Get the inside track on the media and government

Polls perpetually poison politics

Imagine that last Thursday an alien arrived from Mars. He picked up the papers and read that the leader of this nation is under threat of losing her position. He wondered why. He is surprised that she is female.

He speaks to a normal-looking local. For the sake of this piece, let’s imagine the alien from Mars is male [bold type] and the normal looking local is female [italics].

What has she done? Has she made a heinous error? Did she say something unbecoming for a national leader? Did she make a blasphemous or libelous accusation against a religion or an opponent or a citizen? Was she absent without leave? Was she neglecting her duties? Had she committed treason? Did she insult so many in her party that they viciously turned against her? She must have done something awful, something so serious that it warranted grave questioning of her capacity to lead.

No, none of the above. She hasn’t sinned in any of these ways.

Why then the frenzied talk about her leadership?

The answer astonishes the Martian.

She is deemed to be in deep trouble because of opinion polls.

Opinion polls?

You don’t know opinion polls? Really, let me explain. We have organizations, usually owned by newspapers that make a business of asking people how they would vote.

How do they do that?

Well, most of them use telephones to call up people. They call people with landlines because it’s too difficult and too expensive calling mobile phones; we have both you know.

I understand, we have mobiles too; every youngster has one. But doesn’t that mean that those with mobiles miss out – doesn’t that leave out a lot of younger people?

Yes, I know it distorts the sample, because young people vote differently from the old, but that’s the best pollsters can do.

How do they pick those they phone?

They take random picks from the telephone book but they try to select what they call a representative sample from all over the country and all age groups.

How many?

It varies from as few as 400, to as many as a thousand or two. The more the better, you know.

That doesn’t seem to be a lot.

No, but it’s too costly to call up a bigger number.

How do you know the number they choose is enough to be accurate?

They have ways of calculating that, but with the usual numbers phoned, there is the possibility of error. For around a thousand phoned, the error can be around 3% too high or 3% too low.

That doesn’t seem too precise.

Well no, but it’s the best they can do without going broke. What’s more, it only the statistically minded that worry about error – they call it the ‘margin of error’ – most don’t know or care about that; they take the figures as gospel.

But I still don’t understand why these pollsters are asking people how they would vote – are you having an election?

No, not for six months.

Then what’s the point? Wouldn’t it better to wait until they actually vote in six months, then everyone would know exactly how people voted?

Well, you’re right, but there’s a lot of money to be made out of asking beforehand.

How’s that?

I know it sounds crazy, but there are a lot of people who think they can predict the election outcome from these polls, and there’s a lot of money to be made out of prediction – it sells lots of newspapers, fills countless TV and radio bulletins, and gives lots of journalists a job writing endlessly about the polls. It’s about the easiest job in journalism, but I suppose it keeps them in work.

Well, CAN they predict the outcome of elections?

No they can’t.

Then why on earth, if a Martian is allowed to use that phrase, do they do it?

Good question. The answer is that there are lots of people, in fact the majority of people, who, because they know nothing about polls or statistics, believe that polls do accurately predict events that are months away, even years away.

It seems then that they are being conned.

Yes they are, but those doing the conning, the media proprietors, are making a packet out of this. No con artist is going to give up his act unless he’s hauled before the courts, and that’s not going to happen – the media moguls are too powerful.

So do you mean to tell me that although polls are unable to predict the future, the pollsters still do them and the media still publishes the results, and write about what they mean?

Afraid so. I don’t blame the pollsters – they all agree that they are not predictive, but the media makes so much money conning the public they are predictive, that they go on, week after week, month after month, year after year. They sell papers, make great headlines, excite political journalists, and help to keep the print media moguls afloat at a time they are steadily sinking, because people are switching to online media.

In fact, only the other day, Peter Lewis, who runs a weekly poll, Essential Report, said on TV: “A poll can never predict the future”, and “Anyone who says they know what the future holds is deluded.” All pollsters, and all who study polls, say virtually the same. In fact, a couple of days ago one of the few journalists to write rationally about polls, John Watson, managed to get a column in one of our major newspapers titled: ‘Penchant for picking a winner is poll waffle’ that concluded: “One might hope commentators learn from past predictive follies and leave fortune telling to the charlatans and crackpots.” Unfortunately, no one will take any notice of him or what the pollsters say, because it doesn’t suit their case.

That sounds to be a monumental con job. I’ve never heard of anything like that!

Actually, it’s even worse than it sounds. Politicians themselves have fallen for the con. They are so convinced that the current polls are accurately predicting a devastating defeat for the party in power at present that even members of that party believe they need to change the leader to improve the polls. And practically every poll, and every commentary, reinforces this view. Which brings us back to where we started!

Our female leader is condemned because a series of opinion polls of voting intention of the national electorate have shown that her party is not doing well and she is not popular. So some of her own party have turned against her and have been agitating for her replacement by a previous leader. It’s been going on a long while, and came to a head over a year ago when the previous leader and his supporters mounted a challenge, but he lost, getting only a third of the votes of the party. Everyone thought that would be the end of it, even the pretender, but he, and his supporters, were so convinced of his messianic attributes, so convinced that elevating him to the throne would improve the party’s polling, that they continued to sabotage the leader, month after month, leaking damaging tidbits to political journalists, who were hungry to devour every morsel of it because they, and their editors and proprietors, wanted to get rid of her party and her with it. They published column after column predicting her political demise, thereby adding fuel to the fire, a self-perpetuating cycle of doom and gloom they hoped would be a self-fulfilling prophesy.

The Martian scratches his head.

You know that polls of voting intention six months before an election are worthless, indeed worse than that, they are seriously misleading. You know that they can’t predict who will win. You say that pollsters know that, but media outlets find the polling game so lucrative that they continue the charade, and even the politicians, whom might be expected to know they were being conned, go along with the charade, and worse than that, use polls in an attempt to get rid of the leader by saying she can’t lead them to victory at the election because the polls say so, and therefore the old leader needs to be brought back. Bizarre!

Well, he was popular once, but that popularity slipped and the opinion polls went down, so his colleagues lost faith in him and threw him out for the current female leader.

I don’t understand. If they lost faith in him, why would they want him back?

Because of the polls. They say he is now more popular with the people than the female leader, and the polls also say he would be more likely to win the election.

But you said the polls are not predictive of what will happen at an election. So why would you rely on them, indeed use them to change leaders? Seems to me you are backing an outcome, but you have no idea of the odds? You have no idea at all that changing leaders will make things better or worse, and if you did, by how much. Yet, you tell me that intelligent people want to do that. How come they think in this wacky way?

You might well ask. But don’t expect me to give a sensible answer! It defies reason and logic. Frankly, I think emotion has got the better of their brains. They are so upset at what the polls commentators are telling them: that the party is doomed and that they will lose their seats in parliament; they are so scared, that they are acting on emotional autopilot. They are so convinced there is train wreck ahead (the commentators remind them of that every day), that they are frantically pulling levers, trying to put on the brakes, mindlessly shouting orders, and covertly working on plots to oust the leader, the female leader. They are in a state of panic. Anything might happen.

I see you are open-mouthed, but this is for real. In one of our papers, The Global Mail, Chris Wallace wrote an article called ‘ALP Noir: Serial Leader Slaughter’ that began: “Opinion-poll-fuelled bloodlust is the common factor. Opinion polls don’t kill politicians, politicians kill politicians, right? Just like guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Well, I don’t buy that line from the National Rifle Association in the US, and I don’t buy it in relation to opinion polls in Australia, in relation to the serial political slaughter that’s gone on here in recent years, either.” Later she says: “Our polity has become absurdly sensitized to opinion polls, aided and abetted by bored journalists for whom only regicide and elections amuse the jaded palate.”

’Regicide’ is a pretty strong word. That’s not how we Martians imagined Earthlings would behave.

Sorry to disillusion you, but that’s the reality! They are talking of urgent action, even perhaps today, to kill off the female leader. Politically of course – we are not complete savages!

I guess I’d better stick around. This could be interesting.

FOUR DAYS LATER.

What happened?

You won’t believe this, but the saboteurs in the ranks that have been undermining the leader reckoned they had enough of their mates on side to topple her, so one of them took it on himself to demand that the leader declare vacant her position, and that of her deputy, and have a secret ballot, but he didn’t bother to tell the pretender to the leadership. Then the female leader caught them all short by announcing: “OK, let’s have the ballot this afternoon”, in just over two hours!

Now this is bizarre! The guy who wanted to be leader again seemed to be caught off guard. He quickly got his troops to count the numbers, but despite their best efforts, they came up short of a majority. Now he was scared witless of getting knocked off again, so he said he wouldn’t stand. He wanted an absolute assurance that he would win this time, and when he knew he couldn’t, he chickened out.

So they all went into the meeting, the leader and deputy leader’s positions were declared vacant, nominations were called, but the only nominations were the ones already in those positions! So there was no ballot, and both the leader and her deputy were appointed again, unopposed. It was all over in a few minutes.

I’m gob-smacked. What an weird way of doing business!

You’re not wrong. But there’s more. The guys who were trying to topple her were soon spitting chips. As it turned out, they got only six more votes than last time, nowhere near what they needed, although they kept telling everyone that it was ‘very close’.

Naturally they felt embarrassed, annoyed, let down by the pretender, and with much egg on their face – not actual egg of course, that’s just one of our odd sayings for making a very big mistake.

They were so mad, so humiliated, that they came out, one after the other, and resigned – that’s the British way of doing it when you’ve stuffed up – very honourable!

So the female leader found others to replace them. There’s a feeling around that she’ll be better off without the saboteurs and able to get on with her job without having to look over her shoulder the whole time. Anyway, time will tell how it all works out.

So you’re telling me that all this extraordinary behavior, all those astonishing moves, all the plotting, all the sabotage, and the meeting that did nothing and changed nothing, came about because of opinion polls. Yet these polls don’t predict the future, don’t tell anyone who is going to win the election in six months. I can’t get my mind around that.

That’s right. And this charade has been played not just by the politicians, but aided and abetted, day after day, by the media, its journalists jostling with each other for the juiciest story, the exclusive, the scoop, the brilliant prediction of the time and place of the leader’s political demise. And they were all wrong. And are they furious! They regard themselves as the pundits, the insiders, but once more they have been caught short, and played for suckers. We are waiting to see upon whom they will vent their spleen.

Well, as I believe you say here on Earth, ‘you could knock me down with a feather’.

Seems to me that polls poison politics, and everyone caught up in their tentacles. Why on earth do you have them, literally?

I told you – they are money spinners for the owners, easy copy for languid journalists, great entertainment for poll watchers and sharp tools for subversive politicians. They are pointless, but there’s no way we will ever get rid of them.

Here on Earth it is true to say: “Polls perpetually poison politics”. Twelve months ago Ad Astra wrote ‘How opinion polls poison politics’. Sadly, since then polls have poisoned politics even more profoundly.

OK, but I still don’t understand; there must be something wrong wih my Martian brain.

No, it’s not your brain, it’s ours!


If you decide to ‘Disseminate this post’ it will be sent to the following parliamentarians: Anthony Albanese, Sharon Bird, Chris Bowen, David Bradbury, Gai Brodtmann, Tony Burke, Mark Butler, Bob Carr, Jason Clare, Greg Combet, Stephen Conroy, Simon Crean, Michael Danby, Mark Dreyfus, Craig Emerson, Don Farrell, David Feeney, Joel Fitzgibbon, Julia Gillard, Gary Gray, Andrew Leigh, Richard Marles, Shayne Neumann, Graham Perrett, Amanda Rishworth, Bill Shorten, Tony Smith, Stephen Smith, Wayne Swan, and Penny Wong

Beware!

The Festive Season is over. Christmas, with all its seasonal trappings, delighted and enriched us. The joy of being with family and friends remains a cherished memory. The summer break refreshed us. Now, the prospect of another long year looms. What does it hold? How well will the pleasures we’v...

  • 27/01/2020

Houston we have a problem

This blog site traditionally has a look back at what we commented on in the past year as our last article come December. This year, we’re going to break the cycle and look at what Prime Minister Morrison should be considering over the next month or so instead of asking ‘how good is the cricket?’. Th...

  • 16/12/2019

The ultimate copout

You’ve probably heard Prime Minister Morrison offering ‘thoughts and prayers’ to those affected by the bushfires that continue to burn in parts of Australia, or the ongoing drought, or perhaps the bombings that occurred in Sri Lanka last Easter. Morrison isn’t the only ‘world leader’ that follows t...

  • 9/12/2019

Unraveling Frydenberg’s Mind

Since Treasurer Josh Frydenberg sits side-by-side with PM Morrison at the pinnacle of the Morrison government, it is appropriate that we query the state of his mind, just as we sought to understand Morrison’s in Unraveling Morrison’s Mind. There is no evidence that he is attracted to the conspiracy ...

  • 3/12/2019

What goes around

Instead of complying with treaty obligations, the Morrison LNP Government is spending like a drunken sailor in an attempt to win a political war to demonstrate how evil and horrible the people who have sought refugee status in Australia after arriving by boat really are. Not only are Morrison and Du...

  • 25/11/2019

Unraveling Morrison’s mind

Warning: This piece contains disturbing material. By keeping it brief I hope any mental distress it might cause will be minimized. Did you see Michael Pascoe’s article in the October 23 edition of The New Daily: What we don’t know: Is our Prime Minister a nutter? As Pascoe is a balanced ...

  • 15/11/2019

Quiet Australians

Sorry Mr Morrison, I don’t want to be one of your quiet Australians. The problem with being quiet is that I would give the impression I implicitly support whatever you, Dutton and the other Ministers do in my name, solely because I didn’t say what I think, feel, believe or observe. The other issue i...

  • 11/11/2019

Don't shoot the messenger

Those that live outside the south-east corner of Queensland probably don’t take much notice of the politics of the Brisbane City Council. Brisbane has an annual budget and population larger than Tasmania and, somewhat unusually for Australia, is a Council comprising mostly overtly party political el...

  • 4/11/2019

Peeling the skin off the avocado

Recall how you felt when you last fondled a plump avocado, deep green, beautifully formed, slightly soft to the touch, seemingly ripe for consumption, only to find that when your knife punctured its alluring skin and peeled it back you were greeted by grey spots, rotting inedible pulp, and precious ...

  • 28/10/2019

Protest tactics matter

Those that demonstrated around the world for ‘Extinction Rebellion’ recently have certainly been making headlines. Pity it is for the wrong reasons. On an intellectual level, their point is sound — unless there is meaningful and urgent efforts across the world to mitigate climate change, there is an...

  • 21/10/2019

Is Donald Trump mad? - revisited

Around two years ago, The Political Sword published Is Donald Trump mad? In November of last year, we published Is Donald Trump crumbling? It could be argued that Trump’s recent behaviour warrants another such article. But why bother? We’ve said it all before, as have columnists the world ...

  • 14/10/2019

Do unto others

Who knows if the pages of Morrison’s Bible might be missing the pages that discuss ’do unto others as you wish them do to you’? Those words are one version of ’the golden rule’ which is a tenet of most religions according to Wikipedia. His years as Immigration Minister and then Treasurer demonstrate...

  • 7/10/2019

Rate This Post

Current rating: 0.3 / 5 | Rated 18 times

371 COMMENTS

Sir Ian Crisp

25/03/2013Polls and trolls; are they harbingers of reality? At the moment the polls indicate that the ALP will cop a flogging at the next election but TPS's ostriches merely dig deeper into the sand.

Ian

25/03/2013Just one thing wrong with this article: "Well, he was popular once, but that popularity slipped and the opinion polls went down, so his colleagues lost faith in him and threw him out for the current female leader." No, his colleagues threw him out because he was impossible to work with. Remember, opinion polls don't mean anything!!

Ad astra

25/03/2013Ian You are partly right, but history shows that Rudd’s declining popularity and sliding polls were precedents; his work behavior gave his opponents a plausible reason for rejecting him. That would have been much harder had he been riding high in the polls and popularity stakes. As alluded to above, there is merit in the proposition that there is equivalence in usefulness between polls and trolls. Both lack predictive validity.

Tom of Melbourne

25/03/2013[i]Did she say something unbecoming for a national leader?[/i] • She broke her written word [i]Was she neglecting her duties?[/i] • She lost the confidence of much of her party. When a leader can’t retain the confidence of their followers, they’re days are numbered. [i]Did she insult so many in her party that they viciously turned against her?[/i] • She and her mates engaged in the most vile insulting of her predecessor. -------------- As for the polls analysis, Ad Astra should steer away from the subject. Remember when Ad Astra thought a pollster’s question on the economy should be - [i]The government has spent lots and lots of money on a stimulus, creating jobs and keeping Australia out of the worst ravages of the GFC, we have low interest rates and low unemployment. The Liberals want to undo all that. Which economic policy do you support?[/i] Now let’s invite Ad Astra to frame a poll question about foreign affairs. In any event, there have been 27 polls in a row in Fairfax that has put the government behind. The total of each poll represents a reasonable sample. Each indicates the same outcome. Ad Astra prefers to ignore these facts.

42 long

25/03/2013When the Rudd displacement happened initially I thought that If Gillard doesn't do a complete hatchet job on this bloke he will come back and bite her. She tried to be "reasonable" but the ambition in Rudd is out of control. Rudds behaviour (Personal) to many people around him and the way he ran his office with junior staffers and kept everything to himself was disfunctional. He is possibly suffering some form of post traumatic stress disorder. I make this as an observation that may affect the way he does things. Damaging the party, is something I can't forgive him no matter what the provocation. Australia will suffer enourmously under Abbott's rule. Austerity is being seriously questioned in the EU right now which recovers NOT.

Ad astra

25/03/201342 long Inflicting damage on one's party is a serious crime. But even Rudd's damage would pale into insignificance against the damage Abbott would do to this nation should he ever get his hands on the levers of power.

lyn

25/03/2013Hi Talk Turkey Thankyou so much for your beautiful post at 8.16 am this morning. Such a lovely post to Ad Astra and I , your comment is golden in my heart, in the golden box you go. ♥ ♥ Thankyou for the song and yes it is heartfelt. ♫ ♫ :):):)

Chris

25/03/2013Tom of Melbourne, When are you, and others, going to realise she did NOT break her written word! Seems ppl are only saying half of what she said! You neglect the last half of the sentence.. that she would put a price on carbon, which is what she has done! The mainstream media are spinning so much BS about the Prime Minister it is becoming a joke.. Australia is in the best position as any country IN THE WORLD! But you do not see Australian media say that! It is coming from overseas, from The Guardian, and other media OS! I sure as hell will not be voting for the Liberal government, when Abbott will send us deep into recession with what he wants to do.. He is also wanting to introduce a tax which will put up prices of simple things like groceries considerably. And will be worse than the CT. But the media has not mentioned that..

lyn

25/03/2013Hi Ad, Thankyou for your new article “Polls perpetually poison politics”, most enjoyable read and as always so very sincere & genuine. I have never been able to understand polls, just to imagine 1,500 out of 14 million ? are asked a series of sneakily designed questions, and the results are then used to sell papers. On Saturday I had a Robot Phone Poll from Reach Tel . The questions were all on Campbell Newman’s Policies. About 5 questions press 1, press 2. press 3, then of course they ask your age, your gender. On completion I thought, now how many people would be bothered answering correctly or even pressing the correct number button, This is me [quote]“OK, but I still don’t understand; there must be something wrong with my Martian brain”. [/quote] More often than not,one poll result is not comparable to another, because they keep asking different questions As you said Ad [quote]“So why would you rely on them, indeed use them to change leaders? “ [/quote] http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/national/watch/44dcce84-89a3-3cc9-af2c-7e7232a0bd1e/newman-hurting-coalition-poll/ Ps I have received quite a few compliments on the quality of comments on The Political Sword. Thankyou to all our friends who have been providing excellent information and brilliant points of view, you are making TPS the most respected blog on the blogosphere admired by many. :):):)

Tom of Melbourne

25/03/2013That’s really funny Chris. I wasn’t referring to the “no carbon tax” commitment. That’s too common an example of Gillard’s dishonesty when there are so many others! I was referring to her [b]WRITTEN COMMITMENT[/b] to Andrew Wilkie. You know - the very [b]WRITTEN COMMITMENT[/b] that allowed her to move into the Lodge.

Rosellajam

25/03/2013A really great post - as usual, thank you. [b]Polls are truly poison![/b] There is really nothing JG has done to deserve the vicious attacks she receives everyday from the Opposition and from ill-informed trolls. The "she lied" argument has been done to death but they just wont let it go. The rude and ignorant will not look any further than the one liners of the LNP. LOADS of politicians have said one thing before an election and then done something else later (JG actually didn't do this anyway) Abbott has "lied" and has admitted that he doesn't always tell the "gospel truth" but he doesn't, and I daresay wont get the hatred and filth that has been constantly thrown at JG. Politics and government is NOT a football match! It is serious and if we are to deserve our right to chose who runs our country we need to take it seriously. Wouldn't it be good if we could [b]grow up[/b], inform ourselves, demand better from our representatives, think for ourselves and make our own choice to vote for the best for our country and the future. We get the government we deserve - maybe it's not the politicians we need to examine at but ourselves?

janice

25/03/2013Great post, Ad astra. Obviously our journalists haven't met up with a questioning Martian, lol. If you have your Martian close by, how about sending him in to interview the rude, vicious piece of journalistic flotsam, Ms. Leigh Sales. Haven't seen you here before, Rosellajam - your screen name appeals to me :)

Casablanca

25/03/2013Swordsters, We had overbearing, antagonistic, judgemental Leigh interviewing the PM on 7.30 tonight. Such a waste of opportunity to inform and analyse.

Ad astra

25/03/2013Talk Turkey Like Lyn, I appreciate the wonderful tribute you made to her this morning, and to me. The accompanying poignant John Lennon song was heart warming. You give us the inspiration we need for the next six months. Everything the Fourth Estate can throw at Julia Gillard will be viciously hurled at her, just as Leigh Sales did tonight on [i]7.30[/i] in one of the rudest, one of the most disrespectful interviews I have seen.. She talked to our PM as if she was a recalcitrant schoolgirl in front of the school principle. Disgusting. She ended by saying that she had invited Tony Abbott on this week, but he had not yet accepted. I wonder how she will treat him? If she gives him an easy ride, that will be diagnostic of her political stance. If she is just as rude and disrespectful to him, it will reveal her attitude to political leaders, whoever they are.

Ad astra

25/03/2013Chris If you haven’t been here before, welcome to [i]The Political Sword[/i] family, and thank you for your comments. Do come again. Your attempt to carry on a reasoned dialogue with ToM is laudable. Long experience has told us that this is not possible. Rosellajam I’m sure you are a newcomer here, so welcome also to [i]The Political Sword[/i]. Do come again. You have a great Gravatar. Thank you for your kind comments. I agree with your analysis.

Pikiranku

25/03/2013"Such a waste of opportunity to inform and analyse." Exactly, Casablanca. Why do we bother watching these interviews? We learn nothing. Well, we learn how rude and overbearing an interviewer can be, but very little else. Rosellajam Absolutely agree with your comments. I've also made the point before that we hear and think far too much about our rights in a democratic state and far too little about our responsibilities. Btw, I just found the answer on Twitter to my earlier question here about Gary Gray: Gray, Hansard 2008: "I did describe climate science as ‘pop science’ in the 1990s. I wish I had not said that. Climate change is real." I'm glad to know that.

Chris

25/03/2013hello Ad Astra Thank you for your welcome. With your unbiased article here will definitely be back. And I agree with everything in article, was well written. Also agree with your comment. Have a great evening! :) Chris

Ad astra

25/03/2013Hi Lyn Thank you again for your complimentary remarks. You are always so encouraging. You have experienced the pollsters at first hand. I wonder how reliable is ReachTel? Certainly Campbell Newman is brushing the results aside, but I wonder what Tony Abbott is thinking. Leaving polls aside, I have maintained that the performance of State LNP governments will impact negatively on the Federal Coalition. It is gratifying that you have had acknowledgement of the quality of the many thoughtful contributors to [i]TPS[/i]. It’s a pity the site is contaminated by negative and at times nasty comments that add nothing to our understanding of the complex issues this nation faces, and that our politicians have to address. janice Thank you for kind comment. I agree, that was one of the most aggressively rude Sales interview I have seen. Lets see if she does Abbott over when he fronts. After tonight’s interview, Tony may be too scared to present himself. Casablanca It’s obvious many people are offended by the Sales interview tonight. Pikiranku too. We ought to all write to the ABC, not that we can expect much corrective action.

Michael

25/03/2013Here (as from Lyn's (last) Links in the previous thread) http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/watch-meet-the-press-episode-5-sunday-march-24/story-e6frg12c-1226604439171 even Andrew Bolt concludes that Abbott is a do-nothing dud who won't win a mandate from the Australian people, merely a protest vote. I know this is because Bolt wants Abbott to go medieval on 'entitlements', but what comes across is disdain and dismissal towards Shouldabeen, Bolt clearly seeing him as no more than a placeholder for a future real Right-thinking conservative leader. If hard conservatives do see Abbott as a windbag wanker - and who doesn't on the left side of politics? - his days are numbered, out of government or in.

KHTAGH

25/03/2013Ad Astra This should not be read before sleep it is truly a nightmare inducing situation, [b]for real[/b]. A great read. Manipulation of the masses by a few vested interests, I really do hope people are not as blind to what is actually going on in Australia in current times as they seem. Also even more infuriating, the ease at which it is being done. 'Last throw of the dice' for vested interests FTTH makes TV stations obsolete too!. We live in a very important times, a true turning point in history. I'm wondering if Abbott has been warned that the Ashby appeal is likely to fail & he knows his goose & most of his front bench are cooked come May/June. He has no need to try to go early(polls are going his way), he has the media in his pocket, surrounded & supported by the rich & influential, why the sudden all out rush to grab power? No need, something else is going on here, way to much urgency about it all. Prissy Pyne is very vocal of late too, maybe Ashby is going to tell all if his appeal of quashed. No one is ever going to trust the guy again, he has nothing to lose, how would they shut him up?. If the Lieberals are as complicit as most think they are its all over red rover for them at the election. Maybe a wad of $'s on Labor is not such a bad idea TT Lieberals might be at 7's come July.

Sir Ian Crisp

25/03/2013[quote][b]Tom of Melbourne, When are you, and others, going to realise she did NOT break her written word! Seems ppl are only saying half of what she said! [u]You neglect the last half of the sentence.. that she would put a price on carbon, which is what she has done![/u] [...] Chris [/b][/quote] And the bird of paradox neglected the citizens' assembly. [quote][i] [...] To build that community attachment, here are my commitments. I will prosecute, as Prime Minister, the case for action to reduce pollution and build a more sustainable Australia for future generations. I will make the case in public and in parliament. I will lead the debate and lead the advocacy for our approach in the community. My Government will create an independent, properly credentialed source of information and expert advice – a Climate Change Commission – to explain the science of climate change and to report on progress in international action. I will honour my commitment to building a consensus that is informed by the facts, tested by robust debate and concluded through common sense and open-mindedness. And my Government will support a rigorous process to work through the issues and test the level of consensus. There will be ongoing national debate and vigorous parliamentary debate. This should not just be a debate between experts. It must be a real debate involving many real Australians. It will not convince everybody, and I will not allow our country to be held to ransom by a few people with extreme views that will never be changed. But I want to see a process that directly involves a representative range of ordinary Australians. [b]And so today I announce that if we are re-elected, I will develop a dedicated process – a Citizens’ Assembly – to examine over 12 months the evidence on climate change, the case for action and the possible consequences of introducing a market-based approach to limiting and reducing carbon emissions.[/b] [...] http://www.alp.org.au/federal-government/news/speech--julia-gillard,--moving-forward-together-on/ [/i][/quote] Who recalls the much-vaunted citizens' assembly? Certainly not the bird of paradox and not Chris. How often do we hear the word 'liar' here at TPS. It's a nice fit with Gillard and her camorra: The ALP...The Australian Liars' Party.

Jason

25/03/2013Sic, At least she does try to make the life of people better! Apart from bitch what do you do?

DMW

25/03/2013Looks like the definition of 'shopped' has been modernised: [i]3 An image that has been altered with Adobe® Photoshop® software, usually for humorous effect.[/i] http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shopped I will have to change my first thinking on hearing about the 'newish' cabinet Looks like cabinet has been [i]Shoppied [/i] and misnomered.

lawriejay

25/03/2013I have a brother and a mate living in Queensland, during the early part of 2010 they both informed me that everyone up there was waiting with baseball bats to deal with Rudd. From the time he was replaced they could not say enough good things about Kevin, Kevin was their man they had the greatest admiration for Kevin - shame on Julia for knifing Kevin. They both now deny that they were so critical of Kevin he is the only reason they would vote for Labor. To argue with such people serves no purpose - they believe what the MSM says and that's that.

Sir Ian Crisp

25/03/2013[quote][b]Sic, At least she does try to make the life of people better! Apart from bitch what do you do? Jason [/b][/quote] Unlike you JGuy, I don't sit around all day with a bar stool stuck to my rectum telling everyone about my chef/crane driver/AWU membership cards. I volunteer one day per week and work the rest of the week.

Tom of Melbourne

25/03/2013 1. Is there any evidence that the polls are manipulated as so many assert? Provide the evidence or shut up! 2. Has anyone replied to the clear breach of [b]GILLARD’S WRITTEN COMMITMENT[/b] to Andrew Wilkie, in order to form government? Could anyone nominate a greater breach of public trust than her breaking of her [b]WRITTEN COMMITMENT[/b] 3. In order to win commitment to your policies, politicians firstly need to be trusted. Can anyone suggest a reason that the public should trust Gillard to keep her word?

lawriejay

25/03/2013Fair and balanced broadcasting has been elevated to new heights tonight on Lateline . Mark Texter is on board ?? Well done ABC

Ad astra reply

25/03/2013KHTAGH Thank you for your kind remarks and your thoughtful comment. Did you see Lateline? Gary Gray was VERY impressive, and more articulate than Martin Ferguson. He appears to be a good appointment.

nasking

25/03/2013 [b]AND IT SHOWS HOW RELENTLESS NEGATIVE REPORTING SHAPES PUBLIC OPINION TO THE EXTENT THAT PEOPLE WILL VOTE AGAINST THEIR BEST INTERESTS.[/b] JANE, WE ARE IN SYNCH. I MENTIONED TO THEM THE BOOK What's the Matter with Kansas? IT LOOKS AT WHY VOTERS IN KANSAS AND ELSEWHERE ENDED UP VOTING GENERALLY AGAINST THEIR OWN INTERESTS WHEN IT CAME TO WORK SECURITY AND SO ON. INTERESTINGLY SOME DEMS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BREAK THRU: [b]The book also details how then Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, a liberal Democrat and the current Secretary of Health and Human Services, was able to win in conservative Kansas. By emphasizing issues like health care and school funding, and avoiding hot-button social issues, Sebelius successfully fractured the Kansas GOP and won a clear majority.[/b] OBVIOUSLY OBAMA'S TEAM WERE SMART IN THAT THEY MOVED BEYOND THE TRAP THAT COMES WITH SOME OF THE HOT BUTTON ISSUES...BY APPEALING TO ASPIRING MIGRANTS INCLUDING LATINOS...FOCUSING ON WOMEN'S ISSUES, INCLUDING EXAMINING MISOGYNY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY...ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION AND WOMEN'S HEALTH CLINICS...OUTSOURCING...BEING GUTSY ON THE GAY MARRIAGE ISSUE...PROMOTING JOB SECURITY AND RENEWAL BY WAY OF THE GM BAILOUT...PULLING OUT OF IRAQ AND GIVING A BASIC TIMELINE FOR WITHDRAWING OF TROOPS FROM AFGHANISTAN...THE BUFFET RULE...CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE...STIMULUS TO SUPPORT STRUGGLING TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, FIREMEN...REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADS, HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES...OBAMACARE ETC. SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YER EGGPLANTS. DAMNED NUISANCE. I WENT THRU THE SAME WITH TOMATOES THREE YEARS RUNNING. NOW I MAINLY GROW BANANA CHILLIES AND REGULAR CHILLIES AND HERBS THAT ALL WITHSTAND THE BASHING BY TORRENTIAL RAIN AND HAIL...AND MAD WINDS. KEEP WELL. BEST TO YOU AND YER HUBBY JANE. AND THE DOGS. STACE SENDS HER BEST. N'

nasking

25/03/2013 [b]This time, no damage to the house, but the clothesline has been monstered by a large chunk of Jacaranda. $880 to get the tree debris cleaned up & still waiting for a quote on the clothesline. Power was out till about 5:00 this morning & Cable Internet is still out (like your Foxtel).[/b] BACCHUS, SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE DAMAGE...I HOPE YOU AND YER FAMILY ARE WELL THO, AND SURVIVED INTACT. DREADFUL STUFF INDEED. YES, WE WERE FORTUNATE IN THAT THE POWER ONLY WENT OFF FOR THREE HOURS (STRANGELY THIS ARVO INTO EVENING...BACK ON NOW). WHAT A PAIN BEING WITHOUT THE CABLE INTERNET...WE LOST CONTACT WITH THE INTERNET FOR THOSE THREE HOURS AND FELT QUITE ISOLATED...UNTIL WE USED OUR WINDUP RADIO AND LISTENED TO ABC RADIO INCLUDING THE PM'S INTERVIEW ON 7:30. IT FELT LIKE WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN CAMPING. THANKS FOR THE CONCERN...WE GOT LUCKY IN THAT NO TREES WERE DAMAGED, NOR OURSELVES AND THE HOUSE. JUST A LOT OF PLANTS IN POTS KNOCKED OVER AND MANY LEAVES STREWN ABOUT...INCLUDING ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY WE'D JUST CLEANED. COMPARED TO YER SITUATION MINOR INDEED. WE SINCERELY HOPE YOUR CLEANUP DOES NOT LEAD TO MORE EXPENSE. LET ME KNOW IF YOU REQUIRE ANY ASSISTANCE...AND IF YOU AND YER FAMILY EVER NEED A PLACE TO STAY OR FOOD/WATER ETC. WE ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE. KEEP WELL AND SAFE AMIGO. N'

nasking

25/03/2013 ANOTHER EXCELLENT POST AD...VERY CLEVER...VERY CLEVER INDEED. APPLAUSE!!! N'

Bacchus

26/03/2013We're fine thanks Nas. A lot better off than some I see on the news! Insurance should cover most costs. Your offer of assistance is reciprocated too. Anytime - we're neighbours :)

jane

26/03/2013Ad astra thank you for your latest post [i]Polls perpetually poison politics[/i] I agree that if a stranger were to be told that politics in this country is conducted from poll to poll and that leaders' longevity is determined by those same polls,s/he would be astonished...and appalled. [quote]The "she lied" argument has been done to death.....[/quote] And always in spite of the [b]evidence[/b] to the contrary, but of course credibility and evidence are superfluous to troll requirements, Rosellajam. KHTAGH, I agree. Why [i]would[/i] Liealot and the msm be hell bent on an election NOW, when according to all the pundits and the polls, he's a shoo in? If Ashby's appeal does fail, and they may have good reason to think it will, Ashby could spill his guts and all hell could break loose. But do you think he would blab? They may hold the financial aid they've obviously provided over his head. But it would be nice to watch them sweat. THANKS, NAS'. THE BOOK YOU MENTION SOUNDS PRETTY INTERESTING AND THE OBAMA TACTICS SEEM LIKE SOMETHING WHICH MAY BE USEFUL HERE. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY RAIN FOR 6 MONTHS, BUT WE ALWAYS GET PLENTY OF WIND. ;( CHEERS TO YOU & STACE. recaptcha hasalow odious

lyn

26/03/2013Today’s Links Newspaper venom and the untold stories by @ngungun newspapers will be calling on Kevin Rudd to stand again, unless they can find another issue to try to destabilise the Government http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/newspaper-venom-and-the-untold-stories/\ No Confidence, No Budget; what happens if a motion of no confidence passes on Budget day By M Nash The Senate passed a motion of no confidence in John Howard back in 2003; to state the obvious, nothing came of it. http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/03/25/no-confidence-no-budget-what-happens-if-a-motion-of-no-confidence-passes-on-budget-day/ Thanks to those who helped ... and look what happened @mattdasilva finally we see a story about the carbon price on their website. I don't think it's a coincidence. MSM editors see what's trending in cyberspace http://happyantipodean.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/thanks-to-those-who-helped-and-look.html Vote4JuliaGroup by @markjs1 We will do all in our power to get Julia Gillard re-elected Prime Minister of Australia http://vote4julia2013.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/getting-over-the-shock/ The difference between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott by @no_filter_Yamba The first moment when approval of the Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott turned to anger, interjection and shouting: http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/the-difference-between-julia-gillard.html Come back, Paul! by @MigloMT more than anything I’d just love to see him hanging the likes of Abbott out to dry during Question Time http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/come-back-paul/ The Last Days Of The Liberals (1): The Hungry Brontosaurus Factor by Bob Ellis It is only five days ago. And the tumbrils gathering for Abbott and Pyne and Hockey and Ashby and Brough will not be diverted from their sanguinary destination http://www.ellistabletalk.com/2012/05/26/the-last-days-of-the-liberals-1-the-hungry-brontosaurus-factor/ A Parliamentary pause by @ericpaulgeorge Abbott will apparently spend some of the six weeks trying to rally support for a vote of no confidence http://www.upstart.net.au/2013/03/25/a-parliamentary-pause/ ‘L’ Plate Cabinet or Safe Pairs of Hands? by @crazyjane13 Tony Abbott went on the attack almost before the ink was dry on the resignation letters. http://consciencevote.com.au/2013/03/25/l-plate-cabinet-or-safe-pairs-of-hands/ Emerson, Farrell and Bird to share higher education portfolio by @sunanda_louise Craig will be assisted by two junior Ministers – Don Farrell, as Minister for Science and Research and Sharon Bird as Minister for Higher Education and Skills.” http://theconversation.com/emerson-farrell-and-bird-to-share-higher-education-portfolio-13061 Another Version Of The Truth by @madwixxy Tony Abbott has promised a great big new tax of sorts, however it will play out http://wixxyleaks.com/2013/03/25/another-version-of-the-truth/ Modern democracy is about a lot more than economic growth by @SimonCopland Paola Totaro in the Guardian, Australians don’t know how lucky they are, made its rounds throughout the Internet. http://themoonbat.com/2013/03/25/modern-democracy-is-about-a-lot-more-than-economic-growth/ Changes to the Ministry MON 25 MARCH 2013, Prime Minister http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/changes-ministry-2 Cabinet reshuffle: Gillard supporters rewarded, public servants shuffled by @BernardKeane Julia Gillard has shuffled the cards in her ministerial deck to cover the loss of some of its most talented and experienced members. http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/03/25/cabinet-reshuffle-gillard-supporters-rewarded-public-servants-shuffled/ Memo to Tony Abbott by @archiearchive Since you keep telling us how badly off Australians are, could you please tell me which countries are better off. http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/memo-to-tony-abbott/ Could the ghost of Sol Trujillo stalk an Abbott government by Paul Wallbank Turnbull, Fletcher or possibly both are going to have to renegotiate a deal that allows David Thodey to keep the $11 billion http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/3/25/technology/could-ghost-sol-trujillo-stalk-abbott-government#ixzz2OX8a7pIk Govt should consult Libs before appointing new RBA boss: Hockey Mr Hockey says he expects Labor to talk to the coalition about it. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2013/3/25/reserve-bank-australia/govt-should-consult-libs-appointing-new-rba Gary Gray and Climate Change Denialism- From the LP archives by @MarkBahnisch I’m told on Twitter that Gray has said on Lateline that he has changed his mind. http://larvatusprodeo.net/archives/2013/03/gary-gray-and-climate-change-denialism-from-the-lp-archives/ Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 26 March 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Truth Seeker

26/03/2013Ad, another fine post, and sadly we don't have to look to aliens from Mars to find people that don't understand what we are thinking. There is an article in The Guardian UK that posed the question "Are Australians the new whinging POMs?", expressing their disbelief at how we are whinging about our lot, and I have taken up that question in my latest post. http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/are-australians-the-new-whinging-pomms/ Keep up the great work :-) Cheers :-)

Ad astra

26/03/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

Michael

26/03/2013Here http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3723490.htm is the transcript of Leigh Sales interviewing the PM on 7:30 last night. Words on paper are not people on a TV screen (the video is viewable at the same web address, however), but reading black on white I don't think Leigh Sales managed to knock the PM off her stride the way she did Abbott when last he dared to face her. The final sentence of the transcript reads: "7.30 has also invited the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to join us on the program any night this week. His office tells us they're considering the request." Are they? Dare he? I doubt it.

Pappinbarra Fox

26/03/2013Ad, I wonder if it is possible to put the author's name at the top of their post? I sometimes get a few lines into a longish troll post before I twig that I am wasting my time reading it. If the name was at the top of the post I could avoid reading any of it and save myself time and angst. Just a thought.

ladyinred

26/03/2013Ad besides being full of truth, frighteningly so I might add, you managed to make this entertaining as well. A good combination that holds the readers interest, which is a definite bonus for longer pieces. They are at it again today, as expected on time, on queue, and all singing from the same song sheet. Leigh Sales was rude. This style of interviewing is here to stay "how can we believe you" there really is no answer other than to go through your successes . People have to do that & make up their own mind. But it is meant to put J G on the defensive which makes for a combative interview which is stressful for interviewer, interviewee and the audience no matter which way your poltical preference leans.

Tom of Melboune

26/03/2013Wasn’t it just recently that people here applauded Sales for her tough questioning of Abbott? If Gillard accepted responsibility for her own debacle, if Gillard actually answered questions, if Gillard was actually competent, she might get through interviews with some credibility intact. People here have such short memories, the non stop, mindless barracking also ruins any credibility of your comments. Meanwile, best you blame a conspiracy for the latest poll.

Chris

26/03/2013Tom, Maybe if she was given a chance to answer the questions without being interrupted!! Id expect the same with any interview, no matter who it was with. Common courtesy I would have thought!!

TalkTurkey

26/03/2013Welcome to all New Comrades of the Sword Between Ad astra's lead articles and Lyn's Links there is no better place to be than right here. I'd say it was the very best but there are so many other goodies out there that it wouldn't be fair. But of course that's what Lyn does, links to all the best. So really TPS [i]is[/i] the best, because everybody's best from everywhere is here.it's ALL here. We are all footsoldiers of the Fighting Fifth Estate and we are all equivalently respected on that basis. Rosella Jam I love your pen name AND your gravatar, and for people who might think of preserved pulped parrots, here's some pix of the kind that are made into jam. http://www.google.com.au/search?q=rosella+plant&hl=en&rlz=1T4ADFA_enAU486AU486&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=fr1QUeW7GsKGkAWfnYCADg&ved=0CEUQsAQ&biw=1093&bih=466 Ad astra you lament that this site is contaminated by boorish elements, well look at it this way, we know that you could simply delete these posts but WHO CARES about this unhappy few? I don't read them and it surprises me that anyone else does. Scroll past them and they might as well not be there. The mistake is to reply, but I don't even not reply, I just don't even know what nastiness they're saying cos I don't read them at all ever. I've been looking for an old song with the hook line [i]"Remember whenever you're down and out the only way is up".[/i] Many will remember the tune but I can't find it, that is astonishing. So Comrades you'll just have to make do with that thought itself. Leigh Sales last night ... Dear Dog I'm glad I'm not MISTER Sales, what an ill-mannered nasty piece of work she is. And it's not as if she's any good at her job, doesn't elicit truth just accuses harries interrupts and condemns ... The ABC is a bloody disgrace as vbigoted as it can make itslf. Emma Albericie at least was mannerly but she asked Gary Gray the same question over and over, as if she just duhhhrdn't urrrhhhnnnerstand him. I never thought to see the day that the ABC, publicly funded by all Australians, being used as a megaphone for the LNP and the IPA. Labor should return asap to its Media regulatory legislation because it's now or never. I tweeted quite a few things re Sales but here is one: @BridgetOFlynn @35bobjones EVERY *question* was either an accusation OR a condemnation. "Shopping list" Sales, yes that's about your limit. lawrie jay what you say about Queenslanders attitudes to Rudd [i]Hooray![/i] Rudd [i]Boo![/i] Rudd [i]Hooray![/i] and presumably now Rudd Booooooo is spot on. Bananas! Have a good day Swordsfolks. I'm off to harass people on Twitter. "Remember whenever you're down and out the only way is up!" Can anyone else find that song, even just the lyrics?

2353

26/03/2013Chris, Troll of Melbourne wouldn't understand common courtesy. He has displayed a distinct lack of it ever since he found this site. AA, Great post as usual. The emphasis on the polls seems to be only there when the results are adverse to the government of the day - witness the response to the Neilsen poll a week or so ago versus the the Newspoll this morning.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Guys, Serious question time - what am I missing? Why is there such strong support for Ms Gillard ? What is it about the job she is doing to evoke such strong commendation?

Tom of Melboune

26/03/2013Ad Astra and others repeat it here ad nauseum – the polls are corrupted or inaccurate or unreliable or unrepresentative. If you’re intent on suggesting this every time there is a bad poll, you have a responsibility to provide the evidence. On the other hand- • Polling organisations are involved in plenty of research outside politics, why would they ruin their reputation for paying business by providing corrupted political polling? • Most have independently approved quality systems • The polls in total represent a significant sample, they are all pointing in the same direction Ad Astra and others are in a state of denial. This Government is deeply unpopular, and is just as deeply divided. That is the fact and it is all of its own making. Gillard has proven to be dishonest, her lack of electoral trust is the result of her own actions. Trust is the first element required to have people accept policy. It is no use Gillard prattling on about her “plans for the future” – because people won’t take her at her word – she has broken it too often.

nasking

26/03/2013 [b]We're fine thanks Nas. A lot better off than some I see on the news! Insurance should cover most costs. Your offer of assistance is reciprocated too. Anytime - we're neighbours [/b] GRACIAS BACCHUS. GOOD TO HEAR YER ALL WELL. AND THAT YER INSURANCE CO WILL HELP. FINGERS CROSSED WE'VE DODGED A BULLET...AND THIS DREADFUL STORMY PERIOD IS OVER. JANE, OBAMA'S TEAM HAVE A GREAT GROUND GAME...I HAVE YET TO SEE ANYONE FROM THE ALP IN MY AREA...WHICH IS ODD CONSIDERING THIS WAS AN ALP AREA UNTIL THE LAST ELECTION. THE LABOR CANDIDATE DES HARDMAN DOES SEND OUT REGULAR EMAILS...BUT THEY ARE NOT AS IMPRESSIVE IN DETAIL AND PICS AS THE LNP FELLA NOW IN THIS AREA. I THINK WE'RE IN FORDE. MY WIFE'S SCHOOL AND A NUMBER OF OUR FRIENDS ARE IN CRAIG EMERSON'S AREA. PLENTY HAVE BEEN MOANING IN THAT TALKBACK AND MURDOCH TABLOID WAY...BUT THEY ARE ALSO ANNOYED WITH NEWMAN'S APPROACH AND SOME OF HIS DECISIONS. THE ALP NEED TO GET PEOPLE ON THE GROUND ASAP...VISITING AND REVISITING HOMES. AT LEAST THEY ARE GETTING THEIR INTERNET GAME TOGETHER. YA WANNA WIN...YA GOTTA MAKE THE VOTERS FEEL IT...FEEL YER HUNGER...AND CONFIDENCE. LET 'EM KNOW THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS...SHOVE IT DOWN THEIR THROATS...AND BASH THE CRAP OUTA YER OPPONENTS...BUT TRY TO SHOW SOME DIGNITY...AND WILLINGNESS TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE. BTW, I LOVED THAT PIC/MEME ON FACEBOOK THAT SHOWED BILL SHORTEN AND TEAM AFTER BEATING ABBOTT IN A FUN RUN...BEATING HIM AT HIS OWN GAME. SO DID MANY OTHERS I NOTICED. PLENTY OF VOTERS ARE SICK OF SHOWOFF ABBOTT. ENJOY WATCHING HIM GET BEAT. N'

Ad astra

26/03/2013Bacchus I hope things are returning to normal for you after what has been a terrifying storm. It seems as if we will see more and more of such extreme weather events as the globe heats up. Last week we had a rare tornado sweep along the Murray River that devastated many caravans and left many poor folk homeless and with virtually no possessions. Very sad. nasking Thank you for your generous remarks. I’m glad you enjoyed the piece. You are so right when you say ‘relentless negative reporting shapes public opinion’. That is what the Fifth Estate has been doing for eons, and for the last two years the Gillard Government has relentlessly been the target. It is in full flight this morning, with the ABC in train. jane Thank you for your comment. A lot of the mantras have been done to death, and last night Leigh Sales joined the chorus. Michael Thank you for the Leigh Sales transcript. Her disrespectful attitude to our nation’s leader and her intention to be rude and aggressive is captured in her very first question: [i]”LEIGH SALES: After recent events, aren't Australians well within their rights to conclude that the Gillard Government is a dysfunctional mess that deserves to be consigned to opposition as soon as possible?”[/i] Truth Seeker Thank you for your kind remark. I enjoyed reading your piece based on the article in [i]The Guardian[/i] at http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/03/25/are-australians-the-new-whinging-pomms/ The only explanation I have for the whinging is that the Coalition and its mouthpiece, the MSM, tell the people how badly off they are, day after day. PF Unfortunately the blog engine we use doesn’t allow the name of the commenter to be placed at the top. LadyinRed Thank you too for kind remarks. You are right, the media is out this morning shouting that the Gillard Government is headed for a ‘wipeout’, or ‘oblivion’ if your prefer, or the Government is ‘shifting the deckchairs on the Titanic’. The same hackneyed mantras roll off the reporters’ tongues. The acerbic Sabra Lane added a new twist this morning on AM when she asked Julia Gillard: “Why don’t people like you?” Apart from the sheer rudeness of the question, how did she expect her to answer? Think about it. It was simply a nasty backhander. The PM was astute enough to patiently deflect it. 2353 Thank you for your comment. You are right. The ABC is already working the mantra: “If an election were to be held today”, although it is not scheduled until September, illustrating just how deceptively manipulative the MSM is, just how dishonestly it uses polls to push its case – that the Gillard Government is doomed. Our Martian visitor would be gobsmacked at the persistently pernicious influence of the media in our national politics.

nasking

26/03/2013 [b]I don't think Leigh Sales managed to knock the PM off her stride the way she did Abbott when last he dared to face her.[/b] MICHAEL, I AGREE. LEIGH WAS FIERY...BUT ALSO RATHER ANTAGONISTIC. SHE SOUNDED FRUSTRATED TO ME. PERHAPS THE LIBS IN THE MEDIA ARE PUTTING PRESSURE ON HER THE WAY THEY HAVE LATELINE'S ALBERICI? I BELIEVE BOTH THESE WOMEN INTERVIEWERS ARE INDEPENDENT THINKERS...AND KNOW FIRSTHAND THE BULLYING THAT CAN COME FROM THE MURDOCH LOT AND SHOCK JOCKS ETC. PERHAPS LEIGH WAS FRUSTRATED THAT THE BULLIES HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN AN APPROPRIATE SHOVE BACK BY THE GILLARD GOVT...SEEING AS THE MEDIA REFORM BILLS PARTIALLY FAILED TO BE INTRODUCED AND PASSED? IT'S POSSIBLE THAT FRUSTRATION CAME OUT...AND IF LEIGH HAS BEEN BULLIED SHE MAY HAVE PROJECTED IT ONTO THE PM. I DO BELIEVE THE PM STOOD UP TO HER QUESTIONING IN A BOLD, CALM AND STEADY WAY...AND DEMONSTRATED SHE IS A TUFF LADY... BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HEARD SOME COMPARISONS MADE BETWEEN HER AND ABBOTT...AND THEIR POLICIES. WHENEVER I THINK OF ABBOTT I GET IN MY HEAD: "[b]DANGER WILL ROBINSON...DANGER[/b]!" (For the economy, public schools, services and NBN and clean energy) N'

Martin Spalding

26/03/2013ToM, you are repeatedly misunderstanding what Ad Astra is saying. His main beef is not with the accuracy of polls per se, but (i) the pathological obsession with them, (ii) their utter lack of predictivity this far out from an election, and (iii) the [i]way[/i] in which they are selectively and mischievously used by journos to boost their partisan causes. Also, your dishonesty charge against the PM is wearing v thin when you (a) blow the carbon & pokies situations out of all proportions, & (b) fail to apply anywhere near the same high bar of moral expectation to any other equivalent leaders in Australia (eg Tony Abbott). And please drop the bolded, capitalised references to 'written commitment'. We're all adults here, & we heard you the first time.

Ad astra

26/03/2013Hi Lyn I’ve been responding to comments so haven’t progressed far with your links, but I soon will. Talk Turkey You are a marvellous Drum Major rallying the ‘Comrades of the Sword’. As I’ve said over and again, ignore the irritants. There is nothing to be gained by reading what they say, let alone responding to them. They are not for learning, or changing; nor are they capable of engaging in reasoned debate. Hopeless.

Ad astra

26/03/2013Martin Spalding Well said, well reasoned. Wouldn’t it be gratifying if ToM could respond with similar clarity? It’s a sad reality that he can’t, and won’t.

nasking

26/03/2013 LYN, I AM NOW READING THRU SOME POSTS YOU LINKED TO YESTERDAY AND THIS MORN...THE ELECTRICITY DROP OUT COMBINED WITH FOXTEL PROBS HAS PUT ME BEHIND. GREAT LINKING BTW. THIS GRABBED MY EYE FROM THE [b]'SAY NO TO TONY[/b]' SITE “[b]When Abbott started speaking, immediately the tone of the room and the elated atmosphere disintegrated rapidly. Abbott obviously had not consulted with anyone. He didn’t understand the findings of the Senate inquiry and didn’t understand that language is so important when we’re talking about forced adoption. He spoke about “relinquishment” not “forced adoption”. We were there for a national apology on forced adoption, not relinquishment. My mother did not relinquish me, I was taken.[/b]" LET'S BE BLUNT HERE...ABBOTT IS A WALKING, TALKING DISASTER AREA THAT THE LIBS HOPE TO INFLICT ON US... IF HE WINS HIS TEAM WILL HAVE TO STAPLE HIS MOUTH SHUT...HOW CAN THAT BE ACHIEVED WHEN A PM MUST FRONT UP TO THE PEOPLE? ABBOTT IS A TIME BOMB. I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE IN OTHER COUNTRIES. HE MIGHT BE SMILING NOW...BUT HE IS VERY AWARE OF THE OTHER LIBS PREPARING TO STICK THE KNIFE IN THE MOMENT HE IMPLODES. PM GILLARD NEEDS TO GET ON WITH THE JOB...DO THE INTERVIEWS...THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS...PUSHING THE BUDGET...GET THE GROUND GAME GOING...KEEP BILL SHORTEN UP THERE WITH HER...AND OTHER BLOKES...SELL...SELL...SELL... DON'T GIVE ABBOTT AN INCH...NO TIME TO BREATHE...BE IMAGINATIVE... I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT ATTACK ANY OF ABBOTT'S FAMILY...NOR WORRY MUCH ABOUT HIS PAST NOW (JUST A FEW REMINDERS WHEN IT FITS A POLICY SELL OR SAVE)...IT'S TUFFNESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENT SELL...AND POLICY AND DIFFERENTATION AND IMAGINATION AND COURAGE AND GROUND & INTERNET GAME THAT WILL WIN THIS NOW... AND GETTING THE PEOPLE ON SIDE WITH WIT, AMIABLE ATTITUDE, EMPATHY, ORIGINALITY VIA INTERVIEWS... AND DEBATES. AND SURPRISES. LET'S IGNORE THE EXPECTED POLLS... AND KICK SOME ARSE/ASS. :D IN A BOLD, SELF-ASSURED, CONFIDENT WAY...NO DISPLAYS OF DESPERATION. THIS IS DESTINY. KNOW IT. BELIEVE IT. ABBOTT IS A DANGER. HE MUST BE...HE WILL BE...STOPPED. N'

nasking

26/03/2013 FROM A POST LINKED TO BY LYN YESTERDAY... [b]QUESTIONS FOR MR ABBOTT - CLIMATE CHANGE[/b]: [quote][b]Will you be true to the roots of your party and support a market-based response to excessive CO2 by allowing the market to price carbon; or do you want to pursue a more socialist model – your “direct action”of direct expenditure of government money (our money) to attempt to reduce carbon emissions? Does it embarrass you that Communist China is taking a more market-based response to climate change than you are proposing? Are you seriously going to dismantle something that is shown to be already working; replacing it with something that is more expensive and unproven?[/b][/quote] THERE ARE SERIOUS FLAWS IN THE COALITION POLICY...AND THE CARBON PRICE IS HAVING AN EFFECT. ABBOTT COULD BE PUTTING BUSINESS INTO SERIOUS CONFUSION WITH SUCH MAJOR CHANGES...COSTLY ONES...AS DID COSTELLO'S BADLY DESIGNED INTRODUCTION TO THE GST. VOTERS DO APPRECIATE 'CONSISTENCY'...AND TO FEEL THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE. N'

Bloss

26/03/2013NASKING THANKS FOR YOUR LAST COMMENTS. I WAS FEELING A BIT DESPONDENT AFTER READING SOME OF THE UN-INFORMED AND OUTRIGHT VICIOUS READER'S COMMENTS IN THE AGE OPINION SECTION, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE QUITE A FEW FIGHTING BACK WITH FACTS AND STATISTICS (INCLUDING ME). I ALWAYS COME TO THIS SITE FOR A BIT OF SANITY. YOU HAVE RESTORED MY FAITH AGAIN. THANK YOU.

42 long

26/03/2013Wharever the reason, ( and it could be pressure) Leigh Sales ) prepared opening was all guns blazing. That's OK we are all grown up here but talking over the person being interviewed is bad manners a la Fran Kelly Though she is the fount of all knowledge at any interview. her opinion is more to the fore than the person being interviewed. I despair of the abc. The Jon Faine forced apology was the beginning of coercion for the abc, like the murdoch papers suck to the boss or else. Mark Scott is worth the money he is doing their bidding.. Coorey and Lewis sure featured prominent in talking to the "leakers". Just change the name of the LieNP to Murdoch Inc. South Branch. Poor Fella My Country. ( with apologies to the original reference).

nasking

26/03/2013 "A GENUINE ONE STOP SHOP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVALS"...STATES ABBOTT. WHY DOES THIS GET ME THINKING OF EDDIE OBEID AND CO.? AND SINODINOS? :D N'

nasking

26/03/2013 [b]BONFIRE OF REGULATIONS[/b] PREDICTS ABBOTT. I IMAGINE THOSE WHO GAVE US THE GFC WERE BOASTING SAME. DO WE NEVER LEARN? N'

Ad astra

26/03/2013Folks I have just now sent this message to Mr Mark Scott, MD, ABC Dear Mr Scott I am writing to join what must now be a chorus to express my disgust at Leigh Sales’ attitude toward Prime Minister Julia Gillard last night on 7.30, and her rude and aggressive questioning, the like of which I cannot recall witnessing previously on the ABC. The very first question set the pattern: “After recent events, aren't Australians well within their rights to conclude that the Gillard Government is a dysfunctional mess that deserves to be consigned to opposition as soon as possible?” Julia Gillard is this nation’s Prime Minister, the country’s leader. Does Sales not believe her position deserves respect? I am affronted that one of your journalists uses the reach of the national broadcaster to promulgate her disdain for our leader. I do not care what Sales thinks about our PM, but in the interests of the ABC’s so-called balanced reportage and commentary she ought to keep her feelings and attitudes to herself. It was not as if the PM was being obtuse and avoiding Sales’ questions – Sales launched into her aggressive questioning at the outset, and continued throughout. Culture in an organization is central to how it functions. When someone as senior as Sales assails the nation’s leader with such an aggressive attitude, and with disrespectful question after question, it gives ‘permission’ to others to do the same. This morning on AM Sabra Lane asked our PM: “Why don’t people like you?” What sort of question is that? What answer did Lane expect to such provocation? As the head of the ABC, one your crucial roles is to establish the culture of the organisation. Please review the Sales interview, especially the vision, which displays Sales’ aggressive and at times belligerent body language, and ask yourself if that is portraying the culture you wish the ABC to promulgate. Yours sincerely

42 long

26/03/2013Trouble is Ad AS, that IT might be the culture HE, Mark Scott does wan, the abc to promolgate. The IPA, Australian (Jeff) Reith, Vanstone Fran Kelly, Richardson , Tion Jones, all feature to rant out anti labor rhetoric. It's not accidental or fair coverage, (or intended to be). Why doesn't someone get a petition up? The ABC surveys come out smelling of roses, but your concern is specific and I support the idea

nasking

26/03/2013 THE LAST THING WE NEED RIGHT NOW WITH THE INSTABILITY IN EUROPE AND GLOBAL MARKETS IS A CHANGE FROM A GOVT THAT HAS GIVEN US ECONOMIC SURVIVAL AND SECURITY. WE DON'T NEED THE RISK OF ABBOTT AND HOCKEY AND ROBB THOUGHT BUBBLES. IT'S 'CONSISTENCY' STUPID. ABBOTT REPEALS AND TAXES COULD BRING LOTS OF CONFUSION. AND HOCKEY IS PLAIN INCOMPETENT...AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE PRE-2010 BLACK HOLE FIASCO... AND HIS COMMENTS AFTER RETURNING FROM THE UK ABOUT AN 'ENTITLEMENT' MENTALITY...THAT GIVES ONE THE IMPRESSION HE IS ALL ABOUT 'AUSTERITY MEASURES' THAT COULD DO AWFUL DAMAGE TO RETAIL, TOURISM, SERVICES ETC. [b]DANGER AUSTRALIA...DANGER!!![/b] N'

Michael

26/03/2013Didn't Kelly O'Dwyer look gobsmacked at the audience openly ridiculing her claim on Q&A last night that Tony Abbott is not a divisive politician? The laughter was loud and mocking. Her jaw was long and dropping.

NormanK

26/03/2013Austin 3:16 Try these on for starters. And don't just skim over them - have a look and imagine who each initiative benefits. [i]NBN (legislation completed) 
BER 
NDIS
 GONSKI
 MRRT
Carbon Pricing + compensation + falling emissions 
Record increase to Pensions*
 Tax-free threshold up from $6,000 to $18,200 
School kids bonus 
Record Infrastructure spend $10b Green Energy fund
 50% more on Health 
More doctors, more surgeons, more nurses and more beds 
Better Aged Care 
Better Mental Health 
Flexible Child Care 
FWA 
Equal pay* 
Record spending on Education
 My School
 National curriculum*
 World’s largest marine parks* 
First Murray Darling water plan in a hundred years* 
Paid parental leave
 Plain Packaging on cigarettes* 
CSG environmental protection 
National Apology to The Stolen Generations 
National Apology for Forced Adoptions 
Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse*
 Seat at the UN 
Superannuation to 12%
 Support for Manufacturing 
Lower interest rates saving the average household 5k pa 
Lowest debt in OECD 
Low unemployment 
Increased productivity 
Wealthiest country per capita in the world 
Housing market coming back
 Share market back to levels pre-GFC 
Amongst the world leaders in low sovereign risk
 21 years of sustained national growth
 11 successive years of wages growth greater than inflation
 13% national growth since the GFC
 3 AAA credit ratings for the first time 
Lower tax to GDP than Howard 
Record investment
 Record terms of trade 
over 900,000 jobs created
 400+ Bills passed [/i] Acknowledgement to gecko at [i]The Poll Bludger[/i]. (slightly edited) *Lifted from the too hard basket and seen through to implementation To which I would add: A national awards system Laws to protect long-distance truck drivers Laws to reduce red tape around interstate transport of goods A one hour press conference that exhausted the Canberra Press Gallery An acute sense of common decency as exemplified by "What about Tony?" during the Australia Day kerfuffle An unwillingness to negotiate with media houses in an effort to elicit favourable coverage I'm sure there are many more which others here could add. To use the colloquial: she's got more balls than any other politician active today and behaves with common decency.

nasking

26/03/2013 NORMAN, USEFUL LIST. FROM PETER WICKS AKA MADWIXXY: [b]Tony Abbott has promised a great big new tax of sorts, however it will play out in the form of a company tax rise. This will be to pay for his parental leave scheme that rewards rich families for having babies and punishes those on low incomes for wanting a family. The promise is to raise the company tax rate by 1% to fund the scheme, however this number is a little misleading, the true cost will be much higher and we will all pay for it, and pay big. The actual increase in the company tax is 3.33%, as that is what the 1% rise equates to when the current company tax rate is taken into account. Companies paying 3.3% more than they did under a Labor government.[/b] FROM WHAT I RECALL, THE HOWARD GOVT CONNED MANY VOTERS...IT ALWAYS FARTED ON ABOUT ITS TAX CUTS...BUT IN FACT, IT WAS A HIGH TAXING GOVT. [b]SHOW ME THE MONEY, TONY! SHOW ME THE MONEY, JOE![/b] N'

N'ellie May

26/03/2013Hi Ad, Lyn and fellow Swordsters, Thanks for your great work. It's always uplifting to read and think about the wonderful discussions at this site. I've done a lot of reading and listening over these last few years and have never seen such a nasty side of politics as these PM Gillard years have been. We have to remember that it has been our own side, not just the opposition and journalists, who have done the damage to our great party and PM Gillard. I totally agree with Greg Combet who said yesterday what a disgrace it was last week. Well, it wasn't just last week - it has been going on by our own elected MP's since PM Gillard was elected leader. That's the really breath-taking bit! Apparently, MP's were chasing journalists down corridors to deliver the latest gossip and numbers for KRudd and they were doing that for the last 2 and a half years. It has made me despair to hear such reports, which are undoubtedly true. There is no longer a radio station or television current affairs program that I dare tune in to and the level of scrutiny of the opposition's policies is non-existant. People want an alternative to Phony Tony but in my opinion our own side has done as much harm to ourselves as any-one. What can be done? I will continue the fight. I'm a fully paid up member of the Labor Party but I'm incredibly disappointed as well. Yes, we're fighting opinion polls and nasty tactics from the opposition and the MSM, but let's hope there will never again be a time when we are fighting each other so viciously. Sorry to sound so negative.

Ad astra

26/03/201342 long If Mark Scott wants the ABC to reflect a culture portrayed by Leigh Sales last night, we might as well write off the ABC as a balanced player in the political arena. nasking Agree – we don’t want Abbott, Hockey, Robb, Cormann thought bubbles about economics. We need sound management. Michael I thought that not only was Kelly O’Dwyer ridiculed by the audience; she was at her impotent worst on last night’s Q&A. She contributed almost nothing. NormanK That is an impressive list – I wonder if Austin 3:16 will respond to it, and if he/she does, how. N’ellie May There is much truth in what you write. Now is the time for a new start, without the whiteants.

Bacchus

26/03/2013Michael [quote]I don't think Leigh Sales managed to knock the PM off her stride the way she did Abbott when last he dared to face her.[/quote] I'm going to disagree with most here and say that that's exactly why the Sales interview was so good for the PM. She kept her cool and came out on top in the end. If Mr Abbott actually fronts Ms Sales again, the contrast will be stark. If we expect interviewers to be tough on the opposition, we can only expect the same to apply to "our" side, especially when "our" side performs much better, showing the opposition up for the lightweights they are ;-) Nas [b]I THINK WE'RE IN FORDE[/b] AS YOU KNOW, I'M IN RANKIN. IT SEEMS MR EMERSON IS OUT AND ABOUT QUITE A LOT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. YOU CAN FOLLOW HIM ON FACEBOOK (https://www.facebook.com/craigemersonmp?ref=stream) AND HE'S QUITE ACTIVE ON TWITTER ALSO. Ad Astra Thank you for your thoughtful words. Yes, I fear we're in for increasing bouts of bad weather as global warming takes hold. At least Malcolm Farr mentions in his piece on news.com.au (bold mine), "[i][b]if[/b] the September 14 election repeats the results of an opinion poll out today.[/i]" and "[i]the magnitude of the landslide the Government could [b]in theory[/b] face in six months.[/i]" and "[i]The margin between Labor and the Coalition is expected to be much closer in September, and the [b]Newspoll is a response to the events of a particular week.[/b][/i]"

Pappinbarra Fox

26/03/2013Bachus, I agree with you. Sales tone was completely unacceptable, showing no respect at all for the office of Prime Minister - that is a refelction on Sales as a human being - but the way our PM handled the affront - verbal assault - was quite remarkable and we learned a lot about her character.

Tom of Melboune

26/03/2013Leigh Sales adopted exactly the same tome when she interview Abbott a month or 2 ago. Then she was applauded for her manner in interrupting and pursuing Abbott. People here adopt different standards, to accommodate their political bias, that’s rank hypocrisy. Unsurprising though. ------------------ Norman K should review the achievements of just the past week or so – • NBN behind on rollout • NBN behind on take up rates • Putting the parliament under unsatisfactory pressure to pass media laws • Humiliating back down over media laws • 40% of caucus prefer another leader • Loss of most capable, respected and experienced ministers • Unable to retain support from own ministry ------------------------- Those interested should review the history of Ad Astra’s ill-informed commentary about political polling. He has - • Routinely speculated about the influence of News Ltd (without any evidence), • Criticised polling methods (without understanding them), • Questioned sampling (without seeming to comprehend the efforts made to obtain a demographic fit), • and most hilariously has tried to rewrite a simple question about confidence into the most obtuse and convoluted question.

Truth Seeker

26/03/2013Ad, I am glad you enjoyed my latest piece, and I appreciate your feedback :-) Yes that is the only explanation that I can come up with, and the facts tend to bear that out. I used to say that they only lie while they are awake, but I think now, that when they are asleep, they are dreaming up lies to tell when they wake up again! Kelly O'Dwyer's biggest (and I do mean BIGGEST) asset is her mouth, sadly there is a major disconnect between her oversized mouth, and her undersized brain. I wouldn't giver her a job picking up litter, much less a government portfolio, but then If Abbott would give Barnaby (excuse me while I make a complete fool of myself) Joyce a job, then it's obvious that the lower the IQ, the further ahead you'll get in the LNP! Cheers :-) :-)

ian

26/03/2013After the solid refutation of about the third item on Sales list the PM took control of the interview. There were attempted "gotchas". They were treated as the annoying mossie bites that they were. The message that the Govt is going to push was pushed. The talking points the PM wanted to cover were covered. Sales was snippy because she was losing...badly. This from the transcript...about 10 seconds into the i/v " LEIGH SALES: After recent events, aren't Australians well within their rights to conclude that the Gillard Government is a dysfunctional mess that deserves to be consigned to opposition as soon as possible? " Then, at the 4:26 mark, after JG defending the live cattle position, this; " LEIGH SALES: It was very messy in the way that it was done though. " The following 8 minutes were all JGPM's way. There were some very legitimate questions asked and answered. The tone of Sales voice quietened, losing the initial shrillness and the PM covered all her message points. I took two things from the interveiw; The media have realised that the new media laws, and the way they were dropped on cabinet, was a deliberate way of forcing the cabinet white ants, backgrounders and leakers to show their hand. None were ready for it. Except those that planned it. I suspect that the Canberra Press Gallery are going to get a lot more Prime Ministerial and Cabinet Minister push back than they currently are getting. Many, I think, will be found wanting.

Pappinbarra Fox

26/03/2013Folks, Todays troll gravatar is: purple face - tongue hanging out at left. JUST SCROLL when you see that gravatar.

jane

26/03/2013[quote]ToM, you are repeatedly misunderstanding what Ad Astra is saying.[/quote] Should read: ToM, you are repeatedly [b]willfully[/b] misunderstanding what Ad Astra is saying. Don't expect any meaningful interaction with ToM, Martin Spalding. He is either unwilling or unable to understand that sometimes circumstances arise which mean you can't follow through on a promise. I go for unwilling. Wilkie's pokies bill is the case in point. It was never going to get through the Lower House, so had to be abandoned. Wilkie got over it. ToM, like a petulant child refuses to face reality.

Ad astra

26/03/2013Bacchus Thank you for your thoughtful comments. What I expect from interviewers is probing, persistent questioning, but not aggressive, judgemental questioning. Above all, I expect journalists to show respect for the office of the person being interviewed. The office of the PM, and also of that the LOTO, warrant respect. This at least means that the interview begins courteously. If an interviewee avoids answering, or obfuscates, a good interviewer will repeat or rephrase the question, even say: ‘You are not answering the question’, but at all times the office need to be respected. Can anyone imagine a journalist taking Sales’ approach of last night if the Governor General or the Governor of the Reserve Bank were being interviewed? I am not asking her to be as tough on Tony Abbott as she was on Julia Gillard, if he ever fronts; what I am hoping for is that her questioning is direct, probing, persistent if answers are obtuse or not forthcoming at all, but at all times respectful of the office of the LOTO. I do not care if she likes or dislikes Tony Abbott; it is of no relevance. I do not want her to show her personal views of him. I want her to ask him questions that will probe what vision he has for this nation, what policies and plans he has, and how he will fund them. I am sick and tired of journalists lazily resorting to making pejorative remarks and demanding a response, such as, for example the Sabra Lane one on AM to the PM: “Why don’t people like you?” We are facing a choice between what Labor has to offer for the next term, and what the Coalition has to offer. There is only six months for us to find out. What I want is interviews that explore that, not niggly, nasty, rude recycling of contemporary personal views of the leaders, or their front bench. Of course, it’s so much easier for lazy journalists to throw personal sensation-seeking questions, than to get down to the tough task of analyzing policy and fashioning probing questions, the answers to which would assist electors to make their decision on September 14. I agree that the Sales interview showed the strength and coolness of the PM, who refused to be thrown off stride by Sales’ line of questioning. I doubt if it was Sales’ intention to show the PM in good light! What will be interesting will be Tony Abbott’s response if Sales assails him in a similar way. If Abbott fronts, everyone who found Sales interview last night offensive will be watching her like a hawk to see if she gives him the same treatment, or whether, by arrangement perhaps, she gives him an armchair ride. When she reads the feedback from viewers about last night’s interview, she will be acutely aware of the thousands of eyes watching her every word, her tone of voice, her body language. She has set herself up for intense scrutiny. Ian I enjoyed reading your astute take on the Sales’ interview.

nasking

26/03/2013 BLOSS, YER QUITE WELCOME...EACH TIME I WATCH THAT WALKING TIME BOMB ABBOTT GET ALL COCKSURE I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF ALL THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS I'VE HEARD DESCRIBING HIM FROM MANY, MANY VOTERS. THERE IS A REAL FLAW IN ABBOTT'S CHARACTER...AND THE PEOPLE...AND MOST OF THE MEDIA SENSE IT. KEEP CHIPPING AWAY...AND ALL WILL BE REVEALED. IT IS THE BEST INTERVIEWERS AND COMMENTATORS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO CRACK THE SURFACE...PEEL...AND SHOW THE PROBLEM BELOW. LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO POOR OLD LATHAM. TOOK THE COALITION AND ITS SUPPORTERS UNTIL THE FINAL WEEKS TO REVEAL THE MAJOR PROBLEM. AS FOR JULIA GILLARD...WE KNOW HER FLAWS IN AND OUT. FROM HEREON IN...IT'S HER STRENGTHS THAT WILL BECOME APPARENT...AS SHE DIGS IN AND FINDS THAT POLITICAL DYNAMO THAT GOT HER HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE... DAMNED HARDER FOR A WOMAN FROM SA AND VICTORIA THAN A WHITE MAN FROM BIG DEAL SYDNEY WHO IS BACKED BY TOP MINING BARONS, NEWSPAPER BARONS, SHOCK JOCKS...AND A LONG SERVING PRIME MINISTER. BUT SHE'S STILL STANDING. PM GILLARD IS [b]STILL STANDING. [/b] N'

42 long

26/03/2013Kelly O'Dwyer is an airhead the more she shuts up the better the outcome. She should never be allowed to live down the attempt at faking the reason for a business moving to the street around the corner. Went all public with anti carbon price placards and they had planned to move there ages ago and for another reason. Says Abbott governs for ALL australians A Costello staffer. Do they select these people because they are sillier than the LOTO and therefore no real threat to him? Abbott... Rhodes scholar? what exactly does THAT entail? Does his educational background and knowledge of morality and truthfullness gained from Oxford and the church respectively SHOW? He's not a good advert for both institutions.

Casablanca

26/03/2013It will be interesting to see if Abbott takes up the invitation to appear on 7.30 this week. The last time that the Sloganeer appeared on 7.30 was 7 months ago, on 22 August 2012. His theme and message that night was that Marius Kloppers had blamed the shelving of the Olympic Dam project on the carbon tax. Kloppers as we know said the precise opposite. Abbott, when pressed by Sales admitted that he had not read the Kloppers statement, of I think the previous day, but that he had read one by Jac Nasser from 3 months earlier. He quoted Nasser as saying saying something about the uncertainty surrounding the introduction of the carbon price (still 2 months away at that stage) and the aftermath of the GFC (ongoing). http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3573785.htm Many will recall that on the following day Abbott had changed his statement and said that he had in fact read the Kloppers press statement in the late afternoon prior to the interview. If Abbott does front up to 7.30 I suppose that he will sloganeer his way through the interview. Maybe Leigh Sales could ask him why he has not filleted any fish in front of the cameras of late. Does this mean that Australian Fishers have lost confidence in his fish filleting policy? I'm sure though that Abbott can point to the support from the white grape growers whose grapes he stuffed his mouth with for the cameras today.

Tom of Melboune

26/03/2013Jane said – [i]” Wilkie's pokies bill is the case in point. It was never going to get through the Lower House, so had to be abandoned.”[/i] …and the reasonable question in response to this excuse is- When Gillard made the unequivocal comment to “act unilaterally” in the absence of agreement, was she misleading Wilkie, or was she incompetent or was she dishonest? You see, Gillard made the written commitment (note use of unbolded lower case) she made it with the knowledge of the composition of the HoR. So which is it – misleading, incompetent or dishonest? Or is there some other excuse?

Bacchus

26/03/2013Casablanca I had just finished watching the Abbott interview when I read your post. Do you think Ms Sales went harder on Mr Abbott or PM Gillard?

Ad astra

26/03/2013Folks For those who consider Leigh Sales’ interview of Tony Abbott exhibited the same tone as she exhibited last night, review that interview of 22 August here: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3573785.htm# She was probing, searching, persistent, and well armed with facts, but can anyone show me where she showed disrespect for the LOTO of the level exhibited in her opening question last night: [i]“After recent events, aren't Australians well within their rights to conclude that the Gillard Government is a dysfunctional mess that deserves to be consigned to opposition as soon as possible?” [/i] Show me where she showed her personal feelings about Abbott. In the Abbott interview, she showed restraint and respect, and even when she ought to have called him a liar, she softened her words to: “You were pretty loose with the truth today’’ and later “people would say you've been a bit loose with the truth” – a ‘bit loose’ indeed. I hope Sales will do a similar interview with Abbott if he has the guts to front, but I don’t expect her to be rude or disrespectful of him or his office.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Norman K, Before I consider the list could you please do me a favour and pair it down to a "Gillard" list. For example as I see it the NBN would be more of a "Rudd" achievement than a "Gillard" one - after all it's forerunner was first proposed in 2007 when Rudd was opposition leader. Surely Ms Gillard's achievements can stand alone without needing to ride on others coat-tails. Also why is something like "lower tax" an achievement? According to good ol "Wikipedia" Afghanistan has a remarkably low tax rate as a percentage of GDP whereas either Denmark or Sweden has a much, much higher rate. Yet it's clearly apparent which are the "better" of "worse" countries of the three. (HINT it's not the low tax one) I had rather hoped for some genuine answers - not "I cut and pasted a vague list from somewhere else"

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013ps to Normank I should also say thank you for at least providing an answer. Ta

42 long

26/03/2013Ad As, you are completely right. The tone of the interview is different. Searching questions are not a problem. The insulting intro IS, and the assumption that it is OK. Kohler did it on sunday. Cyprus bank Action "worthy of the labor Party" That gratuitous statement is rubbish the same as Hockey comparing our situation to Greece. My view is that this is what SCOTT demands of the abc these days. I'd love to be proven wrong but I fear I'm correct. Scott or anyone, could never make the abc right wing enough to appease the LieNP. Minchen/Barnardi et al have moved it far crazy right. Even IF the abc is sold /changed/ obliterated, Scott will still be rewarded for his efforts

nasking

26/03/2013 BACCHUS, CHEERS FOR THE FACEBOOK LINK...I DO SHARE CRAIG EMERSON'S POSTS SOMETIMES AND 'LIKED' HIS PAGE AWHILE BACK. MALCOLM FARR IS SPOT ON: [b]The margin between Labor and the Coalition is expected to be much closer in September, and the Newspoll is a response to the events of a particular week."[/b] YOU CAN COUNT ON IT...BY SEPTEMBER THE VOTERS WILL KNOW MORE DETAILS...AND HAVE A REAL CHOICE. N'

nasking

26/03/2013 [b]For example as I see it the NBN would be more of a "Rudd" achievement than a "Gillard" one - after all it's forerunner was first proposed in 2007 when Rudd was opposition leader. [/b] JULIA GILLARD WAS DEPUTY PM WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE...SHE CONTINUED THE NBN ROLLOUT UNDER HER WATCH. THE NBN STAYS ON HER LIST. N'

Shirley

26/03/2013Swordsters. I have not commented for a long while, have been reading and keeping up with things. Ad thank you for continuing to write good pieces. We may be able to have some effect if enough people fill out this ABC survey. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-26/what-election-issues-matter-to-you-abcmyvote/4583744?utm_source=supporter_message&utm_medium=email

Diotima

26/03/2013Thank you all for the collaborative effort here. This is my first comment after visiting and reading for more than a year. What a great country we are. The 10th anniversary of the crime of the century last week on March 20/21 was almost completely ignored by the MSM and the ABC demonstrating their complicity in covering up the crimes against humanity committed by the Murdoch puppet Howard with tacit approval of his pugilist protégé Abbott. I commend Ad Astra's exposure of the corrupted take over of the ABC and the Australian media in general by the Murdoch global surveillance enforcers posing as journalists. The courage of all who post here is to be admired. The fifth estate is the primary vehicle by which we might be able to advance the cause of restoring the proud tradition of constitutional democracy in Australia after the wreckage done to it by the 11 Howard-Abbott LNP years of anti-democratic greed and homicidal oil for food double dealing and participation in the criminal military invasion of 2003. Only two possible candidates are available for election for PM in September. There can be no let up on making the comparison between the two here in cyberspace since there really is only one real candidate. The vile unscrupulous traitor puppet Abbott is unworthy of continued acceptance in any civilized society. The Murdoch media monopoly propaganda can be countered and we must do it or get used to further erosion of our hard won freedoms. The 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli massacre is coming very soon so why wait to revive the ANZAC spirit. Murdoch and his plutocrats who seek to destroy democracy and subjugate the world magnify their strength electronically but in reality are so few they quake in fear at the prospect of the global upsurge of indignation about the decadence and corruption of richest criminals. Without the stolen loot they have no power. Here on TPS we can build the core of the collaborative effort needed to prosecute the 21st century new deal Reformation, Renaissance and Enlightenment. Thank you all again for reinforcing my own optimism and courage to counter the toxic tide of barbarism from the LNP and their Murdoch monopoly gang of mass media whores in the Canberra bordellos. They fear us. The fourth estate is finished and they know the fifth is leaving them behind in the dust in the scrap heap of history. Every post here is another step forward to a better world.

NormanK

26/03/2013Austin 3:16 The ball is in your court. Regardless of the source, that is a list of the Gillard government's achievements, including the NBN legislation which she helped guide through a hung parliament. Without that legislation the 'idea' of the NBN would never have become a reality. You are about 'this far' from being labelled an agitator and promptly ignored.

nasking

26/03/2013 TRUTH SEEKER...TOP POST...I HAVE SHARED IT ON MY FACEBOOK SITE...YOU MAY HAVE TO SCROLL DOWN... http://www.facebook.com/nick.king.1232760?ref=tn_tnmn KEEP UP THE GREAT WARRIOR WORK. N'

Jason

26/03/2013NormanK, Our new found troll was testing the waters on Sunday and was found wanting!

NormanK

26/03/2013Cheers Jason. I try to take people at face value but my generosity is obviously misplaced. Of all of the games that get played on blogs, this wave of the hand dismissal of someone else's posts is one of the most annoying. What aspect of their personality it satisfies I can't even begin to imagine.

nasking

26/03/2013 IF IAN MACDONALD IS OBEID'S LEFT TESTICLE... WHAT DOES THAT MAKE BARNABY JOYCE AND JULIE BISHOP? GINA'S BUTT CHEEKS? [b]Nathan Rees said he thought it was inappropriate for a minister to be wined and dined by stakeholders with an interest in a live issue.[/b] HMMM: [b]Renegade Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce tapped the taxpayer for $2,000 last week to attend the lavish wedding of a granddaughter of an Indian billionaire engaged in delicate negotiations with iron ore matriarch Gina Rinehart to buy two of her Queensland assets. Crikey can reveal that while Rinehart paid for Joyce and deputy opposition leader Julie Bishop to travel to the abundant nuptials, Joyce used his overseas parliamentary study entitlement for the return leg from Kuala Lumpur. The Fairfax press reported this morning that the two Tory MPs whooped it up at the celebrations last weekend for Mallika Reddy and her new hubby, Indu Group scion Siddharth, on the arm of Rinehart in Hyderabad. Mallika’s granddad is wealthy industrialist GV Krishna, who according to Forbes India is worth over a billion dollars. Senator Joyce told The Age he’d enjoyed a brief encounter with a Bollywood actor he described as ”India’s Brad Pitt” adding, ”I must admit it was absolutely mind-blowing.” The two senior MPs were on hand to lend cachet to Rinehart’s standing, as GV wavers on the terms of a $2 billion deal to buy Hancock Coal’s Queensland assets Tad’s Corner and Kevan’s Corner.[/b] http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/06/17/two-grand-for-barnabys-mind-blowing-india-epic-with-gina/ MEMORIES EH? N'

Truth Seeker

26/03/2013NAS, THANKS FOR THAT :-) I'M GLAD YOU LIKED IT :-) YOU ARE THE WARRIOR MY FRIEND, AND I'VE BEEN ENCOURAGED AND INSPIRED BY YOUR RETURN TO THE KEYBOARD DESPITE YOUR DIFFICULTIES. I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU HAD A GOOD TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY VISIT, AND I HOPE YOU AND S ARE FEELING SOMEWHAT REFRESHED FROM IT. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, AND DON'T LET THE BASTARD WIN :-) CHEERS :-) :-) :-)

MWS

26/03/2013Regarding Sabra Lane's question to the PM, perhaps she should have replied as Margaret Thatcher once did: "Which people? Give me their names!" or words to that effect.

Truth Seeker

26/03/2013Diotima, welcome to the TPS family, and with your first post out of the way, you need to now make a habit of it :-) love your passion and enthusiasm, and I am sure that you will be another valuable contributor. Cheers :-) :-)

janice

26/03/2013Casablanca, [quote]If Abbott does front up to 7.30 I suppose that he will sloganeer his way through the interview. Maybe Leigh Sales could ask him why he has not filleted any fish in front of the cameras of late. Does this mean that Australian Fishers have lost confidence in his fish filleting policy? I'm sure though that Abbott can point to the support from the white grape growers whose grapes he stuffed his mouth with for the cameras today.[/quote] He'll probably produce that little blue book he carries around with him; you know, the one he says is his great plan for our future. Austin 3:16 Further to the answer NormanK gave you, it should be pointed out that in order to get the NBN off the ground, Minister Conroy had to chase Rudd all over the country by getting himself a seat on the same airplane as Rudd so he could get him to talk about it. So it would be drawing a long bow to give Rudd any kudos for it. It was Rudd's Deputy who got commandeered to put signatures onto the mountains of paperwork Rudd stacked in the 'too hard' pile in his office.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Norman K, Well in that case you might as well give Ms Gillard credit for the accord, floating the aussie dollar, the GST, Captain Cook's voyage of discovery. As to tax (as I've previously mentioned) if you're interested here's a small Ibisworld paper on government and financials in the USA and Australia. Using the example of the USA as given you could make a very strong argument that a low tax rate is indeed quite a bad thing http://www.ibisworld.com.au/images/marketing/PhilRuthven-ALuckyCountry-September12.pdf Further (as I understand things) one of the irresponsibility's of the Howard years was a change in the revenue stream of government, relying less and less on PAYE taxation and more on corporate tax receipts and the GST. (There's a good Greg Jericho article over at The Drum on this) In many ways now the taxation base of our country is a "success" tax - should corporate profit and consumer spending be high then there is enough for even Mr Howard to squander on as much middle class welfare as he likes - and still boast of a surplus. However as the GFC has shown should corporate profit and consumer confidence / spending fall the government's financial situation is imperilled. So be that as it may taxation revenues are largely based on "success" then an argument could be made that Howard's higher tax rates simply came from a more "successful" economy. I'll accept that the above premise is highly debatable, but it does go to show the perils of arbitrarily determining if a higher tax rate is either good or bad. I'm very curious though I asked two question in response to your list. Firstly could you give me a list of "stand alone" Gillard achievements and secondly why is "lower tax" an achievement at all. Why is that so difficult to answer? Why can't it be done? If I may be frank how much thought and effort did you put into cutting and pasting that list?

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013NormanK [quote]Of all of the games that get played on blogs, this wave of the hand dismissal of someone else's posts is one of the most annoying. [/quote] [quote]You are about 'this far' from being labelled an agitator and promptly ignored. [/quote] As a side issue might I add that hypocrisy does not become you.

Curi-Oz

26/03/2013I've just found an interesting link on the ABC asking about "what election issue matters to me" http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-26/what-election-issues-matter-to-you-abcmyvote/4583744?utm_source=supporter_message&utm_medium=email Perhaps we might encourage some review of the 'alternate government'? Regards,

TalkTurkey

26/03/2013 This you must watch. It will tickle your cockles ... Sola Rosa ‏@solarosa19m Brilliant....Sacha Baron Cohen to tour New Zealand as Lord Monckton http://ow.ly/jpOBX

Ad astra

26/03/201342 long If it is Mark Scott’s intention to foster the culture Leigh Sales exhibited last night, we have already lost our fair and balanced ABC. Shirley Welcome back, and thank you for your comment. I hope [i]TPS[/i] continues to be of interest. Form completed.

Ad astra

26/03/2013Diotima Welcome to [i]The Political Sword[/i] family, and thank you for your thoughtful comment. I’m so glad you find [i]TPS[/i] useful and the comments congenial reading. I find myself in accord with what you have written, and endorse your conclusion: “[i]They fear us. The fourth estate is finished and they know the fifth is leaving them behind in the dust in the scrap heap of history.”[/i]

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hi Janice [quote]So it would be drawing a long bow to give Rudd any kudos for it [/quote] Yeah he was just the guy who took the concept to the electorate in 2007. Who successfully argued the case before that electorate for the need for government investment in broadband. However that's kinda irrelevant, I was asking why there's such strong support for [b]Ms Gillard[/b] (does all that bile get in your eyes and interfere with your ability to read). To date I've had NormanK cut and paste an vague list which he apparently cannot defend or offer any explanation for when questioned. One paltry response - kinda says it all. It does, however, leave me completely mystified as to why there's such strong support here for Ms Gillard. All you ALL fifth columnists secretly agitating for an Abbott government?

patriciawa

26/03/2013Great post, Ad Astra, echoed by George Megalogenis on Q&A last night.

Ad astra

26/03/2013TT Brilliant impersonation of Lord Monckton by Sacha Baron Cohen. Even the Lord couldn't work it out!

Ad astra

26/03/2013Patriciawa Thank you for your compliment. George Mega swore off polls a long while ago.

Jason

26/03/2013Austin 3:16 The only reason NormanK hasn't responded any further is you're a low life troll! about the same level as a pedophile!

2353

26/03/2013Shirley, Form completed.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hi Jason, Sure that would be it. I can tell by the amount of people, like yourself, rationally and dispassionately cutting my arguments to shreds. let's have a quick little count - so far there is zero, but I live in hope. And please take your mind out of the gutter and engage your brain should you deign to respond. Big ask I know ......

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Now that list of "acheivments" has been up for a while. Although NormanK seems to have abandoned it. So anybody also explain how on earth the apology for the stolen generation makes a list of Ms Gillard's achievement. Is that why NormanK is so silent, he has the good sense to be embarrassed by such tripe ?

Ad astra

26/03/2013Folks Out for the evening, back tomorrow.

Jason

26/03/2013Austin 3:16 March 24. 2013 07:40 PM ps As for Rudd, he lost me when he didn't go to a double dissolution over the ETS. So when he didn't sulk and pick up his bat & ball and storm of the field that's when he lost you. Wow. What a criteria I want a PM who chucks a hissy fit and calls an election when things don't go his way. March 24. 2013 07:56 PM "Wow. What a criteria I want a PM who chucks a hissy fit and calls an election when things don't go his way." Yet Abbott has already stated should he win office and Labor and the Greens block him in the senate over the "carbon tax" He will do just that! Jason

MWS

26/03/2013Austin 3.16, why don't you do your own research on the internet - I hear that Google is a search engine - try it! Why expect others to spoon-feed you with information - go and find it yourself, instead of asking others to provide information, and then criticising that information when it is provided. Based on your behaviour since you first posted here - YOU ARE A TROLL.

TalkTurkey

26/03/2013Gee Some of the comments that pass as ordinary here are relatively [i]extra[/i]ordinary in freshness, insight, validity, all that intellectually-respectable, interesting, decent stuff, compared with most of the MSM Ad astra you must wonder as do I (and as Gypsy Jan or was it Pikranku wondered aloud to me recently) how many Diotima's there are around TPS ... Gee it makes one feel good to see that there are lurkers (no stigmatisation intended, we love you!) as clever and articulate as she just waiting to *come out* - and have you noticed, they are always so polite,complimentary, grateful even, it makes us all preen just a little, but the best thing is, who we are matters not a jot here, it truly is the thought that counts and we are all doing what we do not for recompense but for the People. NormanK that is a most remarkable list, puts me in mind of a list a few days back done by (? - Lyn and some others would remember) - of all the times *J*U*L*I*A* was a gone goose ... :) ... she's still flying and no-one, but no-one better get in her way now! So many people on TPS in the last few days, I get lost, cam't answer you all but I love to see us raging along better than ever before, we have confidence in ourselves and belief in our little bit of importance. All I want to be is a firm horse-shoe nail in Red Caviar's hoof. Now that the loose shoes have been fixed, and when she picks the moment, [i]watch her go![/i]

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey MWS, Actually I am doing research on the internet - it's in the form of a brief questionnaire that anybody could answer. But I'll take your advice and google "Why do the bloggers on the TPS so strongly support the leadership of Ms Gillard." It tells me there are no results found - who ever would have anticipated that ! [quote]asking others to provide information, and then criticising that information when it is provided.[/quote] Yes imagine the gall of me expecting somebody to be able to rationally defend an argument they put forward. I'll see if I can hunt up some stocks to put myself in so the yokels can throw rotten fruit at me.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hi Jason, Exactly Abott is the kind of leader who would chuck a hissy fit if things don't go his way. I hope I made it clear before that I don't consider that to be laudable behaviour. Quite the reverse. Indeed if Abbott is endorsing that kind of behaviour it should say it all really. So your either endorsing Tony Abbott or agreeing with me - which is it ? Also Algernon seems to think that such a hissy fit is expected behaviour for a leader - perhaps you could take it up with him?

DMW

26/03/2013Austin 3:16 @ 09:28 AM [i]... Why is there such strong support for Ms Gillard ? [/i] 1. Ms Gillard is Prime Minister. 2. Ms Gillard is not anything like Tony Abbott Nothing more is needed.

Casablanca

26/03/2013Austin 3:16 [i]To date I've had NormanK cut and paste an vague list which he apparently cannot defend or offer any explanation for when questioned. One paltry response - kinda says it all. [/i] Austin 3:16 I think that what the response to you, so far, [i]'kinda says'[/i] is that we are not sure about your reason for posting here. Also, as you clearly have access to the internet, you could do your own research to satisfy your queries. Don't expect us to be your flunkies. I'm happy to accept any list that comes from a reputable site: there is no point in re-inventing the wheel. I will make a point in general terms. Rudd brought some strong ideas and policies to the 2007 election. Expectations were high that he would bring these policies to fruition. Bulwarking our economy against the main impacts of the GFC was a major achievement of his time in office. Unfortunately, PM Rudd proved to be a dud when it came to administration and delivery. Here in Canberra, the bureaucrats started to look forward to the times when PM Rudd was overseas and his Deputy took the helm. It was then that the paperwork would start to flow again. A teen of my acquaintance recently told me that during Rudd's prime ministership her (Public Service) parents frequently did not make it home for dinner. This was because both parents often had to work back at short notice to respond to matters that had languished in PM Rudd's in-tray and had suddenly become urgent. PM Rudd was such a poor administrator and his Deputy Gillard was so efficient and effective, I find it hard to believe the accusations that she does not follow proper processes. My guess is that because the Ruddites were leaking so much PMJG tried to control this treachery by short circuiting some Cabinet procedures and being more selective when circulating cabinet submissions. PM Rudd was in office for 2 years, 204 days, PM Gillard has so far been PM for 2 years, 276 days. Check their respective legislative records. The official Parliament of Australia website is at: http://www.aph.gov.au

Casablanca

26/03/2013Quote of the day: [quote]I'm a carnivore.[/quote] Who said this and why?

jaycee

26/03/2013Cross posted for Austin 3:16.... You are perhaps guilty of falling for that past-world concept that OM. polling machines represent a wholistic picture of voting intention out there…The next election will feature heavily on social media and from where I stand, here and other sane blog-sites, I do not see ANY wavering from total support- and then some!-for Labor and the PM.from die-hard Laborites. Given that the last election delivered roughly 50/50 in numbers, I suspect the next election will deliver the same EXCEPT for some new equation…and THAT may very well be the number of new women stepping up to the plate in various ministries….AND the steely determination of the PM. herself!…and let’s face it..after a season of undermining, opp’n accusation, media vilification…she has metaphorically AND physically, dusted off the dirt,straightened her skirt, had her hair tidied up, applied the lippy, set the jaw and fronted up to her abusers and accusers time and time again and stared them down every time, inside and outside the House and challenged them face to face to ;”Give it your best shot”…….Now you tell me; which side has the winning smile?

Michael

26/03/2013If we even needed further evidence of how little Abbott will bring to the next election, on the Nine News tonight he said that "winning government from Opposition is like climbing Mount Everest". Puhleaze!!! Channelling Kevin Rudd as a route to the Prime Ministership???? The man is not only a fool, he's unimaginative, a copycat of the least creative order, and on top of everything else, does he truly believe we have 10 minute memory spans? 'Winning is like climbing Mount Everest'? For a start, allowing for metaphorical meandering, WHY is winning like climbing Mount Everest? Kevin? Tony? Either one of you will do... if you're not stranded on Lhotse Face or wandering lost around the Khumbu Icefall, that is.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Casablanca, I would like to know why the people who make comments on the blog 'The Political Sword' have such a strongly positive opinion of Julia Gillard as a political leader. I cannot for the life of me think of a better way of gain that knowledge than by ASKING said people why they have such opinion. Honestly I find it amazing that asking people questions in order to understand their point of view seems to have me lumped in with that hypothetical Martian as some kind of oddity.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Ad, Firstly it would seem that discussion about politics interests a proportion of the population. Enough that blogs like this get a hit or two and enough that commercial interests can find money to be made in it. And that’s interesting of itself, for a considerable part of human history the idea of discussing the abilities, strengths, weaknesses, failings, shortcomings of our rulers in an open public forum would have been unthinkable. Even now there are parts of the world where such discussion would not happen. And in this discussion on politics lately it really seems to come down to pundits v polls, it’s either some “insider” telling us what the latest scoop is or somebody pouring over the latest polls. Lets face it the punditry is guesswork, sure it can be reasonably informed guesswork but an educated guess is still a guess. The recent US election showed us how far off base the pundits can be, the reaction of Karl Rove was priceless, one of those “I’ll watch that again” moments. Whereas at least the polls give something solid, despite their shortcommings. The work of Nate Silver showed just how accurate a good pollster can be. It would be interesting to look at the polls for the last few state / federal elections 6 months out and then compare with the result on the day.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey DMW, Hard to argue with that.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Jason, A tiny bit of perspective in case you ever need it. - Paedophilia is a criminal act. - Having a difference of opinion to you on the abilities of a politician is not - Paedophilia is a despicable act that causes great harm to children - Having a difference of opinion to you on the abilities of a politician is not Maybe you could keep that in mind next time you get near a keyboard.

Jason

26/03/2013Austin 3:16 So if I wish to lump a troll like you as the same as a them you plan to do what?

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Jason, Why should I do anything? Such contemptible actions on your part are yours and yours alone.

Bacchus

26/03/2013Mr 3:16 - might I respectfully suggest that you're not getting the responses you DEMAND, because intelligent people here simply refuse to engage in your inane dribble... Just sayin' ;-)

Tom of Melbourne

26/03/2013Jason you're the one who compared someone with an alternative view with a pedophile. There is no point in getting all bothered about a subject you chose to introduce.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey jaycee, Birds of a feather tend to flock together. I can honestly say I personally no nobody who intends to vote for Tony Abbott. However that's just me and my social circle, it's indicative of me and who I hang out with, but that's not to say it's a reflection of the electorate at large. [quote]Given that the last election delivered roughly 50/50 in numbers[/quote] Right in line with the last Newspoll before the election. Bit of a coincidence that hey ;)

jaycee

26/03/2013AA. To keep giving safe-harbour to these cowardly poltroons is to diminish your site...they interrupt the flow and continuity of the conversation for absolutely no gain. I didn't really come here tonight to deliver that little missive for Austin, he is not worth a revealed truth..even less the other trolls..but surely those who support and encourage the person of the PM.and the Party do not deserve to be harangued by such insincerity of manners and baseness of heart. There is neither logic nor grace for to give foul-voice to such dilettanti.....delete the bastards!

nasking

26/03/2013 [b]KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, AND DON'T LET THE BASTARD WIN[/b] CHEERS TRUTH SEEKER! WHICH GETS ME WONDERING WHEN WE WILL SEE A NEW PARTY BLOSSOM...NOT DISSIMILAR TO THE OLD DEMOCRATS...UK LIB DEMS...AND US NADERITES...WITH A TOUCH OF OCCUPY MOVEMENT...BUT CONTAINING A WHOLE BUNCH OF CLEANSKINS WHO ARE NOT INFECTED BY MINING, CORPORATE AND UNION CORRUPTION? YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD CANDIDATE TS. THAT PARTICULAR PARTY COULD PROMISE TO HANDOUT BUCKETS OF ROTTEN TOMATOES TO PELT AT ABBOTT EVERY TIME HE OPENS HIS GOB AND USES INANE SLOGANS AND ONE-LINERS LIKE: STOP THE BOATS...GREAT BIG NEW TAX...DEAD, BURIED AND CREMATED... JOKING OF COURSE...THAT PARTICULAR PARTY WOULD HAVE A LOT OF SERIOUS WORK TO DO...WHILST THE ALP CLEANED UP ITS ACT. AND THE GREENS WORKED OUT A MORE WORKABLE, EFFECTIVE ENERGY PLATFORM. I STILL BELIEVE ABBOTT CAN BE TAKEN DOWN...BUT IT WILL BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO GET THE ALP OVER THE LINE... AND HAVING PUT SO MUCH EFFORT INTO PAVING THE WAY FOR MEDIA REFORM, A MORE EFFECTIVE MINING TAX, ENDING LIVE EXPORTS, A DENTICARE SYSTEM, CHANGES TO SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA, ENDING THE CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM, PROMOTING GAY MARRIAGE, CREATING AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH TO ASYLUM SEEKERS, ENDING SUPER HANDOUTS FOR THE RICH, INCREASING NEWSTART ALLOWANCE...AND SO ON...I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY PAST AND PRESENT CONTRIBUTORS WILL FEEL COMPELLED TO KEEP ON FIGHTING AND SUPPORTING THE ALP CAUSE AT THE LEVEL THEY HAVE BEEN. NOW, THE LIKES OF YOU AND ME TS...AND OBVIOUSLY AD, LYN, TT, JANE, PATRICIA, NORMAN, MIGS, MIN, JANET, JANICE, CATCHING UP, MICHAEL, BACCHUS, BUSHFIRE BILL, FERAL, MR DENMORE, PETER WICKS AND QUITE A FEW OTHER BLOGGERS AND COMMENTORS WE KNOW WILL KEEP BATTLING ON...AS WILL THOSE BRILL CHARACTERS WHO MOTIVATED, INSPIRED US...LIKE MARGO KINGSTON, TIM DUNLOP, MARK BAHNISCH AND SO ON. BUT PLENTY OF OTHERS WILL CAVE IN...SENSING AN ABBOTT VICTORY...AND KNOWING WHAT A BULLYING, VICIOUS, REVENGE-DRIVEN BUNCH THE SUPPORTERS OF ABBOTT ARE...THEY WILL RUN FOR THE HILLS... OR PUT ON BLUER THAN BLUE COLOURS... YOU CAN SEE THAT WITH THE 7:30 CREW ALREADY...ANY BALANCE HAS BEEN THROWN TO THE WIND AS ABCers COWER IN FEAR HOPING TO RETAIN THEIR JOBS...SAME GOES FOR SOME IN FAIRFAX. YOU CAN SEE HOW HOWARD AND BUSH GOT AWAY WITH THEIR DIRTY WARS MADE FOR PROFITEERS. I GUESS SOME JUST HAVE MORE GUTS AND INTEGRITY THAN OTHERS...AND DON'T ALLOW TOO OFTEN THEIR BITTERNESS AND SENSITIVITIES AND FEARS AND EGOS AND GREED AND SEARCH FOR HOLLOW SECURITY TO DRIVE THEM TO UNDERMINE THEIR OWN PRINCIPLES...AND KOWTOW TO THE MORALLY BANKRUPT. BUT...THERE WILL ALWAYS BE RICHOS AS ROLE MODELS FOR THEM. THOSE WHO CAN LIVE WITH SELLING THEMSELVES TO THE DEVIL TO MAKE THEIR LIVES EASIER. LET THE BATTLE CONTINUE!!! WE'RE CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR A BETTER FUTURE... AND WE HAVE COME A GOOD LONG WAY...IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME... THE PEOPLE'S EYES ARE OPENING... AND NO SMALL DEFEATS WILL CHANGE THE FACT THAT WHAT THEY SEE AND EXPERIENCE WILL REMAIN WITH THEM... THE PATH HAS BEEN LIT...AND THEY INCREMENTALLY MOVE...FORWARD N'

Ad astra

26/03/2013jaycee If I can channel Julia Gillard – like journalists, trolls write crap. They will continue to do so, so it’s pointless asking them to not write crap. That is their stock in trade. All you have to do is ignore them; [b]it can’t be that hard[/b]. I haven’t the time or inclination to sit here all day deleting their rubbish. You know their faces by now – scroll over their posts – [b]don’t respond[/b].

Ad astra

26/03/2013nasking Bravo!

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Jaycee, [quote]I didn't really come here tonight to deliver that little missive for Austin[/quote] Please don't trouble yourself on my account. Really. I do like the "crush all dissent" tone to your latest gem. Very democratic of you.

Austin 3:16

26/03/2013Hey Bacchus. You might say whatever you like - be nice if you could correlate it to reality a tiny bit though. 'Cause just up the screen a bit is my initial "demand" [quote]Serious question time - what am I missing? Why is there such strong support for Ms Gillard ? What is it about the job she is doing to evoke such strong commendation?[/quote] Yeah I can see how such a strongly worded, inane, demand like that would put this crown on the wrong side. NormanK had a half-hearted attempt, gotta give some credit there. The rest of you jokers have been great for personal snipes and absolutely useless at anything else. Gotta love the "google it" comments. [quote]Mrs. Krabappel: And who can tell me where thunder and lightning come from? Yes, Bart? Bart: The Leader, ma'am. Mrs. Krabappel: Very good, Bart! And who invented Morse Code? Bart: Oh, I should know this one... the.. the Leader?[/quote] Mrs. Krabappel: Ah, correct again!]

Truth Seeker

26/03/2013NAS, YOU REALLY ARE IN FINE FORM :-) AND WELL SAID :GRIN: SADLY POLITICS IS TOO DIRTY A GAME FOR ME, AND MY LUNGS WOULDN'T STAND UP TO THE RIGOURS OF THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE. BUT LIKE YOU AND AD AND LYN ETC WE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ABBOTT AND THE MSM. ANYTHING OTHER THAN WINNING IS NOT AN OPTION, WE MUST AND WE WILL. CHEERS :-) :-)

Bacchus

27/03/2013Correlate your own reality Mr 3:16. I, and I suspect most others, have my own views on your demands, but I have no interest in discussing such views with some rude, insignificant entity with an over-inflated view of him/herself...

Cuppa

27/03/2013Good post Ad Astra. The news media apparently have the need to construct a [i]Narrative[/i]. In other words, a story, fiction. It's all about [i]fiction[/i]. Forget about just reporting facts and events as the news used to be; nowadays, it's about the constructed Fiction. More ridiculously still, virutally all the news media, supposed rivals and all, then HAVE THE SAME narrative. I'm flat out thinking of another legal industy that's as big a waste of space and resources as the modern so-called news media. Sooner they go the way of the dinosaurs the better we will all be. PS: I appreciate the blog. Thanks for keeping the fire burning.

Casablanca

27/03/2013Swordsters, The legislation hyper-link on the Parliament of Australia website has not been working tonight but I found this summary of the numbers in a Lyn Link to the Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com.au/story/1384405/there-may-be-achievements-but-voters-still-arent-getting-labors-message/?cs=8 [i]But is the Gillard government really as ''incompetent'' as it seems? Despite the drama, the Parliament under Gillard has passed 485 bills since the end of 2010, including big-ticket reforms such as the (controversial) price on carbon last year and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, which passed last week. Over a similar period, the Rudd government had 409 bills passed, while the Howard government passed 520 in its final three years.[/i] So, Gillard in 1005 days has got 485 Bills through; Rudd in his 935 days got 409 bills passed and Howard in his final 1095 days got 520 bills passed. Those raw figures do not tell us anything about the nature of those bills but in the above quote from Judith Ireland (now with the Guardian) she is answering the query about whether the Gillard government has been so focussed on leadership matters that it went through a paralysis. I am reminded of what was said about Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers, namely,[i]Ginger did everything that Fred did but she did it backwards and in heels[/i]. Ginger got much less credit for her performance and so it is with Gillard. PMJG got her bills passed by a hung parliament with probably the most obstructive opposition in Australian parliamentary history. Oh! and she did it in heels. Brava Julia!

jane

27/03/2013Filled out Shirley. Thanks for the link. NAS' @9.55AM, I AGREE. ALL ALP INCUMBENTS & WANNABES SHOULD BE OUT POUNDING THE PAVEMENTS & HAUNTING SHOPPING MALLS, SELLING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICIES. IT'LL BE LONELY. THEY WON'T SEE ANY LIARS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY POLICIES THEY DARE SPRUIK. MWS @7.33pm, that's what trolls do. They don't want to be informed, their sole reason for existence is regurgitating Liars bs, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

sally b

27/03/2013I am going to see the PM tomorrow (oh, that's today for easterners) at the Thornlie Community Cabinet. I'm very excited, but a tiny bit fearful too because we're not exactly a Labor state at the moment, and Australia wide there seems to be a loss of plain respect and good manners around. I was upset that McGowan didn't invite the PM over during the state election campaign, and on the news tonight i heard that he is out of the state - and that he was out of the state last time she was here too.

Ad astra

27/03/2013sally b Welcome to [i]The Political Sword[/i] family. Thank you for your comment; do come again. I hope you enjoy the Community Cabinet. By all accounts, Julia Gillard does very well at these events. People realize that she is not the ogre that the Fifth Estate continuously paints. cuppa Thank you for your kind comment. As you state, facts are irrelevant for Fifth Estate journalists if they interfere with the narrative they are constructing, and if the facts don’t fit, they make some up. The English language allows them to present or insinuate almost any proposition, no matter how paltry its veracity. Casablanca Thank you for that useful set of facts. Amazing isn’t it how a ‘dysfunctional’ government, a minority government which Abbott insists is an ‘experiment that has failed’, has been so spectacularly successful.

Austin 3:16

27/03/2013Bacchus, What a cop out. I should have said brilliant at personal snipes and useless at anything else. I asked a question - a mild and innocuous question. That's it. To the only guy who bothered to respond I asked a couple of follow up questions. (which considering his answer can't be that surprising) But like most of TPS when it came to putting a bit of thought into things he made a personal attack and then ran away. Much like yourself, it seems to be a TPS speciality.

lyn

27/03/2013Today’s Links Risky Tony Abbott and the “birth parents” by Barry Everingham Gillard’s was so remarkable, it is hard to know where to start — so let’s look at the obvious place. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/risky-tony-abbott-and-the-birth-parents/ Graham Perrett pushes indolent AFP over Ashbygate by Ross Jones @independentaus Honest politician Graham Perrett is not letting the Federal Police fob off the Ashbygate conspiracy, writing them a new letter. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/graham-perrett-pushes-indolent-afp-over-ashbygate/ The Newspoll Hangover? A statistical outlier by @mansillo it would be highly unlikely that Newspoll with a sample size of 1136 is more accurate than Roy Morgan’s 3494 or Essential’s 1797 http://mansillo.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/the-newspoll-hangover-a-statistical-outlier/ Resilient Gillard by Mungo MacCallum journalist asked her with obvious sincerity just where she got her amazing resilience from http://www.themonthly.com.au/blog/mungo-maccallum/2013/03/26/1364252555/resilient-gillard With fewer distractions, Labor can sell its merits By Peter Lewis Essential's numbers didn't move much - it was margin-of-error-territory with Labor's primary vote down two points and the two-party-preferred unchanged. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4595042.html Goodbye MSM, it’s not me, it’s you. I’m just not that into you. We need to break up. by @turnleft2013 You’ve become bitter, twisted, vengeful, hate-filled, vacuous http://turnleft2013.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/goodbye-msm-its-not-me-its-you-im-just-not-that-into-you-we-need-to-break-up/ Second rate visions by Gary Sauer- Thompson Gillard's remarks at the Australian Workers Union conference that Labor was not a progressive or a social democratic party, but primarily a workers’ party http://www.sauer-thompson.com/archives/opinion/2013/03/second-rate-vis.php Productivity – the great non-problem of our time- by Mark Merkel the notion that there is an immediate crisis in productivity requiring drastic action – particularly the reimposition of something like WorkChoices – is looking rather shaky http://larvatusprodeo.net/archives/2013/03/productivity-the-great-non-problem-of-our-time/ So Much Ado! So Much Nothing, Zilch, Nada!! by @knarfnamduh Phoney Tony Abbott was obviously beside himself with fear, trepidation, delight? http://deknarf.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/graphic-manipulations-27-so-much-ado-so-much-nothing-zilch-nada-2/ Time to stop !!!!!Misogynist Relentless attacks on Julia Gillard by @escalatorover Saying No to everything is not assisting Good Government; nor is it representing the interest of http://escalatoroverthehill.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/time-to-stop-misogynist-relentless-attacks-on-julia-gillard/ Gillard Rallies The Loyalists by @beneltham Not all of this is Julia Gillard's fault. A steely pragmatist, she has played the cards given her with remarkable nerve. http://newmatilda.com/2013/03/26/gillard-rallies-loyalists Getting Gillard (with the Pincer Movement) by johnlord2013, @MigloMT leading the attack, front and centre is the main stream media with Rupert Murdoch as its supreme commander http://theaimn.com/2013/03/26/getting-gillard-with-the-pincer-movement/ What class war? Searching for Labor values in the Labor party by Dennis Altman ministers who felt impelled to resign last week, surely the stupidest was the attack on Julia Gillard supposedly promoting “class warfare”. http://theconversation.com/what-class-war-searching-for-labor-values-in-the-labor-party-13047 Dear Deputy Leader of the Opposition by @TeamOyeniyi Julie. Your voice (I assume it was your voice) then assured me you needed my membership to fight the terrible Labor government. http://teamoyeniyi.com/2013/03/26/dear-deputy-leader-of-the-opposition/ China’s Coal Power and Australian Devotion to Obscurity by @Mothincarnate pro-business-as-usual message that seems to have sucked many Aussies in just isn’t in our national interest. http://newanthropocene.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/chinas-coal-power-and-australian-devotion-to-obscurity/ Smartphone app project for seniors Silverline is coming to Australia by @mumbrella apps on them designed for seniors, such as a medication reminder, a picture-based contact list and a photo-sharing service http://mumbrella.com.au/smartphones-and-apps-for-seniors-coming-to-australia-147562 What comes after farce? by @billy_blog First, the unemployed and poor are bearing the risks of a failed capitalist economy http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=23203#more-23203 Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 27 March 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

Ad astra

27/03/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

jaycee

27/03/2013Stone Cold Austin...stone cold...you've hit the canvas just one too many times!

Tom of Melboune

27/03/2013It’s a similar experience for most that have different, independent orientation, to the group that congregates here. There is never any attempt to analyse or scrutinise the decisions of the government or its members and leaders. The most common refrain is “troll” and “scroll the troll”, followed by Ad Astra imploring his loyal followers to “ignore them!” It’s quite pathetic.

2353

27/03/2013I know this post as discussing the perils of constant polling however interesting to note that I was polled by ReachTel last night in connection with Newman's privatisation push. About the only bias I could detect was that the affirmative answer was always first. The results could be interesting - privatisation is not popular up here. The partial reason is that the LNP (then in opposition) was one of the ringleaders drumming up the protests etc when the ALP sold off parts of QR etc. Now (apart from Newman selling more of the QR shares the ALP Government retained) McArdle - he of the Mal Brough, James Ashby saga - is now complaining that the ALP destroyed the popular support for privatisation. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/bligh-government-poisoned-asset-sales-says-lnp-20130326-2gs0f.html

nasking

27/03/2013 I BET THEY WILL. REMINDS ME OF MITT ROMNEY TALKING ABOUT GM. HOW'D THAT WORK OUT FOR HIM?: [b]Coalition will allow some industries to fail - Hockey[/b] http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/coalition-will-allow-some-industries-to-fail--hockey-20120307-1ukiq.html#ixzz WILL THIS APPLY TO THE MURDOCH EMPIRE? AND WILL THEY END ASSISTANCE TO THE OIL INDUSTRY? WILL HOCKEY PLEDGE NOT TO GIVE REBATES THAT ASSIST PRIVATE CHILDCARE, HEALTHCARE AND SCHOOLS? OR IS THIS JUST TYPICAL COALITION BS? N'

Michael

27/03/2013So, will Scott Morrison do a bulk-deal on electronic ankle-bracelets to keep track of asylum seekers placed in Australian communities as part of his 'behaviour protocol' policies? I read that remote-controlled small-scale flying drones are becoming cheaper every day. Will we all be able to pick out a refugee in any Aussie crowd because (s)he's the one with an aerial attendant hovering above? Will the soft hum of a drone be a dead giveaway on a dark night that an asylum seeker is approaching? It was a lot cheaper in the old days, wasn't it, Scott, when all that was needed was to command some people wear yellow stars or pink triangles on their outer clothing, usually over their hearts? That much easier to target. But then, we live in a much more modern world, and proto-Minister Morrison is urgent to keep up with the times, even if it is the reptilian portion of his brain that seems so thrilled by the ideas he has.

nasking

27/03/2013 THE IPA ARE GONNA HUFF AND PUFF AND HELP BLOW YER HOUSE DOWN...HUFF AND PUFF AND BLOW MORE CANCER STICK SMOKE YER WAY: [b]A LEADING Australian free-market think tank with close ties to the country's conservative Liberal Party has revealed its plan for climate change - abolish it... [/b] [b]As well as abolishing the country's climate change department, the IPA plan would also scrap the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and cut research into sustainable development and climate change carried out in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the IPA plan also suggested a departmental branch responsible for plain packaging legislation should also be abolished, not surprising given that British American Tobacco has been a recent funder of the IPA).[/b] http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/environment/ipas-plans-to-abolish-climate-change-action-in-australia/ N'

Tom of Melboune

27/03/2013NSW politics and “get rich quick schemes” ALP style is not reported outside NSW, but this behaviour is indicative of the unsavoury nature of the ALP structure. Federal politicians are now tainted, but the press are typically going easy on the ALP.

Ad astra

27/03/2013Hi Lyn I’m working through your links and have just looked at [i]The Newspoll Hangover, a statistical outlier[/i] http://mansillo.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/the-newspoll-hangover-a-statistical-outlier/ [b]It is ESSENTIAL reading for anyone who places their faith in polls. And the YouTube video at the end is a MUST.[/b] You are amazing how you find these articles – and how relevant this one is to the current post: [i]Polls perpetually poison politics[/i]. Thank you again – you are our [i]TPS[/i] super sleuth.

cuppa

27/03/2013Liberal state governments with slowing and recessed economies. A foretaste of the Abbottitis they would inflict federally... Spending plunge tips Victoria into recession http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/spending-plunge-tips-victoria-into-recession-20130306-2flqj.html Queensland narrowly avoided recession in December quarter, Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-narrowly-avoided-recession-in-december-quarter-australian-bureau-of-statistics-data-reveals/story-e6freoof-1226591499877

MWS

27/03/20132353, to have the affirmative answer first is biased IF the questions asked do not include a few "negatives", ie a question that should be answered "NO" when the other questions are answered "YES." All good polls will include negative questions, to eliminate responses that simply press the "YES" or "NO" button without listening to the question. It's a measure of the integrity of the poll, that it should be able to detect and remove people who don't answer honestly (or at least consistently). Unfortunately, those people who don't answer consistently still vote (although they are less engaged with the political system and are more likely to not be enrolled or to vote informal). SO if ALL your answers were "YES" (or all "NO") then the poll is dodgy and shouldn't be trusted.

Tom of Melboune

27/03/2013More hilarity at TPS, now Michael is seeking to take the moral high ground for the ALP on asylum seekers!

Lyn

27/03/2013Good Morning Ad, Thankyou Ad you have made me smile for the whole day ♥ )

Ad astra

27/03/2013Folks Another of Lyn’s links will interest those who feel dismayed that almost every pundit and his/her dog has already written off PMJG and Labor. Written by Peter Lewis and Jackie Woods: [i]With fewer distractions, Labor can sell its merit[/i] is gives a sober account of Labor’s prospects. Do read it. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4595042.html

Ad astra

27/03/2013Folks We will soon be getting on the road for the South Coast. Back later.

cuppa

27/03/2013Not sure if it's been metioned (I daresay Lyn has been onto it). If so it warrants another airing. http://vote4julia2013.wordpress.com/ Ways you can help return Julia Gillard and your Labor government

nasking

27/03/2013 I DIG THE ALP'S ASSISTANT TREASURER DAVID BRADBURY: [b]In a speech he gave this month, Bradbury says you don't need to be doing business on the internet to use something like a double Irish scheme. ''What you do need is the global presence of a multinational enterprise and the ability to attribute a large part of your profits to intangible assets,'' he says. And we know intangible assets - such as software, databases, patents, copyright and ''goodwill'' or ''brand value'' - play an increasingly important role in the global economy. In the United States, investment in intangible assets has exceeded investment in tangible assets for more than a decade. Existing international legal arrangements rest heavily on the notion that income should be taxed in the country of its ''source''. When economic activity was dominated by farms, factories and mines, it usually wasn't hard to see that the source of income was where the factors of production were physically located. But now ''the increasing importance of intangible capital to production challenges the very idea that we can always objectively determine where economic activity occurs,'' Bradbury says. All this helps explain the emergence of ''stateless income'' - income that's not taxed in the source country of the production factors that gave rise to the income, nor in the ultimate parent company's jurisdiction. It's income that doesn't belong anywhere for tax purposes. This, in turn, explains how the profits of US-controlled corporations in Luxembourg are equivalent to 18 per cent of its gross domestic product. For the Cayman Islands and Bermuda the proportions are more than 500 per cent and 600 per cent of those countries' gross domestic product. Stateless income is not simply a product of transfer pricing abuses, but also arises from decisions about where to place financial capital within a multinational group. It involves exploiting differences in countries' tax systems and hybrid instruments treated as borrowings in a country and shares in another. Tricks like these can place single-country businesses at a competitive disadvantage. They - and individual taxpayers - are forced to bear an unfair share of the tax burden. But many big-business executives reject the notion that paying a fair share of tax is part of a broader social compact. Tax is just another business cost. If dodging it is legal, morality doesn't enter into it. The Gillard government is working to ensure our transfer-pricing rules are up with world's best practice and the general anti-avoidance provision of our tax act is broadened to encompass the tricks multinationals try on. It has asked Treasury to study what more can be done, and will work to improve the information multinationals have to make public about profits and tax payments. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has had to lift its game in promoting multilateral action to limit tax rorting by global companies.[/b] LEARN WHAT A DOUBLE IRISH SCHEME IS BY READING MORE OF ROSS GITTIN'S ENLIGHTENING ARTICLE HERE: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/cracking-down-on-global-tax-rorters-20130326-2gs2y.html TAXES IN THIS NEW AGE OF THE INTERNET, PLENTY OF UNPAID WORK, SLIPPERY MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS AND DOUBLE DUTCH SCHEMES, BULLYING MEGA-BEAST MEDIA BARONS AND TAX HAVENS ARE HARD ENUFF TO COME BY AS IT IS...TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEFENSE... YET, TONY ABBOTT WANTS TO KILL THE AUSTRALIAN MINING TAX. TELLS YA WHO TONY IS WORKING FOR. N'

nasking

27/03/2013 [quote]SADLY POLITICS IS TOO DIRTY A GAME FOR ME, AND MY LUNGS WOULDN'T STAND UP TO THE RIGOURS OF THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE. [/quote] TS, YOU GIVE IT YER BEST SHOT...THAT'S THE MAIN THING. POLITICS IS INDEED A TUFF GAME... PM GILLARD MUST HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF COURAGE, STAMINA AND DETERMINATION TO KEEP GOING... [b]IN A TIME OF VICIOUS BATTLING CORPORATE BEHEMOTHS AND THEIR SYCOPHANTIC MEDIA AND POLITICAL PUPPETS[/b] N'

nasking

27/03/2013 [b]You are amazing how you find these articles – and how relevant this one is to the current post: Polls perpetually poison politics. Thank you again – you are our TPS super sleuth.[/b] LYN CERTAINLY IS. TOP WORK. I'M FORTUNATE TO HAVE A FRIEND EDDIE ON FACEBOOK TOO...AND A FEW OTHERS WHO FIND TERRIFIC LINKS AND MEMES THAT I CAN SHARE. [b]WITHOUT LYN, EDDIE AND OTHERS MY WORK WOULD BE A LOT HARDER. TWO THUMBS UP TO THEM FOR THEIR CONSISTENT AND VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE FIFTH ESTATE.[/b] N'

Michael

27/03/2013The joke's on you and yours, ToM.

jane

27/03/2013I thought there was a hue & cry when Bligh started privatisation? I would have thought that would be evidence enough for even the thickest person, that Queenslanders were against privatisation. Another example of what to expect under a Liars regime. I have just read an excerpt of the Sales interview with the PM, where Sales is not only disrespectful of her guest, by constantly interrupting and talking over the top of her, but consistently lies herself. Once again, all Sales has proved is that she lacks standards and professionalism and reinforced her credentials as a mouthpiece for the Liars Party and a third rate Murdoch hack. No doubt there are those who find this style of interviewing acceptable, the trolls would enthusiastically do so, unless of course Liealot was subjected to the same treatment. However, I do not. The role of an interviewer is to tease out information about the guest and their views and reasons for acting or behaving the way they did in certain situations. It is not to inject their personal prejudices and political views into the interview. If that is their purpose, why bother with a guest, interview your favourite subject-yourself. When an interviewer resorts to constant interruptions, talking over the top of the guest and consistently lying, they just drive home the fact that they are unprofessional, incompetent, a chronic liar and not to be trusted. If the purpose of the interview was to watch Sales air her lack of credibility as an interviewer, her complete lack of professionalism, her ignorance, her poor behaviour her incompetence, mendacity and disrespect for the listening and watching audience and the guest, you'd have to rate her as a roaring success. However, if you decided to watch the interview with the idea that you would be better informed about the guest and his/her ideas, views and motives after watching it, you'd be sadly disappointed and rate it as a complete failure and rate Sales as a third rate hack. If Sales wants to become a respected, well halfway competent at least, interviewer, she should be locked away for a few years watching master interviewers like Michael Parkinson, Andrew Denton and Red Kerry for starters. Even a knob like Jeremy Clarkson treats his guests with more respect and courtesy.

nasking

27/03/2013 MIGLO'S LONG RUNNING [b]AUSTRALIAN'S FOR AN HONEST MEDIA [/b]IS VERY USEFUL TOO: http://www.facebook.com/groups/111123122263533/515154861860355/?ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity WELL, IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME TO ME...ANYWAY. :D BATTLING MEDIA GIANTS AND ALL. MEAD OR CIDER ANYONE? N'

nasking

27/03/2013 JANE, LEIGH SALES DOES SEEM TO HAVE IT OUT FOR THIS GOVT...AS DOES UHLMAN. CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND IT IS THEIR JOB TO ANALYSE GOVT POLICIES AND ATTEMPT TO PRY FROM GOVT SOURCES AND DEFINERS RELEVANT INFO... BUT I DO NOT THINK THE USE OF THE DESCRIPTIVE [b]FLOUNDERING[/b] TO INTRODUCE A STORY...AND THEN CONVENIENTLY USE THAT TOPIC TO DESCRIBE THE GOVT AS "FLOUNDERING" (SALES HAS A HABIT OF USING INTROS TO BASH THE GILLARD GOVT IN THE SAME WAY TONY JONES' Q&A USUALLY OPENS THE QUESTIONING WITH ATTACKS ON THE PM)...DEMONSTRATES ANYTHING BUT OUTRIGHT BIAS. IT IS ALSO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT THE OPPOSITION LEADER AND HIS TEAM AND HIS POLICIES UNDER A MICROSCOPE OF SCRUTINY... I DO NOT SEE THIS HAPPENING. IF THE COALITION GET INTO GOVT WITHOUT APPROPRIATE SCRUTINY...THE VOTERS ILL-INFORMED...IT WILL PARTLY BE THE FAULT OF THE PUBLIC BROADCASTER...AND THE LIKES OF SALES AND UHLMAN... AND THE NEWSPAPERS AND CURRENT AFFAIRS SHOWS ON FREE-TO-AIR. NOT TO MENTION SHOCK JOCKS. IF THE ABBOTT/HOCKEY/ROBB TEAM STUFF UP THE ECONOMY...MANAGE IT BADLY...THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY. THIS IS WHY VOTERS NEED TO READ AND WATCH AND LISTEN AND RESEARCH WIDER. THE LAST THING WE NEED IS TONY ABBOTT TAKING US INTO ANOTHER EXPENSIVE CHRISTIAN WAR... BRINGING DOWN AN IRRESPONSIBLE OZSTERITY MEASURES BUDGET ON OUR HEADS... PUTTING TONS OF MONEY AND EFFORT INTO DEVELOPING THE NORTH ONLY TO SEE IT WASHED AWAY BY CLIMATE CHANGE-RELATED FLOODS... AND FERTILE LANDS ELSEWHERE ARE SUCKED DRY BY DROUGHT AS HE LETS MINERS GO BONKERS CREATING ENVIRO HELL PITS ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.. THANKS TO HIS "ONE STOP SHOP"...WHERE GINA AND FRIENDS RUN THE CASH REGISTER... AND WATER POLICY GOES TO HELL AS ABBOTT SENDS TROOPS IN TO QUELL FARMER PROTESTS OVER GREAT BIG NEW DAMS... AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS DANCE IN GLEE AS THEY AWAIT THE COMING NANNY... FAILING TO SEE THE CHINA TSUNAMI COMING THAT WILL SWEEP THEM OFF THEIR FEET... WHILST JOE HOCKEY FROWNS AND ANGRILY ROARS TO THE DROWNING PUBLIC: [b]YER NOT ENTITLED TO LIFEBOATS!!![/b] N'

Gravel

27/03/2013Ad Astra Another great article, written in fun and shown the msm how useless they are. Lyn I agree, I don't know where you find all your wonderful links, but I am very grateful for them. Sallyb Would love to have a little report on your experience tonight. Patriciawa went to an event and got to meet Julia and speak with her.

nasking

27/03/2013 ANOTHER USEFUL SITE...IN FACT, BRILLIANT!: [b]Exposing Tony Abbott & The LNP - Memes & Stuff[/b] http://www.facebook.com/ExposingTonyAbbottTheLnpMemesStuff?ref=stream IF YOU DON'T WANT AN ABBOTT GOVT THEN SHARING THE IMAGES, MEMES OF SUCH SITES IS EXTREMELY VALUABLE. N'

LadyInRed

27/03/2013A scroll a day keeps the trolls away!

Austin 3:16

27/03/2013Hey Jaycee, I've always liked the source of the "Austin 3:16" catch-phrase [quote]"You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16... Austin 3:16 says I just whipped your ass!" [/quote]

nasking

27/03/2013 [b]A scroll a day keeps the trolls away![/b] LadyInRed, WELL SAID! LUV YER CONTRIBUTIONS. N'

Austin 3:16

27/03/2013Hey LadyInRed, Some would choose to confront a wrong, some to run a hide. But doesn't evil triumph when good folk do nothing ?

nasking

27/03/2013 [b]The results could be interesting - privatisation is not popular up here.[/b] 2353, I HAVE HEARD THERE ARE RADICAL CHANGES GOING ON IN THE QLD DISABILITY AREA...WORKERS BEING SACKED BY MANAGEMENT WHO ARE BEING TOLD TO KEEP THE PROCESS OF TRANSITION SECRET. MANY WORKERS IN THIS AREA HAVE NO IDEA THERE JOBS ARE AT RISK. N'

MWS

27/03/2013Apparently Tony Abbott wants to be interviewed on ABC 730 on Easter Thursday. Conveniently no newspapers or TV news on Good Friday, and many people don't follow media on Easter holiday. He's learning from the master - John Howard fronted the AWB inquiry on Thursday before Easter too! So if the interview is a train-wreck, nobody will ever know. Unfortunately Leigh sales isn't working tomorrow night and Abbott will need to reschedule.

nasking

27/03/2013 WORTH DEBATING: [b]Food vouchers to provide emergency help but prevent spending on alcohol Campaigners raise alarm as English councils replace cash loans with payment cards for people facing short-term financial crises[/b] THE GUARDIAN "[b]Food stamps" arrive in Britain next month, when tens of thousands of vulnerable people will be issued with food vouchers in lieu of money to tide them over short-term financial crises. Rather than, as now, offering a cash loan, most councils will from April offer new applicants who qualify for emergency assistance a one-off voucher redeemable for goods such as food and nappies. Many of the 150 local authorities in England running welfare schemes have confirmed that they will issue the vouchers in the form of payment cards, which will be blocked or monitored to prevent the holder using them for alcohol, cigarettes or gambling. Several plan to issue charity food parcels to people applying for crisis help, and are preparing to give cash grants to food banks to enable them to take on full-time staff and increase opening hours. Each authority has drawn up eligibility rules, setting out who will qualify for crisis help and the conditions under which it will be given. One plans to make emergency help conditional on good behaviour. The shift to in-kind and voluntary assistance follows the decision last year to abolish the government-run social fund and to replace it with more than 150 welfare assistance schemes, operated by English local authorities and the Welsh and Scottish governments. The social fund – known as the "backstop" of the welfare system – typically offered small loans of about £50, repayable against future benefits, to help vulnerable individuals who faced short-term crises as a result of having cash stolen or benefits delayed. A separate set of cash grants, typically worth about £1,000, was made to people with a disability, ex-prisoners and victims of domestic violence, to enable them to buy or replace items that would help them live independently, such as beds, clothing and kitchen utensils. Although social fund spending represents a relatively tiny chunk of the social security bill, there is concern that the new arrangements will for the first time build into mainstream welfare provision the distribution of food voluntarily donated by the public, schools and businesses. Lady Lister, a Labour peer and poverty expert, said the shift from cash loans to in-kind help would leave the most vulnerable people "high and dry". "The social fund was a safety net under the safety net," Lister said. "I do not call putting money into food banks a safety net." Some fear the use of in-kind vouchers will repeat the shortcomings of cashless payment cards, issued to asylum seekers. Critics said these cards left users unable to buy essential non-food items, and made them more likely to turn to risky or criminal ways of obtaining cash.[/b] http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/mar/26/payment-cards-emergency-assistance-food-stamps N'

Ad astra

27/03/2013Gravel Thank you for your comment. It was fun writing this piece, but I wish the background saga had happened differently. MWS So when will we see Tony front up? I'm glad Leigh Sales' Easter holiday arrangements have blocked Abbott's intention to pick a slow evening. jane I wonder will State governments cruel Abbott's pitch with their budget behaviour and privatisation? nasking What a great source of information from overseas you are. Thank you.

jane

27/03/2013Cuppa @10.16am, tweeted. NAS' @12.18PM, I AGREE. [B]OBJECTIVE[/B] ANALYSIS OF POLICY IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. BUT AS YOU CORRECTLY POINT OUT, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING AT ALL. WE HAVE COMPLETELY SUBJECTIVE BIASED "ANALYSIS" OF GOVERNMENT POLICY AND NO ANALYSIS AT ALL OF LIARS BRAIN FARTS AND 3 WORD SLOGANS WHICH THEY PRESENT AS POLICY. VOTERS WILL GO INTO THIS ELECTION MISINFORMED IF THE MSM IS NOT HELD TO ACCOUNT AND FORCED TO DO THEIR JOB PROPERLY. IF lIEALOT IS ELECTED, VOTERS WILL SOON FIND OUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN GREECE, ITALY OR THE UK AS THE LIARS PUT A D9 THROUGH THE ECONOMY. AND @1.59PM, THIS IS THE WAY THE LIARS WORK-BULLYING IS THEIR STOCK IN TRADE. UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE MSM DERELICT IN THEIR DUTY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, THE LIARS COULD MARCH IN AND PROCEED TO DO A NEWMAN. MWS @2.00pm, Liealot will be depending on it.

Janet (jan@j4gypsy)

27/03/2013 Apologies all for quite an absence from TPS and for failing to bring some Twittertalk for more than a week!. Through tornado (almost, but not quite), and fire (almost, but not quite), here we are again though. (And, it may be your lot ‘til after the Easter period …) Ad, thank you for your last two superb posts. Your voice truly seems the sanest and the most re-assuring in the blogosphere. Lovely Lynnie, a wave, and a thank you for your message under Ad’s last post. And always a thank you for your link-sleuthing. Forever extraordinary. :-) TT: a wave :-). Thank you for the Lord Monkton You Tube. Still falling about laughing. Casblanca: she sure is, our PM, doin’ it backwards and frontwards and every which way, and in heels! :-) Jaycee, nice to see you popping back :-). Everyone: I couldn’t be more with Ad on his repeated (for the year I’ve now been reading) ‘scrolling the troll’ requests. Please. Pretty please, with a Labor2013-win cherry on top? [b]Twitterati[/b] Tonight’s Twitterati is David Horton only – because IMHO he deserves it! [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] The continuing progression of IPA on the ABC is a national disgrace @abcmarkscott [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] There are two political parties out there. One is playing facts and the other is not. [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] Hey, Menzies House, the nineteenth century called - they want their village idiots back. [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] I'm confused, does this mean Mr Fitzgibbon is part of the Class War or not? [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] Does Pyne have friends on Labor side is a question? Hell, I'd be amazed if he has any on his own side. [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] You know, all over the world, rich bastards couldn't get away with what they do without the complicity, help, of journalists. [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] Have I understood - neither the GFC nor Fukushima ever happened, and climate change isn't going to happen? #thinkliketheRight [i]David Horton ‏@watermelon_man[/i] Hey @JuliaGillard, @AlboMP, @CraigEmersonMP less than 6 months to go - time to flick the switch to vaudeville. [b]Twitterverse[/b] [i]David Donovan ‏@davrosz[/i] Does the press gallery make it all up, or just believe everything they're told? Great Media Watch this week: http://youtu.be/tuyvwYgwyrk [i]David Donovan ‏@davrosz[/i] The IPA's plans to abolish climate change action in Australia http://tinyurl.com/cf6tda2 [i]John H ‏@knarfnamduh[/i] Lobbying of politicians needs to be severely curtailed and strictly oversighted! It traduces democracy! http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/liberal-lobbyist-expands-canberra-reach-20130326-2gspe.html … via @smh [i]Jane Tribune ‏@JaneTribune[/i] BTW, this, by @awelder on how the Senate works and is reported in the media, is a great read (in case you missed it) http://kingstribune.com/index.php/weekly-email/item/1759-the-red-planet … [i]No Fibs Geek ‏@geeksrulz[/i] Secret Recording of an LNP meeting taken by disgruntled NewsLtd journalist. http://youtu.be/kTw2l6LCai8 #auspol #Whyalla [i]Robyn Oyeniyi ‏@TeamOyeniyi[/i] My letter to @juliebishopmp and her reply http://teamoyeniyi.com/2013/03/26/dear-deputy-leader-of-the-opposition/ … via @teamoyeniyi [i]Leanne Donaldson ‏@BundyFlyGirl[/i] Carbon tax 'crucial' to Australia's global standing: Combet - http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/carbon-tax-crucial-to-australias-global-standing-combet-20130327-2gu3c.html … via @smh [i]Joe2 ‏@eatatjoe2[/i] If you really needed reason to dislike those departing ministry the @australian is embracing as their own. See this.. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/highend-super-tax-concerns-spread-20130327-2gtnz.html … Noely ‏@YaThinkN1 Newman tells us to buy local, yeah right... RE: Costello Report Risks 'Buy Local' Efforts #Qldpol #Auspol http://www.mysunshinecoast.com.au/articles/article-display/costello-report-risks-buy-local-efforts,29209#.UVKawI7Kdd0.twitter … [i]Lorraine R-Haddon ‏@lmrh5[/i] http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/03/27/heres-the-real-story-of-australian-debt/ … [Bernard Keane on Oz debt] [i]Sandra ‏@abissicus[/i] Blowing thought bubbles like a pre-schooler with bubblegum... Sortius is a geek - http://sortius-is-a-geek.com/ [i]david ewart ‏@davidbewart[/i] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-27/pm-responds-to-talkback-callers/4597170 … qand now heres the prime minister of Australia [i]Peter Garrett MP ‏@MinGarrettMedia[/i] #auspol Pyne gets it wrong again http://ministers.deewr.gov.au/garrett/pyne-gets-it-wrong-again … [i]Kevin Bonham ‏@kevinbonham[/i] Campbell Newman plan to #stopthebats labelled "remarkably stupid", "very primitive view" by JCU lecturer http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/premiers-bat-plan-dubbed-remarkably-stupid-20130327-2gt2c.html … [i]The Conversation ‏@ConversationEDU[/i] Abbott's calls for an election: upholding Westminster standards or political reformist? John Zerilli @Sydney_Uni http://bit.ly/10Nwi22 [i]Lorraine R-Haddon ‏@lmrh5[/i] Australian super is rigged. This is why. http://bit.ly/13vCPSD via @GetUp [i]VegemiteBlues ‏@vegemiteblues[/i] Australian teacher's refugee wake-up call - Eureka Street http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=35704#.UVJtw5frayk.twitter … [i]John Pratt ‏@Jackthelad1947[/i] Fossil fuels will have to stay in ground. Investment in new coal mines or infrastructure wasted. #auspol #abcmyvote http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/hsbc-world-is-hurtling-towards-peak-planet-54114 …

TalkTurkey

27/03/2013Apropos Ad astra calling Lyn a Super Sleuth ... [u]Super Sleuther![/u] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BshxCIjNEjY She's like a Super Sleuther Dawn is gonna find her Up before the sun Working on the run Finding Fun for Everyone When we're sick and tired of everything Of the nastiness of these mad trolls Sometimes thinking [i]Death where is Thy sting? [/i]Of the shock jocks and the bad polls Then Dear Lynnie we're so glad to see you linking (Gee you get us thinking) Certainly we'll win the fight (and certainly it's gonna be) And it's gonna be so splendid When they count the count that night! Cos you're our Super Sleuther Every day we find you Early every morn Welcoming the Dawn Like a cute Elysian Faun! ...(whew) Of the many thousands of our friends Lynnie you are the one and only Linking to the Web that never ends All alone so we're not lonely (Alone yet still not lonely) Well we know the Opposition's bloody crazy (Opposition's crazy) But we're gonna win this fight (The Web is changing everything) Everything will feel so M*A*G*I*C When we win the count that night! You'll be a SuperDooper Sleuther~Whoopee~DOO~per! Lyn won't that be fun! When our deed is done, And *J*U*L*I*A* is Number One! You are our Super Sleuther, all the things you find us And you find us too! Lyn we do love you Thank you for the things you do. Actually there's another verse to this song which is pure melt-in-the-belly love song, it's very beautiful really. Gee those BB's could write and play, and wow those AA's could dance and sing! They look and sound sweeter as the years go by. The best of all their genre ever-to-be, fairy floss maybe but delicious. Lynnie I hope you don't mind my not being able to write music or I would. And Ad I hope you and others don't mind my putting the whole of ABBA's pretty song up too, what is nice is to play the video clip and read the words at the same time and simultaneously.:) (Do many people know the words I wonder?) [b][u]Original Lyrics[/u] [/b] Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me But I won't feel blue Like I always do 'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you I was sick and tired of everything When I called you last night from Glasgow All I do is eat and sleep and sing Wishing every show was the last show (Wishing every show was the last show) So imagine I was glad to hear you're coming (Glad to hear you're coming) Suddenly I feel all right (And suddenly it's gonna be) And it's gonna be so different When I'm on the stage tonight Tonight the Super Trouper lights are gonna find me Shining like the sun (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Smiling, having fun (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Feeling like a number one Tonight the Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me But I won't feel blue (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Like I always do (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) 'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you Facing twenty thousand of your friends How can anyone be so lonely Part of a success that never ends Still I'm thinking about you only (Still I'm thinking about you only) There are moments when I think I'm going crazy (Think I'm going crazy) But it's gonna be alright (You'll soon be changing everything) Everything will be so different When I'm on the stage tonight Tonight the Super Trouper lights are gonna find me Shining like the sun (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Smiling, having fun (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Feeling like a number one Tonight the *Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me But I won't feel blue (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Like I always do (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) 'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you So I'll be there when you arrive The sight of you will prove to me I'm still alive And when you take me in your arms And hold me tight I know it's gonna mean so much tonight Tonight the Super Trouper lights are gonna find me Shining like the sun (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Smiling, having fun (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Feeling like a number one Tonight the Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me But I won't feel blue (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) Like I always do (Sup-p-per Troup-p-per) 'Cause somewhere in the crowd there's you.

42 long

27/03/2013As a comment I petitioned the abc today and even elaborated somewhat as to my unhappiness. Hope others do too. Might not do much but can't hurt.

Patriciawa

27/03/2013Welcome to Sandra! She'll be on her way to the Community Cabinet by now. We'd all love to hear her from her later with her impressions of seeing, and hopefully meeting our Prime Minister face to face! I'd always held her and our government in respect, but after that Community Cabinet I became a real fan of hers. I write about it at http://polliepomes.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/women-in-labor-2/ It wasn't from just my face to face impressions either. It was listening to the enthusiastic opinions of her from lovely women like Penny Wong, Nicola Roxon, and others which inspired me to write about these [b]Women in Labor.[/b] These women in Labor are feeling no pain, Find running the country’s no stress and no strain, All were up-beat and their spirits were high When at a Party event they explained to me why. Working conditions have improved much of late With their new boss who is efficient and straight. Labor’s productive. It’s not at all hard Conceiving new laws with PM Gillard. Not just these women, but ALP men Work well with her and if ever again Rudd were to challenge and push came to shove They’d vote for Julia. Working with her is a Labor of love! And they would have too, wouldn't they, had it been necessary! Easy to see why they were right behind her through the turmoil of the past week.

Truth Seeker

27/03/2013Mmmmm?, just got a phone call from reachtell polling asking questions about privatisation in QLD :grin: Naturally all the question were answered in the negative for the LNP, but it's interesting that for all the years that I lived in Western Sydney, I was never polled, and yet since we moved to a safe LNP seat (Fisher)around 15 years ago, we have been polled four or five times in local (QLD) polls, and at least twice in national polls….. coincidence?…. Maybe? Cheers :-) :-)

Lyn

27/03/2013Hi Talk Turkey, How delightful thankyou is not enough to say how much I appreciate your words. So you will have to have a heart ♥ and another one ♥ I don't mind if you don't write music TT but I think you really do, your writing is music to my mind. Nasking thankyou so much for your informative posts so much valuable information sore eyes or no you are doing fine. Gravel I always get a kick out of your comments. Janie WOW! don't you mind about missing a couple of days, because you are worth waiting for. What a lump of gold you are, brilliant twittertalk and twitterverse thankyou so very much. I know how long you have spent collecting tweets not an easy task. Take a bow and hear us cheering you, waving cheers with big smiles:):) Jaycee I am so thrilled to see your posts again thankyou. :):):):):)

nasking

27/03/2013 [b]UNFORTUNATELY WITH THE MSM DERELICT IN THEIR DUTY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC, THE LIARS COULD MARCH IN AND PROCEED TO DO A NEWMAN.[/b] JANE, TOO TRUE. IN FACT, I'M WORRIED THAT AN ABBOTT WIN WOULD GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO THESE LNP AND LIB STATE GOVTS TO DO AS THEY PLEASE. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK JANE...KEEP SPEAKING TO TRUTH. --------- JANET, GREAT TWEETS...GOOD JOB. THIS ONE CRACKED MY WIFE AND I UP: David Horton ‏@watermelon_man [b]Hey, Menzies House, the nineteenth century called - they want their village idiots back.[/b] SPOT ON...SPOT ON. ----------- TT AND PATRICIA...WELL DONE. AD, CHEERS. N'

nasking

27/03/2013 GRACIAS LYN. I'M HEADING OFF AGAIN TOMORROW TO THAT RESORT TO SPEND THE LAST DAYS WITH MY VISITING FAMILY...HOPE TO GET A FEW COMMENTS IN TOMORROW...BUT IF I CAN'T I WISH YOU AND EVERYONE ON TPS A [b]HAPPY EASTER![/b] N'

Miglo

27/03/2013Happy Easter back at ya.

Pikiranku

27/03/2013Gypsy Janet Great to see that gypsy caravan up on the screen again. Glad you've survived all that extreme weather. Thanks for the link to David Donovan's article - the agenda of the IPA is absolutely chilling. What an insidious organisation it is. And one that's promoted unashamedly by the ABC! Frightening stuff.

Ad astra

27/03/2013Janet Welcome back, and what a fine collection of Twittertalk you have given us. [b]Always look on the bright side of life[/b] ought to be Labor supporters’ rallying song. Talk Turkey With you as our resident lyricist, setting your artful words to that delightful Abba song, you bring joy to our hearts, and guide us to a Happy Easter. Lyn is certainly our Number One. Patriciawa You have completed our joy with your Polliepome: [i]Women in Labor[/i]. For those who have eyes to see, indeed ‘Working with her is a labour of love’.

Pikiranku

27/03/2013Truth Seeker Yes, that is interesting because we've had a similar experience. We live in a blue ribbon Liberal seat and were contacted twice last year by Newspoll, one call being responded to by me and the other by my OH. Was it because our responses were 100% pro-Labor that we've never heard from them since?

Ad astra

27/03/2013Folks I have just viewed PMJG's Community Cabinet meeting in Perth. She spoke articulately, and answered questions comprehensively with courtesy, clarity, and good humour. Why on earth do some express such loathing of her. Disagreement with her policies, even her style of government is understandable from some of the electorate, by why loathing? The only explanation I can muster is that this loathing has been the outcome of the deliberate brainwashing strategy of the Coalition and the compliant media over the last two years. If you call someone a liar, untrustworthy, and incompetent often enough, it sticks, as Goebbels discovered. No matter how big a lie, eventually people will believe it. It really is a sad reflection on our political life in this country.

Truth Seeker

27/03/2013NAS, AND A HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND S, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THE RELLIIES. :-) Pikiranku, yes I just find it odd that they will ring us in a safe LNP seat, whereas if they wanted a good indicator they would at least ring numbers in marginal seats, as IMHO that would be much more representative. And as I pointed out in one of my posts, after five minutes with google, I had four phone prefixes for a safe LNP seat, so it isn't hard to skew a poll in a particular direction if you are that way inclined. Cheers :-) :-)

DMW

27/03/2013Pikiranku @ 9:32 PM & Truth Seeker @ 11:00 PM intriguing comments on the 'methodology' of pollsters. Does it strike you as slightly odd to suggest that pollsters should not poll in supposedly safe seats and yet expect that they poll as broad a cross section of the population as possible? Is this a little bit like having your cake and expecting to eat it as well? Piriranku is there a possible 'innocent' explanation for you not being called again, like, 'this number has been called twice in the last twelve months so it is off the list'? Conspiracy theories are great fun but are usually better when there is some semblance of reality or possibility to the conspiracy. Polls are bits of information, snapshots in time, a guide to why we are where we are now and an indicator of what the future may hold. They are not some great plot, or a great conspiracy against democracy. Having said that, the way some choose to use and abuse by various mis/interpretations of data gathered is another matter.

jane

28/03/2013NAS' @8.18PM, LOVE THE JOKE. HAVE A LOVELY EASTER WITH THE RELLIES. [quote]No matter how big a lie, eventually people will believe it.[/quote] Except for us, Ad astra; we're not Pavlov's dogs

Patriciawa

28/03/2013Thanks for the compliment, Ad Astra. It was recycled from last year's Community Cabinet, but I'd loved to view this latest one at Thornleigh. Is there a link I can follow up? I too thought that Talk Turkey's lyrics were great but I hadn't seen them because I'd been trying for ages to recover my own gravatar. In the end it was as simple as reverting to my original server, Google. Talk Turkey's lovely compliment to Lyn, our Super Sleuther, was very much deserved. You are a never failing support and resource for we lefties beginning our day's reading. So thank you again, Lyn.

lyn

28/03/2013Today’s Links The traditional media and Gillard by Dr Klaas Woldring, @independentaus Gillard having at least 80 per cent of the traditional media arrayed against her it is absolutely breath-taking that she has survived three of these contests http://www.independentaustralia.net/2013/politics/the-traditional-media-and-gillard/ Can the cross bench deliver citizens accountability from newspapers? by @margokingston1 Murdoch media led an overblown and vicious campaign against the reforms. The cross bench was unhappy with the detail http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/can-the-cross-bench-deliver-citizens-accountability-from-newspapers/ Anatomy of Sales -v- Gillard interview By Peter Clarke @geeksrulz after yet another Ruddesque encounter with losing her Prime Ministership, out in media land selling her message of ‘done and dusted’ and essentially telling Australian electors, ‘Nothing to see here’. http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/anatomy-of-sales-v-gillard-interview/ Failed Media Reforms Let Public Down by @johanBalance . By crying wolf on government oversight the old media dragons ignore the more pressing issue - readers' lack of trust in the press http://newmatilda.com/media-reform-failure-public It’s still ‘never’ by @MigloMT polls suggest that Tony Abbott is close to getting his little grubby hands on the keys to The Lodge. The keys, then, will be in the wrong hands. http://theaimn.com/2013/03/27/its-still-never/ Ministerial revolving doors: why higher education needs stability now by Belinda Robinson the significant international education sector is a neat fit with the Trade and Competitiveness portfolio http://theconversation.com/ministerial-revolving-doors-why-higher-education-needs-stability-now-13101 The other families orphaned by a tsunami of leadership bullshit by @fakeedbutler @AusVotes2013 The great unreported story of last week (and there were a few) was our nation’s apology http://ausvotes2013.com/2013/03/26/the-other-families-orphaned-by-a-tsunami-of-leadership-bullshit/ The Great Manipulators by Janice It is the 5th Estate which is calling for the journalists of the 4th Estate to do their jobs and question the Opposition (the alternative government) forcefully and insistently, http://pbxmastragics.com/2013/03/27/the-great-manipulators/ Did Malcolm Turnbull promise to privatise the ABC by selling to Murdoch’s SKY? by @turnleft2013 Turnbull is having a go at the ALP for NOT selling government assets to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation-owned SKY. http://turnleft2013.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/did-malcolm-turnbull-promise-to-privatise-the-abc-by-selling-to-murdochs-sky/ Super: is it the answer to the surplus problem? by @Cheaper_Rubies In February, Tony Abbott confirmed plans to axe a super tax break worth up to $500 a year for 3.6 million low-income earners. http://cheaperthanrubies.com/2013/03/27/super-is-it-the-answer-to-the-surplus-problem/ Libs to axe Abbott after poll shock by @MigloMT reason for that – the media continually concocting stories about the Gillard Government with fabricated quotes attributed to anonymous sources.” http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/libs-to-axe-abbott-after-poll-shock/ 21 billion dollars: The cost of upgrading the Coalition's NBN alternative to FTTP by Richard Chirgwin examines the cost of building the Coalition's FTTN (Fibre to the Node) NBN alternative network ($15bn) http://www.abc.net.au/technology/articles/2013/03/26/3723953.htm How the Enlightenment Has, So Far, Let Us Down by @Mothincarnate We must shore up the minds of our youth with dedicated teaching in critical thinking prior to insult of erroneous memes and outright assault from faith. http://newanthropocene.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/how-the-enlightenment-has-so-far-let-us-down/ Carnegie hits out at Abbott's carbon roll-back plan Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's plan to roll back the carbon tax will put the budget's bottom line under pressure, an investment banker says http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2013/3/27/politics/carnegie-hits-out-abbotts-carbon-roll-back-plan Direct Action hits brick wall by @Askgerbil "Coalition's Direct Action Plan" shows the Coalition has "bet the bank" on storing 85 million tonnes of carbon per year in the soil of Australia's farms at a cost of just $8 to $10 per tonne. http://blog.gerbilnow.com/2013/03/direct-action-hits-brick-wall.html Unicorns, Freemasons and the Devil: Google and our pollies by Ben Wescott Is Prime Minister Julia Gillard a “bogan” or a “badass”? Is Opposition Leader Tony Abbott a “liar” or a “legend”? Those are just some of questions Australia wants answers to, http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/03/27/unicorns-freemasons-and-the-devil-google-and-our-pollies/ The First Date for a Half-Senate Election is 3 August by @AntonyGreenABC The Prime Minister would have to visit the Governor-General and offer advice. That advice could be for an early election, http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/03/the-first-date-for-a-half-senate-election-is-3-august.html#more Before Easter by @madwixxy Human trafficking is also common in the production of cocoa, workers are often trafficked around the different farms as required for harvest http://wixxyleaks.com/2013/03/27/before-easter/ Labor could learn a thing or two about process by @GrogsGamut Most times such coverage is lazy and doe-eyed - as though there is some perfect way in which policy is introduced where all stakeholders are all on board. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4594748.html Today’s Front Pages Australia Newspaper Front Pages for 28 March 2013 http://www.frontpagestoday.co.uk/index.cfm?PaperCountry=Australia

nasking

28/03/2013 [b]She spoke articulately, and answered questions comprehensively with courtesy, clarity, and good humour. Why on earth do some express such loathing of her. Disagreement with her policies, even her style of government is understandable from some of the electorate, by why loathing?[/b] Ad, MY WIFE SAID THIS MORNING SHE THOUGHT IT GROUP-THINK...MANY PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN WHY THEY DISLIKE HER...PERHAPS NEVER DID...BUT THEY'VE GOT ON THE BANDWAGON. I SEE IT MORE NOW AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE LOATHING THAT THE RUDD SUPPORTERS IN THE ABC AND AT FAIRFAX HAVE FOR HER... AND SOME BITTER CHARACTERS INSIDE THE PARTY...WHO MIGHT WA NT TO EXAMINE THEIR OWN VIEWS OF WOMEN... ADD THE USUAL MISOGYNISTIC VENOM FROM THE MURDOCH EMPIRE (YOU ONLY HAVE TO WATCH THE LIKES OF FAMILY GUY AND AMERICAN DAD TO SEE HOW MUCH MURDOCH MAKES FROM WOMEN HATE AND MISTREATMENT)... AND SOME OF THOSE VILE SHOCK JOCKS WHO MAKE HEAPS FOR THEIR BOSSES LIKE SINGLETON BY ACTING LIKE THEY FEAR JULIA HAS PROMISED TO CREEP UP IN THE NIGHT AND STEAL THEIR TESTICLES... AND OF COURSE IT DOESN'T HELP THAT ABBOTT, PYNE AND THE LIKE TREAT THE PM LIKE SHE DID CREEP UP IN THE NIGHT AND STEAL THEIR TESTICLES. I RECKON THIS COUNTRY HAS TO GROW UP...PARTICULARLY THOSE YOUNG FEMALE VOTERS WITH BABIES WHO THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO PUT THE BOOT INTO THE FIRST FEMALE PM BECAUSE THEIR MEN FEEL INCLINED TO...AND FOR OTHER SIGNIFICANT REASONS... I READ IT ON FACEBOOK CONSTANTLY. I RECKON THEY ARE SADLY WOMEN AFRAID TO GET CAREERS...AND BE INDEPENDENT... THEY'VE STUMBLED AT SOME POINT DURING SCHOOL...OR IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET A CAREER...DECIDED TO HAVE A BABY...GET MARRIED EARLY...ANYTHING TO AVOID STUMBLING...FAILING AGAIN. THEY CAN GET LOTS OF ATTENTION FROM RELLIES AND FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES BY BEING PREGNANT...BY SETTING UP A WEDDING...GETTING THE LOVE AND ATTENTION THEY CRAVE...NO MATTER HOW HOLLOW AND TEMPORARY...FINALLY FEELING LIKE A SUCCESS...EVENTUALLY LIVING VICARIOUSLY THROUGH THE CHILD/CHILDREN. AND SADLY, PM GILLARD IS A THREAT...TOO DIFFERENT...SHE IS A STRONG UNMARRIED WOMAN WITH A CAREER...WHO REMINDS THEM EVERY DAY OF WHAT THEY DIDN'T ACHIEVE. KINDA PATHETIC REALLY. IT TAKES A RESPONSIBLE MEDIA...AND POLITICIANS LIKE THE RUDDSTER AND TEAM TO HELP CHANGE THAT PERCEPTION. BUT OBVIOUSLY WE LIVE IN AN AUSTRALIA WHERE MANY JUST DON'T WA NT TO GROW UP. ------ CHEERS MIGS, JANE AND TS. HAVE A GOODIE!!! N'

Ad astra

28/03/2013LYN'S DAILY LINKS updated: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/LYNS-DAILY-LINKS.aspx

nasking

28/03/2013 ALSO, I DON'T THINK A LOT OF THESE YOUNG WOMEN FEEL OVERLY SECURE IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS... AND IF THE WORST HAPPENS...AND THEY ARE ABANDONED WITH THE BABY... THEY BECOME SINGLE MUMS. THE PERCEPTION IN THE COMMUNITY NOW IS PM GILLARD HAS MADE IT HARDER FOR SINGLE MUMS. WHEREAS, THE HOWARD GOVT WITH COSTELLO AND ABBOTT WAS SEEN AS CARING ABOUT THOSE WITH BABIES. NOT ALWAYS TRUE. BUT IT'S ABOUT PERCEPTION. N'

nasking

28/03/2013 LYN, I AGREE WITH MARGO KINGSTON IN HER USEFUL POST: [b]Can the cross bench deliver citizens accountability from newspapers?[/b] THNX FOR THE TOP LINKS. YOU DESERVE A FREE TRADE EASTER EGG. https://www.google.com.au/search?q=fair+trade+easter+eggs,+pictures&hl=en&client=safari&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=k2hTUav4CoykigeK04DIDQ&ved=0CC4QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=672#biv=i%7C21%3Bd%7CVIoDqcHR-zZsxM%3A N'

nasking

28/03/2013 DOH! SHOULD BE FAIR-TRADE. N'

nasking

28/03/2013 I LIVED AND WORKED IN THE UK TWICE DURING THE THATCHER ERA...TORIES SURE KNOW HOW TO BEAT THE PEOPLE DOWN: [b]Senior welfare experts have urged the government to reconsider benefit cuts coming into force next week that will disproportionately hit the poorest families and push a further 200,000 children into poverty. In an open letter to David Cameron, published in the Guardian, more than 50 social policy professors warn that the welfare reforms, coupled with previous tax, benefit and public expenditure cuts, will result in the poorest tenth of households losing the equivalent of around 38% of their income. They say the changes will undermine public support for the welfare state – which they call "one of the hallmarks of a civilised society". "Welfare states depend on a fair collection and redistribution of resources, which in turn rests upon the maintenance of trust between different sections of society and across generations. "Misleading rhetoric concerning those who have to seek support from the welfare state, such as the contrast between 'strivers' and 'shirkers', risks undermining that trust and, with it, one of the key foundations of modern Britain." The letter argues that such rhetoric does not reflect the reality of a UK where families move fluidly in and out of work and in and out of poverty. It adds: "In the interests of fairness and to protect the poorest, as well as to avoid the risk of undermining the consensus on the British welfare state, we urge you to increase taxation progressively on the better off, those who can afford to pay (including ourselves), rather than cutting benefits for the poorest." The letter follows growing concern among charities, campaigners and local authorities about the combined impact on vulnerable individuals and households of welfare changes and cuts to local authority budgets. A separate report compiled by academics from six UK universities concludes that Britain's poorest are worse off today than they were at the height of the cuts imposed by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1983. The Poverty and Exclusion project reports that 33% of British households lacked at least three basic living necessities in 2012, compared with 14% in 1983. These include living in adequately heated homes, eating healthily, and owning basic clothing items such as properly fitting shoes. "Despite the fact that the UK is a much wealthier country, levels of deprivation are going back to the levels found 30 years ago," says the report, titled The Impoverishment of The UK.[/b] http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/27/benefit-cuts-poverty-stopped-experts PROBLEM WITH THE UK IS THE MISERABLE WEATHER THAT GETS INTO YER BONES...JUST MAKES BEING POOR WORSE...YOU FEEL LIKE THE WARM PUB OR COMMUNITY CENTRES ARE ONLY PLACES TO GO... BUT THAT LEADS TO ALCOHOLISM...AND POOR HEALTH...AND LESS AVAILABLE MONEY... AND TOO MANY COMMUNITY CENTRES AND LIBRARIES HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN CLOSED. I IMAGINE THE TORIES PREFER PEOPLE ARE DIRECTED TO CHURCHES. OR JUST DO MORE AND MORE LOW WAGE JOBS TO KEEP WARM AND ACTIVE. DOESN'T HELP THE ELDERLY AND MENTALLY I'LL. THEY GET FED TO MORE AND MORE PRIVATISED HEALTHCARE AND ELDERLY CARE SYSTEM I GUESS. N'

jaycee

28/03/2013Thank you Lyn and Janet for your notification...I have been absent for a particular reason...but in posting on two other sites and being involved in local (to me ) environmental and council/political things, I have come to realise the importance to the socially progressive people of a network of sympathetic reliable blog sites to deliver debate and opinion without the background noise of incessant trolling. There are two other sites that I post on and I notice many here likewise...: The Pub and Poll Bludger..w/Political Sword forming a good, solid backbone of views, news and opinion, one can sally forth fully informed and attack the right-wing confidently. These three sites are very important now that we are heading into an election cycle that is going to demand astute and clear delivery of Labor police and support. I believe we have to keep these sites clean of trolling filth and hone our political direction with specific targeting, now that the MSM. is a lost cause, save shock jocks and tele'. I believe the PM. will be using social media twice as much in the next election and the Political Sword's mailing system will come in very handy.

Tom of Melboune

28/03/2013Ad Astra said – [i]” Why on earth do some express such loathing of her. “[/i] Because she has proven to be dishonest. People don’t warm to dishonesty, particularly in leaders. Many people won’t find much to fault in many of the policies, but Gillard has broken the trust of public, and that’s why they’ve stopped listening to her, and why she is held in such low public esteem. Honesty (and lack of it) isn’t a gender issue.

nasking

28/03/2013 ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH AUSTERITY MEASURES IS THE TENDENCY TO CUT SOCIAL SERVICES...IT'S DIFFICULT AS IT IS FOR PEOPLE WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS (AND THERE ARE MANY) TO FIND A PLACE TO GO WHERE THEY TRUST THE THERAPIST, DOCTOR ETC. AND THAT IS AFFORDABLE. AND PARANOIA IS A BIG PART OF MENTAL ILLNESS...MANY VICTIMS ARE TERRIFIED OF BEING LABELLED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. SO TRUST DOESN'T COME EASILY... IF GOVERNMENTS PRIORITISE WORK WORK WORK...WHILST CUTTING SOCIAL SERVICES, COMMUNITY CENTRE FUNDING, AND MAKING SURVIVING ON SOCIAL SECURITY EVEN HARDER...IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN'T GET OUT...WHO STRUGGLE TO KEEP A CONSISTENT JOB...WHO ARE OFTEN PUSHED INTO LOW PAID JOBS THAT CAN BE ABUSIVE AND RUN IN A VERY AUTHORITARIAN FASHION...PARTICULARLY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WORK AND EMPLOYERS THINK THEY CAN BE PICKY...AND PUSHY...AND DUMP ANYONE WHO STANDS UP TO THEM...QUESTIONS PAY AND CONDITIONS...OR DEMONSTRATES INCONSISTENCY AND SO ON. BAD FOR THE MENTALLY ILL WHO STRUGGLE TO GET TO THE JOB EVERYDAY...STRUGGLE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE...STRUGGLE TO SLEEP... AND IF GOVT MAKES IT HARDER TO GET A UNI EDUCATION BY UPPING FEES...THEY REDUCE THE CHANCES OF THAT EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE PERSON ESCAPING THOSE AWFUL JOBS...FINDING SOME PEACE IN STUDY THAT COULD LIFT THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND SEE THEM GETTING ASSISTANCE BY WAY OF THE UNI COUNSELLORS...SOMETIMES A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE FOR EXTREMELY ANXIOUS PEOPLE. HERE IS ANOTHER CONSEQUENCE OF AUSTERITY MEASURES: JOHN HARRIS, THE GUARDIAN [b]When asked about the most dangerous aspects of their jobs, neither constable misses a beat. "You can be searching somebody who has HIV/Aids, or hepatitis," says Hawke. "You'll empty a rucksack and it'll be full of uncapped needles. That, for me, is the biggest fear: a fear of infection. And we regularly come across people with weapons: anything from, like, hammers, knives... This grim scene highlights one aspect of the police's current predicament: as social services budgets are slashed, it is ordinary officers who find themselves clearing up the mess. "We've seen a massive shift in the last 12 months," says Hawke, "especially in relation to mental health." She reckons that law-breaking now accounts for no more than 20% of her work. These are turbulent times for ordinary police officers. Like so many public sector workers, they are in the midst of a two–year pay freeze and facing increased pension contributions. By 2015, the Home Office hopes to have cut its grants to police forces by around 23%, meaning that the organisation of many constabularies is in flux; numbers of officers and civilian staff are tumbling. There are already 11,500 fewer police officers than at the time of the last general election, and around the same number of civilian jobs in the force have been shed. Official research suggests that in two years those losses will each have grown to around 16,000. Many police stations are being closed altogether, or to the public: in London, 65 are shutting their front desks, which will be moved to post offices and – bizarrely – supermarkets. Already, some forces are in a delicate state: a report last year by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary warned that the Met, Lincolnshire, and Devon and Cornwall might eventually be faced with an inability to provide a "sufficiently efficient or effective service".[/b] http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/26/police-constantly-under-attack-government I THINK THE UK TORIES HAVE LOST THE PLOT. [b]PROBABLY COMES FROM SEEING SOCIETY THRU THE EYES OF PRIVILEGE.[/b] N'

DMW

28/03/2013ToM, [i]Honesty (and lack of it) isn’t a gender issue.[/i] Beg to differ Thomas. Honesty (and trust) are gender issues. The 'woman can't be trusted' stereotype is writ large in our society. When it comes to sexual behaviour women are held to a different standard; any woman who 'sleeps around' is a slut, whore or other form of low life. When a bloke 'sleeps around' he is a stud, a hero and often placed on a pedestal. The belief that 'women always lie and are never to be trusted' is not far below the surface for many males in this country and it shows up in many places. It has some similarity to the 'I am not a racist but ...' thing.

lyn

28/03/2013Hi Jaycee , You are absolutely correct, our blog and the other 2 you mentioned are vital to this election. [quote]we have to keep these sites clean of trolling filth [/quote] Well said [quote]forming a good, solid backbone of views, news and opinion[/quote], The Liberal Party are reading the blogs, proof below:- The blog I posted on "Today's Links" by Robyn was a letter to the shadow deputy Leader, Robyn was annoyed at receiving a robot request for renewal of her Liberal Membership. Take a look Julie Bishop replied or maybe a Robot did, Robyn answered: Comment number 2 Answer number 3 http://teamoyeniyi.com/2013/03/26/dear-deputy-leader-of-the-opposition/ :):):)

nasking

28/03/2013 FROM LYN'S LINKS: AN EXCELLENT POST BY MIGLO THAT GIVES YOU A PRETTY GOOD IDEA AS TO WHY PLENTY OF US WORRY ABOUT TONY ABBOTT BECOMING LEADER OF THIS COUNTRY...HOW MUCH DO MOST VOTERS REALLY KNOW ABOUT HIM?: [b]We should not leave out his insensitive comments about the attempted suicide of John Brogden. I used to think that John Howard was a mean-spirited, nasty piece of work, but in comparison to Tony Abbott he appears as kind, caring and compassionate as Mother Teresa. Tony Abbott is far, far more mean-spirited. He demonstrates this in the way he ignores human misery and the way he belittles those who are suffering from it. He is, in a nutshell, nasty to the core. Stories surface that he’s been inherently nasty for as long as people have known him, but it wasn’t until 2005 that I first took notice of his extreme level of nastiness and lack of compassion for human misery when it was hoisted onto the national stage. It came only hours after the NSW Leader of the Opposition, John Brogden, had attempted suicide. The Age reported at the time that: The day after Mr Brogden was found unconscious in his electorate office with self-inflicted wounds, Mr Abbott publicly joked at two separate Liberal Party functions about the disgraced leader’s career-wrecking behaviour . . . Mr Abbott was asked at a fund-raising lunch about a particular health reform proposal and reportedly answered: “If we did that, we would be as dead as the former Liberal leader’s political prospects.” Nasty. To the core. And to a mate. He also claimed that Bernie Banton was a mate. Not that he acted like one. When Abbott was the Minister for Health, the dying asbestos disease sufferer Bernie Banton obtained a petition containing 17,000 signatures of those who supported the listing of the mesothelioma drug Alimta on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This petition was to be presented in person to Tony Abbott. If it wasn’t disrespectful enough to snub the petition, then his verbal response certainly was. Yesterday, Mr Abbott was quick to dismiss the petition. “It was a stunt,” Mr Abbott said on the Nine Network. “I know Bernie is very sick, but just because a person is sick doesn’t necessarily mean that he is pure of heart in all things.” He loves making fun of dying people. Does he expect we’ll all laugh along with him? [/b] http://theaimn.com/2013/03/27/its-still-never/ WHAT WORRIES ME IS THIS MEAN-STREAK IN TONY ABBOTT. WHEN PRIME MINISTERS COME UNDER A GREAT DEAL OF PRESSURE (BEING IN OPPOSITION IS NOT THE SAME) THE WORST IN THEM CAN COME OUT... PARTICULARLY IN THOSE EARLY YEARS AS THEY TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON THE JOB... AND IT'S NOT AS THO ABBOTT IS WELL LIKED TO BEGIN WITH... WE KNOW HE HAS A TENDENCY TO GET DEPRESSED IF THINGS DON'T GO HIS WAY... WE'VE SEEN HIM UNDER PRESSURE...THE UNDIGNIFIED REACTION TO NICOLA ROXON WHEN RUNNING LATE FOR THE HEALTH DEBATE...THE MEGA-RANTS IN PARLIAMENT... GAWD FORBID HOW ABBOTT WOULD REACT IF THE ECONOMY GOT WEAKER...CHINA WOBBLED...SOME OF HIS COALITION TEAM STARTED LEAKING AND CRITICISING HIS APPROACH IN PUBLIC...THE POLLS WENT SOUTH...HIS HEALTH DETERIORATED FROM TOO MUCH PRESSURE, DNA PROBLEMS AND PAST OVER-EXERCISE...AND THE MEDIA ACTUALLY GAVE HIM A HARD TIME...??? ABBOTT HAS A HISTORY THAT SHOWS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOUR THAT IS EMOTIONALLY INCONSISTENT. THINKING OF ALL THE PRESSURE PM GILLARD HAS BEEN UNDER... DAMN SHE'S DONE WELL. HELD UP WELL. STILL STANDING. ABBOTT WILL WOBBLE. HIS HISTORY TELLS US THAT. N'

nasking

28/03/2013 [b]AND WHEN ABBOTT WOBBLES... HE GETS MEAN.[/b] N'

DMW

28/03/2013Opinion: [b]A new script needed for Labor and the nation[/b] Bill Kelty @ [i]The ALP must forgo the politics of division and seize the chance to inspire pride in its achievements. The politics of the next few months is no longer about the result of the next election. It is about the future of the ALP. Political parties are resilient, can defy the odds and rebuild quickly. However, the essence of that rebuilding begins with a clarity of purpose as to what the party stands for and its point of difference with its competitor.[/i] http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/a-new-script-needed-for-labor-and-the-nation-20130327-2gufy.html

nasking

28/03/2013 YA SEE, THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE SO MUCH MEDIA ON ABBOTT'S SIDE BECAUSE: - HE'S A BLOKE, A MAN, A JOCK - HE'S WHITE...AND NOT WELSH - HE'S ONE OF THEM...ONCE A JOURNO ALWAYS A JOURNO - MURDOCH AND GINA AND OTHER CORPORATE MEDIA TYPES WITH INFLUENCE GIVE HIM THUMBS UP - RUDD AND GREEN AND LIBERTARIAN SUPPORTERS BASH GILLARD AND GIVE ABBOTT A FREE RIDE TOO OFTEN - HE HAS SPENT YEARS CHARMING AND SEDUCING ON A PERSONAL LEVEL TO COMPENSATE FOR THE NASTY CHIMP SIDE - HE'S AHEAD IN THE POLLS...HE'S VENGEFUL - HE SUPPORTS THEIR CHRISTIAN FOREVER WAR...SOME OF OUR MEDIA ARE ISLAMOPHOBES - HE IS OF THE SAME RELIGION...CATHOLIC...AS SOME - HE IS WILLING TO SUPPORT THE CORPORATE MEDIA AGAINST MEDIA REFORM - HE KNOWS HOW TO GET ATTENTION...KEEPING MEDIA BOSSES HAPPY...THEY LOVE ATTENTION-SEEKERS WHO MAKE IT EASY TO CREATE HEADLINES...THINK ONE-LINERS...AND CONTROVERSY - HE WANTS TO CUT CORPORATE TAXES...MORE MONEY FOR BIG MEDIA...POSSIBLY MORE MONEY FOR EXISTING JOURNOS ETC. - HE APPROVES OF GREED. A LOT OF THE SURVIVING MEDIA PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME MINDSET. THEY'RE PROBABLY VISUALISING YET ANOTHER ORGY OF GREED FOR GAIN AND 'IRRATIONAL EXUBERANCE'...WITH TONY IN THE MIDDLE...AND TO HELL WITH THE MORNING AFTER CRASH N'

jaycee

28/03/2013Cross-posted from Poll Bludger. We have been betrayed..we of the 'Left', we of the Whitlam years, we of the working classes who have grown up through the skilled professions and trades who have benefitted from those singular, magnificent reforms under the Whitlam Govt' I dismiss, of course, those Liberal Sympathisers who post here, too young and yet to grow their first flush of pubic hair and those still with a Scrooge-grip on their first penny! But talk of those of us in our older years who. like myself have lived through the life experiences of needing, at some point in time the public services of ..: Health, Education, Industrial relations, Family Court and Social Services. These fantastic Labor reforms under the filthy Howard years were vandalised and diminished and replaced with the philosophy of "permanent war"!....We have been betrayed as individuals, as a nation and we will betray ourselves if we let the staff of govt fall from our hands..What is needed is a tight grip on govt'...what is needed is commitment to progressive philosophy and social equity. We can maintain such with the current govt'....Hold the line.

janice

28/03/2013G'day everyone. When the media's favourite Labor bashing tool, Leadership turmoil is dead, they turn to digging up the Dinosaurs of the past to opine about what used to be. In his day, Bill Kelty was a Labor star and deservedly respected. His day has gone and those who followed have moved on with eyes firmly fixed ahead, as it should be. There is nothing to be gained by dwelling on what worked in the past because the world and the country in which we live is a very different place, and still changing rapidly. The same applies to Whitlam, Keating and Hawke. All of these men are, and should be, remembered for their achievements and good governance. The Labor Party must leave the dinosaurs in the past and leave it to the LOTO to preach to the people to go backwards. Abbott is one of those thick headed souls who have no new ideas or plans to take the country forward and so he keeps his eyes on the past where he wants us to stay.

Austin 3:16

28/03/2013Hey DMW, I don’t know if honesty is the issue really, I think folk expect (at some level) all politicians to lie. After all “Honest John” Howard was still able to campaign on the issue of trust despite his many years of less than honest behaviour. What I think is more of the issue is the sense of being betrayed by a political leader. This is purely anecdotal, is based on things like handing out and being told that “I’ll never vote for your mob again I can still remember Keating and the L.A.W tax cuts” On the other hand I’ve also had people gladly take how to vote cards and tell me they still remember work-choices. And that’s why I think Howard lost big with work-choices, people didn’t expect him to be honest – but the did expect him to take care of their interests. For a long while the “Howard Battlers” bought into the “trust” issue, they thought their interest rates, tax etc would be lower with Howard, they'd be better off. When work-choices was enacted they felt betrayed. This is all purely speculation based on nothing more than anecdotal data so I could be absolutely wrong. But I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with the sexism comments, there are many things that are considered worse if the female gender does them. So it might be a combination of some folk feeling “betrayed” by a woman, a double whammy difficult to recover from.

Ad astra

28/03/2013Hi Lyn Again, your links were absorbing. I did enjoy Janice’s piece [i]The Great Manipulators[/i]; I presume it is ‘Our Janice’, our longest contributor. Miglo’s piece on AIM Network was great reading and the Abbott photo archetypical of the Abbott man. There were so many other good articles that I have just finished. [b]I hope you will be able to take a relaxing break over the next few days. Have a Happy Easter.[/b]

Ad astra

28/03/2013nasking I found your wife's comments about how Julia Gillard is regarded very interesting. Groupthink, much of it media generated, that has infected the public, is a plausible theory.

nasking

28/03/2013 JUST WATCHED ABBOTT AND HOCKEY AND GLASSON GIVING A DOORSTOP. FOCUS ON: [b]STOPPING THE BOATS CARBON PRICE THE CIRCUS IN CANBERRA SPIRALLING DEBT...HOW WILL IT BE PAID FOR?[/b] EFFECTIVE...I KNOW PLENTY OF QLDERS WHO FART ON THE SAME WAY. THEY USUALLY READ THE COURIER MAIL, WATCH MORNING SHOWS, SEVEN OR NINE CURRENT AFFAIRS AND LISTEN TO MAINSTREAM RADIO. SOME HAVE FOXTEL. IT'S A SHORT AND HYPED MESSAGE...PLENTY OF FEAR-MONGERING. BUT ENUFF TRUTH TO BITE...OR AT LEAST POSSIBILITY OF TRUTH. INTERESTINGLY, WHEN ABBOTT SAID THE COALITION "HAVE A PLAN" HOCKEY LOOKED ODD...LIKE HE WAS THINKING: "WHICH PLAN TONY? THE VAGUE ONE YER HOLDING IN YER HAND?... OR THE SECRET ONE THAT IS PARTIALLY ABOUT AUSTERITY MEASURES...INCLUDES A RISE IN THE GST...PLENTY OF MONEY TO CREATE BABY MACHINES... HELPING THE STATES TO OUTSOURCE MOST PUBLIC HEALTH, DISABILITY, EDUCATION JOBS...DIMINISHING GOVT WORKER SUPERANNUATION SCHEMES... REDUCING SICK DAYS AND ABOLISHING LONG SERVICE LEAVE... MAKING WELFARE UNBEARABLE... MILITARILY INTERVENING MORE IN THE PACIFIC...SUPPORTING THE BUILDING OF A NUMBER OF NUCLEAR ENERGY PLANTS... LETTING LIVE EXPORTS GO RAMPANT VIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS...CUTTING FOCUS ON TRUCK SAFETY... HOBBLING NBN BY HANDING IT OVER TO OUR MEDIA SUPPORTERS...MAKING JOHN HOWARD GOVERNOR-GENERAL... ANNOUNCING A LIB HACK HEAD OF THE ABC...ENSURING GEORGE PELL AND MATES GET OFF SCOTT-FREE BY DERAILING THE ROYAL COMMISSION... PERMITTING OF MORE DUMPING FROM CHINA AND THE LIKE SO GOODS REMAIN CHEAP AND SOME CHOSEN BUSINESSES, MANUFACTURERS CAN BENEFIT... SELECTING JUDGES WHO WILL HELP BIG TOBACCO SELL IT'S LETHAL CRAP TO YOUTH AGAIN BY WAY OF SEDUCTIVE PACKAGES... ENSURING GAMBLING PROMOTERS IN SPORTS ARE FREE TO SELL THEIR WARES LIKE HOOKERS IN OUR CHILDREN'S BEDROOMS... SETTING UP MISSIONS AND CALLING THEM 'EMPOWERMENT ZONES' AND 'SECURE SCHOOLS AWAY FROM HOME'... SETTING UP A ROYAL COMMISSION INTO UNION CORRUPTION THAT WILL LOOK UNDER EVERY UNIONIST'S BED FOR RECEIPTS, COMMIE AND TOLERANT OF ISLAM MATERIAL... LET THE IPA (INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS) AND JESUITS TAKE OVER THE RUNNING OF UNIVERSITIES... CUT MONEY TO THE ARTS AND REDIRECT INTO SPORTS AND PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING STRAIGHT FROM THE USA... SEND THE QUEEN THE LARGEST AUSTRALIAN FLAG IN HISTORY TO THANK HER FOR HER LOVE... AND PAY FOR THE POPE TO COME AND BLESS MILLIONS OF CHILDREN AND RIDE WITH HIS POPE MOBILE THRU INDIGINEOUS AREAS CONVERTING ALL AND SUNDRY AS THEY FALL TO THEIR KNEES BEFORE THE POPE AND MESSIAH TONY WHO THROWS THEM LAMB CHOPS, SNAGS AND BUDGIE SMUGGLERS... YIKES...WHAT A PLAN"... NO WONDER JOE LOOKED LIKE HE'D EATEN BAD OYSTERS. N'

nasking

28/03/2013 [b]BEHAVIOURAL PROTOCOLS HEIL TONY!!![/b] IT STARTS WITH WORK FOR THE DOLE... AND TROOPS AND DOGS USED AGAINST UNIONISTS... DEMONISING ASYLUM SEEKERS... FEAR-MONGERING OVER ISLAM...JAILING OF MENTALLY ILL... THEN ABORIGINAL INTERVENTION...RESTRICTIONS ON HOW YOU SPEND SOCIAL SECURITY MONEY...BEHAVIOURAL PROTOCOLS... WHERE DOES IT END? WE'LL HAVE A CORPORATE SEMI-FASCIST STATE BEFORE MOST OPEN THEIR EYES... A RIGHT-WING CATHOLIC SEMI-FASCIST DOMINATED NIGHTMARE. I'M DEFINITELY VOTING GREEN...THEN ALP FOR THE SENATE. N'

nasking

28/03/2013 OKAY, GOT TO PACK FOR THE WEEKEND. HAVE A GREAT EASTER ALL. N'

DMW

28/03/2013janice @ 11:56 AM I'd be interested to know on what basis you write Kelty off as a 'dinosaur'. Surely it can't be because of his age? If age is the criteria I guess for some being 65, as Kelty is, he would be old and well past his use by date and I guess he therefore qualifies as a 'dinosaur'. Is it because he is not in parliament? I just can't work out why you would consider him a 'dinosaur'. I would also be interested to know what sort of response you had when Malcolm Fraser laid into John Howard over Howard's alleged trashing of the Liberal Party. Did you think that Fraser was a 'dinosaur', past it and should not have or express an opinion? Sorry janice, but playing the man just doesn't cut it. If you can offer a critique of what Kelty wrote and show where he has got it wrong it would be more credible and worthy of discussion.

Patriciawa

28/03/2013Why the loathing? The group think, sexism, and all of the sound reasons given above by Nasking, DMW, Janice, AA and everyone else all make sense, but I think none of it would have mattered, had it not been for [b]RUPERT MURDOCH'S DETERMINATION that we should not have an ALP government, led by no matter who, which was bent on introducing the NBN. [/b] Rudd was already under attack by News Corp in 2010 and inadvertently there Murdoch provided the saner members of Cabinet with the excuse and opportunity to oust an appalling performer and replace him as a more effective PM and much stouter adversary, one Julia Gillard. Little did Murdoch know he had brought on himself a David to face his Goliath. We have yet to watch that battle being fought out. Not just Labor's survival depends on its outcome, but the well being of our democracy too.

DMW

28/03/2013Austin 3:16 @ 12:09 PM, your last paragraph about sums it up. The fact that the PM is a woman has made the whole 'she lied', 'she has betrayed us' and other sundry put downs easier to sell. Blokes get a lot more wriggle room in these things and although some mud may have stuck if the PM were a bloke in the same circumstance it would have mostly been forgiven and forgotten. Understanding this the PM could have played the game a little differently and possibly turned it to her advantage rather the the millstone it has become. There are a few weeks left to set that millstone free to roll off down the hill and possibly take out an opposition member or two as the millstone rolls off into the sunset. My other wish is that Ms Gillard also cuts the albatross that is hanging around her neck free but unfortunately that rooster has a way of surviving well beyond its' usefulness.

lyn

28/03/2013Hi Ad, Thankyou for your lovely Easter wishes, I hope you and your family have a nice Easter .No Chocolate Eggs though, after reading Wixxy’s blog this morning I will never eat chocolate again. Mark Latham has told Sky News a few home truths, he walked out and will not appear on PVO’s show again. A few comments below and the AFR article: Peter van Onselen ‏ It's unusual for someone like Mark Latham to quit an organisation in a huff (this time Sky) and bag it as soon as he's out the door... :) Luke Buckmaster ‏ Oddly appealing proposition from Mark Latham: boot out press gallery & replace them with bloggers http://bit.ly/13ymPPY AdrianOter ‏ @lukebuckmaster thats the most sensible thing Lathams said in a long time, newspapers are staler than day old Bakers delight bread Paul Syvret Real joke is the political media http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/real_joke_is_the_political_media_meDwiCA4EHb3FBTWjhTfPI … Mark Latham lets fly MisdaMagoo ‏ "@jamesmassola: Mark Latham lets fly at @vanOnselenP, @chriskkenny and the Canberra press gallery. Yikes. http://bit.ly/10aidJM " SPOT ON! Real joke is the political media by Mark Latham [quote]David Speers, Kieran Gilbert, Chris Kenny, Peter van Onselen and Graham Richardson made more mistakes than the Australian batting line-up in India. Sky’s viewers would have been more accurately informed if the station had simply broadcast a test pattern. [/quote] http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/real_joke_is_the_political_media_meDwiCA4EHb3FBTWjhTfPI PS Thankyou Nasking . :):):)

Patriciawa

28/03/2013PS to my comment above. I was reluctant to include in ita response to ToM, whom I usually ignore, but for once I have to agree with him about the fact that [i]people don't warm to dishonesty.[/i] It is the major reason why people don't like or trust Tony Abbott who lies all the time and that no matter how hard News Corp and others in the media promote him people will not warm to him and he is likely to bring his party undone. But then there is Julia Gillard who somehow has been painted as a liar for one alleged lie. But when did she ever lie? Did she ever lie about a carbon tax as opposed to a carbon price? Did she really break a promise as Leigh Sales and countess others have accused her about introducing an ETS? Changed circumstances and an unexpected election outcome seem good reason to justify the delay in introducing the emissions trading scheme until 2014 led in by a carbon price for big emitters, but no tax for consumers. That is an explanation, but surely not a lie? In any case when was a broken promise from a politician ever before presented to voters as a lie, if indeed there ever was a promise made by Julia Gillard. Convince me please, ToM! 1. Is a broken promise, because of unforeseen circumstances a lie? 2. When was that so called promise made? Show me that full TV statement, not just those few words about a carbon tax excised to be quoted endlessly as proof of Julia Gillard 'dishonesty' but those words in their full context of a market price and an emissions trading scheme. Link us to that and I'll show you THE LIE which has been repeated endlessly and it wasn't told by Julia Gillard or anyone in her government.

janice

28/03/2013DMW, [quote]I'd be interested to know on what basis you write Kelty off as a 'dinosaur'. Surely it can't be because of his age? If age is the criteria I guess for some being 65, as Kelty is, he would be old and well past his use by date and I guess he therefore qualifies as a 'dinosaur'. [/quote] It has little, if anything, to do with age. A dinosaur, quite relevant and dominant in its time, had no future and therefore could only look back 'to the good old days'. At this point in time, we have our Labor leader under attack from within and without. We have just seen a group of deluded, self centred cowards join forces with a narcissistic, vengeful sociopath to whiteant and destroy not only the Party's Leader and Prime Minister, but the Party itself. And, who gets the blame? The victim, that's who, and then we get lectured from past Labor leaders like Kelty on Labor values. Values which our PM has in spades and which she has never, and will never, diminish or betray. Kelty has had his day but that day is long gone. We could only imagine whether he would have achieved as well in this present political climate. We don't look back and judge his achievements by plucking him out of his time and putting him into this one but we do give him the credit and respect he deserves. Abbott and most of his crew are dinosaurs because they are still living in the Howard era and are fighting to take the country back to those years. Martin Ferguson is a dinosaur because he also wouldn't/couldn't keep moving forward into the future instead of fighting tooth and nail to stay in the past or stand still. Need I go on?

Michael

28/03/2013It's a ridiculous notion to swallow Abbott's line that PM Gillard has introduced 'class wars' to this country. There were soldiers, and there were convicts. 'Above'. And 'trodden down'. And Australia has been thus ever after. Conservatives argue that 'soldiers' are naturally superior, and deserve everything that their position offers them. They want things to stay exactly as they are. Left-thinking people reckon that apart from their uniforms, almost all those original soldiers were only a stolen loaf of bread away from wearing the manacles instead of carrying the key for them. Of course, there were officers amongst the soldiers, but a penal colony at the far end of the world was hardly a plum posting, so we can largely assume that any further than five steps away from the Governor's office, the social standing and military competency of the soldiers plummeted to the 'get that useless bastard out of my sight' level. But, the divisions were set, the lines in the mud were drawn, and for ever after in this country we've had to live with second and third rank 'superiors' lording it over the rest of us. Problem is, apart from Australians who through individual talent, skills, or sheer genius, escape the ruck of 'Australia', we are left with also-rans desperate to make an impression. There's at least one I can think of who'll tell anyone who'll listen that he's "the most successful leader of the opposition" in Federal politics ever. Problem is there's only one proof of that contention - he'd be PM if he was. He ain't yet, and chances are he never will be. But I can tell from all the way over here that even decades after he's failed to become PM Tony Abbott will still be telling people he was Australia's "most successful opposition leader ever". And there'll be rum-soaked old buggers cheering him on all bunched up at the far corner of the club's lounge.

Tom of Melboune

28/03/2013Patricia & DMW - As I’ve said in the past, people can talk about “the changed circumstance” of carbon policy all they like. To me, that’s only one of the examples. The clearest example of deliberate dishonesty (or shocking incompetence – take your pick) is- • That Gillard made a written, unequivocal agreement with Wilkie • That agreement delivered her to The Lodge • The agreement committed Gillard to “act unilaterally” if the deal could not be brokered with others • Gillard walked away from the agreement • She didn’t even attempt to meet her “act unilaterally” commitment • She made a shabby deal with a proven sleazy rorter, rather than face the consequences of her actions. I don’t believe there has ever been a more significant breach of trust than that of a Prime Minister deliberately breaking her word to a fellow Member of parliament, particularly given the consequences of making the agreement in the first place – ie it made Gillard Prime Minister. People can prattle on all they like about changed circumstances, but in that most vital of commitments, there were no circumstances that changed. The parliament remained composed in exactly the same manner, her party ws in the same conditions. But Gillard has proven to be untrustworthy.

DMW

28/03/2013janice @ 2:50 PM Moot point, but dinosaurs were blissfully unaware that they had no future and would become extinct allegedly from some outside event and not from circumstances of their own making. There may, or may not, be a lesson in that. [i]Need I go on?[/i] Only if you come with an actual critique of the contents of the article. While you continue to play the person and put them down as 'past their use by date' there is nothing of value added. I am also a trifle confused as to how you came to the view that everything that was in the article was 'so yesterday' and totally in the past. I am quite amazed that you could not even see some light shining into the future. Different glasses I expect. As Kelty wrote: [i]The Labor Party will need to demonstrate it is the culture and philosophy that counts. In that regard Whitlam, Hawke and Keating have provided the party with a solid foundation. Crean and Ferguson have helped build those foundations.[/i] Are you suggesting that the foundations built by those people be ripped down and that the Labor Party rebuilds from the foundations up? That may be the way to the future and I guess if that is the way to go the first step would be to dig very deep hole so that the bodies of Ferguson, Crean, Kelty and many other luminaries can be thrown in and buried under many tons of concrete. Good Luck with that scenario 'cos this little black sheep won't be buying in if that is the path chosen.

2353

28/03/2013For a bit of light relief, Newman is laying into Councils up here for not controlling bats (and causing a certain amount of outrage from Conservationists). The Brisbane Times today reprinted in it's Brisbane Live blog this comment on the Newman vs Bats story. The comment is based on the "what to do if scratched by a bat" advice. [quote]This is a public health issue. Observe the following precautions for Newmanvirus: 1. Do not approach a corners or wounded Newman. Their rabid bit can be lethal 2. After extended contact with , and support for, members of the Driscoll species, wash you hands. Deafness and blindness are known sequelae. 3. Those with unhealed cuts are at higher risk. This included public servants, community organisations, LGBTI people, the aged and people living with a disability. 4. Symptoms of an infected premier include confusion, unusual aggression, weakness, a tendency to move in circles and unresponsiveness. Observe with caution. 5. Confirmed cases of Newmanvirus are invariably fatal. Post-exposure prophylaxis is available at poll8ing booths throughout Queensland.[/quote] Full credit to Shashik from a comment on the Brisbane Times.

janice

28/03/2013DMW, I am not suggesting the tearing down of any foundations, nor am I suggesting the burying of the builders of those foundations. I acknowledge and am grateful for the leadership and work done by past Labor leaders and stalwarts. All I ask of them is that when they wax lyrical about their own part in the great history of Labor, when they get the urge to infer that those who have come after them have somehow lost the Labor way, that they reflect and acknowledge the Party has a new challenge in a different climate to build upon those foundations. I have no issue with Kelty's lecture except in it's timing which coincides with Ferguson's attempt to explain/absolve himself from joining in an act of betrayal of his Party, his constituents and his Leader.

jaycee

28/03/2013A lot of people still aren't getting the different set of rules in this new world of gender politics. You blokes think back when you had arguements with the OH. and out of the blue, an entirely new subject would be injected into the current one and you exclaim in the male single-subject, pragmatic way..."what in hell's name has THAT got to do with it!!?"...But in the continuety of women's world- not a nine to five job-lot - there IS continuety and where we males lose sight of the many connections of social tendrils, they do not...ie.: we may have a bad day at our "one job", but with the necessity of nurtured multi-tasking you would have to excuse them for inquiring..:"which one?" So while the men are grumbling and being confused and in doubt of the PM.'s "leadership direction"...at least 50% of the voting public "gets it". Oh, and DMW...I wouldn't pay too much att'n to Austin 3:16...I believe he is an American resident visiting this site for a bit of fun and tease!...hence his confessing that..:"This is all purely speculation based on nothing more than anecdotal data so I could be absolutely wrong."....and.."I can honestly say that no-one I know votes for Tony Abbott..."...etc.

Ad astra

28/03/2013Folks [b]First, I hope you all will have a happy and relaxing Easter. We all need a spell from the tumult of contemporary politics. Lyn will be taking a break until Tuesday, when she will next post her links. I too am taking a break. So I won’t be around much until Tuesday. Let’s all enjoy the break in readiness for the next round of politics, but of course you can continue your dialogue with each other on [i]TPS[/i] to your heart’s content.[/b]

janice

28/03/2013Enjoy your Easter break Ad astra and Lyn. I too will be taking a break from politics for a few days. Cheers all.

2353

28/03/2013Jaycee said [quote]I wouldn't pay too much att'n to Austin 3:16...I believe he is an American resident visiting this site for a bit of fun and tease!...hence his confessing that..:"This is all purely speculation based on nothing more than anecdotal data so I could be absolutely wrong."....and.."I can honestly say that no-one I know votes for Tony Abbott..."[/quote] I suspect you're right. The US Tea Party types seem to cross-pollinate with the couple of hour a week religious types (you know the ones that are holier than thou while at the Church and forget completely about the teachings of the bible for the remaining 150 odd hours a week. John 3;16 seems to have some significance to them. I wonder if that's the bit of the bible that suggests do until others as you wish them do you. Alternatively, it might be the bit that tells readers to look after those that are worse off, or it could be the bit where readers are told to

2353

28/03/2013. . . be honest and trustworthy. P.S. I should learn to finish typing before putting the code in :-)

42 long

28/03/2013I get away with doing some afterwards. It always worries me though. Have a safe easter swords folks

bob macalba

28/03/2013What a wally....... http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Austin%203%3A16 cheers

DMW

28/03/20132353 @ 6:54 PM, the only verse I remember from the bible is John 11:35 which is the shortest verse in the bible which by pure dumb-ass luck I found in a Sunday School Know Your Bible Quiz when I was about 10 years old. I got a prize for being so smart but like I said it was pure dumb-ass luck that I opened the bible at the exact right page scanned and found it but I have always remembered the verse. John 3:16 from very vague memory is something about the old fellow giving her only begotten son or something which I sort of remember 'cos there was some old bloke who used to turn up at major sporting events like the Olympics holding a sign John 3:16 and some commentator sort of explained what the old guy was on about. There are some of our politicians who would have our kids/grandkids undertake bible learnin' as part of a rounded school edumification but darned if I can see the merit unless it was some sort of comparative study of the bible, the koran, the bhagavad gita, the woks of Confucius, Tao and other such spiritual texts. Hmm, thinking further I could almost buy into compulsory bible learnin' if they also threw in some Dawkins, Hitchens and Douglas Adam's Hitch-hikers Guide to the Galaxy.

bob macalba

28/03/2013criticism and critique clique, and to all who do bother, cheers

Truth Seeker

28/03/2013Hey Ad, Lyn and all swordsters, hope ypou all have a great easter :-) And for any that may be interested, I have posted my latest "MSM, the political satnav." http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/msm-the-political-satnav/ Cheers all :-) :-)

Casablanca

28/03/2013Is Graham Richardson psychic? By Richard Cooke [quote]In the course of last week’s Crean Immolation, there was only one commentator who finished the day of chaos with a perfect record of prediction. That man was Graham Richardson, Labor’s own Talleyrand minus the stocking. For the entire day, nearly everything he said was wrong.[/quote] http://www.themonthly.com.au/blog/richard-cooke/2013/03/28/1364440867/graham-richardson-psychic

Casablanca

29/03/2013[b]Real joke is the political media [/b] Great point made by Latham [b]Based on performance, the gallery should be disbanded, its office space in Parliament House rented out to bloggers.[/b] http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/real_joke_is_the_political_media_meDwiCA4EHb3FBTWjhTfPI

Patriciawa

29/03/2013Casablanca, Don't you like Mark Latham these days? It's easy to see now why he would be able to round up sufficient supporters to become LOTO, as he did. Maybe his potential was so clear to News Ltd that he wasn't allowed to succeed. Nah....he was a very talented, but volatile character, too for volatile for politics and public life. He's still not pulling any punches in his writing. Right now he's showing a lot of courage in his column. I wonder how long his bosses will put up with his criticism of the media?

jane

29/03/2013DMW, below is John 3:16, which I vaguely remember from the Communion Service when I was but a callow youthess. [quote]For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.[/quote] Casablanca, Richard Cooke got it so right about Richo and Latham gets it so very, very right about the msm, particularly the mendacity and lack of ethics displayed by the likes of Kenny and PvO. It's no wonder that they are so terrified of media regulation. Freedom of the press my @rse! As an aside, reading Latham puts me very much in mind of PJK. Pity he was crucified over that handshake. I have never been able to see why it was so bad. Murdoch propaganda, I suppose.

Austin 3:16

29/03/2013Hey DMW, There are some unfortunate parallels between Ms Gillard and Anna Bligh. Despite making no comment on asset sales before the election Bligh was castigated after for "breaking her promise", how you break a promise never made is beyond me. And in both cases there were the very personal attacks, with the crude misspellings of names to incorporate "lie" or "liar".

Austin 3:16

29/03/2013Hey Jaycee, You know what anecdotal means right? There are some dictionaries available on-line that a budding cyber-warrior like yourself could check out. And tell me if the concept of one or two dissenting voices on this blog troubles you so much how on earth will you cope outside this cloistered environment?

bob macalba

29/03/2013Zombie worship day, back from the dead......'BOO'

DMW

29/03/2013Hot cross buns, one ha' penny, two ha' penny, hot cross buns. If you have no daughters, give them to your sons, one ha' penny, two ha' penny, Hot Cross Buns I have no idea if there is some hidden meaning in the rhyme it just seemed appropriate today :) reCaptcha tells me: [i]intifei tradition[/i] guess it must be so

jaycee

29/03/2013Alright, Austin...I'll bite..The thing with your posts that demonstrates to me you are not familiar w/local political commentry going right back to the Howard years, is the "alien tone" of your writing. Now, here is a poster who pays dilligent attention to his grammar and syntax yet injects a sort of "hokey hello" to his tone and gets all aggro and sanctimonious yet lacks a certain detailing of common knowledge of personalities of the players he talks about. Trolls, in my experience approach a site with a certain style of language....more accusative than debating...teasing the person rather than "teasing out" the subject matter and above all else..totally, totally shallow for the seriousness of the subject matter of the site. But then Austin 3:16..even your nom di plume is a bit of a tease!

TalkTurkey

29/03/2013Greetings Comrades Don't over-egg your puddin' this weekend! TS I read your excellent post on your own site and wrote a comment tte yours are the kind of attitude and effort whoch will win the election for us. Unforch whenever I go to post such comments I always get fouled up by them saying I'm not registered or password needs entering, I don't ever know what password etc ... Anyway... Great Works! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yesterday Leaky Burk (who has blocked me since forever)posted a tweet including: [i][b]..test4 Independents.Windsor,now opponent-less,wd love early election now.[/b][/i] To which I replied - ([i]N.B. One can still reply to blockers by pasting their hashtag in the Tweetbox):[/i]- First asked her [i]HOW She KNEW ![/i] Then I said [i]Unless TW has said so this is MISCHIEVOUS INVENTION by U. TW is a statesman not a PiG~THiNG like Abbortt! [/i] Then: [i]@TonyWindsorMP Have you actually said that you would love an early election while you are opponentless OR is that Latika Bourke's INVENTION?[/i] and then [i]Does anyone KNOW if @TonyWindsorMP has actually said he'd like an early election while opponentless? @latikambourke SEZ he wants one.[/i] [b]If (as I am betting) it is indeed an invention by Bourke, it is [i]scurrilous[/i]. It implies that TW is ONLY interested in his own re-election, to the exclusion of considerations of good governance. AND that he has reneged on his own edict, that he would support the Gillard Government for its whole term. [/b] And it is prejudicial to his standing . I haven't had a reply from TW yet, but I am also tweeting Rob Oakeshott to ask him what he thinks. Interested to hear what Swordsfolk think.

bob macalba

29/03/2013Jaycee.. check out the link i put up last night at 8:09 thats what motivates austin.. wot a wally

Casablanca

29/03/2013 [b]Gillard is not the only one with a credibility problem[/b] [i]The verdict from the parliamentary press gallery is in: the Prime Minister's government is dysfunctional, with lousy judgment and a fixation with polls. Herald Sun columnist Terry McCrann says Julia Gillard is ''the worst prime minister in our history leading our worst-ever government''. The public, we are informed, is so appalled that it has stopped listening. Turn that around. What if this was the worst political reporting Australians have endured in history? Dysfunctional, with lousy judgment, fixated with polls, feigning concern about the toxicity of political discourse. And the public? They've stopped listening. [/i] Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/gillard-is-not-the-only-one-with-a-credibility-problem-20130328-2gxdd.html#ixzz2OsfOPr4a

Gravel

29/03/2013Ad Astra and Lyn Have a great break over easter, there's a lot of fighting evil to be done from then onwards till September. Ad That post, the Great Manipulators, is OUR Janice's, what a great job she has done.

Truth Seeker

29/03/2013TT, thanks for that, :-) my site started out as merely an archive for my writings, but with over 8000 hits in three months, it's taken on a life of its own :-) You should be able to use your gravatar or wordpress acc, if you have them, to log in, as I would love to see you there :-) But it's good to know, at least, that you do check in from time to time. Hope you have a good easter break :-) Cheers :-) :-)

TalkTurkey

29/03/2013Great beginning to this article, haven't read it all. I probly agree with all the rest too, and the first few paras do so agree with your lead article Ad. A circumstance which regulars here will know happens with uncanny frequency. It makes you very special Ad. It almost seems as if you are leading a trippy synchronous dance with the rest of us, as in first Galah of the flock! (Galahs are very wise and adaptable birds and they may live to great age. They can fly erratically but they are very straight in the head.) Just check out the inversion in the beginning of the article Comrades. Labor fights back now. We have ALL the ammo. Some of it will be fired straight at the Media. That's why the Fighting Fifth Estate is SO important! - Because the Farting Fourth are treacherous to within a handful of decent - even then usually pale - journos. This is one. *DON'T WRITE CRAP!* Now THAT's a SLOGAN! http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/gillard-is-not-the-only-one-with-a-credibility-problem-20130328-2gxdd.html

jaycee

29/03/2013thanks for that Bob....there is something weird about the chap!

TalkTurkey

29/03/2013I DON'T mean that Gay Alcorn is pale, no, I mean she is spot-on. http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/gillard-is-not-the-only-one-with-a-credibility-problem-20130328-2gxdd.html

TalkTurkey

29/03/2013DMW It actually goes(first line repeats, and you sing/chant it): Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! one-a-penny, two-a-penny, Hot cross buns! If you have no daughters, give them to your sons, one ha' penny, (one-a-penny,) two ha' penny, (two-a-penny) Hot Cross Buns But the mathematics works out the same but in reverse! ( I think) ie. if you say [i]one-a-penny, two-a-penny[/i], it means you get one or two for a penny. But if you say [i]one ha'penny two ha'penny [/i]you pay either a ha'penny, (ie half-penny, pronounced HAIP-Nee) for a single bun, is that right? Anyway most of yous young chickens here have never seen a ha'penny. Certainly few of us could remember using them. I do. Oops now I've done it!

Austin 3:16

29/03/2013Hey Jaycee, Rightio so not having met me or ever laid eyes on me you can determine who I am by some kind of analysis of my writing style. Well I suppose it would beat tarot cards, but not by much. Actually I get sanctimonious instead of aggro (or at lest I try to). Aggro is a character failing I'm trying to work on. I don't think it helps to advance a discussion at all. Of course it could also be that I've been fighting a raging head cold for a week or so and am much better or worse dependant on how the sinutab kicks in. Further some topics in discussion lend themselves to a more casual style, some to a more formal. [quote]Trolls, in my experience[/quote] Yeah that would be that "anecdotal data" I spoke about earlier. Often useful, often worthless. That's your experience. Unless you can also advance some kind of expertise that makes you an authority it's not a particularly good citation. Hey Bob, I'm from Qld mate the only Wally up here is Lewis and he's a legend. ;)

jaycee

29/03/2013Ok, Austin..I take it all back....but what's with the "Austin 3:16"...are you a wrestling tragic?

Austin 3:16

29/03/20131. I like a pseudonym this is the internet after all 2. Yeah WWE is a bit of a "guilty pleasure" of mine I know it's rubbish but I still watch it. I particularly liked the "attitude era", The Rock, Mick Foley, Stone Cold etc 3. I couldn't think of an original "clever" name so I just pinched one....

jaycee

29/03/2013Gotta admit, Austin..it threw me!..being of the "conspiricy theory" type naturally...I went too deep into it...my apoligies to you and if I misled others here. In the world of the internet where so many things, as you are aware, border on the "bleedin' obvious",anything cryptic or obscure comes under suspicion. The only days of World Championship Wrestling I remember are those of "Mario Milano", "Killer Karl Cox" and "Killer Kawolski"....and if they aren't pushing a zimmer-frame around "Sunny-Glades" retirement village by now I'll go ik!

bob macalba

29/03/2013Hey Austin... my opinion and im entitled to it, and i used to think of wally as a wally while he was playing for Qld, since he retired however you are correct he is a legend, you however well the jury is still out on that one cheers

Pikiranku

29/03/2013Bill Kelty just doesn't make sense to me. One the one hand he says: "The ALP must forgo the politics of division" and then in the next breath he tells us: ".. the essence of that rebuilding begins with a clarity of purpose as to what the party stands for and its point of difference with its competitor." Julia Gillard has been very clear about what the Labor Party's priorities are and how different those priorities are from the opposition's. The LNP is about funnelling money from the bottom up to the top and this government is busy reversing that process. Of course that reflects a division! The social divide wasn't invented by Julia Gillard, for pity's sake! It has existed for millenia, but just lately in Australia it's growing wider and the current government is working to change that - by ensuring that Australia's wealth is shared a little more equitably and by trying to create educational and vocational opportunities for everyone. The wealthy already have those opportunites, the poor don't. So naturally the government has to target its spending to create those opportunities where they don't currently exist. How can that be called 'divisive'? Kelty should retire to the village with Crean and Richardson.

DMW

29/03/2013Afternoon TT, somewhere (in a safe spot that temporarily escapes my memory) I have a collection of coins that includes some farthings - but, no, I don't recall every spending a farthing :P

DMW

29/03/2013[Dummy Spitting Time], bloody Liberal Governments ... There I was back in '66 happily buying 12 cobbers for a shilling then, suddenly on Feb 14 a shilling became ten cents and, well you know the story, a shilling would only buy ten cobbers. Bloody Liberals, an overnight 20 per cent devaluation and ripping of kids to boot. By the way I don't hold grudges ... well not for longer than 50 years or maybe 60. [Dummy Spit Done]

MWS

29/03/2013There is a reprint of a Tony Abbott [i]Bulletin[/i] article on AFHP, explaining "why he left the preisthood", although I'm not sure you can "leave" something that you never actually joined (although he did do some training). It's well worth a read, particularly this: [quote]A little earlier, I had been appointed college infirmarian. This post was a legacy from quasi-monastic days and involved supervising the medicine cabinet and ensuring that the ill were not forgotten in their rooms. But during winter, when up to 30 percent of the college would be down with “flu” at any one time, the infirmarian spent much of his day ferrying food and aspirin to the rooms of the sick. My view was that I knew nothing about medicine and that those too sick to eat in the dining room ought to be in hospital. Anyway, I thought, most were malingering. So I encouraged “self-service” of medicines and suggested that meals would be better fetched by the friends of the sick. Many deeply resented this disdain for college’s caring and communitarian ethos. And, I confess, I did not have the courage to refuse room service to members of the seminary staff.[/quote] http://australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com/2013/03/28/tony-abbott-on-why-he-left-the-priesthood/ Tony Abbott admitted that he had no medical training, but thought that priests and trainee priests were malingering! And left trainee priests (but not his superiors) to the care of their friends (who probably didn't have any medical training either). But most importantly, HE WROTE ABOUT HIS COMPLETE LACK OF EMPATHY IN A NATIONAL MAGAZINE.

KHTAGH

29/03/2013MWS [quote]COMPLETE LACK OF EMPATHY[/quote] Most obvious trait of a psychopath!

NormanK

29/03/2013If you are not already disillusioned about what constitutes reality in this ever-surprising world, this news might set you on the path. If you are already disillusioned ..... confirmation will not provide any solace. A certain ex-patriot Australian is currently 82 years old and living in Berkshire. He was reportedly interviewed by police following a search of his house late last year. He is famous for playing the wobble board. [b]Detectives investigating Jimmy Savile abuse claims arrest man, 82, on 'suspicion of sex offences'[/b] by Stephen Wright Mail Online [quote]An 82-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual offences as part of the Jimmy Savile investigation.[/quote] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2300880/Savile-probe-82-year-old-man-Berkshire-arrested-suspicion-sexual-offences.html

TalkTurkey

29/03/2013Talking about Currency How could we ever forget Sir Pig-Iron Bob Menses, He of the Royal Order of the Garter, He who said wtte "I did but see (Liz) passing by Yet I'll suck-hole her till I die", [i]wanting to call the new dismal guernsey* currency [b]ROYALS[/b][/i] FFS! The People wouldn't wear it, and told him where to shove his bloody Royals. And re Farthings, yes I had a few too. Little coppers about the size of a threepence. Oh wait! :) Threepences (pronounced [i]Throop[/i]ences,[i]throop[/i]~ as in [i]WoopWoop,[/i]) were little [i]real SILVER [/i]coins about the size of a 1 cent coin but thinner ... Oh wait! :) A 1 cent coin was a little copper coin ... Dog Albitey how many Australian coins have I outlived, it's ridiculous! A [i]very [/i]few people if any here might ever have spent a farthing. Not I tho. But I think I just remember them being used. Farthing of course meant [i]Fourthing[/i], a quarter of a penny. Ha'penny (pronounced Haip'nee remember) was a half penny and few of us have spent them. And as for pennies, everybody's spent one, many times. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Who remembers "Dismal Guernsey"? Go on then, explain it to the people, origin & all! Or else someone will have to ask me. Hint: [i]Gloria Soames [/i]also featured prominently.

TalkTurkey

29/03/2013NK I guess that person is the one we associate with wobble boards and I know he's been checked out previously, but that article doesn't actually really hint at the person's identity. Are you sure it is indeed he?

TalkTurkey

29/03/2013"...up to 30 percent of the college would be down with “flu” at any one time,..." and PiG~THiNG decided from the depths of his ignorance that they were malingering ... And at 30%, many probably WERE. Unless you mean being sick of bloody Catholic bullshit. In many years of teaching I NEVER saw any level of absenteeism in kids nor in teachers, and I tells ya, if there is arich source of infection for contagious complaints, schools must be close to the top. Lazy bloody baby priestlings eh. But [i]what about the ones who were genuinely sick[/i] Abbort you creep? recaptcha: from Blogiv :)

NormanK

29/03/2013[quote]Cast your vote for the leaders, artists, innovators, icons and heroes that you think are the most influential people in the world. Official voting ends on Friday, April 12th. The final TIME 100 list is selected by our editors and will be revealed on Thursday, April 18th.[/quote] Julia Gillard is on the list. Vote now! http://time100.time.com/2013/03/28/time-100-poll/slide/julia-gillard/

jane

29/03/2013TT, I'd completely forgotten the hot cross bun rhyme. Casablanca, Terry McCrann just another Murdoch shill spruiking for the Liars. DMW, not only was the price of cobbers inflated, but the quality and size was deflated. MWS, wouldn't he have made a wonderful priest, ministering to the sick & infirm? But to boast about his dereliction of duty to his charges and his toadying to his superiors just confirms what a piece of work he is.

Patriciawa

29/03/2013Yes, NormanK, obviously a lot of people all over the world hold our PM in high regard. I've already voted and you've beaten me to suggesting that Swordsters toddle over to register their vote in the - [b]The 2013 TIME 100 Poll – Should Julia Gillard be on the list?[/b] http://time100.time.com/2013/03/28/time-100-poll/slide/julia-gillard/

jane

29/03/2013Duly voted, NormanK.

Gravel

30/03/2013Talk Turkey When I was very young, Nan used to give us 10/- worth of pennies and halfpennies. I used to count my every day. Then at Xmas, go to coles armed with these, and buy everyone in the family something. :-)

Austin 3:16

30/03/2013Hey Jane, Can't you just imagine it though, Father Abbott caring for the poor and homeless "Get a job you bum" ministering to the sick "There's nothing wrong with you" not to mention his weekly sermons about the sins of the flesh and the proper place for a woman. http://www.landoverbaptist.org/ is probably the closest thing we'll get.

Sir Ian Crisp

30/03/2013TPS’s fantasts must be in a perfect fantod this morning with news that Qld Premier Newman’s figures are rebounding. Newman suffered a voter backlash after his slash and burn approach but he has recovered that lost ground according to the latest Newspoll. Considering the bad news are the TPS faithful changing their soiled underwear (once again) or have they reached the point where they have become inured to bad news?

Ad astra reply

30/03/2013NormanK Vote for Julia recorded. Thank you for alerting us to the Time survey. Being Easter, getting onto the Internet via my computer is almost impossible in this resort area. This message is being sent from the iPad via 3G. So I won't be online much for a few days

Austin 3:16

30/03/2013Hey Sir Ian, Isn't this somewhat old news? ReachTEL were saying similar a month ago. Newman still in negative territory though.

Sir Ian Crisp

30/03/2013Austin 3:16, get our your fishing pole and try your luck in TPS's pond. Not so long agon (about 1 month) some of the ALP claquers here were glad that Newman was on the nose. Newspoll disagrees with ReachTEL. Which one to believe?

bob macalba

30/03/2013This is what Tory[bastards] do best http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/28/benefit-cuts-monday-defines-government all that inbreeding just makes them callous cold hearted [put your own word here] this is why i loathe the buggers, and dont think abbortt does'nt want similar actions here to fill in his great big budget hole

Austin 3:16

30/03/2013Hi Sir Ian. Newspoll disagrees with ReachTEL, they do how so ? They are less than 2 points apart on the primary vote, well within the margin of error. How is that disagreement? And both polls show that Newman is in (slightly) negative territory when it comes to approval rating. I'd consider a negative approval rating to be "on the nose" wouldn't you? Oh and my bad it was last week's ReachTEL not last months.

Sir Ian Crisp

30/03/2013[quote][b]Hi Sir Ian.Newspoll disagrees with ReachTEL, they do how so ? They are less than 2 points apart on the primary vote, well within the margin of error. How is that disagreement? And both polls show that Newman is in (slightly) negative territory when it comes to approval rating. I'd consider a negative approval rating to be "on the nose" wouldn't you? Oh and my bad it was last week's ReachTEL not last months. Austin 3:16 [/b] [/quote] Hi Austin 3:16, notice I haven't used the "P" word to describe you so you're dealing with a reasonable and rational person when you deal with Sir Ian. The ReachTEL poll (20th March, sample size 1,273 people asked: Question 1: If a state election were to be held today, which of the following would receive your first preference vote? If you are undecided to which do you even have a slight leaning? The response was; Lib-NP 47.8%, ALP 30.2%. What I would call on the nose is a party dwelling in the cellar. The ALP is only slightly more popular than Gaddafi at the height of his unpopularity. Newspoll (results via poll bludger with a sample size of 1130) puts the Lib_NP at 49.7%, ALP 26.7%. A slight variation but enough to say that Newspoll doesn't agree with ReachTEL. Also consider the number of seats hanging on by a mere small percent. A slight or small variation is important. Notice how I haven't called you a "P" or questioned your right to hold a point of view? Refreshing ain't it.

jaycee

30/03/2013"Notice how I haven't called you a "P" or questioned your right to hold a point of view? Refreshing ain't it." ..."but..; just watch your step!"...I think THAT is what he is trying to say!

Austin 3:16

30/03/2013Hi Sir Ian, The lack of abuse is refreshing indeed. Each poll would have an error of plus or minus 3% (or thereabouts) your slight variation is within the margins of error. If I might quibble Newman is not the LNP. Certainly the primary vote for the LNP is showing a strong "rebound" however the approval rating for Newman is still in negative territory. There is an old joke told of two hikers in the American wilderness. Both out striding together enjoying the great outdoors. When they hear a growling rumbling some distance behind them. "What the heck is that" says hiker 1 "Sounds like a grizzly bear" says hiker 2. "Yep" he continues "It's a grizzly and it's hungry headed our way" Hiker 1 immediately drops his heavy pack to the ground, strips off his heavy hiking books and takes out a pair of running shoes. "Ya gotta be kidding" says hiker 2 "You expect to outrun a hungry grizzly just because you're wearing running shoes" "Not at all" replies hiker 1 "But I do expect to out-run you" There's an apt analogy, we essentially have a two horse race in Australian politics. The greens and Katter may say otherwise but that's how it is. A political party does not have to be particularly good, just better than the alternative. The LNP would certainly win a Qld election held today with a thumbing majority - but irrespective of that more Queenslanders disapprove of Newman's performance than approve. Which, considering that he should still be in his halcyon honeymoon days is an interesting statistic.

jaycee

30/03/2013Austin 3:16....sir Ian has a history quite relevant to your comment...he is an inveterate gambler...when he wins, he is cheeky and teasing..when he is on a losing streak, he comes here to 'unload' his 'gambler's regret'on anyone who will catch his ire...good luck!

bob macalba

30/03/2013Austin 3:16....listen to the advice of jaycee, sooner or later you will see why most ignore him cheers

Sir Ian Crisp

30/03/2013Good joke Austin 3:16. May I offer a joke that is becoming very popular and brings howls of laughter? Thank you. Here goes: Julia Gillard. Notice how I haven't used the "P" word still? Notice how when we have points of disagreement I don't call you a troll? Newman does head up the Lib-NP camorra so the rise and fall of his personal popularity will migrate to the Lib-NP popularity or otherwise. I think Queenslanders would elect a Lib-NP gov't tomorrow because they sure as hell don't want the filth of the ALP occupying the treasury benches just yet.

jane

30/03/2013NormanK @7.46pm 29/3, have you noticed the conspicuous absence of any of the Liars on the list? In particular, Liealot and the Rodent? They obviously made a huge impression on the world stage possibly as figures of derision, I suppose.

2353

30/03/2013NormanK - thanks for the heads up. Moments ago the PM was 13th most voted for - 2038 to 320. Gillard was beating the Obama's and the Clintons on the rankings! Also cast a few more votes while I was there.

Jason

30/03/2013NormanK - thanks for the link!

NormanK

30/03/2013My pleasure ladies and gents. Thirteenth out of a field of one hundred? Not bad for a little Aussie battler. :D Keep spreading the news - this would make a great headline if she finishes in the top twenty.

Austin 3:16

30/03/2013Hi Sir Ian, [quote]Newman does head up the Lib-NP camorra so the rise and fall of his personal popularity will migrate to the Lib-NP popularity or otherwise.[/quote] I'm not, normally, a big believer in the causality of the leaders rating and his parties polling. There are too many instances of the two being quite disparate. However you may have something in this instance, consider the latest ReachTEL poll showing Newman in negative territory it also asked the question: [b]Please rate the performance of the Newman Government for their first 12 months in office?[/b] And the results Very Good 15.2% Good 22.9% Indifferent 20.4% Poor 17.7% Very Poor 23.8% Giving us a total good of 38.10% and a total poor of 41.50% so not only to the majority of Queenslanders polled think Newman is personally doing a poor job the majority also thinks the LNP as a government is doing a poor job. The non-viability of the Labor opposition in Queensland might be the very best thing Newman has going for him

TalkTurkey

30/03/2013Apropos some related tweets involving @vanOnselenP Saying that it's been 400+ days since Abbortt came on his show I tweeted (in the classical Riddle style) [i]What Thing is it that has no spine Nor fortitude of intestine Yet Lo! So fast can this Thing run No scrutinising can be done?[/i] Ummm, and nobody's answered me about the meaning of [i]Dismal Guernsey.[/i] Nor in what connection you would expect to find Gloria Soames. I'm hurt. :(

jane

31/03/2013I'll bite, TT. Tell me; I'm itching to know.

jane

31/03/2013bob macalba @10.33am, thanks for the preview of what we can expect under a Liars government. I am not aware of the bedroom tax, but from some of the comments, I assume it is similar to the poll tax the ghastly hag Thatcher attempted to introduce. What was being said in the comments is a paraphrasing of the old "Marry in haste, repent at leisure" saying. I just hope that enough people see through the Liars and msm bullshit in time to deliver a comprehensive kick in the @rse to Liealot and his team of economic illiterates and big business sycophants. TT, my earlier comment seems to have vanished. I'll bite. And wish to be enlightened.

Truth Seeker

31/03/2013Morning Swordsters, I have just posted my latest musing "Turnbull Vs Abbott, the LNP dilemma" http://truthseekersmusings.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/turnbull-vs-abbott-the-lnp-dilemma/ Cheers :-) :-)

DMW

31/03/2013Good Morning TT, [i]Dismal Guernsey [/i] was what become the official tokens of trade in [i]'orse traylia [/i] on the 14th February 1966.

2353

31/03/2013Austin - interesting comment above and I can believe that the Newman Government is unpopular (despite the small story in the Sunday Mail this morning - with no substantiation). However I suspect that the ALP Opposition is finding it hard to get airtime in competition with all stuff-ups and increasingly bad publicity of Newmania (in the last week Driscoll, business briefings disguised as LNP fundraisers come easily to mind) and the publicity effort is much better strategically immediately prior to the next state election.

lyn

31/03/2013Hi Truth Seeker, Thankyou for your latest article Abbott vs Turnbull, have posted on Twitter for you & so far quite a few re-tweets you should receive some visitors. Actually all your articles have been popular on Twitter. Great work Truth Seeker we are very proud of you. :):):)Happy Easter Everyone:):):)

TalkTurkey

31/03/2013Good Morning All, DMW interestingly put, Yes Dismal Guernsey is Decimal Currency in Strine. Strine is Australian in Strine. Many Strine people live in Gloria Soames ... All part of Afferbeck Lauder's 1960's book, "Let Stalk Strine." (It was actually pretty weak.) OK different quiz Q: In what august Australian publication of around the same era would you find two people arguing over whether something was Morwong or Drummer?

bob macalba

31/03/2013Another go at the Gillard govt, these are thje stories that bother me the most, the subliminal points they try to highlight, i was wondering the point of the story, then the very last paragraph nailed it, always with the negative, to be honest its not even subliminal anymore everything has a negative tone, serves me right for reading the shite anyway, my bad Off to the footy to watch the Knights play cheers all

bob macalba

31/03/2013One more http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/simply-put-gillard-is-indestructible-20130330-2gzsb.html Kenney stills thinks she cant win though, we know better but, dont we

bob macalba

31/03/2013Very last one http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/30/eugene-jarecki-war-on-drugs A trillion dollars and 45 million arrests, time to give it up and decriminalise, 45million reasons

bob macalba

31/03/2013My lift is running late so one more ie bedroom tax http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/30/bedroom-tax-disaster-housing-chief wot next a breathing tax?

Truth Seeker

31/03/2013Hi Lyn, and thank you so much for your support and kind words :-) Yes I was just checking the stats, and noticed quite a few hits from twitter, and I really do appreciate your sharing :-) And a very happy easter to you and yours :-) :-) :-) Cheers :-)

Michael

31/03/2013Tony Wright reduces the Coalition's "Our Plan" pamphlet to printer's ink and wood pulp shavings here: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/politics/abbotts-paper-armour-20130330-2h0dg.html But who'll read it? Almost certainly nobody who should.

Ad astra

31/03/2013Folks I’ve been unable to connect to the Internet for the last 24 hours due to a fault in my modem, which I’ve now fixed. Nevertheless I’m still planning to take a break for the rest of the Easter period. I thought you may be interested in an experience we had yesterday though when we went to the Easter Fair at the local primary school, to take the first look at its interior since the shabby old weatherboard school was replaced in 2011 by one funded with $2.5 million from the Building the Education Revolution fund. All we had seen previously was the new façade close to the street. It was gratifying to get behind the façade to see the new cement brick complex built around a large open area embellished with basketball courts, much play equipment and amenities. What we saw was so much better than the old school. We looked for the ‘Julia Gillard Memorial Hall’, which had also been built under the BER. It was a large but modest building clad in corrugated iron, which served as both an assembly area and a netball court. It did not fit the extravagant image that the knockers had perpetuated. We were pleased to see the transformation the BER funds had made to our local school. But when I commented to a grandparent that she must be pleased that the BER funds had made such a difference, her response was; “We had to wait a long while for the money.” This brought home to me that in our society, which appears to have such a strong sense of entitlement, even $2.5 million was not enough to evoke praise or even acknowledgement; the delay in receiving it seemed paramount. The fact that the BER filled a longstanding school infrastructure gap left by the previous government seemed not to enter into the equation. I asked myself: “Who would want to be a politician when that sort of response was all one could expect”. On the other hand, the school staff was thrilled with the new school. Of course, we heard just a few comments – hardly a representative sample. To me, the lesson is: Governments should not expect from the general public any credit or even acknowledgement for benefits bestowed, only complaints that it was not enough, or too slow, or ‘not what we wanted’. The school staff, the users, were happy, but they are in the minority at the ballot box. That’s the political reality it seems.

Michael

31/03/2013Oddly (well, no, not really), Peter van Onselen doesn't appear to realise that he might be describing himself and his fellow political journalists with "We can only hope that the second-rate generation of today surprises on the upside. The signs are not good.", which are the concluding sentences of this routine and rather "duhhhh"ly headlined piece http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/election-win-is-gillards-only-chance-at-salvation/story-fn53lw5p-1226609072780 Headline? "Election win is Gillard's only chance at salvation". Well, duhhhh Pete. They pay this guy???? PS Apparently, reading between the lines (which is really the only way to read this piece) PVO, who is "a professor at the University of Western Australia" (of what and when does he actually 'profess' we are not told) manifestly believes that he is NOT of a "second-rate generation". He's quite right. Keep counting. Forward, Pete, not back, you'll reach your natural ranking.

TalkTurkey

31/03/2013Professor Petter van Onselen's TWEET OF THE WEEK: [i]@THEKOUK: "Having The Daily Telegraph analyse economics and budgets is akin to having Stevie Wonder perform brain surgery." [/i] And his own hilarious comment: Funnier still (and arguably more accurate) might be to substitute "Daily Telegraph" with "Treasurer Wayne Swan". I wonder if Stephen Koukoulas, a former economics adviser to the government, would continue to laugh along with us? What do you think? :)

TalkTurkey

31/03/2013Michael Snap! I hadn't read your post till after I sent mine. Funny that eh.

MWS

31/03/2013Jane,the "bedroom tax" affects people in social housing who occupy properties too large for them. For having one extra bedroom, they will lose 14% of their housing benefit, and two or more spare rooms will lose 25%. Interestingly, pensioners are exempt. The aim is supposed to be to move people to more suitable homes, but there is a shortage of one bed units, and long waiting lists.

Catching up

31/03/2013Ad astra, I hope you were also impressed with the technology in all classrooms from kindy up. I know I am. Opens up a whole new world to our kids. Sat in the library, watching kids from Picton, talk to and see kids from Broken Hill. Was as good as all being under one roof. Both lots of kids enjoyed showing their own area to the other. That digital whiteboard is indeed a wonderous thing.

jane

31/03/2013bob macalba @1.20pm, looks like the age old Tory solution to economic woes hasn't changed since the Norman invasion. Punish the poor for the the follies of the rich. The poor and low paid weren't responsible for the GFC. Irresponsible governments and greedy private enterprise should be held accountable, but as always are not. The Tory's coalition partners should also be thoroughly ashamed, by taking part in the demonisation of the poor, disabled and unemployed as bludgers. Sickening! Michael, it would pay the government to go through Liealot's fairy story and tick all his promises which they have already taken care of. Ad astra, as I read what the grandparent said, my immediate thought (and probably what would have been blurted out) was that indeed it was a long time overdue. And that you would have thought with all the money that the Rodentochracy kept bignoting about, they would have addressed the problem years before. And aren't we lucky that we finally have a government which thinks public schools and other public infrastructure is an important and vital part of our society? And wtf [b]did[/b] the Rodentochracy do with the $330bn windfall from the mining boom? NO doubt there would have been a fair bit of spluttering as the first chink of l;ight entered her thick head. Yes, just what did the Rodentochracy do with all that money?

Ad astra

31/03/2013Catching up It was difficult to see the technology because the class rooms were cluttered with things for sale. The school made $30,000 last year, and hope for more this year. I was impressed though by a news item a couple of days ago which described how the NBN was being used to teach astrophysics, a subject taken by few students, and taught by even fewer expert teachers, not enough to go around. Bring on the NBN!

Casablanca

31/03/2013Michael Here is the whole van Onselen article from yesterday. It is not quite as trite as the title suggests. At para 13 et seq he criticises Abbott, beginning, [i]But don't worry (or perhaps worry even more), because we are likely to be making the same criticisms about the Abbott years when they are (finally) over, insofar as how they compare with the Howard years.[/i] [b]Election win is Gillard's only chance at salvation [/b]Peter van Onselen. The Australian March 30, 2013 12:00AM THERE is little doubt that the Rudd-Gillard years pale into insignificance alongside the Hawke-Keating governments. And the gap between the achievements of the earlier generation and the present one is likely only to grow in the years to come. The greatness of the Hawke-Keating reforms, not just micro-economic but social, was that they were bedded down after being introduced. Bob Hawke did so by winning elections and ensuring the policies stuck, as well as via a consensus style of politics. Bob Carr is right when he recalls that the policy fights during Hawke's prime ministership were every bit as brutal as the public stoushes today. But the key difference is that Hawke came out the other side of such debates usually with a consensus, and certainly with a fresh mandate to continue reforming. He won four elections before Paul Keating added a fifth to what must now be seen as the greatest era in Labor Party history. Digital Pass $1 for first 28 Days Julia Gillard has done none of these things. She didn't "win" the previous election, in the sense that she was able only to form a minority government. (Please note I am not going down the unhinged path that some members of the Coalition parliamentary team follow, accusing Labor of democratic illegitimacy.) Gillard didn't win the 2007 election either; Kevin Rudd did that. The point is simply that the 2010 election sapped Labor of mandated legitimacy the moment Gillard tried to embark on radical reforms, such as pricing carbon without a community consensus. And that's before we debate the quality of how the policies were constructed, such as the mining tax, which doesn't collect much revenue. Previous minority governments, namely at the state level, used their terms in office to manage state affairs with administrative competence, avoiding radical policy initiatives when the parliament was hung. They went on to win thumping majorities, which gave these governments the opportunity (not always taken up) to reform with a mandate thereafter. I'm thinking most recently of the situations in Victoria and South Australia under Steve Bracks and Mike Rann. But there are other historical examples. Gillard went for a radical agenda during the current term right at a time in federal political history when Labor's legitimacy to govern robustly was challenged: internally by Rudd supporters, externally by the media and the public. I can see only one out for Gillard that (just might) see her administration rise from the ashes, allowing it to be legitimately compared with the Hawke-Keating era: winning the next election. If that happens, against the odds laid down by the betting agencies, the polls and the political pundits (not to mention her own caucus), Gillard will make history. She will also give herself at least three more years to finish what she has started: to bed down reforms; to improve the governance arrangements of those reforms; to guarantee the mining and carbon taxes don't get repealed; to fund and implement education reforms and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, instead of simply having thrown up thought bubbles without the responsibility for delivering (or funding) the policies. Forget the broken surplus commitment or the growth in government debt. The Hawke-Keating years ended with the nation in debt and that did little to undercut their legacies. Winning the 2013 election would be a game changer for Gillard. Without it, however, Australia's first female Prime Minister will be remembered for all the wrong reasons: for treachery against the man who brought down John Howard; for stubbornness that denied Labor a chance to save itself at the next election by rectifying the mistakes of June 2010; and for policies that failed the test of good implementation, before being stricken from the public record by Tony Abbott. Gillard now appears destined to lead Labor to a crushing defeat just six years after it was initially elected under a different prime minister. Turning that around is her only salvation. Abbott says he will repeal the mining tax and the carbon tax, and that is just the beginning of the rollback. Abbott has made clear that he will use a double-dissolution trigger if he needs to. It is no bluff. Pricing carbon (and to a lesser extent the super-profits tax on the mining sector) is the bedrock of any claim Gillard has to being a modern-day Hawke. If the policies are stricken from the record, she cannot claim to have left a legacy like Hawke, even if we give Gillard the benefit of the doubt that her reforms match Hawke's for significance (a very questionable benefit of the doubt to give). But don't worry (or perhaps worry even more), because we are likely to be making the same criticisms about the Abbott years when they are (finally) over, insofar as how they compare with the Howard years. Abbott is likely to become a pale imitation of Howard in terms of quality modern conservative governance. Final judgment on Abbott, of course, will have to wait to see what kind of prime minister he actually turns out to be. But the signs are not good. Abbott's interest in economic liberalism not only isn't obvious, but he is unlikely to risk electoral advantage by pushing such reforms, even if those around him urge him to do so. And looking at Abbott's personnel, there are not many you would hold up as comparable to the heavy lifters Howard had around him, such as Peter Costello. Abbott's best talents sit on the backbench, or in the outer ministry, biding their time for promotion. By the time they get there, the damage may have been done already and the political capital necessary to transform our economy may be gone. Howard's great strength as a PM was that he combined the traditional conservative model of staying in power for a sustained period (thus denying Labor access to the Treasury benches) with important reforms, such as to the tax and industrial relations systems. Abbott may achieve the former if Labor turns on itself and he suppresses his more religiously conservative tendencies. But I see no signs that Abbott will secure a legacy as a liberal reformer. Failure on that front will give the next generation of Labor a chance to emulate the Hawke generation. At issue is whether they are a diverse enough bunch of up-and-comers to honour the Hawke legacy. Like former Labor Party president Stephen Loosley, I have concerns about the increasingly narrow casting of who gets into parliament for Labor these days. Australia is about to go through a period of significant economic transformation. We are at a time in human history like no other, when the centre of power shifts into our region, albeit under the guidance of powers whose cultural and political ethos differs greatly from our own. Governments need to move with the times by adjusting for the era, as Hawke did in the 1980s after the failures of the Malcolm Fraser years. We can only hope that the second-rate generation of today surprises on the upside. The signs are not good. Peter van Onselen is a professor at the University of Western Australia.

Casablanca

31/03/2013Michael, Peter van Onselen, bio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_van_Onselen [i]In early 2011 Dr van Onselen became a Winthrop Professor and Foundation Chair of Journalism at the University of Western Australia. He was an associate professor in politics and government at Edith Cowan University where he worked from 2004-2011, having previously taught political science at the University of New South Wales. Prior to commencing his academic career and while still studying at university Dr van Onselen was a policy analyst in the non-government sector (2002) and before that [b]briefly worked on the staff of Tony Abbott when he was Minister for Workplace Relations [/b]in the Howard government before the 2001 election. [/i]

jane

31/03/2013MWS yes, but how big is too big. there was an example of a single mum with 2 kids & 3 tiny bedrooms. Because one of the children is not quite 16, the government will try to force her into a smaller 2 bedroom home, although within 6 months she would be entitled to the home she now occupies when her older son turns 16. Bureaucracy gone mad. And once again the poor and disadvantaged forced to bear the cost of stuff ups of the wealthy. Ad astra, your local school has some serious fund raising ability. Good for them! And more positives wrt the NBN. How does the school feel about the possibility of this wonderful tool being taken away? IMO, the NBN alone is a reason to return the Gillard government. It's not just a way to download movies quickly, although I have no problem with that. People are entitled to take advantage of it as they wish. But its use as a tool to broaden educational opportunities for everyone is reason enough not to vote for the Coalition, let alone all the other reasons for its adoption. Michael, another punitive measure taken by the Cameron government against the poor and low income earners is having to make application for various benefits etc by computer, although the vast majority cannot afford a computer. Another example of Tory style government which you can bet your bottom dollar are being eagerly studied by our local Tories with a view to kicking the poor and low paid to death.

jane

31/03/2013Sorry, MWS. Doh!

Michael

31/03/2013Casablanca, hi. I did have my tongue relatively deep in my cheek writing about PvO. To me it reads like he's doing some early positioning for WHATEVER happens at the next Federal election. And maybe, just maybe, trying to hint that his professorship didn't come in a cereal packet??? PS I ain't one meself, but if professorships are as easy to come by as Rhodes scholarships, that's a whole lot explained right there. Give me two examples, go on, two, any two...

Patriciawa

31/03/2013Casablanca - how does PVO know for sure that Abbott [i]isn't bluffing[/i] about a Double Dissolution? When you see someone like Peter Costello described as a [i]heavy hitter[/i] you have to doubt their credentials as a commentator, even if they do lecture at a University.

Patriciawa

31/03/2013Hello, Swordster friends! Trust you're all enjoying your long weekend and the opportunity to spend more time than usual with family.

Ad astra

31/03/2013Folks I have updated my Gravatar with a photo taken on my recent birthday.

Casablanca

31/03/2013Ad Astra, Nice to meet you! I was never sure whether you had your own picture as your gravatar. Now I know. Such a nice kind face too.

Ad astra

31/03/2013Casablanca You are so kind. Yes indeed, it is me.

Casablanca

31/03/2013PVO's article is full of truisms. What interested me about his article, and also the one by Tony Wright, is that at long last we have a couple of articles in the MSM that query Abbott's capabilities. It sure beats reading about the leadership and rudd-storation meme and I hope that the self-indulgent bleating of the Rudd faction will peter out completely before long. Hopefully, with his perfect score of zero for incorrect predictions last week, Richo will no longer