Senate asks Abbott's Commission of Audit to explain itself

Australian Parliament – Senate notice:

On 11 December 2013 a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee into the Abbott Government’s Commission of Audit, was established to inquire into the Commission of Audit established by the Commonwealth Government and, in particular, any report of that Commission to the Government, with interim reports as the committee sees fit and a final report on or before 13 May 2014.

Submissions should be received by 31 January 2014.

Today national audit commissioners are due to appear before this select committee and will be asked what instructions they have been given by ministers on everything from raising the GST to selling off Medibank Private and Australia Post. The proposed $6 Medicare levy and any changes to industrial relations laws will also be topics under scrutiny.

Will some or all of the commissioners attend or will they send their excuses?

The Commission's first phase report is due to be delivered to the Abbott Government by the end of January 2014.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell gets a well-deserved serve

http://www.moir.com.au/

OBIT: Hon. Anthony John 'Tony' Abbott MP, Prime Minister of Australia

The Hon. Anthony John 'Tony' Abbott MP, Prime Minister of Australia, passed away suddenly on Friday, 13 June 2014.

He collapsed in mid-sentence at a press conference outside Parliament House with what was at first thought to be heatstroke brought on by an unseasonably hot winter day.

However his condition worsened and he was rushed to Canberra Hospital where he was admitted to the coronary care unit.

Medical treatment was complicated by the discovery of symptoms of ‘concrete heart’ syndrome and that, in combination with low hospital staffing levels due to recent Federal Government funding cuts, meant that the Prime Minister died within four hours of admission.

Tony Abbott was a man of no fixed principles, who rose to power on the back of his ability to be unrelentingly negative, viciously sledge political opponents and endlessly repeat three word slogans.

An intolerant, muscular Christian who thought the poor always responsible for their own misfortune and their children undeserving of a decent public education.

His reputation for sexism and misogyny was known around the world, as was his commitment to political untruths.

A friend to a select few – particularly those from his own religious or social background and assorted media barons.

Tony Abbott is sincerely mourned by members of his immediate family.

The Liberal Party of Australia issued a brief statement of regret on his passing, then returned to the task of choosing a new leader.

A number of spontaneous street parties were reported to have occurred across Australia when his death was announced.

There was a mixed reaction from world leaders.

Cardinal George Pell has issued a media release stating his intention to tirelessly work for the canonisation of the late prime minister.

Mr. Abbott’s ashes will be returned to England and interred in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, close by the grave of his hero former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven.

Australian Politics 2014: Der Führer marches on and on

On 19 March 2014 it is expected that Australia’s own little führer will present to Parliament the as yet unsighted Omnibus Red Tape Repeal Bill and a series of specific bills proposing the repeal of an estimated 8,000 legislative instruments.

These bills will be passed by the House of Representatives because the Coalition has the voting power to do so easily.

As yet there is no indication as to what specific regulations will be abolished, however the financial sector, road transport industry, coastal shipping, education, agriculture, environmental approvals and trading hours have been mentioned in the media today.

The only certainty is that, with Abbott Government’s track record, one can be sure that any and all negative impacts of this mass repealing will fall heavily on the shoulders of ordinary wage earners and the poor, allow foreign multinationals further access to Australian markets, possibly lead to job losses in some industries and limit measures protecting Australian consumers and workers.

The Murdoch press reports:

The repeal day comes after Mr Frydenberg, who has been charged with implementing the government's deregulation agenda, conducted more than 100 meetings and a string of roundtable forums over the past three months with sharemarket-listed companies, multinationals, big private companies and business lobby groups to determine the pieces of regulation that need to be scrapped.

They include firms such as Westpac, Wesfarmers, IAG, Ten Network, Aldi, Dow Chemical, Incitec Pivot, the big four accounting firms and lobby groups such as the National Farmers Federation and the Minerals Council of Australia.

Mr Frydenberg has also had meetings with the likes of Rio Tinto, Orica, BHP Billiton, BG Group, Telstra, Medibank Private and Credit Suisse, as well as Woolworths chief executive Grant O'Brien, Coles managing director Ian McLeod and food group Goodman Fielder's Chris Delaney.

The Abbott Government asserts that it has also consulted with the not-for-profit- sector. This alleged consultation appears to be solely in relation to regulations concerning this sector’s funding applications and grant provisions.