Today in Politics...

GAME ON: ELECTION CALLED FOR SEPTEMBER

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:55:02 +1100

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, sporting a hipster new look, surprised a room full of journalists at the National Press Club by announcing the date of the federal election to be held this year.

The next Australian federal election will be held on September 14.

Looks like it’s game on.

MORGAN POLL: LABOR IN ELECTION WINNING POSITION.

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 19:57:01 +1100

The latest Roy Morgan poll, which boasts the most accurate polling prior to the 2007 and 2010 elections, today revealed that Labor sits in an election-winning position at 52.5% on a Two-Party Preferred basis, compared with the Coalition’s 47.5%.

On the Primary Vote Labor climbed to 40%, its highest level in almost two years, while the Coalition has slumped to 37.5%, its lowest since well before the last election. The poll demonstrates the first time that Labor’s primary vote has exceeded the Coalition’s since Kevin Rudd was leader.

All in all, this is a very good result for Labor, and for the Greens, both of whom have benefitted from the drop in Coalition support. No longer can the Liberals say that Tony Abbott’s abysmal personal rating is not affected the party’s vote, nor can they say that Labor’s recent positive polling results have been rogue, as they are now obviously a strong trend.

The Coalition’s numerous tactics aimed at stirring up mistrust in the Government have backfired of late, particularly the AWU “affair” and the Slipper Court decision, both of which have had adverse effects for the Coalition. More and more it seems that the public would rather see some policy announcements from Mr Abbott, rather than another fruitless and pointless smear campaign, coming into an election year.

ABBOTT: “Another day of shame for a government that should...

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:11:08 +1100

ABBOTT: “Another day of shame for a government that should already have died of shame.”

GILLARD: “This government has not died of shame. My father did not die of shame. What the Leader of the Opposition should be ashamed of is his performance in this parliament and the sexism he brings with it.

I will not be lectured on misogyny by this man. Not now. Not ever.

I was offended when the Leader of the Opposition went outside and stood next to a sign that said ‘ditch the witch’.”

I’ve never seen such vitriol from the Prime Minister.

FUCK TONY ABBOTT

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 22:27:59 +1000

FUCK TONY ABBOTT

thedailywhat: Posted Without Comment of the Day:...

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 16:42:31 +1000

thedailywhat:

Posted Without Comment of the Day: [brooklynmutt]

Not really political… I just thought this was funny.

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 07:10:43 +1000

Not really political… I just thought this was funny.

No longer a matter of politics, but a matter of logic.

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 08:02:00 +1000

No longer a matter of politics, but a matter of logic.:

But the other prominent political dynamic of this past year has been the droning chants from Opposition Leader Tony Abbott of ”no, no, no”. Early last year, Mr Abbott made his strategy known, saying on 2GB radio, ‘‘if in doubt, our job is to oppose”. And that he has.

In 2011, Mr Abbott has said

”no” to the mining tax, and sharing the benefits of the mining boom,

”no” to compulsory superannuation,

”no” to pricing carbon,

”no” to tackling global warming,

”no” to the income tax cuts,

”no” to health reform,

”no” to GP super clinics,

”no” to Medicare Locals,

”no” to fast, affordable broadband for all Australians,

”no” to the $5.8 billion flood levy to help Queensland and Victoria rebuild.

Mr Abbott said ”no” in principle to foreign aid,

”no” to Trade Training Centres and to apprenticeship training programs,

”no” to computers in schools,

”no” to Labor’s paid parental leave plan (which, since starting last year, has delivered benefits to more than 100,000 families),

”no” to the stimulus payments that helped keep our economy out of recession through the GFC, ”no” to proper public scrutiny of election costings,

and ”no” to his own finance spokesman’s costings.

He’s suggested regional towns could be ”wiped off the map”, and made wild claims about job losses and business failures. Repeatedly he has been proved wrong, but the scare campaigning has continued.

We need to fight against allowing political fear campaigns to dim the light of our achievements.

Abbott confronted by facts on 7:30

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:50:35 +1000

Abbott confronted by facts on 7:30

NEWSPOLL: Labor continues to gain ground

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 22:17:00 +1000

The latest Newspoll indicates that Labor is continuing its positive streak in the polls, with the Two-Party preferred margin thinning to it’s lowest gap all year.

The thinning margin comes as a result of the Coalition and the Greens remaining steady on 45% and 11% respectively, and the ALP gaining 2 points on the Primary Vote.

Thus the swing in support must have come from the “undecided” and “other” options, indicating that more and more Australians are getting involved in the political sphere.

Both leaders, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, are now tied for preferred Prime Minister, following a drop in Abbott’s support and a rise in Gillard’s, although both leaders are still no where near as popular as Kevin Rudd for PM.

Tony Abbott became the first Opposition Leader to be cast out of...

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 20:35:00 +1000

Tony Abbott became the first Opposition Leader to be cast out of the Parliamentary chamber in 26 years, during question time today.

After breaking the unwritten parliamentary law that the word “lie” is not used in Parliament, Abbott was asked to withdraw the comment “without qualification,” meaning unconditionally and without further argument. But he “could not help (him)self,” following his withdrawal with “it’s still an untrue statement.” He was then ejected from the chamber by the Acting Speaker.

An Opposition Leader has not been ejected from the Parliament since John Howard in 1986.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-20/abbott-thrown-out-of-question-time/4210814

Windsor launches attack on Abbott.

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:03:00 +1000

Windsor launches attack on Abbott.:

Tony Windsor said that following the 2010 election, Tony Abbott begged him to support him to form government. Apparently Mr Abbott said he “would do anything, to get this job” including introducing a “carbon tax.”

After his spray at Mr Abbott, Mr Windsor sat down and pointed to his phone, indicating he evidence to prove what happened during post-election negotiations to form government.

imspencer: On the right of this picture is Adam Bandt and Andrew...

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:48:17 +1000

imspencer:

On the right of this picture is Adam Bandt and Andrew Wilkie, the only two politicians who voted to limit the time processed refugees, including children, would be kept offshore. They can now be held offshore for an unlimited period of time.

Never has a political leader been so vulnerable to criticism yet treated so lightly by the media.

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 16:30:55 +1000

Never has a political leader been so vulnerable to criticism yet treated so lightly by the media.:

Tony Abbott’s free ride must end.

Insiders presenter Barrie Cassidy says the media has failed to hold Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to account for his prevarications on asylum seekers and the carbon tax.

redrabbleroz: THIS.

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:01:37 +1000

redrabbleroz:

THIS.

NEWSPOLL: Labor closes in on Coalition

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:21:00 +1000

Labor’s Primary Vote has sky-rocketed 5 points higher, to 33 per cent.

The latest figures put Labor in the best position it has been in for about 6 months.

The poll also found that both the Liberals and the Greens have dropped one point over the last fortnight, and “Other” has dropped 3 points.

On the two-party preferred, Liberals lead 54-46, a swing of 2 points from a fortnight ago.

It Looks Like the Next Election Will be a Matter of Class Warfare - I Know Which Side I'm on.

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 04:22:48 +1000

It is simple:
If you think more money should go to the lower and working class, vote Labor or Greens.
If you think more money should go to the ultra rich like Clive Palmer and Gina Rineheart, vote Liberal.

“Generally Tony Abbott’s words have shed little light on how he would govern in practical terms (by design, no doubt) but in today’s speech at the Institute of Public Affairs, Abbott’s view is clear: he stands with Andrew Bolt, Alan Jones, Gina Rinehart and the big media proprietors against any form of media regulation.

The speech is a stale collection of bogey-words and phrases (“thought police”, “political correctness enforcement agency”); false equivalences (“If it’s all right for David Marr to upset conservative Christians, why is it not all right for Bolt to upset activist Aborigines?”); and straw-man arguments against media regulations which haven’t even been proposed.

Abbott uses ‘free speech’ as his banner to march under. In Australia, strictly speaking, there is no such thing. The right to free speech is limited by laws against religious, sexual and racial vilification, for instance. And relevant to the Bolt case, which seems to animate Abbott in particular, free speech does not include publishing lies that racially offend, as was found to be the case by the court.

But this is mere detail, right?”

NICK FEIK, EDITOR, ‘The Monthly.’

Help us Prevent Tony Abbott From Being the Next PM

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:47:00 +1000

Help us Prevent Tony Abbott From Being the Next PM:

Please spread the word!!

If you are in Tony Abbott’s electorate, consider joining this cause to find someone to challenge the opposition leader. Don’t let Abbott become the next prime minister: he is not worthy of the privilege.

Like on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/anyonebuttonyabbott

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnyoneButAbbott

She is tough. She is a fighter. She will not lie down and...

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 19:12:00 +1000

She is tough. She is a fighter. She will not lie down and die.

Never has a Government been so vastly criticised for doing such an excellent job of governing.

The difference? This Prime Minister is a woman.

If you don’t want to see Tony Abbott as PM, support Labor and The Greens at the next election.

Labor/Greens Alliance Under Pressure.

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 13:55:00 +1000

Labor/Greens Alliance Under Pressure.:

So for those who are wondering what all this is about between Labor and the Greens, here are the facts:

1. Last week, several more right-wing senior Labor power-brokers and MPs launched attacks on the Greens, going as far as calling them “extremists”.

2. The Greens hit back, with Leader Christine Milne saying that Greens philosophies were supported by many Australians, including that more than 80% of Labor voters support the Greens’ policy on asylum seekers: onshore processing.

3. The more conservative right of the Labor party continued their campaign against the Greens, aligning themselves with Centre and Conservative parties like the Democratic Labor Party and Family First. They suggested that they support these parties on preferences instead of the Greens, putting the Greens in the lowest preference box.

4. Although it seems like an own-goal, the purpose of this attack is to claim votes from the Centre, distancing itself from the Left, in order to improve Labor’s primary vote.

5. The danger with this is that it could either lead to a split in the Labor Party with half of the party forming a more conservative faction, and a new party altogether. OR it could lead to Labor becoming a Centre party entirely. If this was the case, it would mean that our political spectrum would span from Liberal on the right, Labor in the centre, and Greens on the left.

It’s more than likely that shit’s about to go down.

Photo

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:50:45 +1000