Federal Politics

I live in the Griffith electorate and personally I believe the new runway noise issue didn’t play as big a part in the Greens win as some would have you believe. The Greens beat it up to the max and tried to play the populist card but I don’t think it was the main issue. Transport, cost of living, climate change and anti-Morrison were bigger issues IMO. Terri Butler failed to resonate on these issues. Very few people actually think the Greens can get a curfew at Brisbane airport, and those that do are deluded and will likely switch back to Labor when the Greens fail to do so.

3 Likes

Given a number of these were able to get their seats as almost protest votes against incumbents, they’ll likely lose some support - whether that goes back to the previous incumbent party or their opposition will depend on the electorate.

The barrier to re-election can be harder for candidates outside of the majors - especially if they’re deemed not to be particularly effectual (its a weird situation where people accept mediocrity from the majors, but have a much higher requirement for non-major people)

5 Likes

Watching Question Time these days the contrast between Labor/Green/Crossbench and the Coalition is blatantly obvious and it’s clear who’s better than who at governing.

Also can I just say how good is Milton Dick as a speaker. Calm and precise yet maintains order in the House. Certainly better than the likes of Bronwyn Bishop who was so partisan you’d be forgiven if you thought Parliament was akin to a Kangaroo Court run by the coalition. She was absolutely awful and was appointed by the equally awful Abbott.

3 Likes

Bronwyn Bishop was just vile in the speaker role.

2 Likes

I’d probably call her what Tony Abbott called Julia Gillard but that’s inappropriate for this forum. She was the worst speaker ever. No hiding her bias whatsoever and all she ever did was hold court and ejected Labor MP after Labor MP.

Glad that her political career’s carked it and now she’s only doing sad little spots on Sky After Dark. The people of Mackellar has a better MP after having her for many years.

3 Likes

I know I’m replying to my own comment but just looking at this. Definitely no partisan here at all. Surely it must be a coincidence that all the MPs she booted were Labor ones :roll_eyes:

What an absolute joke she was.

1 Like

I’m glad that era has sailed.

The Coalition got away with so much shit during her time. Some of the language they used like the ‘Electricity Bill’ nickname referencing Shorten, she said that was in order and nothing wrong.

I think she was half deaf cause half the shit they got away with defies belief

1 Like

Yep and when Mark Dreyfus objected to her commentary regarding Tanya Plibersek’s personal explanation she ejected him. She also ejected him when he was yelling across the house after Tony Abbott called Bill Shorten the ‘Joseph Goebbels of Economic Policy’ and yet she didn’t do anything about that.

I’m surprised she wasn’t investigated for abusing her parliamentary privileges of using 94A excessively, or that anyone from the opposition called her an old hack or something. She’s a national disgrace and should’ve been removed from office instead of losing pre-selection.

Seems like she still thinks she runs the house judging by her Sky News stints where she just calls anyone left of Pauline Hanson a socialist/communist.

4 Likes

He’s my local member and is a good one. hes out most weeks doing street stalls with the local state MP at the same time. He’s visible and getting stuff done

2 Likes

Good to hear that Oxley have a good MP that represents the community. Considering who they had about 25 years ago (shudder Hanson shudder) they’ve definitely come a long way.

Moving to something different. Penny Wong’s proven to be a very good Foreign Minister so far.

She’s very articulate when speaking about issues like Ukraine and Russia as well as engaging with China and doesn’t hold back against criticism when warranted but also maintains a good representation of our position.

I’m not sure if her partial Chinese-heritage is playing a part but it seems like the CCP’s more willing to engage with her and the Albanese government ever since their election. Certainly better than Scomo and Dutton and their constant fearmongering which got them nowhere.

4 Likes

Penny Wong is definitely one of the best!

Isn’t she Malaysian? Or is this a smaller part of her family heritage?

Half Chinese-Malaysian, hence the last name Wong.

2 Likes

Born in Malaysia to an English Australian mother and a Chinese Malaysian father,

2 Likes

You’d swear this was right out of a comedy sketch show. :flushed:

1 Like

Dutton is like Nelson. A former defence minister taking up the role of Liberal Leader post-election defeat

1 Like

Hume is a nightmare. Talk about never answering the question. That is the fustercluck stuff that voters hate. Just give us the answer!

Jane Hume: “We don’t have policies. We’re in Opposition”

You can stay in opposition forever with that attitude.

5 Likes

The question proponents of the Voice refuse to answer is what actual power the Voice will have. Can it stop projects? Can it demand compensation? Or is it purely advisory? These are questions that must be answered. One of the proponents was on ABC breakfast TV this morning and got very defensive about the question of “detail”. For me the biggest problem is equality of representation.

1 Like