Australia General Discussion

[Secretary Polnut]

He wants performers.

Although I don't think Coonan was a wise choice. Bishop can tear new ones, re-stitch and tear again - Robb is a wuss.

[Smid]

Although I like Malcolm Turnbull and hopes he defeats Kevin Rudd's Labor Party at the next election he has sure made some shocking cabinet decisions today.

Whilst I did predict that Turnbull would select Deputy Leader Julie Bishop to become Shadow Treasurer today, Bishop was selected purely based on tokenism. The same applies for when Bishop was elected as Deputy Leader of the Federal Liberal Party last November. Bishop is by far no means an excellent parliamentarian, nor can she conduct an interview properly thus I have some doubts, in fact a lot of them regarding Turnbull's selection to make her Shadow Treasurer. Not to mention there were far superior choices Turnbull could have made to select as Shadow Treasurer, Andrew Robb anyone?

From what I read today, Andrew Robb expressed an interest in the Treasury portfolio. While Leaders in the Liberal Party are able to select their own Ministry team and allocate portfolios, the Deputy Leader is entitled to select their own portfolio. Julie Bishop chose the Treasury and that's all there is to it.

I still think Andrew Robb's under-rated. I'm glad to see Senator Ronaldson's still in the Ministry. Also keep an eye out for Senator Scott Ryan, who delivered his maiden speech last week - he is a rising up-and-comer who is exceptionally intelligent and will certainly be going places in the long run.

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/dailys/ds160908.pdf (page 40).

[Platypus]

I can't help it, I love Senator Coonan. I once predicted she'd be our first female PM, and even though she is a senator, it might just happen.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I can't help it, I love Senator Coonan.

Really? That was something that I didn't expect. Although I believe that despite her extensive ministerial experience she will faulter in her new position as Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, she is much more tolerable than Julie Bishop or the infamous Bronwyn Bishop.

I once predicted she'd be our first female PM, and even though she is a senator, it might just happen.

If any female politician is to become Australia's first female Prime Minister than it would have to be Julia Gillard and she's in the prime position too: Deputy Prime Minister. Hugh, I doubt we will ever see another Senator become Prime Minister of Australia. It was a mere fluke that John Gorton, who as we know was a current member of the Senate at the time, became Prime Minister in January 1968 all due to John McEwen's dislike of William McMahon. And Helen Coonan doing a Gorton in the near future I doubt it very much so.

On another matter Hugh sorry to see your boys lose to Geelong last Friday night. However, I'm glad to see Adam Cooney come home with the Brownlow Medal . This coming from the man who wanted the crowd's favourite Richmond's Matthew Richardson to claim the coveted prize.

[Smid]

I can't help it, I love Senator Coonan.

Really? That was something that I didn't expect. Although I believe that despite her extensive ministerial experience she will faulter in her new position as Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, she is much more tolerable than Julie Bishop or the infamous Bronwyn Bishop.

I once predicted she'd be our first female PM, and even though she is a senator, it might just happen.

If any female politician is to become Australia's first female Prime Minister than it would have to be Julia Gillard and she's in the prime position too: Deputy Prime Minister. Hugh, I doubt we will ever see another Senator become Prime Minister of Australia. It was a mere fluke that John Gorton, who as we know was a current member of the Senate at the time, became Prime Minister in January 1968 all due to John McEwen's dislike of William McMahon. And Helen Coonan doing a Gorton in the near future I doubt it very much so.

On another matter Hugh sorry to see your boys lose to Geelong last Friday night. However, I'm glad to see Adam Cooney come home with the Brownlow Medal . This coming from the man who wanted the crowd's favourite Richmond's Matthew Richardson to claim the coveted prize.

Agree with all you've said about Gorton and the odds that this will be repeated. Of course, once he was PM, Gorton moved to the Reps, contesting the by-election triggered by Holt's disappearance. Of course, Bronwyn Bishop also made the move from Senate to House of Reps, in the thought that she might become leader and subsequently PM.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Of course, Bronwyn Bishop also made the move from Senate to House of Reps, in the thought that she might become leader and subsequently PM.

Ah yes, who can forget back in 1994 when Hewson's leadership was on the rocks and Bishop was considered the odds on favourite to replace Hewson at the helm. But once a spill was called by Hewson in May 1994 she didn't run for the vacant position and ultimatly it went to Alexander Downer, who lasted a mere nine months. Compared to Brendan Nelson, Alexander Downer could have won in 1996 had he survived

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I knew Julie Bishop would be a terrible selection for the Treasury portfolio and now, only two days after being appointed to the position she has done a "Wayne Swan".

Jule Bishop Gets Official Interest Rate Figure Wrong

Font Size: Decrease Increase Print Page: Print Samantha Maiden, Online political editor | September 23, 2008
JULIE BISHOP has stumbled in her second day as the Opposition's top economic spokesperson, getting the Reserve Bank's official interest rate wrong.

Labor has targeted Ms Bishop as a blue-blood lawyer from the top end of town in pearls. But the Rudd government is expected to soft pedal on Ms Bishop's first gaffe today, mindful that a similar error for a Labor frontbencher is a near certainty.

The deputy Liberal leader was asked on Perth radio last night to name the current rate, pausing for a moment before naming the wrong figure.

“Ah seven I'm just trying to think is it 7.25? I'll have to go check that one,” she said.

She was close - the interest rate was 7.25 per cent until the RBA cut interest rates earlier this month. That cut was the first since December 2001, after the RBA increased interest rates 12 times between May 2002 to March 2008.

Ms Bishop is also in good company, during last year's election campaign former prime minister John Howard had a similar stumble, failing to identify the correct figure on Channel Nine's A Current Affair.

The gaffe came as Malcolm Turnbull attacked Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan.

“As for the treasurer, he is clearly robotic,” Mr Turnbull said.

“He has clearly got a cheat sheet in front of him that says he has got to accuse the opposition of vandalising the budget.

“If all else fails, he goes red in the face and accuses me of being economically irresponsible.”

He also defended the appointment of little known WA Liberal MP Michael Keenan, one of his key numbers men in the mining state, to the industrial relations portfolio.

"Michael Keenan is 36 and he is taking on Julia Gillard. When I was 32 I took on Margaret Thatcher, so I don't think age is any disqualification,” Mr Turnbull said.

In 1986, Mr Turnbull defended former MI5 spy Peter Wright in his battle with the British government, which tried to ban his book, Spycatcher.

Another high-profile winner from this week's reshuffle, Opposition manager of business in the Senate and foreign affairs spokeswoman Helen Coonan, was also accused of a hiccup in the Senate yesterday when she introduced legislation to lift the single-aged pension but did not have an MP organised to speak to the motion.

Despite Greens Senator Bob Brown's claims that this was an error, Senator Coonan's office said today he was wrong because when introducing legislation in the Senate a seconder is not required.

The bill passed the Senate with the support of the Greens, Independent Senator Nick Xenophon and Family First's Steve Fielding, increasing pressure on the Rudd government to act now to increase pensions.

But the legislation is set to fail in the House of Representatives, where Labor has a clear majority.

Once again on the matter of Julie Bishop and the Treasury portfolio, her own staff members have admitted taking the rap over a plagiarism row, which was brought to attention during her first speech to the Parliament in the Treasury position where elements of her speech sounded similar to an article in the Wall Street Journal. For more on that story, click here.

[Kuu ülevaade olulisematest]

Hurrah! Minchin is Opposition Leader in the Senate!

[Robespierre's Jaw]

I'm not sure what's more amusing. Kevin Rudd claiming to have entered a gentlemen's club whilst on a foreign policy excursion to New York in 2006 or new Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull claiming to have used marijuana. I personally find the latter to be more so believable.

Turnbull Hailed As 'Refreshingly Honest'

Cannabis experts have praised federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull for his "refreshingly honest" admission that he smoked dope in the past.

The Liberal leader, in a primetime television interview Thursday night, acknowledged smoking cannabis adding it was a mistake and should be discouraged in young Australians.

Professor Jan Copeland, director of the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre in Sydney, said the response was credible, responsible and not typical of politicians.

"I'm just sending him an email now congratulating him on his refreshingly honest, straightforward and well-informed response," Prof Copeland said.

"I think we've had some pretty unedifying responses to this question in the past from politicians that have not been seen as particularly credible ... but he was honest."

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan and Environment Minister Peter Garrett have also admitted smoking cannabis in their university days, while opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott has said he has had a "half-hearted puff".

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has not commented on his use.

In an interview on ABC Television's Q&A program, Mr Turnbull said people of his generation had not known the severe consequences of smoking marijuana.

"I think now with what we know about marijuana, I think it is a very serious drug, and it is a drug that we should strongly discourage everybody, be they young or old, but obviously particularly young people, from using," he said.

Prof Copeland she said hoped the message would help to further lower the nation's rates of cannabis use, particularly among males in their teens and 20s.

Statistics show that 750,000 Australians use cannabis weekly and 300,000 use it daily. One in eight teenagers have smoked it in the past year.

Rates have been consistently falling for more than a decade, but it is still the nation's most common illicit drug.

In more serious news, were going to buy more than $4 billion dollars worth of American mortgages, despite Prime Minister Kevin Rudd telling the Australian press that were quote "light years away from the financial troubles in the US". For more on that story click here.

[Smid]

I think it's also interesting that Rudd's decided to take the opportunity to tell the US Congress that they should approve the bailout... because in a presidential election year, of course Congress is going to do what the Australian PM suggests.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Rudd Urges the United States to Pass Bailout Plan

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Australian financial system is well-equipped to handle the fallout from the US Congress rejecting a Wall Street bailout.

The local share market shed more than five per cent in its first 30 minutes of trading after Congress' action sent markets across the world into a tailspin.

The US House of Representatives overnight rejected a $US700 billion ($A879.78 billion) bailout plan put together by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and leading politicians from both sides of Congress.

Mr Rudd said the fundamentals of the national financial system remained sound.

"The circumstances of the Australian financial system and the Australian banking system are fundamentally different (from the US)," Mr Rudd told reporters.

"The government has spoken this morning with the Australian regulators, the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority, we are advised that the developments overnight in the United States do not affect the fundamental stability of the Australian banking system.

"These events don't change the fundamental strength of the banking system, but of course these developments do prolong the liquidity problems we have been experiencing for some time."

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan said the credit crunch would put more pressure on local borrowing.

"What we have seen in recent weeks is a very big spike in borrowing costs internationally and that will certainly have an impact on domestic institutions - there is not doubt about that," Mr Swan said.

"I am not going to speculate about what the Reserve Bank (of Australia) will do next week, but we do know when borrowing costs go down rates should follow.

"But, of course, the reverse also happens, when borrowing costs are pushed up and, particularly pushed up sharply, then that has consequences as well."

The Reserve Bank board will deliberate on the official interest rate next Tuesday in Sydney.

However, Mr Swan said the nation does have high commodity prices and a high budget surplus to "suit the times".

"We have put in place the best possible settings to cope with the fallout of these international circumstances."

Mr Rudd said he is backing US President George W Bush's second attempt to get the bailout passed.

"I strongly support US President Bush's leadership," he said.

Mr Bush had pleaded with Congress to pass the bill but was ignored by members of his own Republican Party who grouped together to block the bailout.

"The consequences for the failure of this measure are significant for the US financial system and more broadly," Mr Rudd said.

"The roll on implications for the global economy are significant."

Mr Rudd this morning spoke to Australia's ambassador in Washington Dennis Richardson and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown about the crisis.

"Representations will be made at multiple levels," Mr Rudd said.

A fresh bailout plan is expected to be put before Congress on Thursday following a public holiday.

Kevin Rudd has said numerous times throughout the last two weeks that Australia can avert an economic crisis. Today, even though the House of Representatives in the United States has rejected the Bailout Plan, which Kevin Rudd urged President Bush to pass, Rudd continues to sing this repetitive tune. If you ask anyone who does not live in the aristocratic parts of the country, nine times out of ten they'll say that we cannot escape the coming crisis nor do they support the Bailout (most notably my Father, does he get pissed!). I guess Rudd, like many of us will have to wait and see, but I doubt he'll be right.

Anywho, Kevin Rudd has finally bitten the bullet by committing to support paid maternity leave, thus leaving the United States as the only developed country not to have such leave. However, he has only committed to 18 weeks. For more on that story click here.

[Robespierre's Jaw]

BUMP

And I thought the Australian public were beginning to dislike Kevin Rudd, obviously not. According to an article in The Age on October 27 (yes two days late, oh my, call 3AW!!) Kevin Rudd is experiencing his highest levels of popularity since taking office on December 3, 2007. I think this carefully planned television stunt, seen on Channel Seven nearly two weeks ago helped in his quest to seek higher popularity numbers.

[PASOK Leader Hashemite]

Hurrah! Minchin is Opposition Leader in the Senate!

Gporter's secret idol!

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Hurrah! Minchin is Opposition Leader in the Senate!

Gporter's secret idol!

Indeed, Senator Minchin is Garrison's political idol. Take that Ronald Reagan!

[Smid]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24766867-29277,00.html

Australia to have a new (or does "new" imply there's an "old" one?) political tv channel. A-Span, modelled on C-Span.

[Kuu ülevaade olulisematest]

What a terrible name.

I hope they have an online feed.

[Senator MaxQue]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24766867-29277,00.html

Australia to have a new (or does "new" imply there's an "old" one?) political tv channel. A-Span, modelled on C-Span.

C doesn't mean Congress or United States. That means Cable. They can't translate the C in A.

Australia-Satellite Public Affairs Network?

[Meeker]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24766867-29277,00.html

Australia to have a new (or does "new" imply there's an "old" one?) political tv channel. A-Span, modelled on C-Span.

C doesn't mean Congress or United States. That means Cable. They can't translate the C in A.

Australia-Satellite Public Affairs Network?

And even if it did mean Congress then they should've called it "P-SPAN".

[Senator MaxQue]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24766867-29277,00.html

Australia to have a new (or does "new" imply there's an "old" one?) political tv channel. A-Span, modelled on C-Span.

C doesn't mean Congress or United States. That means Cable. They can't translate the C in A.

Australia-Satellite Public Affairs Network?

And even if it did mean Congress then they should've called it "P-SPAN".

True. Why not APN?

[Smid]

Yeah - I have no idea where they got the name. It's pretty suckful.

There is an Australian Parliamentary Network for Federal Parliament, that also webcasts (at least it webcasts on the parliamentary intranet). It has different channels - one is the House of Reps, one is the Senate, one is the Main Committee, and then there are different channels for each of the Committee Rooms so you can watch the various Committees in action if you require a cure for insomnia. I think they webcast via the www.aph.gov.au site. I know you can get HoR and Senate through there.

The Victorian and Queensland Parliaments have webcasting of their sittings (other states may as well, but I can't say that definitively). Victoria only webcasts audio, however (so it will be interesting to see if this leads them to upgrade to visual - I think the link said that they would, but I can't remember now). Queensland always used to just do it audio, but I think they've upgraded to visual as well, although I'm not 100% certain on that.

[PASOK Leader Hashemite]

CPAC=fail.

[Smid]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24766867-29277,00.html

Australia to have a new (or does "new" imply there's an "old" one?) political tv channel. A-Span, modelled on C-Span.

C doesn't mean Congress or United States. That means Cable. They can't translate the C in A.

Australia-Satellite Public Affairs Network?

Apparently: Australian Subscription Public Affairs Network.

What a terrible name.

I hope they have an online feed.

Apparently they will.

They will commence broadcast with Obama's Inauguration Speech, will broadcast "Federal Parliament, including Committee hearings, speeches, conferences and events such as Anzac Day. It will also broadcast Question Time from the Victorian, NSW and Queensland Parliaments, and cover New Zealand and British Parliaments."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24771760-662,00.html

[Kuu ülevaade olulisematest]

Hooray! I like this.

[Joe Republic]

This thread bump is brought to you courtesy of Bob Hawke:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5mBShX9fdU

[Platypus]

Beat that, Reagan.