Abbott's paid parental leave scheme seen as way to outbreed women from the "low socioeconomic welfare groups"

Snapshot of the thoughts of Katrina Ludewig, a Brisbane-based sales executive at Signet Pty Ltd, writing on the Liberal Party Facebook page (Hat tip to theantibogan).

Ms. Ludewig appears to be engaged to a manager at Baker’s Delight in Tamworth NSW.

She has a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from Southern Cross University and, ‘likes’ Tony Abbott’s official Facebook election campaign page.

This is Abbott's ‘woman of calibre’ in person:

And this is the man she wants to breed with:

I hope that Signet, Baker’s Delight and Southern Cross University are enjoying all the publicity Ms. Ludewig is sending their way.

Is the Liberal Party finally leaving the Metgasco building?

Metgasco Limited website 10 June 2013:

Richard Shields - External Relations Manager

Richard has extensive knowledge and experience in politics, having worked for almost 20 years in senior government, party related and private sector roles. He understands the challenges and complexities of the legislative and regulatory processes of government, in addition to having a strong insight into managing media and community relations.

Prior to joining Metgasco, Richard served as Deputy Director of the Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) for over 3 years and also served as the Interim State Director. Other positions held by Richard include a Policy Adviser to former Senator the Hon Helen Coonan as Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

Richard has also worked as a Senior Cnsultant [sic] for two of Australia's largest issues management firms. Drawing on his strong media and stakeholder manageent [sic] skills, Richard advises the Managing Director and Board on issues management, communications and engagement strategies and investor relations……

Insurance Business 10 June 2013:

The Insurance Council of Australia has appointed Richard Shields as general manager of government and stakeholder relations, effective 17 June, 2013.

He will be responsible for managing key stakeholder relationships and engaging with all levels of government.

Shields has two decades of experience in public affairs-related roles. He was most recently the external relations manager of ASX-listed company Metgasco.

Prior to that he was an adviser to the Minister for Sport and Tourism Hon Andrew Thomson MP and for Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Senator the Hon Helen Coonan; public affairs director for the Australian Hotels Association (WA); deputy state director and director of party affairs for the Liberal Party (NSW).

ICA CEO Rob Whelan said Shields brought an insider’s knowledge of the challenges and complexities of politics to the ICA. He said Shields would also complement the organisation’s knowledge of the legislative and regulatory processes of government……

Does Tony Abbott thinks that Alan Jones' radio audience can't read and will not notice yet another political lie?

Obviously relying on the probability that Alan Jones 2GB radio audience would not immediately fact check his statements, Australian Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said what he knew Jones wanted to hear in a 2 May interview – audio here.

Unfortunately for Abbott the mining industry was not so obliging and, he had to finally admit the blindingly obvious, that state laws do not allow farmers an unfettered right to keep mining companies off their land and that he supports states’ rights on this issue.

The Australian 3 May 2013:

OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott was last night forced to clarify his coal seam gas policy after indicating he would intervene in the issue as Prime Minister and protect the rights of farmers.

Only hours after the declaration on anti-CSG campaigner Alan Jones' 2GB radio show, the Coalition last night admitted its policy had not changed and it still believed the matter was a state issue.

The move came as one of the major industry players, Queensland Gas Company, lashed Mr Abbott for trying to appease Mr Jones' vocal campaign against the sector and stifle energy development.

The shifting positions came less than two years after Mr Abbott made a similarly bold declaration on Mr Jones' show declaring farmers had a right to refuse land access to miners - only to back away from the position days later.

On 2GB yesterday morning, Mr Abbott said his resources spokesman, Ian MacFarlane's comments backing the rights of farmers were ''sensible'' and it was his policy.

''Yeah, look, miners should not go on to farms if they're not wanted,'' he said.

''It's very wrong and they shouldn't be going on to land where the relevant landowners don't want them. It is as simple as that.''

Asked if he would ensure that in government unlike other politicians, Mr Abbott said: ''I want to be someone who keeps commitments and the interesting thing Alan is that the sensible miners, people like Santos, don't go on to land if the land holders aren't happy about it and that's the way it ought to be.''

But Mr MacFarlane last night said the Coalition believed farmers had rights in principle but that it would only ''urge'' states to protect their rights if elected to government in September.

''Nothing has changed,'' he said.

Mr Abbott's office said there was no change to the CSG policy, which let states handle the issue.

Maiden caught out by Abbott spin

This is Samantha Maiden writing in the Herald Sun, 6 January 2013:

 

It's a political fault line Julia Gillard tapped into in her speech to parliament accusing him of misogyny - a hatred of women - and attacking Abbott for describing abortion as an "easy way out" (he didn't actually say that, as it turns out).

 

One has to wonder at that assertion by Ms. Maiden, as it suggests that she lazily relied on a media release from the Opposition Leader’s office without checking the facts.

 

Because here is a snapshot of Tony Abbott’s personal opinion, expressed in an article titled Rate Of Abortion Highlights Our Moral Failings, which he wrote and then published on his own website on 17 March 2004:

 

The electorate still mocking Abbott

This time it’s @AshbySlipper who says “Since @TonyAbbottMHR hasn't had time to read the judgement, I thought I'd tweet it to him. One line at a time.”

The beginning of this Tweetathon in reverse order:

@AshbySlipper .@TonyAbbottMHR suggested that he was planning to use the record of his texts with Mr Slipper to empower others in a way that would affect
@AshbySlipper .@TonyAbbottMHR contemporaneous texts with his friends, of Mr Ashby feeling upset as a result of sexual harassment. Rather those texts
@AshbySlipper .@TonyAbbottMHR Ashby went to see Mark McArdle, a senior frontbencher in the then Queensland State LNP opposition. There was no hint, in
@AshbySlipper .@TonyAbbottMHR "closer", and hence sexual, relationship. Mr Ashby rebuffed whatever the proposed closer relationship was. The next day Mr
 @AshbySlipper .@TonyAbbottMHR text messages with Mr Slipper. That exchange could be read as conveying a proposal by Mr Slipper that the two have a
@AshbySlipper .@TonyAbbottMHR pages of Mr Ashby's text messages with Mr Slipper and many other people. On 1 February 2012, Mr Ashby had an exchange of