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Oz election thread #3 - Rudd's Labour

 
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Tue 11 Mar, 2008 03:34 am
Hmmmmm ... I don't like this.

For many reasons, not the least being that I don't think it's wise to concentrate power to this extent in just about any democratic organization, if it is to remain healthy.
(Yes, I know about the problem of "the factions", but this seems rather an over-reaction.)

Besides, Australian voters didn't vote for a presidential figure, they voted for particular party platforms. (Despite all the me too-isms!)

Surely we have learnt from the Howard experience (& how stuffed the Liberal party is now he's gone!) to see that allowing any one person to have this much power for too long (then those after him, too) may not be such a brilliant idea? :wink: :



MPs back Rudd's increased power

Samantha Maiden, Online Political Editor
March 11, 2008/the AUSTRALIAN


LABOR MPs have backed a historic change to enshrine Kevin Rudd's power to choose his own cabinet, rather than the factions.

The binding resolution, passed today, ensures the Prime Minister and all his ALP successors have complete control over appointing the front bench.

It was passed at a meeting of Labor MPs and senators today.

However some Labor MPs opposed the changes in the party room, saying they would centralise power in the leader.

Four Labor MPs spoke out against the changes, saying they would take away MPs' rights to play a role in the selection of the cabinet. ......

............Today's vote on the cabinet selection process marks a significant break with a century of party tradition.

Previously, party convention determined the caucus chooses the front bench, giving the parliamentary party leeway only to allocate portfolios.

Mr Rudd has argued the change was necessary to modernise Labor. But he also pursued it before the election as a deliberate strategy to silence Coalition claims that a Labor government would be dominated by MPs with union backgrounds. ...<cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23355851-5013871,00.html
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Tue 11 Mar, 2008 03:50 am
Yup! Big problem!
What's he going to do about Howard's tax promises & Kevin having responded with me too-isms?
Are we stuck with these cuts while the razor gang cuts critical programs? Not a good look!:


http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/03/10/1103_cartoon_gallery__600x345,0.jpg
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msolga
 
  1  
Reply Tue 11 Mar, 2008 03:59 am
In the meantime, Brendan's woes continue ....
The Libs have appealed to folk to give him a fair go ... Even Malcolm has appealed for a fair go for Brendan! (And I'm sure he'll give him one! Laughing)
And with friends like JH, shooting his mouth off in Washington ..... :wink:


http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2008/03/11/svTOON_MARCH11_gallery__600x394.jpg
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msolga
 
  1  
Reply Tue 11 Mar, 2008 04:16 am
Perhaps a merger will do the trick?
A dynamic new party! Idea

Razz :


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5930316,00.jpg
0 Replies
 
hingehead
 
  1  
Reply Thu 13 Mar, 2008 12:08 am
Didya see Brendan's forehead veinbursting 'For GOD'S SAKE!' outburst in parly? or Kevin's rather calmer reference to 'the new party of caring across the chamber'?

Although I'm sure it's no fun being a carer think that a payment called a 'bonus' sounds less then set in concrete.
0 Replies
 
dadpad
 
  1  
Reply Thu 13 Mar, 2008 12:19 am
one off or bonus payments to carers will be split into fortnightly payments.

Larger bonus payments get spent on consumer goods like hi def TVs. No good for inflation.
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Thu 13 Mar, 2008 01:32 am
hingehead wrote:
Didya see Brendan's forehead veinbursting 'For GOD'S SAKE!' outburst in parly? or Kevin's rather calmer reference to 'the new party of caring across the chamber'?


No, I didn't. But then I've been busy, busy, busy!

Today?

What was this all about?
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Thu 13 Mar, 2008 01:41 am
dadpad wrote:
one off or bonus payments to carers will be split into fortnightly payments.

Larger bonus payments get spent on consumer goods like hi def TVs. No good for inflation.


I hardly think this is quite the case with most carers, dadpad. Many are in very desperate situations.

Yes, they do need guaranteed, regular assistance ... & yes, a one-off payment does not help much with the long term expenses.

Me, I'm shocked that Labor even considered withdrawing the one-off payment without muting ongoing replacement funding at the same time.
0 Replies
 
bungie
 
  1  
Reply Wed 19 Mar, 2008 01:18 pm
Julia gets some more milage out of "workchoices"

Quote:
PARLIAMENT degenerated into an undignified farce yesterday, with a two-hour shouting match erupting after the official demise of Australian Workplace Agreements.

Not content with securing the final passage of her laws banning any new AWAs, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard proposed a motion that statutory employment contracts should never be reintroduced in Australia.

The Coalition fought bitterly against this for hours, filibustering, accusing Labor of running a "jackboot government" by gagging their retaliation, and walking out of the House before finally returning to vote against the motion.

Ms Gillard seized on this opposition, saying that the Coalition had revealed its hand on reintroducing WorkChoices if it were re-elected.

"We flushed them out," she said. "Today the Liberal Party had the opportunity to put their signature on the death certificate of WorkChoices and, instead of doing that, they sought to revive it."



Full story from THe Age here ...
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msolga
 
  1  
Reply Thu 20 Mar, 2008 02:49 pm
Game playing on both sides, I think. :wink:
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anton bonnier
 
  1  
Reply Tue 25 Mar, 2008 10:56 pm
Never could understand how running a country with the mindset of labours-- It's the workers who make a business work, so pay us what we think we are worth. Irrespective of whether it's affordable or not. Consequently I never voted Labour.
How ever, this time i voted for Rudd, not the labour party as such. I have great expectations of him, but will be glad when he's finished the gabfest of mob pleasing-political correct hot air and get down to doing something a little more buisnes like.
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Wed 26 Mar, 2008 04:26 am
anton bonnier wrote:
....this time i voted for Rudd, not the labour party as such. I have great expectations of him, but will be glad when he's finished the gabfest of mob pleasing-political correct hot air and get down to doing something a little more buisnes like.


Hate to tell you, antone, but Kevin is about to set of on a mega 17 day international gabfest! (If he hasn't departed already.) The deal seems to be that he does the international big picture stuff, while Julia runs the country.

And I fully agree that workers should be paid their worth!
0 Replies
 
lezzles
 
  1  
Reply Fri 28 Mar, 2008 07:26 pm
How many O/S trips has the Dudd had so far?
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dadpad
 
  1  
Reply Fri 28 Mar, 2008 08:09 pm
"The 20/20 summit" participant list has been published.

http://www.theage.com.au/ed_docs/2020_summit.pdf
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Mar, 2008 12:57 am
lezzles wrote:
How many O/S trips has the Dudd had so far?


"The Dudd"? Confused

Not quite yet, lezzles. :wink:

To me, he seems to be attempting to establish (reestablish?) certain important Oz positions internationally, as fast as it can be done. A lot of fixing & corrections to be done around the planet, about our international position on so many important issues, following you-know-who!
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Mar, 2008 12:59 am
dadpad wrote:
"The 20/20 summit" participant list has been published.

http://www.theage.com.au/ed_docs/2020_summit.pdf


Damn! I'm not on that list!

Did you make it, dp? :wink:
0 Replies
 
dadpad
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Mar, 2008 01:06 am
msolga wrote:
dadpad wrote:
"The 20/20 summit" participant list has been published.

http://www.theage.com.au/ed_docs/2020_summit.pdf


Damn! I'm not on that list!

Did you make it, dp? :wink:


I did not apply Msolga. Several people I know are on the list however.


Did anyone see Kev on the news? He's in the US chatting up GW and Condie.
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Mar, 2008 01:15 am
Well done to your friends on "the list", dadpad! Good on them! Very Happy

Nah, I didn't apply, either. Thought I'd overwhelm the confrence if I participated! Wouldn't want to do that!Laughing

Yep, I saw him on the news. GWB is being very nice, don't you think, considering Kevin isn't his very bestest Oz mate! Razz
0 Replies
 
msolga
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Mar, 2008 02:05 am
Interesting ... just watching the (ABC) 7 o'clock news .... Rudd has just made the strongest statement (so far) about China & human rightrs abuses in Tibet.
0 Replies
 
hingehead
 
  1  
Reply Sat 29 Mar, 2008 08:02 am
On the down side I heard that the shrub has passed the 'man of steel' job on to Kev. (you should read Anton's post again - I was going to offer a riposte from personal experience - but WTF)
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