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

ABC News today:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/07/2112094.htm

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?

"The Australian" forgets to apologise to all its readers

Last Tuesday The Australian published a formal apology to George Newhouse from Caroline Overington and expressed its own regret. It neglected to apologise to its readers for the unedifying manner in which it allowed a journalist to 'report' the political contest in the seat of Wentworth.

I have to wonder why Ms. Overington has not been sacked by the newspaper. She surely deserves summary dismissal for inserting herself in the political process rather than simply reporting the election campaign.

The Australian published apology.
 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22865525-5013948,00.html

Less annoying bumph from your local Federal MP

What a relief. Kevin Rudd has stated that the printing allowance of federal MPs will be cut by $50,000 and their staff numbers reduced by one third.

We may finally see an end to that annoying parade of calendars, fridge magnets and notepads which turn up in our letter boxes, along with those self-aggrandising glossy leaflets short on policy information but packed with photos of the local member.

Prime Minister Rudd is also reported to be intending to reduce ministry and shadow ministry staff to 1996 levels.

These are eminently sensible cost saving measures expected to yield savings of $209 million over the next three years.

Now if somebody would just hide the bulk-mail frank from those eager beaver MPs.

Sydney Morning Herald today:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudd-takes-axe-to-staff-and-allowances/2007/12/05/1196812824893.html

Time for the Liberal Party to get over it

Bill Kelty in The Age on Sunday telling the post-election Liberal Party a few home truths, of a type which Brendan Nelson and others are yet to take onboard.

"The clear message for the Liberal Party is to get over it. The party will never win elections while it does not have a fair share of nurses, teachers, police and tradespeople voting for it.

The imperative is to reconnect with the two great impulses of its existence — the belief in individual freedom and the willingness to fight for small-l liberal values by opposing apartheid, endorsing multiculturalism, standing up to bureaucratic bullying, welcoming refugees and fighting for liberty.

There have been many champions of these values in the Liberal Party — people such as Malcolm Fraser, Andrew Peacock and, more recently, Petro Georgiou, Judi Moylan, Russell Broadbent and Bruce Baird. As the party distanced itself from them, it has misplaced its own heart and reason for being.

Moreover, as time and political convenience separated it from the great nation and state builders such as Bolte, Court, Playford and Kennett, it lost its claim to being a practical party."

Full Kelty article:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/a-few-uncomfortable-truths-for-a-party-thats-lost-its-heart/2007/12/02/1196530480009.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Few are searching for Brendan Nelson or Warren Truss

It seems that the elevation of Liberals Nelson and Nationals Truss to leaders of their parliamentary parties has caused barely a search term ripple in Google Trends.

Does this mean that Australia thinks it knows all it wants to about these two leaders or does it mean that nobody currently cares?

Google Trends result for last 30 days:
 http://www.google.com/trends?q=%22kevin+rudd%22%2C+%22brendan+nelson%22%2C+%22warren+truss%22&ctab=0&geo=all&date=mtd&sort=0

It still means that you lost, Chris

I hear that failed Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis is pointing out to any who'll listen that he actually received the most primary votes in Page at the recent federal election. Newsflash, Chris. This still means that the people who didn't want to see you go to Canberra were more numerous than the total number who actually wanted to see you become the local member of parliament. 

Did senior US official discuss Iran sanctions with Gillard, Smith and Fitzgibbon?

On Wednesday US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns met with the new Deputy Prime Minister and ministers for defence and foreign affairs.

Did those discussions canvass America's desire to increase sanctions against Iran and did the new Rudd Government signal an agreement in principal with this course of action?

Australia has already been led down the garden path over the supposed threat posed by Iraq, with disastrous results.

Given that US intelligence reports that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program four years ago, surely Australia is not eager to continue obliging the Bush Administration's desire to bully the entire globe.

Being a friend to Bush's America is a rather dubious and dangerous state of affairs. It does nothing for Australia's international standing.

One hopes that the Rudd Government will be cautious with regard to any approach by the US relating to the Middle East issues.

The Age article yesterday:
 http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/US-to-press-for-new-Iran-sanctions/2007/12/05/1196812829798.html

Mungo's on the mark - - - yet again!

Mungo McCallum scores another bull's eye when writing in Byron Bay's Echo.

Read the full text of Mungo's column at :
http://www.echo.net.au/pg.php?issues_id=22_26&pg=10&view=gif

Mungo is, as usual, right on the mark. Mungo wrote, in part:

If you have any doubt that the election of a Rudd Labor government has changed the country, consider this: a year ago, did you imagine that the Prime Minister would be sending an openly gay woman of Chinese ancestry to Bali to ratify the Kyoto protocol on Australia’s behalf?

Kyoto, of course, has been one of the great symbolic differences between Labor and the coalition; another is Work-Choices, and Julia Gillard is already busy putting that to sleep so she can concentrate on what she rightly sees as her main job, implementing Rudd’s education revolution.

And the third major symbol will be the long overdue apology to the stolen generation, now being prepared, as it should be, not just by the government, but in consultation with Aboriginal leaders.