Australian Politics

[arthwollipot]

Doesn't surprise me. Isn't he meant to be MR. Micro manager? Or was that just rumour spread by the 'faceless men'?

No, that one's pretty accurate. I have some insider knowledge and came this close -><- to meeting him once while he was still Foreign Minister.

Whatever his attributes as a treasurer, Peter Costello hasn't got the nous to be a political leader. John Howard played him like a fiddle the whole time they were in office.

Well, there was RU486 where Costello voted contrary to the Liberal platform. And did you know that his brother is CEO of World Vision?

 

[SimonD]

Well, there was RU486 where Costello voted contrary to the Liberal platform. And did you know that his brother is CEO of World Vision?

Another reason not to vote for Abbott. He should have made a decision based on facts not religious grounds.

I always thought that Horwards choice of GG a priest and a General was poor. What happened to the separation of powers?

 

[Legend]

That reminds me, we really shouldn't have prayers before our parliamentary sittings. It's really embarrassing.

 

[Wildy]

So they're subpoenaing Mal Brough in regards to Peter Slipper's sexual harassment case. So do you guys think that there is an actual conspiracy against Slipper, or do you think that Brough and friends have taken advantage of an actual case of sexual harassment to further their interests?

And does anyone know what's happening with Craig Thompson? It seems that his case has died down since the prostitute involved recanted her claim. I do hope that she gets to keep ACA's money though, hopefully that would teach them a lesson.

 

[Legend]

So they're subpoenaing Mal Brough in regards to Peter Slipper's sexual harassment case. So do you guys think that there is an actual conspiracy against Slipper, or do you think that Brough and friends have taken advantage of an actual case of sexual harassment to further their interests?

I'm not going to speculate on matters of judicial practice or any potential malice in a situation I'm not entirely sure of, but I can say that I think Mr Slipper deserves a fair trial and I have full faith in the justice system to get it right.

How'd I do? Was that pollie enough?

And does anyone know what's happening with Craig Thompson? It seems that his case has died down since the prostitute involved recanted her claim. I do hope that she gets to keep ACA's money though, hopefully that would teach them a lesson.

Yeah, it has really eased up lately. I wonder if it'll start back up again during QT on Monday.

 

[Wildy]

I'm not going to speculate on matters of judicial practice or any potential malice in a situation I'm not entirely sure of, but I can say that I think Mr Slipper deserves a fair trial and I have full faith in the justice system to get it right.

How'd I do? Was that pollie enough?

Well it was pollie enough, but it's a sucky comment for a discussion board.

Yeah, it has really eased up lately. I wonder if it'll start back up again during QT on Monday.

Well we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[lionking]

The idea that a prostitute would remember a client years later is laughable.

And I hope this comment is not seen to be a denigration of prostitution. It's possibly the most honest trade of all.

 

[Wildy]

Did you happen to catch Media Watch talking about it?

 

[lionking]

Did you happen to catch Media Watch talking about it?

I did, but I don't totally agree. I think "grubby" is too kind a word for ACA'd behavior.

 

[Wildy]

I think there's only so far the ABC would let them go in saying how bad ACA are. But I guess this might be a case where their chequebook journalism really bit them on the arse.




BTW Chas Licciardello really needs his own Current Affairs related show.

 

[Krikkiter]

Here's what I've been reading about Jackson. Very sordid to me. Make up your own minds though.

http://www.independentaustralia.net/jacksonville/

It would seem that the Slipper thing is related.

If this is anywhere near true Abbott is screwed... hello Malcolm.

 

[Krikkiter]

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/jackson-in-poor-health-judge-told-20120615-20ehm.html

 

[Akhenaten]

Hey guys,

I was just about to write a nice gushy post for the Australia thread about this and then thought that maybe I'd be better off getting a few informed opinions here before I go off half-cocked, as it were.

World's largest marine reserve network unveiled​

My first impression is that it's a great idea, but there are costs involved and quite a lot of political wheeling and dealing as well.


I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

Especially now that godawful noise that started up again yesterday has been fixed.

 

[Damien Evans]

Hey guys,

I was just about to write a nice gushy post for the Australia thread about this and then thought that maybe I'd be better off getting a few informed opinions here before I go off half-cocked, as it were.

World's largest marine reserve network unveiled​

My first impression is that it's a great idea, but there are costs involved and quite a lot of political wheeling and dealing as well.


I'd really appreciate your thoughts.

Especially now that godawful noise that started up again yesterday has been fixed.

Successive governments have and continue to show they have no regard for recreational fishers at all, is all I can say.

 

[Akhenaten]

Successive governments have and continue to show they have no regard for recreational fishers at all, is all I can say.

Yes, it seems as though anglers are a demographic that government number crunchers on both sides of the political fence at both federal and state level have decided can be shoved aside. I don't like seeing that sort of attitude at all and it's a shame that recreational fisherfolk aren't a strong enough lobby group to fight back.

That any government can be so cavalier as to regard any group as being one whose interests it can safely ignore (safe as in 'not costing too many votes') in pursuit of its agenda is not just un-Australian, it's the antithesis of democracy.

It certainly takes some of the shine off the government's announcement, especially in light of the apparent concessions that have been made to the powerful oil and gas industry.

 

[Damien Evans]

At least in the maps it doesn't look like there'll be too much effect in Victoria. Looks like all they're doing here is expanding Corner Inlet Marine National Park.

Actually I think the balance between protecting native habitats and wildlife and allowing recreational fishers use of that habitat is pretty well right in Victoria. The only big change I'd like to see is to allow Lure and Fly fishing in the Melbourne water storage dams it's currently not allowed in, and to stock them with trout as many smaller suburban lakes are in the cooler months. At the moment you can fish in Sugarloaf, but not the rest. Provided the same rules that are in place there are put in at the rest of the water storages, I see no reason why we should not be allowed to fish them.

 

[Akhenaten]

At the moment you can fish in Sugarloaf, but not the rest.

OT:

Your mention of this reminds me that we have a creek up here named Sugarloaf Creek and I've seen kids catching trout in there as well as in Sunday Creek right in the middle of town.

Both creeks are tributaries of the Goulburn River and I assume the trout here are escapees from Eildon, since there's no way for them to get upstream past the weir at Nagambie.

/OT

Provided the same rules that are in place there are put in at the rest of the water storages, I see no reason why we should not be allowed to fish them.

I think that at least part of the reason is to prevent the damage that would be done to the catchments by anglers trying to get to their favourite spots in their Toorak Tractors and activities of that nature.

 

[Legend]

This marine reserve is quite an interesting project, huh? It seems like a leftist move, which I'm happy with. I think the power of the Greens has been a good thing for Labor.

In other news that doesn't hold much importance, Albanese and Emerson are particularly good QT performers.

 

[Wildy]

Ok the Thompson case is starting to get a little silly. If the Jacksons have done the things that they are accused of doing here I'm a little surprised that they could still be seen as credible witnesses in this affair.

At least things aren't as bad in the Slipper front. Perhaps the conspiracy part started after the alleged harassment occurred; or at least after the charges were made known to the public, since it looks very likely that an association with Slipper may become a bad thing for a political staffer to have. It may be that the "conspiracy" is a red herring in this case.

 

[Legend]

Michael Keenan is breaking down in parliament. He stood there in silence on several occasions in an effort to control himself while talking about the Christmas Island tragedy. Tissues got passed down from the backbenches to the woman who sits next to Ken Wyatt. I don't know her name. ETA: A quick Google leads me to think her name is probably Natasha Griggs.

Bronwyn Bishop took the piss, the stupid cow. It was as if she trashed the idea of putting aside "partisan politics", as they say. Meanwhile, the Member for Durack called out while Adam Bandt was speaking and the latter basically told the former to shutup.

I cannot like the Liberal Party.