Nationals MP for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker has just joined the Coalition outer shadow ministry with the portfolio of business development and independent contractors.
The esteemed Mr. Hartsuyker never did live up to his promise to regularly visit areas across his Cowper electorate, and once Yamba was slated to move out of his seat at the 2007 federal election he effectively abandoned this small town.
So it will be interesting to watch how he performs as a North Coast MP holding his federal seat on a reduced margin. Especially as he takes the junior ministry carrot and tries to parley this into a higher profile within the Coalition.
I'm tipping that Cowper will see even less of its MP than before.
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Friday, 7 December 2007
Luke Hartsuyker - the Nats' "one true potential star"_ _ _ _ _ ????
One has to wonder how many voters on the north coast of NSW, but especially those who have the privilege of having the National Party's Luke Hartsuyker as their local member, are even faintly aware of his celebrity status.
The Australian's Denis Shanahan wrote on Friday (December 7), "The Nationals’ sorry state and adherence to inflexible seniority has kept the Nationals’ one true potential star, Luke Hartsuyker, in the outer ministry".
Sorry, come again Denis. What's this business about Hartsuyker being the Nationals’ one true potential star?
What evidence does Denis have that causes him to write such stuff? The locals in the electorate of Cowper have every right to know 'cause as sure as eggs they haven't seen any such evidence that would give support to Shanahan's view? Perhaps Luke saves up his best performances for when he's wining and dining with members of the parliamentary press gallery in Canberra.
Read this and other comments about the mob Brendan Nelson selected to make up the numbers in the Opposition's shadow ministry at:
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/dennisshanahan/index.php/theaustralian/comments/shadow_ministry_cast_by_brutal_arithmetic/
The Australian's Denis Shanahan wrote on Friday (December 7), "The Nationals’ sorry state and adherence to inflexible seniority has kept the Nationals’ one true potential star, Luke Hartsuyker, in the outer ministry".
Sorry, come again Denis. What's this business about Hartsuyker being the Nationals’ one true potential star?
What evidence does Denis have that causes him to write such stuff? The locals in the electorate of Cowper have every right to know 'cause as sure as eggs they haven't seen any such evidence that would give support to Shanahan's view? Perhaps Luke saves up his best performances for when he's wining and dining with members of the parliamentary press gallery in Canberra.
Read this and other comments about the mob Brendan Nelson selected to make up the numbers in the Opposition's shadow ministry at:
http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/dennisshanahan/index.php/theaustralian/comments/shadow_ministry_cast_by_brutal_arithmetic/
Just how many times did Julie Bishop say, "Mr. Rudd has set this standard"
Well the Rudd Government's new ministerial code of conduct has been announced and it appears that the Liberal Party at least are rather put out by its contents.
I lost count of just how many times Liberal Party Deputy Leader, Julie Bishop, told the ABC's Lateline program last night "But Mr Rudd has set this standard, it's a standard that we'll be holding his ministers to" or words to that effect. Ms. Bishop was showing a rather fixed smile by the time she finished what began to sound like an endless mantra.
While the new Shadow Special Minister for State, Michael Rolandson, was insisting that a part of the new code was just a political stunt.
I get the distinct impression that the Federal Opposition was hoping that this new ministerial code would not surface in the opening week of the Rudd Government, as it was looking forward to using The Australian to run its line that a code of conduct no-show was a broken Labor election campaign promise.
Unfortunately for Brendan Nelson, Julie Bishop and Co., the mere fact that a new code was required so swiftly had less to do with campaign promises and more to do with an immediate need to rectify the mockery of ministerial responsibility John Howard endorsed during his time in government.
The Age yesterday:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/code-sets-rules-for-rudd-team/2007/12/06/1196812922362.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/code-sets-rules-for-rudd-team/2007/12/06/1196812922362.html
ABC News today:
Thursday, 6 December 2007
THAT other Kevin
Lost and Found
Not so desperately seeking a not-so-special "Kevin"
"Kevin" is known to answer to the name "Andrews" when his chain is rattled or his feed bin is about to be topped up. He was last sighted in the vicinity of the sinecure of the Victorian electorate of Menzies where blue and purple rinsed darlings gave him their donkey vote. Well, they would, wouldn't they? Yes, Kevin drew the inside gate and appeared at the top of the ballot paper.
However, the very strong word coming from scrutineers in Menzies is that Kevvy's mob directed their second preferences to Life Choices Dr Philip Nitschke. http://www.peacefulpillhandbook.com
Gee, that's terminal! It looks like even Kevvy's best mates can see the writing on the wall.
Kevin's leader, One-Eyed Nelson, reckons he hasn't acquired the mentor status that his colleagues Costello, Downer, Vaile, Ruddock, et al. enjoy.
Consequently, Kevin has to do more hard yards to ensure the electorate is 110% convinced that he's a goose. Heck! That's grossly unfair. Truly, after his contributions in his previous portfolios, Kevvy is right up there with the best/worst of his coalition mates.
Could it be that Kevvy's pecuniary interests associated with family counselling are too much of an impost and he doesn't have the time to mentor his parliamentary colleagues?
Not so desperately seeking a not-so-special "Kevin"
"Kevin" is known to answer to the name "Andrews" when his chain is rattled or his feed bin is about to be topped up. He was last sighted in the vicinity of the sinecure of the Victorian electorate of Menzies where blue and purple rinsed darlings gave him their donkey vote. Well, they would, wouldn't they? Yes, Kevin drew the inside gate and appeared at the top of the ballot paper.
However, the very strong word coming from scrutineers in Menzies is that Kevvy's mob directed their second preferences to Life Choices Dr Philip Nitschke. http://www.peacefulpillhandbook.com
Gee, that's terminal! It looks like even Kevvy's best mates can see the writing on the wall.
Kevin's leader, One-Eyed Nelson, reckons he hasn't acquired the mentor status that his colleagues Costello, Downer, Vaile, Ruddock, et al. enjoy.
Consequently, Kevin has to do more hard yards to ensure the electorate is 110% convinced that he's a goose. Heck! That's grossly unfair. Truly, after his contributions in his previous portfolios, Kevvy is right up there with the best/worst of his coalition mates.
Could it be that Kevvy's pecuniary interests associated with family counselling are too much of an impost and he doesn't have the time to mentor his parliamentary colleagues?
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