http://australianpolitics.com Resources, News & Commentary from Malcolm Farnsworth Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:23:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Resources, News & Commentary from Malcolm Farnsworth AustralianPolitics.com no Resources, News & Commentary from Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://australianpolitics.com/category/parties/alp http://australianpolitics.com/2011/12/09/what-happened-at-the-alp-national-conference.html http://australianpolitics.com/2011/12/09/what-happened-at-the-alp-national-conference.html#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 01:42:28 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=4685 http://australianpolitics.com/2011/12/09/what-happened-at-the-alp-national-conference.html/feed 0 http://australianpolitics.com/2011/06/23/removing-kevin-rudd-a-year-ago-tonight.html http://australianpolitics.com/2011/06/23/removing-kevin-rudd-a-year-ago-tonight.html#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:55:44 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=4279 http://australianpolitics.com/2011/06/23/removing-kevin-rudd-a-year-ago-tonight.html/feed 0 Chris Uhlmann,Julia Gillard,Kevin Rudd It's a year ago tonight that moves to topple Prime Minister Kevin Rudd began. - The first we knew of the challenge to Rudd's 30-month prime ministership was this tweet from the ABC's Chris Uhlmann at 7.00pm: - Simultaneously, It's a year ago tonight that moves to topple Prime Minister Kevin Rudd began. The first we knew of the challenge to Rudd's 30-month prime ministership was this tweet from the ABC's Chris Uhlmann at 7.00pm: Simultaneously, ABC television broke the news on its 7pm bulletin. Listen to the audio of the ABC bulletin: PLAY AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2011/04/13/gillard-sydney-institute-speech.html http://australianpolitics.com/2011/04/13/gillard-sydney-institute-speech.html#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:09:06 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=4164 http://australianpolitics.com/2011/04/13/gillard-sydney-institute-speech.html/feed 8 Julia Gillard,Sydney Institute The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, says Australia is entering a period of "record fiscal consolidation", and has warned of a tight budget next month. - Addressing The Sydney Institute, Gillard said "the time for government to step back is in this Budg... The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, says Australia is entering a period of "record fiscal consolidation", and has warned of a tight budget next month. Addressing The Sydney Institute, Gillard said "the time for government to step back is in this Budget." She said the government "will be making hard decisions in this Budget to prevent greater pain in the long term." As she has in a number of recent speeches, Gillard talked at length about the dignity of work and foreshadowed a tightening of social welfare in the Budget. Listen to Gillard's speech. PLAY This is the full text of Julia Gillard's speech to The Sydney Institute. The Dignity of Work Thank you Joe for your kind introduction. Thank you Gerard and Anne and the Sydney Institute - for this unique Sydney opportunity at this unique Sydney venue. I am delighted to be here tonight among so many of my Sydney friends. And Luna Park is a very special place! Now, I am just going to deal with this up front. Yes, I came in through the front gate tonight. Yes, I saw the teeth and the nose. I know they say any resemblance to any living person is coincidental and I want to assure you that I’m confident that’s true. While we gather in a place associated with fun, we are here for a serious purpose. We are here to discuss the actions we need to take today to shape a better and fairer future. Debating and determining the best steps forward is never easy. And today’s highly contested and partisan political debate and increasingly complex communications context creates special challenges for reforming leadership governing in the centre. This means the Sydney Institute’s empirical style and invitation to a community of reason has never been more important. So the chance to discuss the issues and ideas that will influence not the next poll or the next panel show but the next decade is a very welcome one indeed. So let’s talk tonight about the long view. The long term story of the Australian economy is a story of strength. A story of twenty years of continuous growth. Growth which has been nurtured by the policy reforms of successive Australian governments, from internationalisation to domestic competition to tax. Wealth which has been created by the hard work of millions of Australian people, in our cities and suburbs, towns and bush. And our economy is not just creating wealth, it is creating work as well. More than thirty thousand jobs last month, more than 750 000 jobs since Labor took office. Today, more Australians are working than ever before, in a period when advanced economies around the world have shed millions of jobs at a terrible human cost. This growth in wealth and work has been so continuous in the last twenty years that we could easily lose sight of how different this is from the economy we have been used to in the past. These are remarkable days. Over coming years we will live through an historic boom in mining investment, one which is genuinely comparable to the Gold Rush of the 1850s. The boom is a good thing for Australia now and it is a great opportunity for Australia’s future. This great opportunity is also a complex economic policy challenge. Good decisions now can nurture the boom so that it lasts, while making the most of the boom for our future. The Government invested in jobs in the downturn and it was absolutely the right call. We see the economic and social benefits of this every day. But as the Treasurer wrote on the weekend: If we are going to be Keynesians in the downturn, we have to be Keynesians on the way up again. That means hard decisions lie ahead. We are entering a period of record fiscal consolidation. We will keep a tight rein on spending to return the Budget to surplus. Fiscal responsibility is something we have long been committed to. With every spending decision we make, I look from every angle, I hold these up to the light, AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2011/04/04/kevin-rudd-on-qanda.html http://australianpolitics.com/2011/04/04/kevin-rudd-on-qanda.html#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:04:48 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=4152 http://australianpolitics.com/2011/04/04/kevin-rudd-on-qanda.html/feed 3 ETS,Julia Gillard,Kevin Rudd,QandA Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appeared on the ABC's QandA tonight and commented on the politics surrounding his government's decision last year to postpone introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme. - Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appeared on the ABC's QandA tonight and commented on the politics surrounding his government's decision last year to postpone introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme. Rudd said he made an "error of judgement" in pushing out the start date to 2013. He said others in the party wanted to abandon the ETS altogether, whilst others wanted to proceed straight ahead, even though the government lacked the numbers to pass the legislation in the Senate. Rudd would not confirm whether Gillard and Swan were amongst those pushing for abandonment of the ETS, although his demeanour suggested they were. Rudd also made some pointed remarks about the influence of factional leaders in the ALP and seemed to give endorsement to the reforms proposed by Faulkner, Carr and Bracks. The comments ensure that Rudd and Gillard will be pursued by the media and the Opposition tomorrow. Click the PLAY button to listen to the relevant portion of QandA (22m) PLAY AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2011/03/31/julia-gillards-whitlam-oration.html http://australianpolitics.com/2011/03/31/julia-gillards-whitlam-oration.html#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 10:41:17 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=4138 http://australianpolitics.com/2011/03/31/julia-gillards-whitlam-oration.html/feed 3 Gough Whitlam,Julia Gillard,The Greens The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has delivered the inaugural Whitlam Oration at the Whitlam Institute, at the University of Western Sydney. - Click the PLAY button to listen to Gillard's speech. PLAY Men and women of Australia. Words, The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has delivered the inaugural Whitlam Oration at the Whitlam Institute, at the University of Western Sydney. Click the PLAY button to listen to Gillard's speech. PLAY Men and women of Australia. Words, ... AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2010/12/24/gillards-christmas-message-to-labor-supporters.html http://australianpolitics.com/2010/12/24/gillards-christmas-message-to-labor-supporters.html#comments Fri, 24 Dec 2010 10:27:55 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=2474 http://australianpolitics.com/2010/12/24/gillards-christmas-message-to-labor-supporters.html/feed 0 http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/28/brumby-government-facing-defeat.html http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/28/brumby-government-facing-defeat.html#comments Sat, 27 Nov 2010 15:00:18 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=2077 http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/28/brumby-government-facing-defeat.html/feed 0 Bentleigh,John Brumby,Rob Hulls,Ted Baillieu 6.2% Primary Swing Against Labor; Coalition Has 44 Seats; All Roads Lead To Bentleigh - 1.00am - The Brumby Labor government has failed to secure re-election to a fourth term in Victoria. - After a 6.2% swing against Labor on primary votes, 6.2% Primary Swing Against Labor; Coalition Has 44 Seats; All Roads Lead To Bentleigh 1.00am - The Brumby Labor government has failed to secure re-election to a fourth term in Victoria. After a 6.2% swing against Labor on primary votes, the government has lost 11 seats to the Liberal Party. These are: Forest Hill, Gembrook, Mount Waverley, Seymour, Burwood, Frankston, South Barwon, Mitcham, Prahran, Mordialloc and Carrum. The Coalition has also won Gippsland East from the independent Craig Ingram, bringing their total to 44 seats, equal with the ALP. As counting ended for the night, only the Labor seat of Bentleigh remained in serious doubt. The Victorian Electoral Commission website has the Liberal candidate ahead by 213 votes, whereas the ABC website says the lead is 624 votes. If the Labor Party holds Bentleigh, the Parliament will be evenly divided. If the Liberals win it, the Coalition will win the election 45-43. After providing a Speaker, the Coalition would be able to govern with a one-seat majority. Earlier, three other seats appeared in doubt but according to the VEC website the ALP leads in Narre Warren North by 1022 votes, in Monbulk by 1024 and in Macedon by 719 (although an ALP campaign worker in Macedon told AustralianPolitics.com that they put their lead higher than that). The ALP retained the inner Melbourne electorates of Melbourne, Brunswick, Richmond and Northcote, following the Liberal Party's decision not to direct preferences to the Greens. A lower than normal turnout and a much higher number of pre-poll and postal votes means that the results in some seats could change as further votes are counted. Neither Brumby or Baillieu claimed victory when they spoke to their supporters last night. Brumby claimed the most likely result was a hung Parliament, whilst Baillieu claimed the government had lost its authority and legitimacy. Both men gave speeches stressing their readiness for government. The regional seats around Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo which delivered government to Labor in 1999 held firm despite swings to the coalition. Only Seymour and South Barwon were lost by the government. The big swings occurred in Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs where swings of 10% were recorded. Two ministers, Tony Robinson (Mitcham) and Maxine Morand (Mount Waverley) were defeated, as was the Speaker, Jenny Lindell (Carrum). Click the PLAY button to listen to Deputy Premier Rob Hulls speech at Broadmeadows Town Hall. PLAY Click the PLAY button to listen to Premer John Brumby's speech at Broadmeadows Town Hall. PLAY Click the PLAY button to listen to Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu's speech the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne. PLAY AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/25/tanner-megalogenis-trivial-pursuit.html http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/25/tanner-megalogenis-trivial-pursuit.html#comments Thu, 25 Nov 2010 05:26:02 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=2045 http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/25/tanner-megalogenis-trivial-pursuit.html/feed 0 The former Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, in a rare public appearance since his retirement from politics, has discussed recent political events. - Tanner was appearing at the Wheeler Centre with George Megalogenis, The former Finance Minister, Lindsay Tanner, in a rare public appearance since his retirement from politics, has discussed recent political events. Tanner was appearing at the Wheeler Centre with George Megalogenis, author of the latest Quarterly Essay, Trivial Pursuit. Click the PLAY button to listen to the audio of the discussion, or watch the video below. LISTEN AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/house-of-representatives-debates-gay-marriage-resolution.html http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/house-of-representatives-debates-gay-marriage-resolution.html#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:39:43 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=1740 http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/house-of-representatives-debates-gay-marriage-resolution.html/feed 3 Adam Bandt,Andrew Wilkie,Bruce Billson,equal marriage,gay marriage,Malcolm Turnbull,Philip Ruddock,Sharon Grierson,Shayne Neumann,Stephen Jones,Teresa Gambaro,Warren Entsch An impressive debate began in the House of Representatives tonight on a motion by the Greens member, Adam Bandt, calling on parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. - Bandt's motion reads: An impressive debate began in the House of Representatives tonight on a motion by the Greens member, Adam Bandt, calling on parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. Bandt's motion reads: That this House: (1) notes there is: (a) a growing list of countries that allow same-sex couples to marry including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, SPain, Canada and South Africa; and (b) widespread support for equal marriage in the Australian community; and (2) calls on all parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. Speaking to the motion, Bandt said, "there have been many attempts through history to limit love and all have failed". The text of his speech is at the end of this page. Click the PLAY button to listen to Bandt's speech: PLAY The motion was opposed by the Liberal member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock. Click PLAY to listen to Ruddock's speech: PLAY The new Labor member for Throsby, Stephen Jones then moved an amendment to the motion, as shown below: That all the words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words: “this House calls on all parliamentarians, consistent with their duties as representatives, to gauge their constituents’ views on ways to achieve equal treatment for same sex couples including marriage” Click PLAY to listen to Jones's speech. The full text is at the end of this page. PLAY The following members then spoke on the resolution, until the debate was adjourned: Bruce Billson - Liberal, Dunkley PLAY Sharon Grierson - ALP, Newcastle PLAY Warren Entsch - Liberal, Leichhardt PLAY Andrew Wilkie - Independent, Denison PLAY Malcolm Turnbull - Liberal, Wentworth PLAY Shayne Neumann - ALP, Blair PLAY Teresa Gambaro - Liberal, Brisbane PLAY This is the draft text of Adam Bandt's speech on his equal marriage resolution: Love knows no boundaries. Love knows no limits. And love knows when it has found its partner. Mr Speaker, there have been many attempts through history to limit love. And all have failed. And as we move further into the 21st century I am confident that attempts to limit love will fail again, that full marriage equality will become a reality. Mr Speaker, this motion before the Parliament does not seek to overturn the Howard government's change to the Marriage Act which sought to limit marriage to a few. My colleague Senator Sarah Hanson Young has a bill before Parliament that when passed will amend the Marriage Act to enshrine the right for all Australian's to marry regardless of their gender or sexuality. And in time the Greens will move for that bill to be debated. Instead this motion seeks to provide an opportunity for members of Parliament, the media and most importantly the community to discuss the importance of Marriage Equality. The motion is not binding on Members of Parliament or the government its passage will not in itself legally endorse or ratify the right to marriage equality. Rather it will acknowledge the reality of community opinion in Australia which has changed. The motion reads: That this House: (1) Notes that: (a) There is a growing list of countries that allow same-sex couples to marry including the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Canada and South Africa; and (b) there is widespread support for equal marriage in the Australian community. (2) Calls on all parliamentarians to gauge their constituents' views on the issue of marriage equality. In moving this motion The Greens want Parliament to acknowledge that Australian public opinion is changing. We also want Parliament to acknowledge that change is happening around the world. And we want those who are still stuck in the old way of thinking to go out and engage with the people in their electorates to find out where are now at. AustralianPolitics.com no http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/preferences-in-victorian-election.html http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/preferences-in-victorian-election.html#comments Sun, 14 Nov 2010 15:34:50 +0000 Malcolm Farnsworth http://australianpolitics.com/?p=1726 http://australianpolitics.com/2010/11/15/preferences-in-victorian-election.html/feed 1