Resources, News & Commentary from Malcolm Farnsworth
Queensland Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced her Shadow Cabinet following the ALP’s devastating defeat in the recent election.
The ALP was reduced to seven members in the 89-seat Legislative Assembly. This may fall to six if the party loses the South Brisbane by-election caused by the resignation of former premier Anna Bligh.
The six members all have multiple responsibilities. [Read more...]
The Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Brendan Nelson, has proposed a 5 cents reduction in petrol excise.
Delivering his response to the Federal Budget, Nelson also committed the Opposition to oppose the increase tax on alco-pops in the Senate.
Click the PLAY button to listen to Nelson’s speech:
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Mr Speaker. Australians expected a lot with the election of a new government.
Last year they listened to what the now Prime Minister and Treasurer had to say.
They heard them say they were going to be good economic managers.
They heard them say that they would do something about grocery prices.
They heard them say they would do something about the price of petrol.
They heard them say they would do something about home interest rates.
They heard a lot.
Every Australian should now ask themselves this question:
Will this budget make it easier to keep my house, fill the car with petrol, put groceries in the trolley and keep my job? [Read more...]
The Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Brendan Nelson, has announced the coalition’s new shadow ministry.
Nelson has drawn on the experience of former Howard government ministers such as Julie Bishop, Joe Hockey, Nick Minchin, Malcolm Turnbull and Andrew Robb. He has elevated new faces such as Tony Smith, Greg Hunt, Bob Baldwin, Andrew Southcott, Margaret May, Sussan Ley and Pat Farmer.
Nelson said: “The new Coalition team strikes the right balance between fresh faces and experience.”
This is the text of a media release from the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Brendan Nelson.
I am pleased to announce today the new Coalition frontbench.
The new Coalition team strikes the right balance between fresh faces and experience. The Shadow Ministry has been chosen on the basis of both proven performance and new members with the potential to contribute to the Coalition over the longer term.
This team has the drive, skills, experience and commitment to offer a credible, viable and attractive alternative Government.
Julie Bishop will take on the important role of Shadow Minister for Employment, Business and Workplace Relations. As the Deputy Leader, Ms Bishop will hold the Government to account and work to ensure the significant employment gains of the past decade are not eroded.
Opposition Senate Leader Nick Minchin will assume responsibility as Shadow Minister for Defence. Senator Minchin is one of the Coalition’s most experienced and skilful operators. His talents are greatly valued by the Liberals and Nationals.
Along with his role as Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Eric Abetz becomes Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
Malcolm Turnbull will serve as my key economic spokesman as Shadow Treasurer. Malcolm’s economic experience, drive and intellect will be highly valued on the Coalition frontbench.
The Nationals’ Leader Warren Truss will serve as Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Local Government. As our valued Coalition partner, I look forward to working closely with Mr Truss and his colleagues.
Senator Nigel Scullion will provide an alternative to the Government’s approach on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
John Cobb will serve as Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Water Security.
Andrew Robb takes on the important and challenging role of Shadow Foreign Minister. Mr Robb is a proven safe pair of hands. Andrew’s experience will be a great asset to the Coalition team I look forward to his valued contribution on the frontbench.
Joe Hockey will hold the Government to account on Health, while Peter Dutton becomes Shadow Finance Minister, Ian MacFarlane becomes Shadow Trade Minister and Tony Abbott takes on responsibility for Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector.
Senator Chris Ellison becomes Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Helen Coonan takes on Human Services, Senator George Brandis becomes Shadow Attorney General, while Senator David Johnston brings his drive and talents to the position of Shadow Minister for Resources and Energy and Tourism.
Tony Smith, Bruce Billson and Greg Hunt also join the Shadow Cabinet. Mr Smith’s energy, skills and talent make him the ideal candidate to take on the Government in the important Education portfolio. I have also added the important areas of Apprenticeships and Training to Tony’s responsibilities.
Bruce Billson will enthusiastically develop the alternative Government’s plans for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.
Greg Hunt becomes Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Urban Water. Greg will work tirelessly in this critically important portfolio.
There are a number of new faces in the Outer Shadow Ministry.
Senator Michael Ronaldson brings his considerable experience and talents as Shadow Special Minister of State. I welcome Michael Keenan to the frontbench as Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Steven Ciobo as Shadow Minister for Small Business, the Service Economy and Tourism.
Christopher Pyne becomes Shadow Minister for Justice and Border Protection, Sharman Stone takes on Environment, Heritage, the Arts and Indigenous Affairs and Bronwyn Bishop returns in the role of Shadow Veterans Affairs Minister.
The Nationals’ Luke Hartsuyker will take up the position of Shadow Minister for Business Development, Independent Contractors and Consumer Affairs.
Bob Baldwin, Andrew Southcott, Margaret May, Sussan Ley and Pat Farmer also join the Coalition frontbench.
The following Members and Senators will serve as Shadow Parliamentary Secretaries; Cory Bernardi, Richard Colbeck, Mark Coulton, John Forrest, Jo Gash, Barry Haase, Peter Lindsay, Ian Macdonald, Louise Markus, Brett Mason, Sophie Mirabella, Marise Payne and Don Randall.
The new Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Brendan Nelson, has announced the coalition’s shadow ministry.
The team comprises a mix of former Howard government ministers and new faces.
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This is the Shadow Ministry as announced by Dr. Brendan Nelson.
Shadow Cabinet
- Brendan Nelson – Leader of the Opposition
- Julie Bishop – Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Employment, Business and Workplace Relations
- Warren Truss – Leader of The Nationals; Infrastructure and Transport and Local Government
- Senator Nick Minchin – Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; Defence
- Senator Eric Abetz – Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
- Malcolm Turnbull – Treasury
- Joe Hockey – Health and Ageing; Leader of Opposition Business in the House
- Andrew Robb – Foreign Affairs
- Ian MacFarlane – Trade
- Tony Abbott – Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector
- Senator Nigel Scullion – Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
- Senator Helen Coonan – Human Services
- Tony Smith – Education, Apprenticeships and Training
- Greg Hunt – Climate Change, Environment and Urban Water
- Peter Dutton – Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
- Senator Chris Ellison – Immigration and Citizenship; Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
- Senator George Brandis – Attorney General
- Senator David Johnston – Resources and Energy, Tourism
- John Cobb – Regional Development, Water Security
Outer Shadow Ministry
- Chris Pyne – Justice, Border Protection and Assisting Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
- Senator Michael Ronaldson – Shadow Special Minister of State
- Steven Ciobo – Small Business, the Service Economy and Tourism
- Sharman Stone – Environment, Heritage, the Arts and Indigenous Affairs
- Michael Keenan – Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Superannuation and Corporate Governance
- Margaret May – Ageing
- Bob Baldwin – Defence Science, Personnel and Assisting Shadow Minister for Defence
- Luke Hartsuyker – Business Development, Independent Contractors and Consumer Affairs; Deputy Leader of Opposition Business in the House
- Bronwyn Bishop – Veterans’ Affairs
- Andrew Southcott – Employement Participation and Apprenticeships and Training
- Sussan Ley – Housing, Status of Women
- Pat Farmer – Youth and Sport
Shadow Parliamentary Secretaries
- Don Randall – Assisting the Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Cabinet Secretary
- Senator Ian Macdonald – Assisting the Leader of the Opposition, Northern Australia
- Senator Richard Colbeck – Health
- Senator Brett Mason – Education
- Peter Lindsay – Defence
- Barry Haase – Infrastructure, Roads and Transport
- John Forrest – Trade
- Louise Markus – Immigration and Citizenship
- Sophie Mirabella – Local Government
- Jo Gash – Tourism
- Mark Coultan – Ageing and the Voluntary Sector
- Senator Marise Payne – Foreign Affairs
- Senator Cory Bernardi – Families, Community Services
Brendan Nelson has been elected leader of the Liberal Party, defeating Malcolm Turnbull by 45 votes to 42.
Julie Bishop, the outgoing Education Minister, has been elected deputy leader. Sky News reports that she garnered 44 votes, Andrew Robb 25 and Christopher Pyne 18.
Bishop holds the seat of Curtin in Western Australia, the only state to withstand the swing to the ALP in Saturday’s election.
The election of Nelson and Bishop marks the first time in decades that the Liberal Party’s leaders do not include a Victorian.
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Nelson Appoints Turnbull Shadow Treasurer, Supports Kyoto Ratification
Nov 29 – 3.10pm – The newly-elected Leader of the Opposition, Brendan Nelson, has appointed Malcolm Turnbull Shadow Treasurer. Nelson also offered support for the ratification of the Kyoto treaty.
Giving his first press conference since defeating Turnbull 45-42 earlier today, Nelson spoke of his Labor-oriented family background and the role education played in his life.
He said he wanted to discuss the future of federal intervention in Northern Territory aboriginal communities with the incoming prime minister, Kevin Rudd. Nelson’s deputy, Julie Bishop, will be the shadow minister for Industrial Relations.
Within hours of Nelson’s elevation to the Liberal leadership, the ALP had NelsonFacts online.
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The Prime Minister, John Howard, is in Davos, Switzerland, for the latest meeting of the World Economic Forum.
Speaking to journalists, Howard criticised European wheat subsidies, but was otherwise non-committal on Mamdouh Habib and the ALP leadership.
According to its website, the World Economic Forum is “an independent international organization incorporated as a Swiss not-for-profit foundation”. Its members “represent the world’s 1,000 leading companies, along with 200 smaller businesses, many from the developing world, that play a potent role in their industry or region”.
The forum aims for “a world-class corporate governance system where values are as important a basis as rules”. It argues for “entrepreneurship in the global public interest”, and believes that “economic progress without social development is not sustainable, while social development without economic progress is not feasible.”
This is the transcript of the doorstop interview given by the Prime Minister, John Howard, at the Belvedere Hotel in Davos, Switzerland.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, this is your first trip to the World Economic Forum, why have you come this year?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well it’s not my first trip to the World Economic Forum, I went to the one in New York, it’s the first one I’ve come to in Davos. I think this is an appropriate time given beginning of a new term, there are a lot of major economic issues to be discussed, I’ll take the opportunity for example of expressing my concern about the decision of the European Union to resume subsidies for the export of wheat, that’s a matter of very great concern to Australia, it seems to run completely counter to all the rhetoric we’ve had about more open trade, if this is their idea about more open trade well Australia is deeply disappointed. There’s a lot of rhetoric at the moment about helping under-developed countries, nothing would help under-developed countries more than the removal of trade subsidies and trade barriers and if the nations of Europe and North America and others that have highly protected agricultural policies wanted to really help many of the developing countries then they could do more to help them in changing their trade policies than they could through official development assistance.
JOURNALIST:
So will you be seeking some bilateral discussions with European Union officials?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well I will talk to anybody I can get hold of on all manner of subjects, I’m having a lot of bilateral discussions and I’m sure the opportunity of discussing that matter will come up.
JOURNALIST:
Mamdouh Habib arrived back in Australia today, will the Government be keeping a close eye on him?
PRIME MINISTER:
Look Mr Ruddock is dealing with that, let him speak for the Government on that issue.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think in general though given that the possibility of charges being pressed has now receded, if it fair enough to say that the man’s innocent?
PRIME MINISTER:
I’m not going to express a view on that, Mr Ruddock is handling it back in Australia.
JOURNALIST:
What do you think of the election of Kim Beazley as Opposition Leader?
PRIME MINISTER:
Well it was inevitable wasn’t it? Let me congratulate Mr Beazley, like all other leaders of the opposition I won’t be taking anything for granted in dealing with the Labor Party under his leadership. His responsibility now, as mine has been in the almost 10 years that I’ve been leader of the Liberal Party, is to be accountable to the Australian people. The Australian people will want to know from him, as they do from me, what he stands for and what he intends to do. You are accountable in public life for what you believe in and what you do, not what you say.
JOURNALIST:
Ten years ago you took over the Liberal Coalition in a similar position, have you got any advice for Mr Beazley?
PRIME MINISTER:
No, I’m not giving Mr Beazley any advice. That’s a matter for him. Look, he’s been made leader, I don’t treat anybody lightly, I’ve told my party not to get complacent, we have to work very hard to retain the confidence of the Australian people, you can never take anything for granted in politics and I can assure the Australian people that I do not take them for granted, I work hard in their interests and that’s the message I send to all of my colleagues.
Thank you.
