Australian Politics thread [merged]

[1965]

One term Tony coming up unless...

Julie (Juliar) Bishop takes over. 

Tony Abbott sweats as Victorian voters cast harsh judgment
 
November 30, 2014 - 8:28AM 
Mark Kenny

There will be no shortage of theories about what caused the Victorian result but you can safely bet federal Labor will target the toxic standing of the Abbott government as the key driver.

Normally such claims are transparently self-serving. Voters understand the delineation between state and federal governments and are loath to waste one trip to the ballot box pointlessly ventilating grievances about the other.

But this election has been different. Noticeably so. Without inspiring leaders, contrasting programs, or the presentation of a transformative vision, the local pre-election period has been vulnerable to national hijack. Some have dubbed the Victorian poll a "Seinfeld election" - a show about nothing.

More accurately it seems, this has been the palimpsest election - one where pre-existing state factors have been all but scrubbed or paled to be over-written with sexier federal issues. Even the hotly contested issue of the East West Link has been mired in the federal sphere with much of the money coming from Canberra and Tony Abbott letting it be known that the billions committed would not be available for re-deployment on public transport if Labor were to win.

For the hapless Napthine government, this federal focus could not have been more inconvenient. Why? Because it started behind and then weathered some of the least favourable background conditions at the hands of its hamfisted federal colleagues.

Canberra's ill-timed restoration of federal fuel excise rises early on (via regulation because he cannot pass it in the Senate) and the woeful mismanagement of the GP co-payment issue in the last critical days of the campaign were major embuggerances to Denis Napthine's pitch - no question.

In a state with the highest mainland jobless level, and where the federal government was already synonymous with insensitivity over Alcoa, and the automotive industry, the charisma-challenged Napthine option has struggled for an independent voice and been damned by association. And Napthine's risible incapacity to "educate" Tony Abbott, as Victorians might see it, has merely made things worse.

However it is in Canberra that the message from voters will be causing real heart-ache into the future.

As the nation's second biggest state, Victoria is already an under-performer for the coalition having supplied just 14 of the Liberal Party's 74 seats and just two more when you add in the Nationals to the joint coalition total nationally of 89.

For the first time in recent days, senior federal Liberals are suddenly alive to the risk of becoming one-term wonders. If it could happen in Victoria - after nearly 60 years - it can happen nationally.


http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-sweats-as-victorian-voters-cast-harsh-judgment-20141129-11wsgd.html

[1965]

and don't tell me she doesn't want it (Tony's job)

Julie Bishop reopens nuclear debate as route to cut carbon dioxide emissions
 
November 30, 2014 - 8:30AM 

Latika Bourke
 
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says nuclear energy remains an option for Australia, describing it as an "obvious direction" as it considers how to cut carbon dioxide emissions after 2020.

Ms Bishop called for a an open discussion about the feasibility of nuclear power, given Australia's abundance of uranium, but accused Labor of resorting to a scare campaign when the issue was raised during the Howard government years.

"It's an obvious conclusion that if you want to bring down your greenhouse gas emissions dramatically you have to embrace a form of low or zero-emissions energy and that's nuclear, the only known 24/7 baseload power supply with zero emissions," she told Fairfax Media when asked about Australia's options for reaching future carbon-reduction targets.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julie-bishop-reopens-nuclear-debate-as-route-to-cut-carbon-dioxide-emissions-20141129-11w17k.html

[WilliamPowell]

But I have read that Tony's doing a great job 

Seriously, can't be Mr Negative for 3 years, criticise everything especially focussing on broken promises and lying and then do the very same thing yourself. That's Tony's way at the moment.

Funniest thing at the moment is his contrast whining about the opposition being negative all the time. As I said Tony did it for 3 years. Pot/kettle/black 

Even senior liberal figures are saying they face being a 1 term govt if they don't change and change quickly.

As for Victoria, no surprise with the result to be honest. Ineffective government that promised so much 4 years ago and didn't even deliver half of it. Worse state govt I can remember and that's saying something because we've had some shockers

and BTW looking forward to our new public holiday next September - Froday before the GF 

 

[1965]

Liberal suckholes supporters have been quiet lately.

 

[tony_montana]

But I have read that Tony's doing a great job 

Seriously, can't be Mr Negative for 3 years, criticise everything especially focussing on broken promises and lying and then do the very same thing yourself. That's Tony's way at the moment.

Funniest thing at the moment is his contrast whining about the opposition being negative all the time. As I said Tony did it for 3 years. Pot/kettle/black 

Even senior liberal figures are saying they face being a 1 term govt if they don't change and change quickly.

As for Victoria, no surprise with the result to be honest. Ineffective government that promised so much 4 years ago and didn't even deliver half of it. Worse state govt I can remember and that's saying something because we've had some shockers

and BTW looking forward to our new public holiday next September - Froday before the GF 

 

Worst ever WP? Bit harsh, yeah they were a bit pedestrian but after the previous 10 years of utter wastage, a short term of financial stability and not peeing away tax payer funds on phurphy's wasn't so bad for mine. Anyhow Dan the man is in let's see how many of his promises get through and more importantly at what cost

[tiga]

Anti-everything suckholes left wing ferals like myself are never quiet.

 

EFA

Obviously not living in Victoria I couldn't give stuff. Up here in NSW Mike Baird is rockin it! Best NSW premier in a long time. He is progressive, likable, in touch with the real issues and is very visible.
Its easy for anti-liberal lefties to blame the federal govt for a crap state government but I can assure you that if there was a state election held in NSW right now, Mike Baird would win easily irrespective of what people think of the federal government. 

[The Big Richo]

I'm only a casual follower of politics but did I just hear Tony Abbott say on the news he doesn't have a 'theological' position on nuclear power?

Have we ever had a more embarrassing Prime Minister? There should be a minimum IQ required before you can represent us on the world stage.

[Chuck17]

I'm only a casual follower of politics but did I just hear Tony Abbott say on the news he doesn't have a 'theological' position on nuclear power?

Have we ever had a more embarrassing Prime Minister? There should be a minimum IQ required before you can represent us on the world stage.

Yes the two before him

[The Big Richo]

I'm only a casual follower of politics but did I just hear Tony Abbott say on the news he doesn't have a 'theological' position on nuclear power?

Have we ever had a more embarrassing Prime Minister? There should be a minimum IQ required before you can represent us on the world stage.

Yes the two before him

I don't mean politically.

Rudd/Gillard/Howard all strike me as intelligent and well-spoken in their own ways.

Abbott is just an awkward weirdo.

[Francois Jackson]

compared to the previous government? with the greatest respect big richo you were right the first time you have no idea about politics.

good on TA for making it clear the money is for the east/wink link as he like most sound minded folk do that if not the labor party will most likely waste it as they always seem to do with everything. Nice try Andrews, use the federal's money to rip up the contract and make him look good at the same time. Typical labor move to waste more and more money

The link will go ahead.

[1965]

compared to the previous government? with the greatest respect big richo you were right the first time you have no idea about politics.

good on TA for making it clear the money is for the east/wink link as he like most sound minded folk do that if not the labor party will most likely waste it as they always seem to do with everything. Nice try Andrews, use the federal's money to rip up the contract and make him look good at the same time. Typical labor move to waste more and more money

The link will go ahead.

 

[The Big Richo]

compared to the previous government? with the greatest respect big richo you were right the first time you have no idea about politics.

Just talking as human beings big Gus.

If you walked into a party and the four of them were there you would have a conversation with the other 3 and leave thinking Abbott was the NQR cousin who has to be watched so he doesn't start masterbating at the dinner table.

[WilliamPowell]

compared to the previous government? with the greatest respect big richo you were right the first time you have no idea about politics.

good on TA for making it clear the money is for the east/wink link as he like most sound minded folk do that if not the labor party will most likely waste it as they always seem to do with everything. Nice try Andrews, use the federal's money to rip up the contract and make him look good at the same time. Typical labor move to waste more and more money

The link will go ahead.

Yes good on Tony for suggesting the Vic Premier elect break an election promise. Great effort that. Good ole honest Tony.

Last week he admitted that the Vic election was referendum on the EWL project. But now the majority of Victorians have made their feelings known he won't respect the will of the people. No honest Tony just expects the incoming govt to break a key promise.

Outstanding leadership there 

[Diocletian]

Here comes the new boss, same as the old boss....

[Francois Jackson]

The majority of Victorians want the link so put it there and stop avoiding the inevitable which is to break promise no 1 and flush valuable money down the drain.

Mr Andrews wants the funding from federal right? So TA should give it to him but only for the EW link which is what was agreed, but we all know what they will do with it instead.