Tony Crook Supports Flood Levy

Feb 02, 2011

The independent Nationals MP Tony Crook will support the flood levy legislation in the House of Representatives, in a blow to Tony Abbott’s attempts to block the tax.

Crook is the member for O’Connor, the Western Australian electorate he won from the Liberal Party’s Wilson Tuckey at last year’s election. Whilst broadly supportive of the coalition, Crook has voted with the government on a number of pieces of legislation and procedural motions.

This is the text of a statement posted on Tony Crook’s website.

Tony Crook

Support for Commonwealth Flood Response Package, Crook

FEDERAL Member for O’Connor Tony Crook today announced he would support the proposed Commonwealth Flood Response Package, due to be introduced when Parliament resumes next week.

Mr Crook this morning held discussions with Prime Minister Julia Gillard regarding the detail of the funding package.

“After careful consideration of the facts that I have been provided to date in relation to the implementation of the levy, infrastructure deferrals and program cuts, I am satisfied that the Government’s responses (sic) is adequate and responsible,” Mr Crook said.

“My support is conditional upon me reviewing the draft legislation, which is expected to be introduced into the Parliament late next week, and is consistent with the advice currently provided to me.”

Mr Crook sought assurances that residents of the Gascoyne would be able to seek exemptions from the levy if they were affected by the floods, which the Prime Minister provided today.

“Furthermore, the Prime Minister also confirmed to me today that there are no plans for Commonwealth funded WA infrastructure projects to be cut or delayed as a result of the flood package,” he said.

“This directly recognises the importance of these infrastructure projects in supporting WA’s critical role in the National economy.”

Mr Crook also said that any discussions regarding a new and stand alone Natural Disaster Relief Fund should be considered separately.

“Such a natural disaster fund would provide Governments at both State and Federal level with the ability to better prepare for and recover from significant events,” he said.

“However, right now we have a catastrophic event that we need to deal with and we have a responsibility to do this in a timely manner.”

“I appreciate the many Australians that have contacted me to express a view on the flood levy, I am convinced that a response which shares the responsibility between Government and the taxpayer to an event that is shaping up to be our most significant natural disaster in economic terms, is appropriate.”

Mr Crook said he hoped that if the shoe was on the other foot that his fellow Eastern States colleagues would be supporting Western Australia and O’Connor to deal with whatever disaster that may arise.

Filed Under: Gillard Government, The Nationals 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: , ,

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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Turnbull Pushes For Delay of Emissions Trading Scheme Legislation

May 26, 2009

The Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Turnbull, has announced that the coalition will move to defer passage of the Emissions Trading Scheme legislation until next year.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Nationals leader, Warren Truss, Turnbull argued that the legislation should be delayed until after the Copenhagen conference at the end of the year.

Turnbull also argued that Australia should wait until US legislation is debated and voted on. He claimed that the American legislation will become the “benchmark” for other nations to follow.

The Opposition will oppose the ETS legislation if its deferral moves fail.

Click the PLAY button to listen to Malcolm Turnbull and Warren Truss:

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Filed Under: Audio, Climate Change, Legislation, Liberal Party, The Nationals Tagged With: , ,

ACT Government Teeters; ALP Massacred In NSW By-Elections

Oct 19, 2008

The ACT Labor government of Jon Stanhope has lost its majority in today’s elections.

The ALP seems likely to be reduced from 10 to 7 seats in the Legislative Assembly. The Liberal Party appears to have also won 7 seats, whilst the Greens have picked up 2 seats to take their total to 3.

Negotiations between the major parties and the Greens will now determine the outcome of the election.

The ALP polled 37.6% of the primary vote, a 9.3% swing. The Liberal Party primary vote declined by 3.7% to 31.1%. The Greens vote increased by 6.6% to 15.9%.

The ALP has also suffered massive swings in NSW state by-elections. In Ryde, previously held by former Deputy Premier John Watkins, there has been a swing of over 20% against the ALP and the seat has been won by the Liberal Party with 53% of the primary vote.

The ALP appears set to retain two of its safest seats, Cabramatta and Lakemba, although there has been a swing of around 22% in Cabramatta and a double digit swing in Lakemba.

In Port Macquarie, an independent candidate seems set to win against a determined effort by the Nationals to regain the seat once held by the current independent member for the Federal electorate of Lyne, Rob Oakeshott.

Filed Under: A.C.T., A.L.P., Greens, Liberal Party, N.S.W., The Nationals Tagged With: , , , ,

Nationals Mark Vaile Quits Party Leadership

Nov 26, 2007

The outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and leader of The Nationals, Mark Vaile, has announced that he is stepping down.

Vaile said it was time for generational change in the party. He said he would continue to represent his NSW electorate of Lyne.

Vaile’s departure means that the top three names in the Howard government have now effectively departed the political scene.

Mark Vaile, Nationals Member for Lyne

Listen to Mark Vaile’s Press Conference:

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Filed Under: 2007 Federal Election, Audio, The Nationals Tagged With: , ,

2007 Federal Election Night Reports

Nov 24, 2007

Updates appear in reverse chronological order.

Ignominious End For John Howard

10.05pm – John Howard has become only the second prime minister in Australian history to lose an election and his seat. Whilst final results are not in, and there are many absentee, pre-poll and postal votes still to come, it now appears very unlikely that Howard can retain Bennelong. There has been a 5.24% swing against the Prime Minister and Maxine McKew currently leads on 51.11% of the two-party vote.

The only other prime minister to lose his seat was Stanley Melbourne Bruce in 1929. Bruce’s government was defeated over industrial relations changes and Bruce lost the Melbourne electorate of Flinders. He regained the seat at the next election. By contrast, Howard’s political career is now over.

Ministers Topple As Howard Government Falls

10.00pm – Four Howard government ministers look set to lose their seats as the coalition government was tossed from government in today’s election. Mal Brough, Peter Dutton, Gary Nairn and Jim Lloyd will likely join the Prime Minister, John Howard, as ministerial casualties of the election defeat.

Turnbull Triumphs In Wentworth; Challenge To Costello?

9.55pm – The Environment Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has survived a challenge in his Sydney electorate of Wentworth. Polling 49.3% of the primary vote, and 53% of the two-party vote, Turnbull will now be subject to speculation that he will challenge Peter Costello for the Opposition leadership.

Rudd To Become Nation’s 26th Prime Minister As Howard Heads For Defeat In Bennelong; West Puts Brake On ALP Gains; Queensland Moves Against Coalition; Labor 2-Party Vote At 53.5%

9.00pm – The Australian Labor Party has been returned to federal government for the first time since 1996, securing around 53.5% of the two-party-preferred vote. The ALP will have around 85 seats in the new House of Representatives.

The incumbent prime minister, John Howard, looks set to lose his seat of Bennelong, although this is not yet certain. Labor’s Maxine McKew is polling around 51.7% of the two-party vote.

In Tasmania, the ALP has now won Bass and Braddon, giving it all 5 seats in the state.

In Victoria, the ALP has picked up Deakin and Corangamite, but is narrowly behind in La Trobe.

In New South Wales, in addition to Bennelong, the ALP appears to have won Dobell, Eden-Monaro, Lindsay, Parramatta, Robertson and Page.

In Queensland, the ALP has won Bonner, Dawson, Dickson, Leichhardt, Moreton and Longman. It is ahead in Flynn and Petrie.

In South Australia, the ALP has won Kingston, Makin and Wakefield.

In Western Australia, the ALP is behind in Cowan, although counting is at a very early stage. After early reports suggesting a swing to the Liberals, the ALP’s Gary Gray appears to be holding Brand. The ALP remains in the race in Hasluck, but is behind in Swan.

Regardless of what happens in Western Australia, it is clear that the overall ALP majority will allow it to form government and deliver Labor governments in every Federal, State and Territory jurisdiction in Australia.

ALP Storming To Victory

8.00pm – The ALP is 3 seats short of claiming victory in the election with no results yet available from Queensland. The ALP has won Braddon in Tasmania. It has also won the Victorian seats of Corangamite, Deakin and La Trobe. In NSW, the ALP has gained Dobell, Eden-Monaro, Lindsay, Page, Parramatta and Robertson. It looks set to also claim the Prime Minister’s seat of Bennelong. In South Australia, the ALP has picked up Makin and Wakefield. Nicole Cornes has been defeated in Boothby. The ALP is threatening Christopher Pyne in Sturt.

Labor Leading In Page

7.22pm – The ALP’s Janelle Saffin is ahead of the Nationals candidate in Page with 52.15% of the vote. The seat is held by Ian Causley who is retiring. Labor’s Belinda Neal is marginally ahead in Robertson. Labor’s David Bradbury is well ahead in Lindsay.

The overall percentage of the vote counted is still small but the trend is clear. As Queensland and South Australian results start to come in over the next 30 minutes, the result will become more clear but it is obvious that the government has been defeated.

McKew Leads Howard In Bennelong; Small Count Only

7.20pm – Maxine McKew is leading John Howard 51.66% to 48.34%, but only 1.21% of the vote has been counted.

Labor Gains In Tasmania

7.15pm – The ALP has substantial leads in the seats of Braddon, Denison, Franklin and Lyons. The Liberal member for Bass, Michael Ferguson, is marginally ahead in Bass with 4.2% of the vote counted.

Labor On Track For Return To Government

7.00pm – The ALP is receiving a swing of between 4 and 5 per cent in early counting. There are no results in yet from Queensland or South Australia. The ALP looks to be picking up Bass and Braddon, although figures are still early. In Victoria, the ALP is ahead in Corangamite, Deakin and La Trobe. There is a swing to the ALP in McMillan. In NSW, the ALP is doing well in Gilmore, Bennelong, Robertson, Cowper and Hume.

The former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, has said that the election has a similar feel to his 1983 victory over the Fraser coalition government.

State Of Play

6.25pm – The ALP had 60 seats in the old Parliament and needs to win 76 to be able to form government. There were 87 coalition members and 3 independents.

Reports Of ALP Optimism In Safer Coalition Seats

6.20pm – The ABC reports that the ALP is now looking to the next tier of seats for wins tonight, instancing the Queensland National Party seat of Dawson, held by De-Anne Kelly with a margin of 10%.

Stephen Smith Predicts Labor Win By 20 Seats

6.15pm – Stephen Smith, the Shadow Minister for Education, has predicted a Labor win by 20 seats. Smith says the ALP primary vote will be around 53-54%, that 12 marginal seats will fall in the blink of an eye and that the party will need to find 6-8 extra seats to counteract a possible swing to the coalition in Western Australia.

12% Of Voters Decided In Last 4 Days Says Poll

5.55pm – The Sky News AusPoll says 5% of voters decided how to vote today, 7% decided in the last three days, 6% decided in the last week, 12% decided in the last month, and 69% decided before that.

Howard To Lose Bennelong Says Poll

5.45pm – The Prime Minister, John Howard, will lose his seat of Bennelong by 53-47, according to the Sky News exit poll. The pollsters claim a large sample size in support of their statistics.

Eden-Monaro To Be Won By Labor 58-42 Says Poll

5.35pm – The Sky exit poll says Labor will win Eden-Monaro by 58-42. This is the seat regarded as a bellwether. It has been won by the party which formed governement at every election since 1972.

Exit Poll Gives Election To Labor

5.30pm – A Sky News exit poll says the election is likely to be won by Kevin Rudd’s Labor Party by a two-party-preferred margin of 53% to 47%, a swing of approximately 7%, and a possible gain of 30 seats by the Opposition.

Filed Under: 2007 Federal Election, A.L.P., Greens, Howard Government, Liberal Party, Rudd Government, The Nationals Tagged With: , , , ,

McNamara To Resign As Victorian National Party Leader

Nov 04, 1999

Outgoing National Party leader, Pat McNamaraPolitical change arising out of the September 18 election continues in Victoria with the announcement by National Party leader, Pat McNamara, that he is to relinquish the position he has held for the past 11 years.

McNamara, describing himself as one of the “dinosaurs”, will resign the leadership next month. He is expected to be replaced by the deputy leader and member for Gippsland South, Peter Ryan. McNamara made no announcement about if or when he will resign from parliament.

McNamara was elected as the member for Benalla in 1982, the election that brought the Cain Labor government to power. He became leader of the party following the retirement of long-time leader, Peter Ross-Edwards, in 1988. Prior to the 1992 election, McNamara struck a coalition deal that saw him become Deputy Premier following the defeat of the Kirner government.

The National Party’s role in the coalition government was the first time in over 50 years that the rural party had held ministerial office. Ironically, the Liberal Party had the numbers to govern in its own right throughout its 7 years in office under Jeff Kennett.

The elevation of Peter Ryan to the National Party leadership will come at a crucial period in the party’s history. The party holds only 7 seats in the Legislative Assembly, losing 2 at the recent election, one to the Liberals (Warrnambool) and one to an independent (Gippsland East). The party is battling challenges from independent candidates around the country. The ALP now holds more rural and provincial seats than the Nationals.

Ryan was born on 30 October 1950 in Bendigo. Prior to entering Parliament in 1992, he was a partner in the law firm Warren, Graham and Murphy in Sale.

Filed Under: 1999 Victoria, The Nationals, VIC Tagged With: ,

National Party Dissolves Victorian Coalition

Oct 22, 1999

Victorian National Party Leader, Pat McNamaraThe Victorian National Party has walked out of the coalition arrangement it has had with the Liberal Party since the early 1990s.

The decision was announced at a National Party organisational meeting in Melbourne on Friday 22 October. National Party leader Pat McNamara said that the party was not interested in a coalition “at any price”.

The National Party governed in coalition with the Liberals between 1992 and 1999, despite the Liberal Party having the parliamentary numbers to govern in their own right.

At the recent State elections, the Nationals lost 2 seats, Gippsland East to an Independent, and Warrnambool to the Liberals, reducing their numbers in the Legislative Assembly to 7.

The decision to go it alone could have important ramifications in the Parliament, especially if a National Party MP accepts the position of Speaker. It is rumoured that the Labor government may offer the Speaker’s position to Barry Steggall, the member for Swan Hill.

Deputy Liberal leader, Denis Napthine, said today that maintenance of the coalition in Parliament was an important priority.

Filed Under: 1999 Victoria, The Nationals, VIC Tagged With: , ,

Anderson And Vaile Elected National Party Leaders

Jul 01, 1999

John Anderson8.40am – John Anderson has been elected leader of the National Party at a party room meeting held in Canberra.

His deputy will be Mark Vaile.

Anderson defeated Ian Causley, member for Page, in a two-way ballot. Causley is a former NSW State Minister.

Anderson is the member for Gwydir in New South Wales. He was first elected to the Federal Parliament in 1989 to replace National Party stalwart, Ralph Hunt.

Mark Vaile has been the member for the New South Wales electorate of Lyne since 1993.

Filed Under: The Nationals Tagged With: , ,