Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

@hingehead,

Thanks for obliging me, hinge.
(I hope that didn't involve too much Googling time.)
Nice to have known someone "way back when", before they made their name, isn't it?
OK, I'll do a bit of Googling & try & track down which publication/s he's working for these days. The more good cartoons, the merrier, I say!

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A little tale of Weipa.

The formerly empty Scherger Air Force base is now a refugee camp in Weipa and while the locals aren't as up in arms as some South Australians there are some elements of ugly Australianism.

Apparently the govt is flying in/flying out (fifo) translators, some of whom are 'towel-headed and swarthy'. Their pickup point for the bus out to the camp each morning happens to be adjacent to the local Centrelink office. Their uniform consists of bright flouro waist jackets with the word 'Translator' emblazoned in giant capital letters.

Apparently the local police were getting with calls one morning a few weeks ago saying that a bunch of reffo's had escaped and were already queuing up at Centrelink to get their hands on taxpayers' money.

The police called the camp to confirm, they said 'Let us guess - are they wearing flouro waistcoats with the word TRANSLATOR emblazoned on them?'

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They are at it again.
It cost Howard his seat and government, but they are at it again.

Quote:

TONY Abbott's pledge to leave Labor's IR laws unchallenged until the next election has been contradicted by one of his most senior frontbenchers.

Finance spokesman Andrew Robb has declared that "serious flaws" in the government's workplace regime should be changed.

Mr Robb, who is heading the Coalition's policy review, yesterday told The Australian that backbench concerns would result in a new industrial relations policy before the next election.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/liberals-divided-over-ir-reform/story-fn59niix-1225964807682

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@bungie,

What's the deal with Andrew Robb - first he floats the idea of challenging for deputy leadership, then shadow treasurer and now this. Is he an ALP mole or hoping to destabilise for his own gain?

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@bungie,

G'day, bungie.
Long time no see.
Come to think of it, long time since anyone posted to this thread. Thanks for breaking the drought.
How are you?

I'd be interested, from any of you who'd care to say, how you think the Gillard government has fared to date ... an almost hung parliament hasn't proved to be as diabolical for Labor as many expected. But any thoughts on the governments performance so far?

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@bungie,

Ah, industrial relations ...
Always the elephant lurking somewhere in the Liberals' room, isn't it?
No matter what they say.
It's hard to know what might come from this, though.
I mean, Abbott, if he is to have any chance in the next election, needs to maintain some sort of "respectable" image .. & not revert to his previous (prior to the last election campaign) over-the-top Mr Aggression personae.
If he tries to lead the Libs back to Howard IR territory, I suspect it'd turn too many voters off.

Quote:

Liberals divided over IR reform

TONY Abbott's pledge to leave Labor's IR laws unchallenged until the next election has been contradicted by one of his most senior frontbenchers.

Finance spokesman Andrew Robb has declared that "serious flaws" in the government's workplace regime should be changed.

Mr Robb, who is heading the Coalition's policy review, yesterday told The Australian that backbench concerns would result in a new industrial relations policy before the next election.

Mr Robb's comments directly contradict the Opposition Leader, who this week restated his campaign position that no major changes were needed to Labor's workplace laws. "I can't say I'm besieged by people saying that award modernisation is nightmarish, that unfair dismissal (law) is nightmarish, that scrapping of (statutory) contracts is a nightmare," Mr Abbott told Fairfax newspapers.

A spokesman for Mr Abbott said last night he stood by the comments. ...<cont>

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/liberals-divided-over-ir-reform/story-fn59niix-1225964807682

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Not a bad choice at all.
Pretty pleased about it, actually.
I was concerned about the future of the 7:30 Report.:

Quote:

Leigh Sales and Chris Uhlmann will co-host 7.30, the ABC's flagship current affairs program currently known as the 7.30 Report, from next year. They take over from Kerry O'Brien, who fronts his last show on Thursday before moving to host Four Corners next year.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/blogs/media-matters/730-report-loses-one-host-gets-two/20101203-18iv9.html

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@msolga,

Hello msolga.
I am well thank you. How are you doing ?
Hope you are well.
It has been a while ... the format here is different but it seems all good.
There is too much old stuff to wade through though Shocked

Nice to be back. Very Happy

1 Reply

@bungie,

Quote:

Nice to be back.

Nice to see you back! Very Happy

I hope this isn't just a fleeting visit, bungie.
We are a bit thin on the ground in Oz threads like this one, these days.
And the more input the merrier, I say! Smile

Glad to hear you're doing OK.
Me, not too bad, either.

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Did I really hear Tony Abbott pronounce 'Assange' Ah-Sang-gee on Insiders?

Putting Barry Cassidy up against Tony is like a thong against ants.
<paraphrase>
Barry: You claim you bought down Kevin Rudd?
Tony: Yes that's right.
Barry: Didn't you say he was the most mistreated man in Australian politics?
Tony: Uh. Uh.

Tony: Workchoices is dead. If business wants us to change IR legislation they'll have to make the case for change.
Barry: And if they made the case for it you would resurrect Workchoices?
Tony: Well they'd have to make the case, make the case, make the case [repeat phrase six times in a 30 second period]
</paraphrase>

1 Reply

@hingehead,

Quote:

Putting Barry Cassidy up against Tony is like a thong against ants.
<paraphrase>
Barry: You claim you bought down Kevin Rudd?
Tony: Yes that's right.
Barry: Didn't you say he was the most mistreated man in Australian politics?
Tony: Uh. Uh.

Have his minders & script writers might have gone on vacation early this year? What a goose. Wink

Quote:

Tony: Workchoices is dead. If business wants us to change IR legislation they'll have to make the case for change.
Barry: And if they made the case for it you would resurrect Workchoices?
Tony: Well they'd have to make the case, make the case, make the case [repeat phrase six times in a 30 second period]
</paraphrase>

The Australian's headline lead story one day early next year?: "Business calls for IR Changes". Neutral

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Insiders Matt Price Moment for this year.

It was a pretty tough competition, I can tell you.

And Oh God, there's poor Brendan ...
Poor, poor Brendan. Such a nice person, I'm certain.
I liked him.

But so funny! Ha ha!

Quote:

VIDEO: Matt Price Moment for 2010
Source: Insiders
Published: Sunday, December 5, 2010 9:49 AEDT
Expires: Saturday, March 5, 2011 9:49 AEDT

The panel announces the winner of the annual Matt Price Moment of the Year, celebrating the lighter and more entertaining moments in Australian politics.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/12/05/3084971.htm

1 Reply

@msolga,

It was pretty excruciating. Somewhere in Adelaide some is still sitting in the back of their Tarago waiting for cheap petrol.

Personally I voted for Barnaby Choice's 'Tony thinks I can't get into trouble if I sit in a saddle, but just watch me Tony!'

1 Reply

@hingehead,

Quote:

It was pretty excruciating. Somewhere in Adelaide some is still sitting in the back of their Tarago waiting for cheap petrol.

Your heart just bleeds when you hear stuff like that, doesn't it? Smile

Quote:

Personally I voted for Barnaby Choice's 'Tony thinks I can't get into trouble if I sit in a saddle, but just watch me Tony!'

I agreed with this year's verdict, hinge.
Bob couldn't have made that up. Including the banana dessert!
He is so earnest, he gave the question so much serious consideration ... that his answer would have to be 100% true ... as boring as it is!

(That's why I love Bob.
Go Greens! Smile

)

1 Reply

@msolga,

Hey Olgs - has Bob made a statement at all on Julian Assange and wikileaks?

1 Reply

@hingehead,

I looked a couple of days ago, hinge.
Nothing then.
I'll check the Oz Greens site again in a minute.

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Remember this:
http://able2know.org/topic/80949-1

I just tried to nominate Julian Assange but noms are closed. Next year.

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@msolga,

Here you go, hinge.
Bob Brown ( leader of the Australian Greens in our federal parliament, for those of you who mightn't know) speaking yesterday about Wikleaks & Julian Assange on Jon Fain's Morning program. (774 Melbourne ABC)

http://bob-brown.greensmps.org.au/content/greencast/senator-bob-brown-wikileaks-and-assange

Seems that Julia Gillard & our attorney-general were unwilling to talk. What a surprise. Wink

1 Reply

@msolga,

Thanks Olgs. Bloody Bob - Always so freaking reasonable, thoughtful and measured. What the hell is he doing in politics?

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@hingehead,

I didn't know you did that, hinge. Good on you! Smile

(I wonder where Major Mori is now? Is there life after David Hicks & the Guantanamo tribunals?)

A remarkable performance from a US military lawyer!
I remember him with great affection & huge respect.

I'll second your 2011 nomination! Smile

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Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

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