Oz Election Thread #6 - Abbott's LNP

Yes, it's not a mystery. I vote Labor in the lower house because it's the only chance to try and keep these vile bastards out but their asylum seeker policies were only marginally better than we've got now. Though they at least weren't turning refugees back into the hands of their persecutors and making up rules that stop refugees swearing, spitting and being 'disruptive'. Saw Morrison talking about stopping that kind of unacceptable behaviour - as if anyone could behave more unacceptably than him.

I vote green and direct my preferences to ALP - I too am unhappy with their cowardly 'race to the bottom' stance on refugees. Sometimes the will of the majority is an ass.

Mrs Hinge talked to a cabbie in Darwin who was a refugee from South Sudan. He said he couldn't stand Australia any more and was trying to return to his country of origin because he was subject to constant racial abuse. How very proud of our country I am. (Darwin does have a very high bogan ratio - and being a cabbie means seeing people at their worst - but South Sudan is no picnic either, but he preferred it.

Yeah I probably should do that with the preferences too.
Very sad about the cabbie - it really says something. We have quite a lot of African refugees around here in Tassie and I hope it's better than that for them.

Meanwhile in Queensland, Campbell Newman is desperately trying to pass legislation banning Tony Abbott from entering the state.

Which is particularly funny because Newman's strategy has been to stop engaging with the media, and only be associated with 'Good news' announcements - and stop kicking heads.

And his poll numbers have gone up.

Tony could probably do the same - but how pathetic is it that the only way to get voters to like you is if you stay hidden? Something very wrong somewhere.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=855506871150093

Albo's speech - indicative of the ALP smelling prime ministerial blood in the water.

The smell of doom is probably the main driver for Abbott's unprecedented media stumping yesterday when he kept answering journalists questions until they ran out of them - apparently all in the quest of the narrative that even the Australian's editorial is demanding

Oh, bejesus...

Tonight brave Australian Navy officers spoke of their trauma of seeing asylum seekers die at sea

They allege decisions made in Canberra (to delay rescue by up to 15 hrs) directly led to deaths of hundreds of asylum seekers at sea. (One delay was to prevent reporting a boat had arrived on Australia Day). We thank them for their courage. Read more here: http://t.co/2rW9kzp0i0

I'm sure no-one from or with media (or even political) contacts reads this but...

Hypothetically it would be interesting if Senate Estimates, or a journalist, asked the Prime Minister these questions:

"Prime Minister, given that you say Australia is open for business, and that you have repeatedly stated that you are 'the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs' - how do you reconcile asking for request for tenders for service delivery under your 'Indigenous Advancement Strategy', which cost business and indigenous organisations 100s of thousands of dollars to prepare and then stall on making commitments to which tenders you will accept?

Why have you postponed indefinitely the decision the RFT said would be delivered December 1 - and is there any truth to the rumour you are stalling financial commitment to make the budget look better at the expense of indigenous communities?

How do you justify extending the contracts delivered under the former government Indigenous Employment Program - which you roundly condemned as inneffective?

I had a hunt and very few news orgs seem even aware of the debacle - although I have to give the Oz a badge for having a clue: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/indigenous-grants-extension-a-debacle-greens-say/story-fn9hm1pm-1227132798198

Courage. Did I miss general media and community outrage over this?

I missed it too Deb - not even a mention on Insiders.

From the wabbit and moondoggy on A2K

First Dog on the national mood...

Oh joyous juxtapostion

October 10, 2012
Time PM stopped playing the gender card: Abbott

December 12, 2014
Tony Abbott 'plays the gender card' on morning TV

Wilso - apparently I was slightly misled - newman's bump is tiny and temporary:
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/here-we-joh-again-campbell-newmans-spectacular-lie-exposed,7180

As twitter says:

Not Campbell Newman @Can_do_Campbell
If you have a 60+ seat majority in parliament & you are calling yourself the underdog, perhaps it's time to realise you fucked it up #qldpol

The war of words continues between Federal Attorney-General George Brandis and former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks.

Mr Hicks last night called the A-G a "coward" who had ignored his human rights while he was in detention.

Mr Brandis has now countered by describing Mr Hicks as a "terrorist".

https://www.facebook.com/abcnews.au/posts/10153506097994988

The comments are illuminating - effectively, as Hicks was never charged as terrorist Brandis open to a defamation suit.

I particularly liked this one:

George Brandis: " You don't expect to run into a terrorist at a human rights awards event "

Yeah, David [ Hicks] did look a bit surprised when he saw you there George.

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks has heckled Federal Attorney-General George Brandis at an awards ceremony in Sydney.

The drama over shadowed a number of announcements made by Senator Brandis, including releasing all children in detention on Christmas Island.

"Hey, my name is David Hicks," he shouted, as Senator Brandis wrapped up his address at a Human Rights Awards function.

"I was tortured for five-and-a-half years in Guantanamo Bay in the full knowledge of your party. What do you have to say?"

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-10/david-hicks-heckles-george-brandis-at-sydney-awards-night/5958996

Must be pretty embarassing to piss off your voter base because you don't want to hurt your major sponsor's stock portfolio.

The Mofo with a Myefo