Election 2010

[Moses]

What's the story with Tony Crook? Elected as a Western Australian National, now decides he's an Independent before the parliament has even sat.
Said he'll side with the coalition to form a minority government, which is very nice of him.
The Nationals should sue the bastard for the campaign costs and anything else they can get on him. I'd be spewing if my member jumped ship like that.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

He's a dickhead. Trades on the Nats brand but decides he doesn't want to be in the "Truss" Nationals. He didn't beat Tuckey by much, so he needs to watch himself here.

 

[chief]

Having just watched Q&A on the ABC. I think its pretty obvious that the Independents will be siding with Gillard, as happy as I am about that, it appears that the Coalition have won more seats, more votes and yet they still won't win this election. Just shows that the Coalition need to build something with the other parties, however the future of this country is Left wing I would say, so I would take a guess in saying that won't exactly happen. I think Gillard will certainly be a one term PM before the Coalition absolutely wins in a landslide next election, as to put it simply despite my Labor support I think Labor needs to get away from the Gillard, Rudd, Swan circle which have been full of faults. Preferably a move to Bill Shorten would be the go, with names like Stephen Smith, and Albanese (I know a lot of you guys detest him) to have pretty senior roles.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Stephen Smith goes alright I reckon. Swan, Albanese, Rudd and the rest of those jokers aren't much cop. Crean and Ferguson, above all my misgivings have acquitted themselves well too.

 

[Moses]

Stephen Smith goes alright I reckon. Swan, Albanese, Rudd and the rest of those jokers aren't much cop. Crean and Ferguson, above all my misgivings have acquitted themselves well too.

I've been impressed with Stephen Smith, gets a lot of spin and Warney rates him highly. Tore apart the English bowlers recently with a very aggressive innings and is one to watch.

Stephen Smith the politician has seemed like a fool, the latest in a long and undistinguished line of coalitian communications spokespeople. He was terrible on q and a, made Stephon Conroy look good which can't be easy. Seemed more interested in dobbing on Conroy to Tony Jones that he was being talked over and how it wasn't fair. I suspected Labor made the nbn a wedge issue to expose the weakness in Smith...

As for minority govt, is it possible the coalition don't want it? Effectively opposing a minority govt in both houses would set them up for full power in 3 years

 

[Moses]

Hang on, am I confusing Stephen Smith for the liberal broadband shadow Tony Smith. Damn

Sent from my HTC Dream using Tapatalk

 

[TheRiddler]

Moses, I think you have the wrong Smith politician. The one being talked about here is the Foreign Minister, Member for Perth. You are thinking of Tony Smith, another one of Abbott's clowns.

 

[Scotty]

Word is that Abbott looked pretty happy after having breakfast with Katter this morning.

My thinking is that it is currently Katter and Windsor for the Coalition and Oakeshott for the other Coalition (Labor/Greens). Sitting at 75-75. Just a guess of course.

Noel Pearson is trying to get Oakeshott over the line for Abbott.

 

[Scotty]

What's the story with Tony Crook? Elected as a Western Australian National, now decides he's an Independent before the parliament has even sat.
Said he'll side with the coalition to form a minority government, which is very nice of him.
The Nationals should sue the bastard for the campaign costs and anything else they can get on him. I'd be spewing if my member jumped ship like that.

My understanding is that he is still a National Party member, it is just that the WA Nationals aren't in a Coalition with the Liberals. It is a little confusing, just like in Queensland where they are all LNP members, even during a federal election.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

My understanding is that he is still a National Party member, it is just that the WA Nationals aren't in a Coalition with the Liberals. It is a little confusing, just like in Queensland where they are all LNP members, even during a federal election.

Sort of. The WA nationals sided with the LP to form government in WA, but only after flirting briefly with the ALP in order to push through their Royalties for Regions pork-fest. Played it well they did.

 

[Scotty]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...s-political-game/story-e6frg6nf-1225915026349

The Australian is implying that the Treasury is biased.

 

[Scotty]

So it seems that Labor have an even bigger problem with their budgets and reliance on the MRRT revenue that the Coalition did with their costings.

The funny thing is that the Treasury is normally conservative when estimating revenue, and pretty accurate on estimating expenses. It appears in this case that they have been quite the opposite with estimating the revenue of the MRRT. They are either incompetent or leaning towards Labor (to ensure Ken Henry’s baby gets off the ground).

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...ss-than-forecast/story-e6frg6nf-1225915027552

 

[TheRiddler]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...s-political-game/story-e6frg6nf-1225915026349

The Australian is implying that the Treasury is biased.

The Australian siding with the conservatives? Whoever would have thought that?

 

[TheRiddler]

It would appear as though to a large extent I am Robin Crusoe here but I would prefer a Labor-led minority government. I want to see Australia develop into a more caring, compassionate society and community that puts the needs of its citizens now and, more importantly, in the future ahead of big business. Visionary ideas, big picture thinking, social awareness, commitment to green technology and alternative fuels, that sort of thing. With the numbers being so tight and every decision and idea being put under the closest of inspections, the wayward spending and bureaucratic obsession of the last term can hopefully be replaced by progressive government.

The alternative of a xenophobic, uncompassionate, big business driven, religiously obsessed executive is, to me, a very scary proposition.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I'm in favour of all those things too Riddler, I just don't want the government forcing it on me by legislative fiat. But then again I'm one of those practical/pragmatic engineer types.

 

[Sully]

You're not on your own. I just think it is pointless arguing with people over politics. For what it's worth. Labor is the better option right now because next year when the Greens control the senate the labor part will have a better relationship with them. Tony Abbot believes climate change is a myth and thinks the Greens are a bunch of hippies (they probably are) and treats them as conservatives allways have. With contempt. If we don't want another election then Labor is the way to go.

Remember I am just as likely to change my mind as you are.

So why don't the major parties want another Election? Well that is simple they don't have the money. They would have to go into debt to pay for the campaigns and neither of them want to do that.

 

[Scotty]

Sort of. The WA nationals sided with the LP to form government in WA, but only after flirting briefly with the ALP in order to push through their Royalties for Regions pork-fest. Played it well they did.

Yes, which basically means they have no formal coalition agreement in WA.

 

[TheRiddler]

I just don't want the government forcing it on me by legislative fiat.

Dont you hate those bureaucratic Italian cars?

 

[Scotty]

Riddler,

The thing with social reform is that you need money to do it. And I can't see how Labor is going to provide that, with policies such as the NBN which will be a huge waste of money. That is going to cost every tax payer over $2000. Imagine what that would achieve in our hospital system? I know where I'd prefer my money to go.

And to those that think that a minority Labor government is going to achieve anymore than a Coalition government just because the Greens have the balance in the Senate - you need to look at how a bill is going to even get past the lower house first. On one hand we will have the Green member, then we may have up to 3 conservatives (and the likes of Katter are almost diametrically opposed to the Green's ideals including gay marriage, and the MRRT). They will barely be able to get any big items out of the lower house to make it to the Senate. If they do make it through the lower house, it is likely because the independents didn't have the time to scrutinize it and then there is the risk of an overly Green like agenda slipping straight through past the senate.

If a Coalition government is formed there is more likely to be a consensus in the lower house, with the three independents winning concessions for the bush and aboriginal rights. Then when it gets to the senate we will still have the Greens to provide a 'social check' of any conservative policies. Plenty will get knocked back, but you could argue that the ones that get through are most likely to be good economic and social policies.

I know which option I'd prefer.

 

[Scotty]

Also Riddler,

Did you read about Noel Pearson pushing the independents to back the Coalition, as he believes that Abbott will achieve more for Aboriginal rights?