Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

The Australian on fire as usual


Australia has slipped from 60th to 65th rank as a place to do business
BY: PETER VAN ONSELEN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR From: The Australian December 07, 2011 12:00AM



Even a cursory web search brings up the World Bank's rankings:

http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings

Guess what? Oz is ranked 15th. My first submission to Media Watch. Kudos to Greg Jericho for spotting it.

Ha.

Nice try, the Australian!
You've gotta had it to em, they'll try anything.

And of course, this "poor ranking" is all Julia Gillard's fault!

I think someone (dadpad?) suggested a similar sentiment in regard to the huge growth in Asian citizens here in recent years, Dutchy. A while back, on another thread.

My own feeling is that any future wars/conflicts (god forbid!) will be about water & food ... a response to the lack of global action now re controlling population growth & the impact of global warming.

Do you think the oz was on the front foot because the all the economic indicator information released today is good new? And dollar is up again. Even Laurie Oakes is now having a go at Van Onselen via twitter. Funny.

It is funny.
And it makes the Oz look pretty silly, doesn't it?
But, if that illusion that the Libs are the only proper economic managers the Australian voters can trust is finally dispelled forever, it doesn't leave them much work with, does it?
Go Laurie Oakes!

Or maybe this is Rupert's payback for the government's decision yesterday to remove the Australia Network from the tendering process altogether, in favour of the ABC? (Yay! )
Rupert would be pretty mad!

Sky News demands $2m compensation over TV tender row:
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/sky-news-demands-2m-compensation-over-tv-tender-row-20111206-1oh8d.html

One last word on this. (You might have noticed I'm a bit obsessed by the issue. )
You could be right on that. Partly, anyway ....

I see it as Julia pragmatism, too .... but pragmatism driven by the financial gain to the government. This decision is going to be a huge boost to Australian mining companies (we have 40% of the world's uranium reserves) & the more $$$$ they receive through selling uranium, the more $$$$ the government receives, through the mining tax.
Which makes the government's promise of reigning in the budget deficit so much easier to achieve, while at the same time, allowing the government to achieve its other promises to the electorate without having to raise taxes.

But, you already know about my position on selling uranium to India (or any other country which is not a signatory to the NNPT), so I won't repeat myself & bore everyone silly.

I agree but I'd add energy to that equation too - if we don't get renewables up over 50%

Yes.

Movers and shakers: PM Julia Gillard to reshuffle cabinet to ward off Rudd challenge
by: By Malcolm Farr, National Political Editor
From: news.com.au
December 10, 2011 6:05PM

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard is using the weekend to tell ministers their fate in what is expected to be a substantial reshuffle of her ministry.
And already the reorganization is being seen as a bid to shore up her support against her predecessor, Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.

The trigger is expected to be the resignation of Small Business Minister Nick Sherry, according to Labor sources. As a senator, his will be replaced through a party nomination and a risky bye-election would not be needed.

Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten is certain to be promoted to cabinet, probably as Workplace Relations Minister.

Sources have told news.com.au that Mr Shorten has been close to Ms Gillard’s discussions on the changes.

The new ministry is expected to be announced Monday or Tuesday.

Most of the elevations will be readily justified on merit, sources have said. Mr Shorten, for example, has impressed since he was given the job of Parliamentary secretary for disabilities.

Another possible promotion could be that of Indigenous Employment Minister Mark Arbib, who has worked solidly and effectively in his port folio over the past year.

And left wingers could benefit. Mental Heath Minister Mark Butler, a prospect for future leadership of the left, is among those being considered for a higher role.

However, the movement of MPs will be seen as a shoring up the ranks of of so-called faceless men who have been credited with helping Ms Gillard dump Mr Rudd in June last year.

About six weeks ago there was an angry reaction from some senior right wing figures disappointed by the decision to have on-shore processing of asylum seekers after the High Court blocked the Malaysian solution, and it became clear Parliament would not change the law to allow that option to proceed.

They would not have supported Mr Rudd in retaliation, but sources today said some fence mending was needed.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen today said allocation of ministries was "entirely a matter for the Prime Minister", and didn't dispute that a reshuffle was close.

"If the Prime Minister wants me to stay in this job, I'll stay in this job," Mr Bowen told reporters.

"If the Prime Minister asks me to do another job, I'll do another job."



Read more: http://www.news.com.au/national/movers-and-shakers-pm-julia-gillard-to-reshuffle-cabinet-to-ward-off-rudd-challenge/story-e6frfkvr-1226218932855#ixzz1g7HlXWFE

This ongoing Kevin stuff is a bit strange, isn't it?

For quite a while there I honestly believed it was a media beat-up. But the stories continue, even from usually reliable sources like the Insiders team ...

Surely he wouldn't expect to become Labor leader again after all the debacles of 2011? Would he?

Or is he being driven by revenge?
Or delusions?

Strange, very strange ...

Anyway, whatever the reason for a cabinet reshuffle, I'm definitely not delighted at the like of Shorten & Arbib being promoted. Just what Labor needs!

Kevin 07 is history, msolga. And he knows it.

Best to head for a safe course, now that his voracious appetite for a-class travel has been stymied.

If I was in the position to delegate his role in things politic (and I'm thankfully not) I'd be sending him to Japan to vehemently tout our case for the imminent bombing of any ship/craft/vessel that in any way/shape/or form contravenes our moratorium on the taking of whales in our soveriegn waters, for any purpose whatsoever.

If Kevin 07 can focus on that particular endeavour, and succeed, we might just consider him for future roles in our media contingent.

But Mark Butler is a positive (on first impressions anyway).

I'm with Builder - but I'd be sending Kevin to the UN.

I'd make him Oz ambassador to Bulgaria!

Refresh my memory on Mark Butler ..... I think he was the parliamentarian whose performance I admired on Q&A?

Tsk, tsk, Builder.
We will persuade the Japanese whaling interests to do the right thing by charm & diplomacy. (at least that's what our parliamentary representatives keep saying ...) It's the best way!
Don't you know that?

Yep, he came across as vaguely intelligent on Q&A - we spotted him first!

Bulgaria - home of that sheep cheese you get at woollies (and the morello cherries I bought today) - can you believe that there were two brands of morello cherries and I hunted the labels to see what country they came from? The other was from Poland - (Mrs Hinge has some polish heritage) but I thought their economic growth (now that they are EU) is around 4% - so Bulgaria needed my help more. Goddamn it's tough being a lefty.

We did!
We should get a spotters fee.

Yup, now that you've filled me in on the details of Bulgaria, I'm even more convinced it's the best place for Kev.
That, or Ambassador to the Holy See.
Either would keep him outa trouble.

(Good on you for supporting Bulgaria's economy, hinge! )

Well I would have thought so, too.
But some (usually) very astute political commentators don't think he is.
It's quite confusing, really.
What do they know that we don't?

Seen the news about Kevin letting rip in Darling Harbour with a pack of journos present?

Oh my.

Less than thrilled by Shorten & Arbib.

But I think Nicola Roxon as Attorney-General might prove to be a good move.


Gillard unveils expanded Cabinet:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-12/gillard-announces-cabinet-reshuffle/3726500

Gawd - hope he's better with the purse strings in this new job than in the old one.