Australian Politics

[Legend]

I'd love to try my hand in a mock parliament sometime. Far out, that'd be good fun.

The set top box fiasco, the licking of the loony Greens bums, the giving out $900.00 to people so they could buy Chinese made TV's, spending the Howard government piggy box they built up since the last disastrous spending spree of over 40 billion dollars . . .

The NBN! I have 700Gb a month on a $.50 plan! I'll bet you a carton of Millers!

 

[Akhenaten]

Tell me, who would contemplate leaving the country if a certain party wins or loses?

Nobody, of course.

It's not as if it was something serious like the Pies winning the flag.

 

[Akhenaten]

I'd love to try my hand in a mock parliament sometime. Far out, that'd be good fun.

I recall doing something along those lines at high school. Do things like that ever get organised at Uni?

The NBN! I have 700Gb a month on a $.50 plan! I'll bet you a carton of Millers!

It's so freakin easy, isn't it?

 

[lionking]

The only thing missing from Abbott's bolt was Benny Hill music.

Seriously, he will never live this down. Thank FSM for televised parliament. The slut may just prevail.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

MY internet plan includes unlimited e-mails! Beat THAT NBN.

 

[lionking]

You win Mark. I don't know how the government never worked this out.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Seriously though, unlimited e-mails?

Ok, you can get back to your serious discussion now.

 

[Legend]

I recall doing something along those lines at high school. Do things like that ever get organised at Uni?

Not at mine, as far as I know, but I do know that UWA definitely does it. Either way, I want to get more politically active. Still not entirely sure I want to pursue the MP title, though.

It's so freakin easy, isn't it?

I'd say "simple" is a better way of describing it.

Seriously, he will never live this down. Thank FSM for televised parliament. The slut may just prevail.

I lolled to the high heavens at that.

 

[tomwaits]

Can anyone explain the motion to suspend standing and sessional orders? Abbott does it every day and the Labour frontbenchers just leave whenever he starts saying the magic words. I don't usually stick around to watch the rest either, for that matter. What exactly is the point?

 

[lionking]

Can anyone explain the motion to suspend standing and sessional orders? Abbott does it every day and the Labour frontbenchers just leave whenever he starts saying the magic words. I don't usually stick around to watch the rest either, for that matter. What exactly is the point?

There is no point. To my recollection, Labor never used this tactic in Opposition, but I'm happy to be corrected. It's a device used to stop the government furthering their agenda in QT. A decent Opposition would use QT to ask questions to embarrass or expose the government. This lazy, incompetent Opposition can't be bothered to the hard work, and moves a suspension to stop QT. Of course the government will walkout.

The bankruptcy of this tactic is evident. The Opposition haven't moved a suspension this week. This session had been a low point for Abbott and co.

 

[rjh01]

Why?





It's almost like they're adversaries or something.





It's a show, rjh. They all go and have a few beers together when the cameras are off and the punters have gone home.

Because the entire thing was a waste of the 100 or so people's time. We should not be paying them to put on a show, we should be paying them to run the country. The opposition should be trying to find weaknesses in the government, not undermining the speaker's authority. If they did what they did in parliament here they would be suspended fast for ignoring mod warnings or worse. The standard of behaviour there was far below what is acceptable here.

Adversaries? That is what they are meant to be. How about bratty children? Because that is how they did behave. The government should not be talking about the opposition. After all, all publicity (bar any disastrous publicity) is good publicity. They should be talking about the governments achievements. Listening to them, sounds like they do not have many. The few times they did talk about their achievements it was very good.

If what I saw today is typical I do not want to vote for either of them.


Thompson did not get a mention in question time today.


I hope they enjoy the beers. Has there ever been an election where both the prime minister and the opposition leader BOTH lose their seats in the same election? That would be a good result.

 

[lionking]

When I was a senior public servant many moons ago, advising ministers at both state and federal level, my main concern was oiling the "machinery of government". The public service runs the show. It just needs to do it efficiently.

 

[Akhenaten]

Because the entire thing was a waste of the 100 or so people's time.

???

We should not be paying them to put on a show, we should be paying them to run the country.

Putting on a show is exactly what we pay them for. That's why it's called the House of Representatives, and it works in more-or-less the same way as paying a barrister to put on a show on your behalf in court.

We pay the Public Service to actually run the country.

The opposition should be trying to find weaknesses in the government, not undermining the speaker's authority.

You appear to have completely misunderstood what you were looking at.

If they did what they did in parliament here they would be suspended fast for ignoring mod warnings or worse. The standard of behaviour there was far below what is acceptable here.

I can't imagine a more irrelevant comparison than this.

Adversaries? That is what they are meant to be. How about bratty children? Because that is how they did behave.

And?

The government should not be talking about the opposition.

Why the hell not? Do you understand what the word 'politics' means?

After all, all publicity (bar any disastrous publicity) is good publicity.

Drivel. I call this the Paris Hilton Fallacy.

They should be talking about the governments achievements. Listening to them, sounds like they do not have many. The few times they did talk about their achievements it was very good.

Thanks. It's good to be reminded of the shortcomings of compulsory voting.

If what I saw today is typical I do not want to vote for either of them.

I believe that the fact that you're watching them perform as sitting members means that it's a bit late for that. They've already been elected.

Thompson did not get a mention in question time today.

And?

I hope they enjoy the beers. Has there ever been an election where both the prime minister and the opposition leader BOTH lose their seats in the same election? That would be a good result.

Yes, amb, of course it would.

 

[Akhenaten]

When I was a senior public servant many moons ago, advising ministers at both state and federal level, my main concern was oiling the "machinery of government". The public service runs the show. It just needs to do it efficiently.

Same thing with the Defence Force. The Minister might carry on like a good sort in Parliament and formulate all kinds of weird policies but Isis knows, you wouldn't want the bastard trying to exercise any kind of command over the actual sharp and shooty things.

 

[Legend]

I think being Leader of the House would be awesome fun, too. You're like a lawyer for the government.

 

[Akhenaten]

Black Rod would be my choice. I'd wander around the house all day dongin' people who misbehave with that bloody great stick.

 

[Legend]

*donk*

"OUCH!"

"It's procedure, shutup!"

 

[Legend]

By the way, does the Member for Dixon strike you as someone in need of anger management? I've always thought he's a total psycho.

Also, I made this video:

 

[Kid Eager]

When I was a senior public servant many moons ago, advising ministers at both state and federal level, my main concern was oiling the "machinery of government". The public service runs the show. It just needs to do it efficiently.

was your nickname "WD40"? Oh, I so funneeee....

THere are actually people who think "Yes, Minister" was exaggeration and parody. Little do they know....

and for the record, I hated Ministerials.

 

[Damien Evans]

Why?





It's almost like they're adversaries or something.





It's a show, rjh. They all go and have a few beers together when the cameras are off and the punters have gone home.

Not all of them. Christopher Pyne is a scot-no-mates, from what I hear.