Its time to fight Tories. Julia is doing it in QT today.
Abbott stuck in predictable.
Feb 272012
Feb 232012
Final Call: PM Gillard 77 Rudd 25
No bull, no guessing – we are the Dolphins – The Finnigans (The beautiful photos were done by @GeorgeBludger) - Michelle Rowland will not vote tomorrow, so the total will be: 102, not 103.
Our final count of the publicly declared support: PM Gillard 61 Rudd 19 with 22 Known Unknown. The question is how will the Unknowns break. Sportsbet is reporting the odds of PM Gillard $1.11 Rudd $6.25. Based on that we took the conservative approach and say the Unknowns will be break 70:30 to PM Gillard’s favour. This will give PM Gillard additional 16 votes to 77 and Rudd 6 votes to 25. That is our final call: 77 to 25
ALP Members For Julia Gillard PM – 61 (out of 102)
Ordered by Seat Margin
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24.90 Mark Dreyfus (House of Reps) |
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23.90 Nicola Roxon (House of Reps) |
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22.60 Kate Ellis (House of Reps) |
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22.30 Harry Jenkins (House of Reps) |
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22.20 Brendan O’Connor (House of Reps) |
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22.20 John Murphy (House of Reps) |
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19.70 Laurie Ferguson (House of Reps) |
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17.10 Tanya Plibersek (House of Reps) |
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16.90 Bill Shorten (House of Reps) |
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14.20 Andrew Leigh (House of Reps) |
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14.20 Richard Marles (House of Reps) |
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13.90 Amanda Rishworth (House of Reps) |
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13.50 Simon Crean (House of Reps) |
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13.20 Sharon Bird (House of Reps) |
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12.90 Jenny Macklin (House of Reps) |
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12.70 Greg Combet (House of Reps) |
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12.50 Sharon Grierson (House of Reps) |
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12.10 Stephen Jones (House of Reps) |
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11.70 Catherine King (House of Reps) |
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11.50 Jason Clare (House of Reps) |
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11.00 Mark Butler (House of Reps) |
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10.80 Julia Gillard (House of Reps) |
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9.50 Steve Gibbons (House of Reps) |
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9.20 Gai Brodtmann (House of Reps) |
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9.10 Tony Burke (House of Reps) |
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8.80 Chris Hayes (House of Reps) |
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5.90 Stephen Smith (House of Reps) |
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5.80 Bernie Ripoll (House of Reps) |
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5.70 Steve Georganas (House of Reps) |
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5.40 Craig Emerson (House of Reps) |
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5.30 Rob Mitchell (House of Reps) |
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5.20 Peter Garrett (House of Reps) |
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4.40 Julie Collins (House of Reps) |
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4.20 Shayne Neumann (House of Reps) |
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4.20 Sid Sidebottom (House of Reps) |
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3.70 Warren Snowdon (House of Reps) |
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3.30 Gary Gray (House of Reps) |
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3.20 Wayne Swan (House of Reps) |
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2.70 Joel Fitzgibbon (House of Reps) |
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2.50 Yvette D’Ath (House of Reps) |
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1.80 Mike Symon (House of Reps) |
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1.50 Daryl Melham (House of Reps) |
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1.10 David Bradbury (House of Reps) |
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1.10 Graham Perrett (House of Reps) |
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1.00 Deb O’Neill (House of Reps) |
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0.90 Michael Danby (House of Reps) |
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0.00 Stephen Conroy (Senate) |
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0.00 Don Farrell (Senate) |
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0.00 David Feeney (Senate) |
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0.00 Mark Arbib (Senate) |
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0.00 Jacinta Collins (Senate) |
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0.00 Christopher Evans (Senate) |
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0.00 Kate Lundy (Senate) |
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0.00 Jan McLucas (Senate) |
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0.00 Penny Wong (Senate) |
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0.00 Louise Pratt (Senate) |
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0.00 Lisa Singh (Senate) |
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0.00 Glenn Sterle (Senate) |
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0.00 Matt Thistlethwaite (Senate) |
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0.00 Catryna Bilyk (Senate) |
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0.00 Joe Ludwig (Senate) |
ALP Members For Kevin Rudd – 19 (out of 102)
Ordered by Seat Margin
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20.60 Anthony Albanese (House of Reps) |
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20.00 Maria Vamvakinou (House of Reps) |
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13.20 Anthony Byrne (House of Reps) |
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12.30 Ed Husic (House of Reps) |
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12.20 Janelle Saffin (House of Reps) |
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12.00 Nick Champion (House of Reps) |
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8.10 Alan Griffin (House of Reps) |
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7.80 Chris Bowen (House of Reps) |
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7.70 Justine Elliot (House of Reps) |
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6.90 Robert McClelland (House of Reps) |
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6.80 Laura Smyth (House of Reps) |
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5.70 Martin Ferguson (House of Reps) |
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3.70 Kevin Rudd (House of Reps) |
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0.40 Darren Cheeseman (House of Reps) |
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0.00 Ursula Stephens (Senate) |
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0.00 Mark Bishop (Senate) |
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0.00 Kim Carr (Senate) |
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0.00 Mark Furner (Senate) |
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0.00 Gavin Marshall (Senate) |
Feb 222012
Rudd has spent the entire time since he was told to fuck off by caucus trying to slime his way back.
My personal view only – definately not endorsed – well maybe by some.
Fuck off Kevin Rudd.
Update:
An oldie, but a Goodie from The Chaser
Feb 202012
Gonski will be released today, two months after Minister Garrett recieved the final report. The Govt will also reveal its response to the report.
We have had sneak peeks, no school will lose funding. What have had News Ltd turd polishing, can you guarantee private school fees will not rise.
Get prepared for Hit List – which media moron will coin the term first?
Feb 172012
Barrie Cassidy knows stuff
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-17/cassidy-leadership-tussle/3834486.
I know the names of some of those he has spoken to. I know where he said it – in his office – on a parliamentary sitting day – and I know what he said. He told them a challenge would happen; he told them he was prepared to lose the first ballot and go to the backbench; and in one conversation he laughed about the prospect of Gillard stumbling again.
Yet the Foreign Minister has categorically denied ever having spoken to any journalist about the leadership.
So Cassidy knows names of people who may be takin’ the piss out of him. He has second hand knowledge of a rumour.
I realise he lost his favourite all time job because of a leadership change, but this is just sour grapes. Maybe its time for him to move on?
Feb 162012
The greatest BISON of them all: More people at work today than any time in our Nation’s history – Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.
Latest Updates – 16/02/2012:
Last month ANZ job advertisement survey, the number of job advertisements placed in major newspapers and on the Internet increased by 6.0 per cent in January. Their largest monthly rate since February 2010.Today the ABS confirmed to the Nation what ANZ Job survey in January told us:
* 46,300 new jobs created for the month of which 12,300 full-time jobs and the Unemployment rate is now 5.1% from previous 5.2%
And there’s more:
* There are $174 Billions in mining investment pipeline READ MORE
* MP Rob Oakeshott says “this parliament is working and I’m proud of it”.” – 269 bills passed
* A SURGE of global demand for Australian government bonds has saved the federal government from issuing at least $10 billion in debt, cutting more than $500 million a year from its future interest bills.
* The rate for Australian Government 10 year bonds (the “yield”) is at record low 3.75%
* Australia net debt is expected to peak only at 8.9% in 2016 (MYEFO) – READ MORE
* Amid the global economic turmoil and credit squeeze, Australia remains a gold standard country to invest in, says BHP Billiton boss Marius Kloppers, as BHP Billiton delivered a $US9.941 billion ($A9.23 billion) first-half profit.
* THE Gillard government’s reforms to financial advice will boost the retirement savings of Australian workers by $130 billion over 15 years
* Andrew Bolt thinks that Gillard has only days left before she’s rolled. Methinks PM Gillard has 18 months, 78 weeks, 546 days, 13,104 hours, 786,240 secs to go before the next election.
101 Economic Fundamental:
1. Unemployment 5.1% (Canada 7.5, EUROZONE Avg 9.3, UK 8.7, USA 8.3, Japan 4.1, NZ 6.6, China 4.1, India 9.4, Brazil 4.7. South Africa 25%, Singapore 1.9, South Korea 3.7)
2. Inflation 3.1%
3. GDP Growth 3.5% – The Australian economy is now around 7 per cent larger than it was prior to GFC Mark 1. By way of comparison, most developed countries have gone backward.
4. RBA Interest Rate – 4.25% – RBA Interest rate 4.25%, compared to 6.75% when Howard was voted out.
5. Current Govt Net Debt – 6% GDP - Vs EURO 70%, Japan 130% USA 70% UK 75%
6. Total Public Debt – 27% GDP (Canada 81%, EURO 97%, France 99%, Germany 84%, Japan 205%, UK 91%, USA 95%)
7. Trade Surplus $22.4 billion last financial year – easily the biggest surplus in raw terms for the past 40 years of records compiled by the ABS
8. Sovereign Rating – Australia one of just 15 countries to hold the top AAA Rating from all Agencies
9. Currency – AUD/USD 1.07, AUD/UK 0.68 AUD/Euro 0.82 – The floating of AUD is the single most important economic reform introduced by Labor. It acts as a shock absorber to external economic conditions
10. Australia is in Asia, the growth engine averaging 6% and part of the Asian Century. It’s middle and aspiration class is expected to hit 800 millions by 2020. Double of USA+Europe.
11. NBN – One of the most advanced high speed Internet enabled network in the world. Australia’s first national wide, open access FTTP broadband network with minimum 93% coverage, capable of achieving 1 gigabit per second broadband speeds.
12. Australia is the richest country in the world according to Credit Suisse Research Institute’s most recent Global Wealth Report, the median wealth of Australians now is well over $200,000, ahead of Switzerland, 4 times USA.
13. Under Coalition spending grew by average of 3.7% per annum, under the current Labor spending growth is averaging 1.5%
102. Political Fundamental
1. “ALP best manager of money, history shows” – George Megalogenis READ MORE
2. No interest rise for the 14th consecutive month (last rise was Nov 2010) Vs 10 consecutive rises under Howard/Costello. The lowest rate, since 1960, of 3% was in April 2009 under Labor. Lowest under Howard 4.25%, Fraser 7.65%, Gorton 5.7%, McMahon 4.3%). Interest rates will always be lower under Labor.
3. “The Atlantic magazine named Gillard as one of its “2011 brave thinkers” for her resolute strength in pushing through a carbon tax. “Whether you see the move as politically expedient or as a principled course correction, there’s no denying the risk that it entails in a country where climate change is a wildly contentious issue,” writes Geoffrey Gagnon”
4. Labor’s Tax take 21.75% of GDP Vs 25% under Liberals
5. NEW Treasury analysis finds Mining played minor role during GFC, it says service industries such as retail – which received a hefty boost from Kevin Rudd’s stimulus package – were crucial in sustaining the economy during its darkest days.
6. Wayne Swan – Treasurer of the Year 2011
7. PM Gillard solved #QANTAS dispute in 36 hrs, Hawke solved the Pilot Dispute in 1 month and Howard solved the Waterfront Dispute in 6 months.
8. How good are nations at keeping the promises made at G20 summits? – Australia NO: 1 – READ MORE
103. Social Fundamental
1. Australian families depending on one breadwinner pay among the lowest amounts of tax in the world and have become better off under the Gillard Government – Natsem
2. The Herald/Lateral Economics Index of Australia’s Wellbeing rose 2.2 per cent in the quarter, outstripping GDP growth of 1 per cent. READ MORE
3. The number of people filling for bankruptcy in Australia has fallen by 16%.
4. Recently released IMF estimates show that Australians are the fifth richest people in the world, behind only those living in Luxembourg, Qatar, Norway and Switzerland READ MORE
5. AUSTRALIA is second best – almost but not quite the greatest place in which to live, according to the latest United Nations human development index. Norway pips us by a flared nostril. Australia scores 0.93 on a scale of 0 to 1, where 1 is the highest score possible. At 0.94, Norway’s margin over Australia is close to invisible
6. Ave weekly earning +4.7% in yr to Aug. 10 years of real wage gains.
7. Aust & Holland have the best pension systems in the world followed by Sweden, Swiss, Canada, UK READ MORE
8. Australia top destination for expats globally: HSBC – AUSTRALIA’S image of healthy outdoor living and reputation for a work-life balance has elevated it to the top destination for expatriates globally, according to a worldwide survey by HSBC.
9. THE Gillard government’s reforms to financial advice will boost the retirement savings of Australian workers by $130 billion over 15 years
104. The Future
1. Investment in the next year in mining and related infra-structure projects $140B
2. Business investment spending is expected to grow by 15 per cent this year and another 15 per cent next year. – Ross Gittin
3. Australia in good shape if another crisis hits, says IMF – 8/8/11
4. BHP Billiton $80B Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold mine in South Australia creating 6000 jobs during a decade-long construction phase, 4000 ongoing jobs at the mine and 15,000 indirect jobs.This is despite the Resource Tax
5. The strength of the nation’s markets during the Global Financial Crisis was highlighted by the World Economic Forum, which in 2009 ranked Australia as the world’s second-best financial centre after the UK. Australia was the only country in the top 20 to improve its ranking.With around A$1.7 trillion in assets under management, Australia is the largest funds management market in Asia, and the fourth-largest in the world. Australia has one of the highest levels of managed funds per capita in the world, with total investment fund assets in Australia projected to reach A$7 trillion by 2028.
6. For dealmakers Down Under, 2011 will go down as a vintage year for inbound M&A activity, according to the latest data from Dealogic.So far this year, Australia has attracted a record US$59.9 billion of total inbound deals, already surpassing US$55 billion achieved in the whole of 2010, according to the data provider. READ MORE
7. The figures show September quarter spending on exploration for coal up 12 per cent to a new record high of $227 million, spending on iron ore exploration up 9 per cent to a new record high of $235 million, and spending on onshore petroleum exploration up 33 per cent to a new record high of $249 million.
8. The ABS figures follow Tuesday’s Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics forecast of record energy and minerals export earnings of $206 billion in 2012. If realised, they will boost government revenue, making its forecast surplus easier to attain. The bureau says capital expenditure by resource companies stands at a record high of $232 billion.
9. Bloomberg has done a survey and found that Australia is the 5th best and easiest place in the world to do business after HK, Netherlands, USA and UK. READ MORE
10. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Australia is probably the best positioned of the developed countries to handle a further deterioration in the global economy. IMF Asia and Pacific region director Anoop Singh told a media briefing in Washington that the institution supports the Australian government’s plan to return the federal budget to surplus in 2012/13.
11. Manufacturing activity remained in positive territory in January 2012, according to the latest Australian Industry Group. Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) is 51.6, readings above 50 indicate an expansion in activity
12. Trade surplus up $366m in Dec to $1.7b. Total exports second highest monthly level on record at $27.7billion.
Feb 162012
The Following was posted by Jenauthor over on Pollbludger:
An open letter to the Australian Political Press Gallery:
Credibility and respect comes from doing a good job right, and with integrity. You are the conduit between our members of parliament and the people who ELECTED them.
As a conduit it is encumbent upon you to report with impartiality and not be seduced to favour the interests of sections of the community that have the resources to drive the narrative for their own benefit. That is the job of advertisers, not journalists or editors.
This farcical encouragement of politicians’ game-playing, the reporting of their untruths without prior research, and the general dumbing down of the electorates’ information is a serious breach of the role you are supposed to fulfill.
Alternately, the deliberate ignoring of, or twisting of, any favourable news shows willful negligence and deliberate partisanship.
You answer my contentions with ‘you get what you ask for’ but I beg to differ. You have the power to influence large numbers of the public. A person buying the newspaper for its sport coverage is NOT automatically endorsing of that paper’s current affairs coverage. Indeed, by collating a newspaper into a single whole, a news organisation prevents its audience from such discernment.
Many Australians are fleeing to online media and ‘new’ media out of dissatisfaction. If you want to have ANY hope of keeping you jobs in the long term, it might be time to be a bit more honest with yourselves and the public who SHOULD have the confidence to rely on your coverage.
Twelve years of a Howard govt. which slowly but surely pushed every aspect of this country toward the ‘right’ has developed an acceptance of right-wing thinking as being the norm. This is now perceived as ‘middle ground’. If you cannot step back and see how partial you have become, then the occupation of journalist in this country is lost. Even the former bastion of impartiality, the ABC has succumbed to unresearched tabloidism.
If this self assessment and correction cannot be done, then we as a nation seriously need to think about renaming our publication/programs and barring them from using the term “News” at all. As it stands, today’s publications and broadcasts really need to be labelled “opinion”.
Feb 142012
Apparently Jason Clare described Tony Abbott as a “stop sign in a suit”, which is rather fitting.
Here’s Tony getting his Stop trimmed:
Feb 132012
Well Well Well – Crikey is Croaked AGAIN !!!!!!!!
But never fear A Frankview is here for Intelligent Political Blogging.
But Hey Karma is a Bitch for the Manchild who is furiously praying for Relevance as he presides over a dodgy website with the reputation equal with his idols in the Liberal Party.
Feb 092012
In your guts, you know he's nuts.
Comedy gold from Anthony Albanese in Question Time to day. Referring to “the human vuvuzela”, he made the attributed remark “In your guts, you know he’s nuts”.
There’s no doubt that Albo is one of the stars of the Labor Party.