Tony Abbott for PM

[todster]

You are right. They would have leaked like a sieve.

siev x ?

 

[Logique]

"Abbott doesn't want to reach a deal, he wants another election"..Lenore Taylor on Abbott's position on costings. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/polit...ection-20100826-13u9p.html?rand=1282830768196

Knock me over with a feather, Lenore Taylor has written a piece showing the Coalition in a bad light! 'Frightened' says Bolt today, and about right.

Is Lenore a 'climate change' non-partisan commentator and frequent guest on ABC current affairs programs, or a 'mining tax' non-partisan commentator and frequent guest on ABC current affairs programs?

Refresh my memory, I've quite forgotten.

Godwin Grech = fair point, but that was then, and this is now, and the stakes are higher.

 

[Julia]

I think it's politically and tactically savvy of the Coalition to refuse the costings to Treasury. It plays well to me. Taking a stand on principle, and calling the independents' bluff. Let the indeps rant and rave, they are the ones who will look silly (sillier by the day), while the Coalition will look strong and principled.

Also it keeps the issue of Treasury leaks, under Labor, before the Australian public.

Let the indeps run to Labor if that's their choice, they'll be flat out getting re-elected next time, especially once country folks see their new electricity bills.

Calliope I have to agree with you that the Coalition maternity leave offer was ridiculously over the top.

Another election so soon? Might just be an expensive waste of time - give folks a chance to re-evaluate. Better to wait for 18 months at least. Even if it means an unholy alliance of Labor and country independents in the meantime.

Both Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott have said they will agree to a fixed three year term for future governments. So if some sort of government is cobbled together shortly, would going to another election in less than three years actually be an option?

Re Ken Henry: he has been so partisan that he might as well declare himself a card carrying member of the Labor Party.

 

[todster]

Both Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott have said they will agree to a fixed three year term for future governments. So if some sort of government is cobbled together shortly, would going to another election in less than three years actually be an option?

Re Ken Henry: he has been so partisan that he might as well declare himself a card carrying member of the Labor Party.

The option would depend on it being a core promise

 

[Julia]

The option would depend on it being a core promise

Todster, I appreciate that you're being facetious but I'd genuinely like to know the answer to my question.

And since you've raised the concept of core and non-core promises, will a minority government with Independents having such a large say, possibly render such nonsense unacceptable in future?

Let's draw a hypothetical: say the Independents support Labor and a minority govt is formed. What could happen if a few months down the track these Independents are mightily annoyed by something Labor has done. Can they then withdraw that previously offered support and thus render the government invalid?
Probably needs the view of a constitutional lawyer.

 

[So_Cynical]

Both Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott have said they will agree to a fixed three year term for future governments. So if some sort of government is cobbled together shortly, would going to another election in less than three years actually be an option?

If there's a motion of no confidence (something like that) and the 'Government' doesn't have the numbers to defeat it...then there no longer a Govt.

I think...something like that? :dunno:

 

[Julia]

If there's a motion of no confidence (something like that) and the 'Government' doesn't have the numbers to defeat it...then there no longer a Govt.

I think...something like that? :dunno:

So would the Prime Minister than have to go to the Governor-General and ask for parliament to be dissolved so a new election can be held?
(Don't necessarily expect you to know this, So Cynical, but someone might be wise about the Constitution.)

I'm just finding it hard to see any of the possible combinations which could form a minority government lasting much beyond the honeymoon phase. None of them are a natural fit, given their various past histories.

 

[So_Cynical]

So would the Prime Minister than have to go to the Governor-General and ask for parliament to be dissolved so a new election can be held?
(Don't necessarily expect you to know this, So Cynical, but someone might be wise about the Constitution.)

Quoting wiki below.

Typically, when parliament votes non-confidence, or where it fails to vote confidence, a government must respond in one of two ways:

* resign
* seek a parliamentary dissolution and request a general election

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_of_no_confidence

I'm just finding it hard to see any of the possible combinations which could form a minority government lasting much beyond the honeymoon phase. None of them are a natural fit, given their various past histories.

I feel the same...i just cant see any combination working longer term, so really its more a game now of not being the party that gets the blame for the next election.

One of the guys at work is very right wing and got quiet upset today when i suggested a govt of national unity could be the go i suggested it could work if every vote was a conscience vote and the usual party convention were genuinely suspended for this term of govt.

 

[trainspotter]

I feel the same...i just cant see any combination working longer term, so really its more a game now of not being the party that gets the blame for the next election.

One of the guys at work is very right wing and got quiet upset today when i suggested a govt of national unity could be the go i suggested it could work if every vote was a conscience vote and the usual party convention were genuinely suspended for this term of govt.

Now this would be good for the country ! We could have the best of both sides right here. A left and right hemisphere of government working together for the good of the people of Australia. Now wouldn't that be something !!

But alas alack it will never happen as there are too many self interested parties with their noses firmly in the trough.

But FANTASTIC idea So_Cynical. I like it a LOT !

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Please excuse my absence from this thread as I have been in Almaty organising the running of a number of some hundreds of thousands of crocodile shoes over three borders to keep the good folk of Kaz in footwear for which they are willing to pay more than is worth.

Now , firstly, fixed terms are out, forget em, just look at the nightmare that is NSW, with Labor in power because they can't be thrun out. So forget a fixed term. Only La Gill could come up with something as preposterous after a discussion with the Yummy.

Secondly, Tony will be our next PM.

Thirdly I've had a few discussions with some contacts in Charters Towers and the Mad Hatter is being strongly biffed about the gills by Mrs Hatter this weekend, after the ladies from the local CWA put the word on her to snap him out of his latest fez. He is Lebanese after all, and will bluster and carry on but when the hijabs are off he'll crumble. Tony is the pick of the CWA in the Towers.

Fourthly , Treasury is getting very pissed off with La Gill and Swannie and is about to dump a game changer on them via the Australian on Monday or Tuesday, if it isn't decided by midnight Sunday.

Fifth. a government of national unity is for when you are endangered from WITHOUT , not when the nation is under siege from an electorate force fed welfare for 40 years. This is not an emergency. Just a time of hardening up.

And lastly, motions of no confidence are out, as the silly bastards who got elected are mostly on such low margins, that any of them could be tossed out if there were another election. The most important thing if you are an MP is yer super, the money and perks when you are elected, next the Party, then the country. These will not be served by an election and the chance of not getting re-elected.

gg

 

[IFocus]

Please excuse my absence from this thread as I have been in Almaty organising the running of a number of some hundreds of thousands of crocodile shoes over three borders to keep the good folk of Kaz in footwear for which they are willing to pay more than is worth.

I have noticed your absence and greatly missed your insights GG

 

[breaker]

Thirdly I've had a few discussions with some contacts in Charters Towers and the Mad Hatter is being strongly biffed about the gills by Mrs Hatter this weekend, after the ladies from the local CWA put the word on her to snap him out of his latest fez. He is Lebanese after all, and will bluster and carry on but when the hijabs are off he'll crumble. Tony is the pick of the CWA in the Towers.

Mad Hatter was reveired but now not so much here in Clermont.

 

[sails]

With all the election banter going on, your imput was indeed missed, GG...

I am a bit sus that the indies knocking Abbott is part of a tactical ploy. Time will tell. With their electorates apparently favouring a coalition win, it's hard to think they would ultimately be so stupid as to rock any other way. But for now it's back to waiting.

 

[nulla nulla]

Now that Tony Abbott has provided his "election promises costings" to treasury, as requested by the independants, treasury has determined that there is a shortfall of up to $10 billion dollars in the costings.
So much for responsible fiscal policy.
It doesn't reflect well on the accounting firm that signed off on the pre-election policy costings either. No wonder they were unveiled in the final moments of the campaign, with not enough time for them to be disected and exposed for what they were.

 

[sails]

Now that Tony Abbott has provided his "election promises costings" to treasury, as requested by the independants, treasury has determined that there is a shortfall of up to $10 billion dollars in the costings.
So much for responsible fiscal policy.
It doesn't reflect well on the accounting firm that signed off on the pre-election policy costings either. No wonder they were unveiled in the final moments of the campaign, with not enough time for them to be disected and exposed for what they were.

With treasury and especially Ken Henry potentially biased toward labor, I don't trust this report. It may be correct, but it is difficult to trust a potentially partisan treasury.

It also seems strange considering the coalition have proven their fiscal management over many years and labor have proved their difficulty in adding up over the last three.


Labor's motto is "whatever it takes" to win or stay in government. Whether it's morally right or wrong doesn't seem to matter.

 

[noco]

Now that Tony Abbott has provided his "election promises costings" to treasury, as requested by the independants, treasury has determined that there is a shortfall of up to $10 billion dollars in the costings.
So much for responsible fiscal policy.
It doesn't reflect well on the accounting firm that signed off on the pre-election policy costings either. No wonder they were unveiled in the final moments of the campaign, with not enough time for them to be disected and exposed for what they were.

nulla nulla, it's not over yet. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. Treasury have made that many mistakes in the past, they could be wrong yet again. Let's wait and see.

Labor and the media were hoping against hopes this would be the result.

 

[derty]

It also seems strange considering the coalition have proven their fiscal management over many years and labor have proved their difficulty in adding up over the last three.

This is far from the same team that earned that reputation during the Howard years, the current crop need to prove their fiscal management and with Hockey in the seat it may be a tall ask. He hasn't really sounded convincing as the shadow treasurer yet.

 

[sails]

This is far from the same team that earned that reputation during the Howard years, the current crop need to prove their fiscal management and with Hockey in the seat it may be a tall ask. He hasn't really sounded convincing as the shadow treasurer yet.

The last three years haven't given any inspiration when it comes to fiscal management. Managed to deplete years of savings at an alarming rate and now wants to tax the life blood out of the miners so they can waste again?

Hockey might not be perfect, but when the alternative is Swan, I have much less confidence - in fact none at all. But that's now for the independents to decide.

 

[chrisalex]

There are three types of people.
Those that make things happen.
Those that watch things happen.
And those that wonder what happened.
Wayne Swan, with his 'trying to appear clever' grin, reminds me of the latter

 

[todster]

There are three types of people.
Those that make things happen.
Those that watch things happen.
And those that wonder what happened.
Wayne Swan, with his 'trying to appear clever' grin, reminds me of the latter

You missed one those who don't care what happens