moved the vote to Monday. It was because he kept saying "see you next tuesday" 

[1965]

Half term Tony cops it from a US think tank...


US think tank asks 'Is Tony Abbott the most incompetent leader of any industrialised democracy?'
 
Date February 12, 2015 - 5:26AM 
Nick O'Malley
   
A leading United States think tank has published a piece posing the question, "Is Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott the most incompetent leader of any industrialised democracy?" and answering, quite comprehensively, in the affirmative.

Published on the Council on Foreign Relations website before Mr Abbott survived a spill motion on Monday, the piece argues that he has proven so "shockingly incompetent" that he deserved to lose his job.

"Abbott has proven so incapable of clear policy thinking, so unwilling to consult with even his own ministers and advisers, and so poor at communicating that he has to go," wrote the CFR senior fellow Joshua Kurlantzick, a US specialist in south-east Asian politics.

"Abbott's policies have been all over the map, and the lack of coherence has often made the prime minister seem ill-informed and incapable of understanding complex policy issues," he wrote.

"In press conferences, Abbott has offered mixed public messages about some of the health care reforms that were at the centre of his agenda, and sometimes has seemed unsure himself of what health legislation has actually been passed on his watch. He also has seemed unsure of what he promised in the past regarding Australia's major public broadcaster – he promised not to touch it – before he went ahead made cuts to it. He also looked completely baffled on climate change issues at the G20 summit in Australia last year."

Mr Kurlantzick argued that Mr Abbott's failure to consult with senior ministers about key issues had made it harder to pass critical legislation, and that Mr Abbott had what appeared to have "one of the worst senses of public relations of any prime minister in recent Australian history."

According to Mr Kurlantzick, Mr Abbott's "coarse rhetoric" had embarrassed Australia at major economic summits and that his decision to knight the "notoriously gaffe-prone and fusty Prince Philip" had gone down poorly even among his most conservative supporters.

"I take no position on whether a left or right coalition can govern Australia better – whether Australia needs a revolt from within the ruling coalition or a national election victory by the left," he wrote in conclusion. "But a country that for decades has punched above its weight on nearly every international issue surely can do much better for a prime minister than Tony Abbott."

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/us-think-tank-asks-is-tony-abbott-the-most-incompetent-leader-of-any-industrialised-democracy-20150211-13cda6.html

[tony_montana]

Found out the real reason why Abbott moved the vote to Monday. It was because he kept saying "see you next tuesday" 

[No More]

In all serious now if we look at the last 10 years or so Australia has suffered from a real leader: Looking back as far as

Whitlam: considered a great reformer but poor economic manager, at least he looked like a leader a real Prime Minister
Fraser: didn't do much but he knew how to lead his government, for me he passes as a Prime Minister
Hawke: For me the best Prime Minister over the last 3 or 4 decades, ran a good government and ran a good competent show.
Keating: Is interesting for me he did his best work as Treasurer and as Prime Minister looked the part. Passes easily for PM Material.
Howard: Only 2nd behind Hawke over the last 30 years. Left Australia debt free and great economically. A very good PM.

then ...

Rudd - no for me, smart guy but should never have made it to Prime Minister for mine
Gillard - a great disappointment, her best work came towards the end, disability policy excellent and various royal commissions but the previous period wasn't up to it in my opinion. I had high hopes for her but her "there will be no carbon tax under any government I lead" finished her. For me she shouldn't have been made Prime Minister

Abbott- tries hard, for me he is quite capable to be a minister but NOT Prime Minister.

In effect we haven't had a really good leader since John Howard was running the country. Its time for Australia to get someone better in the role, at least someone who looks like he or she can lead.

Bring on Malcolm Turnball or Julie Bishop.

As for Shorten as opposition leader, Labor needs to do better. Anyone coming up in the ranks?

[🏅Dooks]

Anyone hear Abbots latest gaffe re 'holocaust' 

But don't worry Australia, the Liberals have changed

[mightytiges]

Anyone hear Abbots latest gaffe re 'holocaust' 

But don't worry Australia, the Liberals have changed

[1965]

This just gets better and better...

 

Abbott government senators prepared to cross floor over Racial Discrimination Act

Date February 13, 2015 - 8:49AM
Latika Bourke
National political reporter

Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing a rebellion in the Senate, with up to half a dozen of his own senators indicating they could cross the floor in favour of changing race hate laws.

In a sign of Mr Abbott's diminishing authority, West Australian senator Chris Back and Queensland Liberal National Party senator Ian Macdonald have told Fairfax Media they will vote in favour of a bill designed to water down the Racial Discrimination Act. South Australian senator Sean Edwards has given a strong indication he could join them, arguing the act in its current form suppresses free speech.

Mr Abbott pledged to repeal section 18C of the act prior to the 2013 election after it was used to prosecute conservative commentator Andrew Bolt.  But he abandoned the pledge last year after a fierce backlash from religious leaders and many Liberal MPs.

This week, Parliament's bipartisan human rights committee found changes to the act would not contravene Australia's international obligations.

Family First senator Bob Day has now proposed removing the words "insult" and "offend" from the act, meaning it would no longer be possible to prosecute someone for insulting or offending someone based on their race. Liberal senators Cory Bernardi and Dean Smith have previously pledged their support and have co-sponsored Senator Day's bill. It is also being co-sponsored by Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm.

Supporters for change renewed their push in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo terror attack in defiance of Mr Abbott's decision.

Senator Linda Reynolds has called for a review of the government's approach to section 18C because current laws have overreached.

Senator Reynolds said the Paris attack and the Lindt cafe siege in Sydney had confirmed the threat the West faces from extremists trying to undermine democratic values, including free speech.

"I do not believe in Australia we are Charlie," Senator Reynolds said, a reference to the #JeSuisCharlie campaign that went viral in support of free speech. "Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act is a key contributor to this.

"I believe the Australian community must rediscover a way to accept hearing things we do not personally believe in. I don't believe insulting or offending someone should give rise to legal liability and it is my personal view that these laws have overreached and require amendment."

But the West Australian cautioned against rushing any change and called on the government to review its position on Senator Day's bill.

Fairfax Media has contacted every government backbencher in the Senate to sound out their view. Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie will consider her position once a vote is imminent. Senators John Williams and Zed Seselja did not have a position. Senators James McGrath, Bill Heffernan, David Johnston and Matt Canavan did not return calls, while Arthur Sinodinos will vote along government lines.

There is a strong possibility more government backbenchers will cross the floor to support Senator Day's bill.

Frontbenchers are unlikely to cross the floor because they would have to give up their positions. Deputy Whip Anne Ruston said she accepted the Prime Minister's decision to abandon repealing section 18C but believed it could be revisited "when national security is not at such a heightened state".

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-senators-prepared-to-cross-floor-over-racial-discrimination-act-20150212-13cvvn.html

[tigs2011]

Anyone hear Abbots latest gaffe re 'holocaust' 

But don't worry Australia, the Liberals have changed