Julia Gillard’s Whitlam Oration

Mar 31, 2011

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has delivered the inaugural Whitlam Oration at the Whitlam Institute, at the University of Western Sydney.

Julia Gillard delivers the Whitlam Oration

Click the PLAY button to listen to Gillard’s speech.

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Men and women of Australia.

Words, adopted from John Curtin, but ever identified with Gough Whitlam.

They say so much, to so many.

In a simple phrase which still captures some of the most attractive features of the Whitlam generation:

  • A life of reason, addressing our people as adults;
  • A love of country, expressing a progressive patriotism;
  • A politics of inclusion, that matter of fact assumption that women and their interests matter in our country’s politics.
  • And behind all that, a modernising temper.

Men and women of Australia; 40 years on there is still something sharply contemporary about that phrase. [Read more...]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Gillard Government Tagged With: , ,

Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s Christmas Message to Labor Supporters

Dec 24, 2010
Julia Gillard's Christmas Message to Labor Supporters

Julia Gillard's Christmas Message to Labor Supporters

Filed Under: A.L.P., Gillard Government, Video Tagged With: ,

Brumby Government Brought To Brink Of Defeat In Victoria

Nov 28, 2010

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.

John Brumby speaks to supporters last night

John Brumby speaks to supporters last night

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.

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Click the PLAY button to listen to Premer John Brumby’s speech at Broadmeadows Town Hall.

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Click the PLAY button to listen to Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu’s speech the Sofitel Hotel in Melbourne.

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Filed Under: 2010 Victoria, A.L.P., Audio, VIC Tagged With: , , ,

Trivial Pursuit: Lindsay Tanner in Conversation with George Megalogenis

Nov 25, 2010

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.

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Filed Under: 2010 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Gillard Government, Rudd Government, Video

House of Representatives Debates Gay Marriage Resolution

Nov 15, 2010

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. [Read more...]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Audio2010, Backbenchers, Equality, Gay, Gillard Government, Greens, Issues, Liberal Party Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Victorian Liberals Put The Greens Last As Labor Stitches Up A Deal

Nov 15, 2010

The Liberal Party in Victoria has decided to preference the ALP ahead of the Greens in all lower house seats in the November 27 election.

The decision dramatically reduces the chances of the Greens winning any of the inner-Melbourne electorates it had been favoured to capture. Without Liberal preferences, the Greens will struggle to capture Richmond, Brunswick or Northcote, although it may still be in with a good chance in Melbourne.

A minority government following the election is now much less likely.

The Labor Party has chosen to preference the Greens in all Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council districts. The Greens have agreed to give preferences to Labor in most of the key marginal seats.

The Group Voting Tickets for the Legislative Council have also been published by the Victorian Electoral Commission. As in the Senate, proportional voting is used to elect 5 members in each of 8 districts. Voters may cast a single vote “above the line” or number all preferences below the line. Preferences for votes cast above the line will be allocated according to the tickets lodged by the parties with the Commission.

Download the Group Voting Tickets for the Legislative Council (PDF):

Filed Under: 2010 Victoria, A.L.P., Elections, Greens, Liberal Party, Parties, The Nationals, VIC Tagged With: , ,

Karl Bitar on the ALP’s Election Performance: Leaks and Latham Took Their Toll

Nov 09, 2010

Leaks and Mark Latham were primarily responsible for the ALP’s near-miss in the 2010 election, according to the ALP National Secretary, Karl Bitar.

Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra, Bitar said a belief that Labor would win the election, combined with disillusionment about the government’s performance, also contributed to the ALP’s campaign problems.

ALP National Secretary Karl Bitar at the National Press Club

ALP National Secretary Karl Bitar at the National Press Club

The government did not receive credit from the electorate for its handling of the global financial crisis, Bitar said.

Bitar said polling showed the ALP would lose 22 seats in Queensland and NSW alone, following the leaks and Mark Latham’s intervention in the early part of the campaign.

The government entered the election campaign “with a few political problems,” Bitar said, including the replacement of an incumbent prime minister.

Bitar said the Liberals succeeded in making Tony Abbott a “small target” and the election became “a referendum on the government’s performance and disunity”.

Bitar claimed that many voters who defected to the Greens in protest will return to the ALP “if Labor demonstrates good government”.

Click the PLAY button to listen to Karl Bitar’s speech and responses to questions at the National Press Club:

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[Read more...]

Filed Under: 2010 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Electoral Behaviour, Gillard Government, Rudd Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Giving Substance To The Words

Nov 04, 2010

There are thirty-two new members of the 43rd Parliament, elected on August 21st. Three of them are returning after a voluntary or enforced absence. As a group they constitute one-fifth of the House of Representatives, a significant turnover and renewal of the lower house. Many of them will be there for years to come.

Over the past month, I have made a point of watching the maiden, or first, speeches of these members. On the whole, it is difficult not to be impressed by these fledgling parliamentarians.

There has been much comment on the moving speech from the Western Australian Liberal, Ken Wyatt, the first indigenous member of the House, but others also delivered considered and thoughtful speeches. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2010 Federal Election, A.L.P., Backbenchers, Democracy, Greens, Liberal Party, Opinion, The Nationals Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gillard Delivers Chifley Memorial “Light on the Hill” Speech in Bathurst

Sep 18, 2010

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has given her first major speech since being sworn in as Prime Minister of a minority Labor government, following the resolution of the August 21 election. [Read more...]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Gillard Government Tagged With: , ,

Game On: Gillard And Abbott Video Messages

Jul 17, 2010

Filed Under: 2010 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Gillard Government, Liberal Party Tagged With: ,