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"I respect Malcolm's position," says Abbott on #lateline. "No, you don't," says Tony Jones as the interview gets testy. #
Abbott denies speaking to Howard before resigning from the frontbench. After that? #lateline #
RT @latikambourke: Abbott can't recollect ever describing himself as a 'weathervane.' #lateline #
Abbott refusing to discuss Howard's positions on the issues. "He did what he thought was right in his time." #lateline #
What changed your strategy of waiting until a later term, Jones asks. #lateline #
Abbott: I had no strategy. I wanted to change our position on the ETS. "If Malcolm wouldn't accept the sensible Minchin compromise…" #
Tony Jones is being quite persistent with Abbott tonight… #lateline #
Abbott: What I've noticed most is the incredibly difficult decisions leaders have to make every day… eg. selecting a ministry. #lateline #
Did you get what you wanted out of the ministry, asks Jones. Trying to reinvent the Howard government? #lateline #
Abbott responds but Jones interrupts to quote Keating on Abbott being a "young fogie". #lateline #
Abbott attacks Copenhagen video "of young kids fleeing a scorched earth". #lateline #
Jones quoting Alan Jones / Abbott interview and the Munich reference ("Peace in our time") – What's your analogy, asks Jones. #lateline #
Abbott running from Munich reference at a great pace of knots… #lateline #
Jones: Have you sought advice from Australian scientists who are involved in IPCC report? Abbott: I'm taking counsel from many people. #
Abbott: Our policy will directly tackle emissions. #lateline #
Abbott to Jones: When did you last have Rudd on your program? #lateline #
Abbott: That's where I'm different. Rudd will not come on your program and take questions. #lateline #
RT @firstdogonmoon: Good point about Rudd but I think Tony Abbott has the most insincere smile in christendom #lateline #
@Colvinius When was he last on PM?! in reply to Colvinius #
The Abbott fan club and the ABC haters will be outraged by Tony Jones's effort tonight. #lateline #
@Colvinius Aside from changes in viewing/listening habits, I think the advent of Lateline may have influenced that decision by various PMs. in reply to Colvinius #
@nicodonnell He'll have to bloody good to out-class Jeremy Brett. in reply to nicodonnell #
RT @dkhall44: Thanks for the running commentary. We don't get #Lateline in Singapore anymore. Sounds like a good effort from Tony Jones. #
@dkhall44 You should watch it when it goes up on their website http://bit.ly/6eFVk0 – I came in a bit late with the tweeting. in reply to dkhall44 #
@JudeEkerick Re PM: Absolutely. My first memory of PM is the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre. No other sources of news. I was hooked. in reply to JudeEkerick #
RT @annabelcrabb: "If we win the next election, I'll be regarded as a genius; if we lose I'll be political roadkill…" #Lateline GOLD #
@nicodonnell Now that makes me very jealous. I don't think anyone has ever done Holmes better. in reply to nicodonnell #
@rdegan That time delay would irritate me no end! in reply to rdegan #
@nicodonnell I read all 56 short stories in about 3 weeks when I was 12-13. Still have that omnibus volume. I was totally hooked! in reply to nicodonnell #
Biting The Dust – http://bit.ly/5jNTJL – an interesting blog from @BiteTheDust, tweeting from the Gibson Desert. #
@nicodonnell Now you're name-dropping! And I'm green with envy. All I did was take the Sherlock Holmes walking tour! in reply to nicodonnell #
@nicodonnell People will think we're strange but I have a bound 1904 edition of the Strand Magazine with some of the stories. in reply to nicodonnell #
@nicodonnell It's a tragedy Brett died before they could finish all the stories. in reply to nicodonnell #
I love Tony Abbott – and who wouldn't? – http://bit.ly/8H0q1O – Catherine Deveny lies back and thinks of the Vatican. #
Bob Hawke (Labor Prime Minister 1983-91) is 80 years old today. #
Harry Evans, the just retired Clerk of the Senate, is delivering an address to the National Press Club in Canberra. #
Harry Evans: Your aim should be to leave the place better than you found it… Parlt changes in small increments… #
Evans: Negative aspect of Parlt now is that party discipline is much tighter. Conformity imposed downwards. #
Evans: Recent events show power of discipline. MPs can reverse their stance on an issue overnight. #
Evans: Discipline has very negative effect on Parlt's role in enforcing govt accountability. #
Evans: Government senators these days are told not to ask difficult questions in committees such as Estimates. #
@stemcd He says despite recent events the Liberal turnaround on ETS is evidence of strong party discipline. in reply to stemcd #
Harry Evans: Govt backbenchers don't take much interest now in improving institutions – eg. no interest in reforming Question Time. #
Evans: I recently assisted a senator to improve accountability but he's one of the most rabid members of the Opposition. No names…! #
Evans: Sen Alan Ferguson attempted to improve Question Time but only half of his reform was implemented.. #
Evans: Alan Ferguson eccentrically regards QT as an opportunity for gathering information. #
Evans: Up to 12 senators opposed Fraser govt measures during a time when that govt (1976-81) held a majority in the Senate. Won't happen now #
Evans: Positives are more numerous… Senate committee system has been a huge advance… eg 1988 measure to refer bills to committees. #
Harry Evans was Clerk of the Senate from 17 Feb 1988 until 4 Dec 2009. He is the longest-serving Clerk in the chamber's 108-year history. #
Evans: Stolen Generations inquiry is a highlight of the Senate committee system's operation. #
Evans: Regional Grants inquiry under the Howard government is another high point of Senate scrutiny. "Bags of money" thrown down "rat holes" #
Evans: When Howard govt gained Senate majority in July 2005 that inquiry into grants was closed down. Issue taken up by Auditor-General. #
Evans: Govts that don't have to answer for what they're doing will waste money.. after wasting it they will spend it on their friends… #
Evans: Accountability is not an elevated & refined process.. it operates in the swamp of politics through political parties… #
Evans: Senate demands for information over the years have been met with resistance, dubious reasons and bunkum… #
Evans: Public servants should be required to give reasons to justify witholding information… #
Evans: We need to find a way to make ministers "disgorge" information and answer questions…Senate should refuse to pass legislation… #
Evans: Ministers could be suspended from Parliament for refusing to disclose information – cites NSW upper house precedent. #
Evans: Has the quality of members improved over the years? It's evened out…USed to have brilliant characters (Murphy, McClelland, etc)… #
Evans: …and passengers – but this has evened out, possibly due to the Senate's committee system. #
Harry Evans, former Clerk of the Senate is now taking media questions at the National Press Club… #
Harry Evans: Would like to see Senate committees given more freedom to initiate their own inquiries without a formal reference from Senate. #
Evans asked who he has caused the most trouble for and who has caused him the most trouble… #
Evans: Govts and ministers should be "afraid" of the Senate.. we have suggested new procedures.. #
Evans: A PM who "lives around Bankstown" was enraged when we attacked dumping of bills at the end of a session. #
Evans asked for reasons why party discipline has tightened… "tempted to say it all gets back to television"… #
Evans: Govts focussed on simple messages and everyone staying on message… afraid of being caught off-message… #
Evans asked to name some of the more notable and memorable characters from the Senate… #
Evans: Lionel Murphy a great character, genuinely interested in accountability, used to ask for US congressional transcripts… #
Evans: John Wheeldon, the most brilliant orator the Parlt has had – independent spirit. #
Evans: 'Diamond Jim' McClelland – independent – killed of Whitlam's national compensation scheme in committee. #
Evans: Ivor Greenwood, brilliant and tragic figure on the Liberal side. #
Evans: Andrew Murray, Democrats senator, did more for accountability in my time than anyone else. #
Evans: There are brilliant characters in the Senate now but they are keeping their brilliance hidden…trained not to stand out now… #
Evans mentions AWB "wheatgate" affair – says the lid was kept on this because the govt had a majority at the time. #
@mishaschubert asks Evans about possibility of turning back political culture to a time when members were not automatons… #
Evans: there is a big difference in political cultures with countries we like to compare ourselves with. Blair got trouble from own side. #
Evans asked if Senate would function better without ministers – he is ambivalent about this. Having ministers is handy – "friends at court". #
Evans: Public servants often say, "they're playing politics in there". I say, "get used to it, that's what happens in Parliament". #
Evans Press Club appearance has concluded… #

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