2010 Federal Election

[sails]

Abbott must be realising now that the three independents are in fact closet Labor/Green stooges.

If he is smart he will walk away from the table now. Any chance of reaching the magic number of 76 lies only with Gillard.

I would think he will let them "walk away" to labor if that's what they want so the responsibility is on them to face their respective electorates.

According to the 7.30 report last night Tony Windsor has done this before:

NICK GREINER, FORMER LIBERAL NSW PREMIER: I hate to sound trite but I think it was trust. I mean, in my case originally Tony Windsor, in fact, had the balance of power.

Full transcript:
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2010/s2994692.htm

 

[Mofra]

According to the 7.30 report last night Tony Windsor has done this before:

I saw the show last night, and Steve Bracks mentioned that when he formed a minority government in his first term it took over a month for a government to be formed

Family First Senator Fielding has also thrown a spanner in the works, threatening the ALP to block passage of bills through the senate until he loses his senate seat (if the ALP can form a government).

 

[Julia]

FWIW, I agree with Berg that the paper isn't very exciting and that shows such as 7.30 Report tend to be more anti-government than anything.

Hi Ghoti, perhaps more just holding both sides to account, or at least ideally that's how it should be, as Mofra suggests. I guess we all interpret Kerry O'Brien's interviews through the filter of our own biases, however much we - like O'Brien - strive for objectivity.

The right - left thing just strikes me as hopelessly inadequate to cover the range of issues and groupings that we have to deal with. It made a sort of sense when the world could be divided more or less meaningfully into Soviet or US led and the dominant problems of governments seemed to be economic and political, but it's no help to understanding, for example, independent members of parliament elected from rural Australia in 2010. Right or left, Coles or Woolworths, Red or Blue... none of them are prepared to accept a binary view of the parliament, let alone their electorates. Australian politics clearly needs at least three poles because we've nearly always had at least 3 blocs in the Senate and sometimes more.

Yep, I've been thinking about this a bit more, and acknowledge that personally I couldn't classify myself as right or left, but rather a bit of each on various subjects. I think it would be hard, though, to stop people wanting to classify e.g. politicians.

Sorry to rave on. I'm really enjoying the nitty-gritty of this election, and I'm really delighted that the electors have given the backrooms of the major parties such a clobbering. The nation is much more complicated and interesting than they've allowed us to be, and it will be a very good thing if the Parliament reflects that.

Rave away, I'm also enjoying it. I don't remember a time since I've been living in Australia that the twists and turns of politics have been so fascinating.

Agree with your post ghotib, but specifrically the two points raised here. For all the claims of bias, Kerry O'Brien tends to give both sides of politics a grilling when they appear on the 7:30 report which is absolutely the way it should be - someone needs to scrutinise the substance of government or opposition policy, and the mainstream media tend to focus their scrutiny on soundbites or the spin, not the substance.

Right-left is an interesting case in point - Katter is socially right wing, but his economic leanings are protectionist and I'd argue very left (FWIW I identify more to the opposite in both cases).

 

[sails]

...Family First Senator Fielding has also thrown a spanner in the works, threatening the ALP to block passage of bills through the senate until he loses his senate seat (if the ALP can form a government).

Here is Abbott's response as reported by the Courier Mail:

Abbott won't support threat to block legislation in Senate if coalition returns to opposition

 

[IFocus]

"Abbott claims 'win' after costings backdown"

WTF oh that's right phony Tony

Yesterday Mr Abbott said he would not submit his policies to Treasury for costing until a police investigation into a departmental leak was finalised.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/27/2995346.htm

AFP have said there is no investigation

But an AFP spokeswoman said there was no investigation and that police were ''still assessing'' the Coalition's complaint.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-elect...-like-gillard-20100826-13uam.html?autostart=1

 

[drsmith]

At face value, the Coalition's changing position on costings does not make a lot of sense.

One thing that Tony Abbott's initial reluctance over costings did draw out however, was direct public criticism from at least two of the three National independents. In terms of negotiation, this was poor form on their part, inparticular bearing in mind their constituencies.

Commentary from those three independents since last weekend suggests they think they are smarter than the brains behind both the major parties. If it was Tony's intent to get the National independents to show public favouritism towards the ALP and hence weaken them within their own electorates, he has won an important point.

It's a mistake in any competitive activity to underestimate your opponent. Those three independents would prefer to support the ALP. Intentional or not, Tony Abbott got Bob Katter and Tony Windsor to show it publically.

 

[sails]

"Abbott claims 'win' after costings backdown"

WTF oh that's right phony Tony

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/27/2995346.htm

If "backdown" and "negotiated a deal on his terms" mean the same thing, then we don't speak the same language. From what I can see, Abbott put his terms and conditions which were accepted. Only on that basis did he proceed. Here is a part of the article you mention that you didn't quote:

"What this means is that briefing of the independents by Treasury can now go ahead without the risk of political interference and that was a very, very real risk."

Mr Abbott said he was concerned about where the information might end up, but he was now satisfied safeguards were in place.

AFP have said there is no investigation

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-elect...-like-gillard-20100826-13uam.html?autostart=1

Again, you did not quote the full sentence which said:

"But an AFP spokeswoman said there was no investigation and that police were ''still assessing'' the Coalition's complaint.

The police confirmed a complaint had been made so there must have been some reason for concern.

While Abbott is not perfect (and obviously irritating to those who don't like him), he did have the fortitude to stand up for what he felt was right. It was a tough call when the other camp were falling over themselves to give the independents anything and everything they asked.

 

[sails]

And here is an article from The Age which doesn't actually use the word "backdown" and probably explains the process a little better:

Briefings deal 'significant win': Abbott

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has claimed a "significant win" for the Coalition after he reached agreement with Labor on the way the three independent MPs will be briefed about the policy costings of both sides....

and

...The Coalition will be able to have discussions with Treasury before the costing of its promises are calculated.

"No information from that full briefing of Treasury by the coalition will be available to the government," Mr Abbott told reporters in Sydney today. "The Coalition has had a significant win on the briefings process."

 

[Calliope]

Ther is little doubt that Rob Oakeshott is a Labor stooge. Since he entered Parliament in a bi-election in 2008 he has voted with the Coalition only 19 times on 84 items of legislation.

 

[trainspotter]

Getting a bit long in the tooth this election thingy. Anyone else consider it strange that the Treasury have trouble with their own figures let alone what phony Tony is up to?

NBN expenditure was 5 billion, nope 10 billion , no wait ... 43 billion.

RSPT income was 12 billion, nope 20 billion, no wait .... 8 billion.

So why is it when the Treasury models Labor costings and they blow out it is OK but when the Liberals costings increase they get a right royal, good old fashioned punch to the nose?

Who watches the costings of the Treasury? Is there even a watchdog for them? Or are they the pinnacle of financial bean counters?

 

[Calliope]

Green's Adam Bandt seems keen on the idea. He is not fooled by Katters disguise,and knows it would really be a same-sex marriage.

 

[noco]

Ther is little doubt that Rob Oakeshott is a Labor stooge. Since he entered Parliament in a bi-election in 2008 he has voted with the Coalition only 19 times on 84 items of legislation.

Calliope, if Oakeshott goes with Labor after a poll showing over 50% would prefer him to go with the Coalition, he is a gone coon at the next election. This also applies to the other two amigos. Not sure which way Wilkie will go. I think he is a disgruntled Green.

I would be very surprised if all three ex Nationals did not follow Abbott.

 

[Calliope]

This is purely a grandstanding exercise by these three clowns. They sat in parliament during the last term and if they had any brains they should know which party should suit their electors best.

Abbott would be unwise to provide concessions to their electorates that other regional electorates don't have. It would create more tension between the sitting Nationals and the three deserters, if they come back on board.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Jeez, La Gill is desperate, she's sacheting down the aisle with Wilkie now, she is a character really.

But not fit to lead this great nation.

Kevin must be on laughing gas 24/7 at this stage.

gg

 

[trainspotter]

Jeez, La Gill is desperate, she's sacheting down the aisle with Wilkie now, she is a character really.

But not fit to lead this great nation.

Kevin must be on laughing gas 24/7 at this stage.

gg

LOL .... sashaying is the correct spelling but funnily enough sacheting has a certain ring to it as well. Gillard certainly does remind me of a small disposable bag now that you mention it.

Gillard does not deserve a second term. She took the electorate to the polls on the promise of "Let Australia decide to elect the Prime Minister"

They have ... and she is not it. Primary vote counts ... hodge podge backroom deals with the Greens is not an option.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

LOL .... sashaying is the correct spelling but funnily enough sacheting has a certain ring to it as well. Gillard certainly does remind me of a small disposable bag now that you mention it.

Gillard does not deserve a second term. She took the electorate to the polls on the promise of "Let Australia decide to elect the Prime Minister"

They have ... and she is not it. Primary vote counts ... hodge podge backroom deals with the Greens is not an option.

Agree totally, she looks and sounds desperate, poor ole teabag.

I've always spelt it sachet, and must thank you for the correction. As a youth I had a goyle, French, who when I used walk in nekkid, used exclaim sachet, sachet. Now I'm not as impressed by her humour.

gg

 

[noco]

What ever the outcome of this election, Abbott is in a win-win situation. If Gillard does scrape in, there will be turmoil in the Labor camp as anyone can see now how they are tearing each other apart and come the next election with the Greens having taken away their base, the Labor Party will be demolished. Also once the true identity of the Greens has been brought out in the open, their support will narrow dramatically. Many people have no concept as to what the Greens really stand for.

If Abbott wins the support of the independants, I believe he will strenghen his future as a leader who deserves the top job.

How he will handle the Greens after 01/07/2011 is anyone's guess.

 

[Calliope]

It is ironic that independent Rob Oakeshott doesn't think that Coalition members should be independent thinkers. He thinks Abbott should gag them. On Insiders this morning Windsor said he is not worried by this.

Oakeshott is a bit too precious. He can't understand why everybody doesn't love him.

Mr Oakeshott, the MP for Lyne, said he would present Mr Abbott with a statutory declaration containing evidence of the smear campaign being waged against him when he meets with him this week.

"One of the critical issues for me is whether Tony Abbott has control over his MPs," he said.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/features/fed...tt/story-fn5tas5k-1225911345298#ixzz0xwz0V2NC

 

[Some Dude]

Agree totally, she looks and sounds desperate, poor ole teabag.

That's pretty funny given the apologies Tony Abbott is making for the actions of past and current members of the coalition.

 

[Calliope]

That's pretty funny given the apologies Tony Abbott is making for the actions of past and current members of the coalition.

I must have missed that. Let me in on the joke, Dude.