The post-election Liberals just can't help themselves

It seems the bloody nose received by the Liberal Party on election night is acting like burley tossed into shark-infested waters.

Shadow-Treasurer Malcolm Turnbull's latest contribution to the violent feeding frenzy is to let it be known that he now disputes the legitimacy of the recent Liberal Party leadership vote.

Once extensive media coverage was achieved he then issued a hair-splitting denial. An unedifying spectacle.

If this internal wrangling continues Brendan Nelson's leadership might be over by mid-2008.

However it will take much longer for the general public to take this political party seriously after all the recent dummy spits.

Brendan Nelson - a man for all seasons or is he just another political con artist?

It would seem that Brendan Nelson has become the latest fashion accessory on the Australian political scene.

Yes, Brendan can rise to the occasion, whatever the occasion. Want a Labor voter in your midst? Just call on Brendan. He'll be happy to accommodate your needs. Want a Liberal voter? Then don't hestitate, give Brendan a call.

Brendan has the rare capacity possessed only by fair dinkum political chameleons. He can change political colour, no matter what the occasion.

The Australian (December 8) carries a report headed " Nelson admits 'wrong, stupid' lie"

Read it at: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22889501-5014046,00.html

Will John Howard become the 'Guy Fawkes' effigy atop North Coast bonfires in the future?

After almost eleven years of stubborn denial and laggardly response to climate change, the former Howard Government has left Australia in a position where the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics December 2007 report can state that this country's wheat, beef, dairy and sugar commodities "could decline by an estimated 9-10 per cent by 2030 and 13-19 per cent by 2050" due to the effects of climate change.

With our export of key agricultural commodities likely to "decline by 11-63 per cent by 2030 and 15-79 per cent by 2050".

Australia is predicted to be one of the worst hit countries in terms of reductions in agricultural production and export, and because such a lot of our wool, wheat, sugar, beef, veal and lamb goes for export our balance of trade is going to resemble a third world country's economic outlook.

It seems almost inevitable that John Howard's personal attitude to climate change will result in Australia ceasing to be the lucky country within a generation.

It is by no means certain that the new Rudd Government will have the luxury of time to turn this situation around or to make a significant impact on this gloomy scenario. 

The NSW North Coast sugar industry would be unable to survive if the percentage decline in production was uniformly distributed, as there would not be a reliable harvest to keep the Broadwater and Harwood mills viable.

It is likely that North Coast residents will see John Howard as the same type of folklore bogeyman as the English Guy Fawkes - stupid and destructive.

His likeness will deserve to burn in effigy whenever a local bonfire is lit.

ABARE December 2007 report - climate change section:

http://www.abareconomics.com/publications_html/ac/ac_07/a1_dec.pdf

The Australian article on ABARE report:

 http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22883995-11949,00.html

 

The new broom in Commonwealth-State health policy

The new Federal Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, has given the states and territories one week to come back with answers on how they will clear their elective surgery waiting lists so that people are not waiting for surgery beyond a medically acceptable time.

One has to hope that last Friday's meeting between Ms. Roxon and her state counterparts was as productive as reported.

ABC News yesterday:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/07/2113212.htm

 

The NSW North Coast also has to hope that specific health funding promised by Labor during the recent federal election campaign flows quickly through to the NSW Dept. of Health and onto the local area health service, so that our district and base hospitals will see the practical results of a much needed catch-up in infrastructure and services.

Will the Cowper electorate see even less of Hartsuyker now?

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.

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/

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