Breaking the deadlock - Election 2010

[medhead]

It's a pity that the sitting member in Lilley wasn't beaten. I tried my best to oust him. Great to see a school mate of mine came 3rd in the race.

Should have asked your friend not to preference the sitting member.


I could be wrong with that comment as I haven't studied the figures in detail - checked now looks about right

 

[Keith009]

From memory you are only unemployed if you are looking to be employed, does that make sense?

Apparently one is 'employed' if one is working as little as one hour a week?! :shock:

 

[samh004]

Apparently one is 'employed' if one is working as little as one hour a week?! :shock:

I'm self-employed

But just to throw a spanner in, if you're employed and looking for work/to be employed somewhere else, are you then unemployed?

 

[hazel]

Apparently one is 'employed' if one is working as little as one hour a week?! :shock:

I am in the ABS survey at the moment - it goes for 8 months.
Employed is working 1 hour or more per week for pay or profit or working more than 1 hour per week in a family business or farm for no pay.:shock:

Unemployed is not working but actively looking or you are classed as not in the labour force ie 'people keeping house' or retired etc.
It also only relates to the 'reference week' ie what was happening in the week that they call around and ask the questions.

 

[Hvr]

So hopefully this will be the day we finally get a government. I reckon they will support Gillard.

So I wonder what will Abbott and the Coalition do to destabilise the government and try and force an early election?


I would imagine lots of denigration of the independents and commnets about the so called illegitimacy of the Gillard team.

 

[Leumas]

So I wonder what will Abbott and the Coalition do to destabilise the government and try and force an early election?

I don't think they need to do anything. There will be a honeymoon period, which the Coalition will be ill-advised to try anything.

Once the honeymoon is over, the Independents will realise they're not even a handful of votes out of 75 (or 76). I doubt they will get a seat at Cabinet, one or two of them may become an Associate Minister of Silly Walks (or something). They will soon realise they won't get much traction.

Once the NBN is delayed or its budget blown or some other things aren't going to materialise, you'll see a government in limbo. These independents may support confidence and supply votes but nothing else, because they know they're likely to be punished by their own electorates at the next election.

All the Coalition needs to do is fan some smoke. They don't even need to start any fires...

A similar thing will likely to happen even if they side with the Coalition. However, I'd have thought the Independents are more aligned with the Coalition than they are with Labor...

Personally speaking, the events in the past 2 months suggest Gillard is a ruthless operator and come from the same spin school as Rudd. Abbott may have a case of food-in-mouth every now and then, but there's probably more elements of truth in what he says than what Gillard says.

 

[drron]

If Julia gets to 76 her majority would be bigger than if Tony gets to 76.In the first instance I would predict the Member for Fisher will accept the position of Speaker.He is virtually certain to lose preselection next time so has nothing to lose but a bigger salary and pension to gain.

 

[Moody]

... Personally speaking, the events in the past 2 months suggest Gillard is a ruthless operator and come from the same spin school as Rudd. Abbott may have a case of food-in-mouth every now and then, but there's probably more elements of truth in what he says than what Gillard says.

Any examples of these "truths" spring to mind, as all I can recall Tony spouting was the "Climate change is cough" truth and the "Ian Plimer says the earth is cooling and that's good enough for me" truth and the "It was warmer in Jesus' time" truth and of course the "Don't take everything I say as the gospel truth" truth. Actually the last one is the truth, but I certainly didn't need him to point that out.

I kind of turn the knob to zero when Tony starts moving his lips now, which is not very open-minded of me but it does reduce my blood pressure. And anyone who can completely bury all his previous policy positions, and then replace them with "Stop the boats" is the absolute king of spin.

But I think your "food-in-mouth" comment should be quote of the year!

 

[medhead]

There is also the 'we had our policies coated by an international firm that is better than treasury' truth. Oh and the 'make sure you follow the charter of budget honesty' truth.

Watching Q & A last night showed me that it is going to be extremely difficult for Katter to align to either side. He clearly hates the coalition and the ALP. Whichever side offers to seriously consider his points and work through the issues will get his support IMO.

 

[Leumas]

Regardless of whose history you hate more, Katter the Mad Hatter has sided with the Abbott. Given he was by himself and the others are to have their separate press conference suggests the other may go with Gillard...?

 

[medhead]

Just read Katter's 20 points. I'm surprised that he went with the liberals after asking putting the case for collective bargaining. I'd love to know which 8 points Abbott agreed to do. Because I can only see about 4 that are relatively harmless and a couple that would be very bad.

 

[straitman]

Roll on 3pm.

 

[Alanslegal]

and it's bye bye phoney Tony!

 

[YQY]

Oakshott - because somewhere in the world a unicorn is dying....

 

[anat0l]

The majority of readers of and/or the media (viz. No News) must be Liberal; there are several critical (this is the nicest word) comments about:

• The whole election and process
• People threatening to move out of Australia, or at least who are very, very ashamed to be citizens of Australia and very ashamed of our "leader"
• People foretelling dark times ahead; mostly that we're going to be a very broke nation
• Anyone who did not vote/support Liberal is basically an idiot and/or should have their right to vote revoked
• Basically Gillard being worse than a criminal

Not that anything is going to get done. The majority is a mere 1 seat and Fielding is still in the Senate for at least some time to come, who has made an impassioned promise that every effort of Labour to push something through the Senate will be blocked.


Aaaah....the system works....

 

[drron]

Just remember if there is a double dip recession it will be bye bye the ALP next time so I doubt anyone really should be celebrating.

 

[serfty]

I guess Windsor has decided this term will be his swansong while Katter wants to continue and Oakeshott is on the Pixie Dust (anyone hear his 25 minute waffle?).

Other than that,methinks the 'deadlock' is not really broken.

...
Aaaah....the system works....

Three of the independents have basically only agreed:

• Not to vote for a no confidence motion against Gillard - unless they move it themselves,
• Not to block federal funding bills (supply).

 

[anat0l]

Aaaah....the system works....

I guess Windsor has decided this term will be his swansong while Katter wants to continue and Oakeshott is on the Pixie Dust (anyone hear his 25 minute waffle?).

Other than that,methinks the 'deadlock' is not really broken.

Three of the independents have basically only agreed:

• Not to vote for a no confidence motion against Gillard - unless they move it themselves,
• Not to block federal funding bills (supply).

I guess I didn't know how to qualify my statement above as somewhat ironic. I'm not at all implying that we have a good working democracy, because nothing could be further from the truth.

Certainly Gillard's speech (to which I am listening to at the moment) doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence about our democratic system (if she should be talking less about the democratic system of government and more about what she intends to do in earnest for the next three years).

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The majority of readers of and/or the media (viz. No News) must be Liberal;

thats because more people voted for the coalition than they did labor! Even when it comes to the two party preferred, coalition are still in front! Yet here we have a Labor government!

 

[JohnK]

Disappointing to hear the news earlier that Windsor and Oakeshott have gone with Labor to form a minority government. I cannot see either winning a seat at the next election which makes you wonder what they have been promised for their sacrifice.

I guess the lesson to be learned here is that "Gillard is the prime minister we had to have" and when she leaves things can return to normal....