The Gillard Government

[Julia]

Selling hot rocks to India could this be the end of Abbott, a Labor leader starting to be pragmatic, It has to go to the vote at the national conference 1st.

Why now and not before ?

There have been so many issues where she could have ticked the boxes.

A leopard does not change it spots.

I agree with IF here. There is a decided change in Julia Gillard. It's as though the legislating of the carbon tax has given her a sense of authority she so lacked before.

This is probably enhanced by Tony Abbott apparently being out of the country and thus the opposition rendered invisible.

As the recent polls are showing, Ms Gillard seems to have moved on to become more assured. There has also been a noticeable improvement in her delivery. The slow, droning monotone has been replaced by a more normal presentation, albeit still with the ghastly accent.

And she has now picked two issues where she will clearly win.
Gay marriage: She has walked a sensible line of compromise by saying she will allow a conscience vote, whilst making it clear she's personally against this, thus shoring up support from the Right.

Uranium to India: Again, as IF says, this is simply being pragmatic and sensible.
Such a decision is imo long overdue and will get the support of the Coalition, leaving The Greens out in the cold. (Hallelujah!)

All up, much can still fall apart, but in the face of nothing in particular being offered by the Coalition, it looks rather as though Ms Gillard has found a secure footing for the immediate future.

I could, of course, be totally wrong.

 

[Ferret]

Uranium to India: Again, as IF says, this is simply being pragmatic and sensible.
Such a decision is imo long overdue and will get the support of the Coalition,

I'm waiting to see if Tony Abbott opposes this. That would be hilarious!

 

[Logique]

Bad policy is bad policy. The Left's schoolyard taunts at Missterr Abbott will be seen for what they are when we get a chance at ballot box. And yes, India deserves an apology for the previous ban.

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/
..And so we got a [uranium export] ban that even Julia Gillard seems now to agree is nuts and must change.

But now we should ask her the question Rudd dodged: if nuclear is good for India, and all the other countries to which we sell uranium, why does Labor still ban it for us?

We may be owed two sorries.."

 

[joea]

I'm waiting to see if Tony Abbott opposes this. That would be hilarious!

Julie Bishop has already stated that it should be implemented immediately, and should not have to go to a union delegation.
But already the two union power brokers have supported it.(over night).
So its done and dusted.
joea

 

[joea]

Why now and not before ?

There have been so many issues where she could have ticked the boxes.

A leopard does not change it spots.

Hi.
Not long ago ASF's Julia compiled a post on why she thought the political landscape was changing.

At the same time Gillard seemed to have new confidence.
Gillard and Obama are both campaigning for their political future.

Gillard has made comments on both Trade and Uranium sales since she has been exposed to Obama.

With the opposition's support she can take some policy's through the House Of Reps. and the Senate. She will now do this.

In doing so she will distance herself and Labor, from Bob Brown and the Greens.

Why?. Because Gillard has also got a minder grooming her, and at this point in time her minder is doing better with her than Peta Credlin is with Abbott.

The next election is Queensland, and Katter is going to take a few vote from Labor and LNP. Therefore Labor is back in with a chance(Gillard thinks).
Already Gillard has said Bligh has to change her stance on Uranium.

So my perception is Gillard is starting to tick the boxes for the next Federal Election by attempting to get Labor over the line in Qld.

After all the 2018 Commonwealth Games has been won by Qld.
If Bligh is on the nose, she will stand down for her 2IC.
Gee its pretty clear the campaigning has started with a media release on water release to protect Brisbane before the wet season.
One would think that should be "business as usual".
joea

 

[sails]

Selling hot rocks to India could this be the end of Abbott, a Labor leader starting to be pragmatic, It has to go to the vote at the national conference 1st.

I would think another backflip on labor policy won't help Gillard. And it seems that

"the US, under President Barack Obama, has been pursuing a closer partnership with India and considers Australia an integral part of its strategy".

From Paul Kelly - excerpt below found on Bolt's Blog:

The truth is that Gillard will be converting Labor to (John) Howard’s policy. This is nothing but a humiliating Labor recant. It came to office, boldly repudiated Howard’s position and four sorry years later Gillard must play the hero to get Labor to submit to this retreat.

As for Howard, he decided in 2006 that ties with India had reached tipping point. “This was a big prize,” Howard said of the export opportunity India offered. Now consider what Gillard said yesterday: “Selling uranium to India will be good for the Australian economy and good for Australian jobs.” When did Labor discover this astonishing truth? Only when it decided its ideological fixation was too absurd.

Read more with interesting links and some history on this issue:
http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/deputy_uranium_salesman/

Hmmm... maybe Obama can ask her to re-instate the Pacific Solution while he's at it.

 

[joea]

Why now and not before ?

There have been so many issues where she could have ticked the boxes.

A leopard does not change it spots.

A leopard does not have to change its spots, if its getting smarter with each meal.
joea

The next federal election is not going to be about "integrity", it will be about jobs, compensation and living standards.
Where is the money coming from, "mining tax and carbon tax".

 

[Calliope]

Tim Mathieson steps in dog sh*t;

 

[Julia]

I'm waiting to see if Tony Abbott opposes this. That would be hilarious!

He wouldn't. It was originally Coalition policy to deal with India.

Why?. Because Gillard has also got a minder grooming her, and at this point in time her minder is doing better with her than Peta Credlin is with Abbott.

Very well put, Joe. Ms Gillard's new adviser is making a real difference.

The next election is Queensland, and Katter is going to take a few vote from Labor and LNP.

Hope not, but you may be right as far as FNQ is concerned.

So my perception is Gillard is starting to tick the boxes for the next Federal Election by attempting to get Labor over the line in Qld.

Insightful suggestion. The disarray in Qld's opposition could even let Anna back in for another term.

 

[joea]

Pol in Courier mail.
Would you vote for Bob Katter Party.
Yes 36%(1017)
No 63.9%(1801)

Mulgrave Seat
ALP 32%
LNP 36%
Australian Party 22%

joea

 

[sails]

Not everyone in the ALP is happy with their leader's uranium backflip.

Transport Minister Anthony Albanese was the first Cabinet member to speak out against the decision, while Mr Rudd said he would challenge the position at the next ALP national conference

Read more from PerthNow: Kevin Rudd fumes over PM Julia Gillard's uranium backflip

 

[joea]

Not everyone in the ALP is happy with their leader's uranium backflip.



Read more from PerthNow: Kevin Rudd fumes over PM Julia Gillard's uranium backflip

Well they are both weak links in Labor, would she be concerned.?
joea

 

[boofhead]

A similar pattern happened when Abbott left for overseas in the past. Seems the opposition loses its voice when Abbott is not around to say something. It makes Abbott's leadership seem a little like Rudd's.

 

[bellenuit]

Perhaps if Abbott could come up with some excuse to now support the refugee legislation changes so that Gillard could use Malaysia, that might be enough to cause a major rift in the Labor part between Gillard and the Left (and Greens). Perhaps the Greens might even withdraw support if there are two major policy issues (Uranium and Malaysia) that they vehemently disagree with.

 

[sails]

Perhaps if Abbott could come up with some excuse to now support the refugee legislation changes so that Gillard could use Malaysia, that might be enough to cause a major rift in the Labor part between Gillard and the Left (and Greens). Perhaps the Greens might even withdraw support if there are two major policy issues (Uranium and Malaysia) that they vehemently disagree with.

Where will the greens go? I think they need labor more than labor needs them. Much like the independents, if they withdraw support that would bring on a new election and all these minor entities lose their day in the sun too soon...

I can see Katter aiming for balance of power. Again, I think it is wrong that minor parties can rule the country when they only receive a small fraction of the total national votes.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Seems the opposition loses its voice when Abbott is not around to say something.

Opposition being T. Abbot's main communication to Australians. Opposes everything Labor announces. Probably waiting to nearer election time to actually present some sort of alternative policy. Bit vacuous too.

 

[drsmith]

A leopard does not have to change its spots, if its getting smarter with each meal.
joea

The next federal election is not going to be about "integrity", it will be about jobs, compensation and living standards.
Where is the money coming from, "mining tax and carbon tax".

Gillard Labor is not getting smarter with each meal, or should I say each mess ?

The next election will be about integrity. A party cannot go to the people and blatently lie about such a major tax reform as a carbon tax and then pretend the people will go along with them. They are dreaming.

Such a betrayal is the kind of thing that will raise concerns about jobs and living standards. What will they do if we elect them again ?

Just because Labor has had a short period without the wheels falling off does not instantly make it a new or smarter beast.

 

[sptrawler]

Gillard Labor is not getting smarter with each meal, or should I say each mess ?

The next election will be about integrity. A party cannot go to the people and blatently lie about such a major tax reform as a carbon tax and then pretend the people will go along with them. They are dreaming.

Such a betrayal is the kind of thing that will raise concerns about jobs and living standards. What will they do if we elect them again ?

Just because Labor has had a short period without the wheels falling off does not instantly make it a new or smarter beast.

Absolutely correct drsmith, by the next election the cat will be out of the bag with regard overseas workers.IMHO
They have proven already they have no loyalty and I feel the rank and file will be on the recieving end of the next backflip.

 

[sptrawler]

I can't understand why the Qantas workers haven't jumped on this.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...worse-is-to-come/story-e6freooo-1226193590276

If that isn't reading them their horoscope, I don't know what is.

 

[joea]

Hi.
I thought the biggest betrayal in Australian politics was the removal of Kevin Rudd.
Following this the Australian voter put Gillard close enough to power, she was dragged over the line.

In the last few months the Labor party has implemented new tactics.
e.g. 1 Gillard is speaking differently.
2 Her gestures when she speaks is different.
3 On her announcement of the Uranium to India, the two Labor power brokers supported her in different media presentations.(within 24 hrs.)
4 She is taking Coalition policy"s and implementing them.

Well "hello", I do not think the voter is going to miss this.

It has been explained, "and quite clearly" that her promise was broken because of pressure from the Greens. Now we have the Bob Katter issue.

So if I was looking at the "forest and not the trees", I would say the biggest obstacle to removing Labor from power, is Tony Abbott.
Labors policy's and handling of the "mini-budget" has to be countered by Abbott "and then some".
If the Australian voter were to create history it should have removed Labor after one term. If they want to create history, then they can elect Abbott and his party.
The history would be electing a PM more unpopular than the sitting one.

The Australian voter could always change its mind on Abbott. Is that likely to happen.?

I see mention of the Labor left. If anybody thinks that the Labor left is going to take a pay cut after the next election because of "fickle" beliefs, then think again.

One thing that can be agreed is, the Qld. election will give a better outlook of the future Federal situation. And how Labor reacts to Bob Brown in the next 12 months.

Just remember the last time I went to Woolworth's I had to pay with with money.
Integrity purchased me nothing.
joea