australian politics
Categories under australian politics
- No categories
So smart. Green senator Ludlam ‘welcomes’ Abbott to WA
Written By: - Date published: 10:27 pm, March 6th, 2014 - 30 comments
One of the most effective political videos that I have seen from a country that is coming to specialise in them. I’m unsurprised that it went completely viral. It was a great description of all of the ways that Tony Abbott is beholden to the interests of those made insane by idiotic greed – and welcoming him to Western Australia. All expressed in a polite quiet voice enumerating exactly how much of a arsehole Abbott is. He even makes John Key look sort of rational – in a traditional junior partner kind of way
Play it again John
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, February 8th, 2014 - 39 comments
John Key has welcomed Tony Abbott’s confirmation that Australia would extend access to students under the Higher Education Loan Program to long-term New Zealand residents in Australia. But this policy was announced eight months ago.
APEC, TPP, Crosby-Textor, Philip Morris & John Key
Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, October 8th, 2013 - 76 comments
John Key’s role as Obama surrogate in chairing TPP discussions at APEC just reinforce how much Key is deeply involved in crony capitalist, Big Corporate serving networks of influence: ones that link him with anti-democratic Big Tobacco, Big Oil, and climate change denial propaganda.
The silver lining of the Australian Election
Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, September 14th, 2013 - 11 comments
Despite an overall swing to the Liberal National coalition in the recent Australian election there is potentially one exceptional result where a Liberal front bencher with a 16,000 majority may lose to a community independent in a historically conservative area. No matter what happens this campaign will provide progressives with good learning on the use of social media and how to run a campaign in a conservative area.
Australia – Labor’s unwinnable election
Written By: - Date published: 7:25 pm, September 7th, 2013 - 73 comments
Australia goes to the polls today and if things go the way that the pollsters are predicting there will be a new Government elected. The way I see it Kevin Rudd has failed to inspire but Tony Abbott is terrifying. If only Rudd had shown some principle things could have been different.
The least popular weasel wins
Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, August 27th, 2013 - 36 comments
In the odd moments that I have to view and write about politics outside NZ at present, I happened upon a Wall Street Journal article this morning about the election contest in aussie that got me thinking. Australia is leaning toward electing its first conservative government in six years, to be led by a man considered […]
The Daily Show on Oz election
Written By: - Date published: 11:03 am, August 15th, 2013 - 9 comments
Jon Stewart is on leave, but John Oliver is doing a great job filling in on The Daily Show. Here he is enjoying some of the nonsense coming out of the current Australian election campaign.
The Failed Estate – An Australian Blog to follow
Written By: - Date published: 8:57 am, August 12th, 2013 - 10 comments
With Australian elections just around the corner quality Australian political blogs will be in demand. If you want to read a refreshingly progressive and sophisticated analysis of Australian Politics I recommend Jim Parker’s blog Failed Estate. He writes with precision on issues such as the state of Australia’s media, the undermining of Julia Gillard, and the festering sore that is the boat people issue.
Australia to the polls
Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, August 5th, 2013 - 36 comments
As widely reported, Australia is off to the polls on Sept 7th. It will be an amazing come-back for Rudd if he wins.
Kevin Rudd and the boat people
Written By: - Date published: 2:10 pm, July 20th, 2013 - 165 comments
Kevin Rudd announced yesterday that boat people will not be allowed to apply for refugee status in Australia and instead will be shipped to Papua New Guinea and they will have to try their luck there. Tony Abbott thinks that the proposal is promising, Greens leader Christine Milne thinks it is ruthless and repugnant. It seems that Rudd will do and promise anything for power.
Rudd ousts Gillard
Written By: - Date published: 9:57 pm, June 26th, 2013 - 76 comments
Kevin Rudd is PM of Australia again after defeating Julia Gillard 57 votes to 45.
A poorer world
Written By: - Date published: 4:50 pm, May 5th, 2013 - 59 comments
The Great Barrier Reef is dying. We are leaving the next generations a poorer world.
Fletcher GCSB Change manager – and QLD
Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, April 5th, 2013 - 87 comments
Key & a government source responded to Ferguson’s criticisms by attacking Labour & Ferguson. They claimed Fletcher was the best person to “change manage” the GCSB. Yet, in Queensland Fletcher was publicly criticised for the management of his department. [Updated]
Crays and Aussie Carrots
Written By: - Date published: 12:58 pm, November 22nd, 2012 - 51 comments
Damn, a kiwi recently moved to aussie explains what the attraction is and isn’t. Basically there is work there, the pay is better, and you can afford to eat out. But kiwi’s can take comfort that the food is crap – unless you go to a restaurant of course. Perhaps their politicians are better than their farmers.
Don’t panic
Written By: - Date published: 10:30 pm, November 11th, 2012 - 77 comments
Twice this year we have seen Labour leaders turn around perceptions of them and their party with one speech; Ed Miliband at the UK Party conference in November and Julia Gillard in the Australian parliament in October. I think that calling for David Shearer’s head in the week before the Labour party conference is a sign of panic.
‘The Asian Century’: Aus, NZ
Written By: - Date published: 10:50 am, October 29th, 2012 - 22 comments
Gillard’s ‘Asian Century’ white paper, and negotiations of the ASEAN trade agreement (RCEP) are significant developments in US-China struggle for dominance in the region. Aussie wants to be a major player. How should NZ respond?
Backwards to the future?
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, October 20th, 2012 - 50 comments
Labour Day celebrates, what was at the time, a cutting edge victory for working people – the 8 hour working day. But the struggles continue for men and women. Now is not the time to be going backwards on issues that impact on workers, people struggling on low incomes, or beneficiaries. Updated.
Tony Abbot: misogynist and hypocrite
Written By: - Date published: 7:17 am, October 10th, 2012 - 160 comments
It really was a pleasure last night watching the most obnoxious weasel in aussie politics, Tony Abbott, getting done over by a fired up Julia Gillard. She was pointing out that his sudden calls against sexism and misogyny could be better applied to himself. Then she spent glorious minutes detailing exactly why Tony Abbott was the last politician in Austrailia who could throw dirt using these charges.
Joyce floundering on manufacturing
Written By: - Date published: 11:27 am, September 11th, 2012 - 15 comments
Talk fast, shoot the messenger, and spin like a top. That’s Joyce’s style, trying to defend the indefensible; National’s neglect of New Zealand’s manufacturing industry.
Replying to cancer-mongers
Written By: - Date published: 10:34 am, August 16th, 2012 - 23 comments
The Australian Government has won a Supreme Court case on its plain packaging law. The tobacco companies are now planning to take it to the WTO. I hope Gillard responds to the law suit with a letter along the lines of: “Dear Cancer-mongers, Consider yourselves lucky we don’t nationalise your assets and pass a law to have you arrested for corporate homicide. Go fuck yourselves. Regards, Julia.”
Labor Right v Greens
Written By: - Date published: 5:29 pm, July 13th, 2012 - 37 comments
This weekend the NSW ALP Conference and the New Zealand Labour Party Council will both debate and decide proposals for reform. Prospects look decidedly better on this side of the Tasman for internal reform as well as for relations with the Greens.
Australia’s sweatshop
Written By: - Date published: 10:29 am, July 7th, 2012 - 69 comments
The Nats have given up on catching up with Australia, and are content for us to become their low wage sweatshop instead. Their cheerleaders think it’s a great idea.
I beg to differ.
Abbott does a runner
Written By: - Date published: 7:41 pm, June 1st, 2012 - 7 comments
Tony Abbott fled from the Australian Parliament on Wednesday. He was trying to avoid his vote being recorded if newly independent Craig Thompson supported the Coalition on a closure motion. Running away won’t help Abbott whose numbers are at record lows as Labor improves. Instead of a leadership spill in Labor we could see one in the Coalition.
Key on leadership ballots
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 pm, February 27th, 2012 - 6 comments
“I’ve been around these votes before when at the last moment they change” John Key said today about the ALP leadership ballot. He certainly has; in 2003 he promised Bill English his vote then shifted at the last minute to Don Brash who won narrowly. Key talks about Labor needing a repair job; but I think the next challenge may be in the Coalition.
34 hours to help Australians save their oceans
Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, February 23rd, 2012 - 12 comments
In 48 hours, Australia could save one million square kms of ocean forever — setting up the largest marine reserve in the world and preserving thousands of delicate species. But they will need an global outcry to beat out commercial fishing and mining companies hoping to destroy the plan.
Go Gillard!
Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, July 16th, 2011 - 30 comments
I’ve been impressed with Labour on both sides of the ditch lately. Here of course Phil Goff’s Labour party has moved very boldly on the CGT. But across the ditch in Oz, Labor leader and PM Julia Gillard is fighting an even tougher battle on carbon pricing. Go Gillard!
Assange voluntarily goes to British court on extradition
Written By: - Date published: 9:15 am, December 8th, 2010 - 50 comments
Now that the Swedish prosecutors have finally given the British police a document that they can work with, Assange turned himself in, and has gone before a British court on the extradition request from Sweden. The court has remanded him without bail. I have already commented on exactly what I think of the charges – […]
Electoral finance reform in NSW Parliament
Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, November 18th, 2010 - 9 comments
The NSW Parliament has just passed passed the Election Funding and Disclosures Amendment Bill 2010. It includes donations capped at $5,000 for parties and $2,000 for candidates and third parties, all donations over $1,000 declared, caps on expenditure for parties, candidates and third parties, reimbursement of election spending up to a reasonable limit, and provision of funding for policy development.
It’s Gillard
Written By: - Date published: 5:24 pm, September 7th, 2010 - 36 comments
Independent MP Tony Windsor has decided to support the Labor Party into government, with fellow independent Rob Oakeschott expected to follow suit. The country independents say the best bet for rural regions is to remain independent and stick up for themselves – lessons for NZ?
Aussie election: Gillard holds the advantage
Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, August 28th, 2010 - 31 comments
A week after Australia went to the polls the outcome is still unclear. However, with the last seat (Brisbane) pretty much decided, I’d put my money on Julia Gillard remaining Prime Minister and Labor retaining power. Take a look at the numbers…
An interesting result
Written By: - Date published: 9:20 am, August 22nd, 2010 - 37 comments
Australia is about to enter a new era in politics. They appear to have a hung parliament this morning according to the Sydney Morning Herald. There are a number of marginal seats in the balance. The single Green MP in the lower house and a number of independents will determine which major party forms a government.
Recent Comments