Hockey On Lateline: The End Of The Age Of Entitlement

Apr 18, 2012

Joe Hockey11.15pm – Notwithstanding the usual annoying and incessant interruptions from his interlocutor, Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey has just offered up a remarkably woolly performance on Lateline.

Hockey has delivered a speech in London – transcript not yet available – in which he argues that The Age of Entitlement is over.

In the interview he was pressed on how this would be achieved in government. Aside from a defence of the Health Insurance Rebate as a government spending measure which actually reduces expenditure on other entitlements, Hockey was less than specific about what he will do as Treasurer in less than 18 months time.

  • Listen to Hockey explain his entitlement policy:

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Update: Click here for a transcript of Hockey’s speech.

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Economy, Liberal Party Tagged With: , , ,

Gillard Suggests Troops In Afghanistan Will Be Brought Home During 2013-14

Apr 17, 2012

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has indicated an exit strategy for Australian troops in Afghanistan which could see most of them brought home during 2013-14.

Julia GillardIn a speech to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Gillard said a summit in Chicago next month would see progress on a withdrawal timetable.

“It’s likely that by the middle of next year, mid-2013, the fifth and final tranche of districts and provinces will have commenced transition,” she said.

Gillard continued to assert that the Afghanistan mission is in Australia’s national interest. She claimed “transition” is already happening.

Gillard said: “This is the vital business of the Chicago summit in May. To review our progress in transition – to map out how we intend to complete the handover of security responsibility to the Afghan Government. To ensure sustainment – to build the international commitment necessary to fund, train and support the Afghan National Security Forces after transition is complete. And to highlight our long-term support – to recommit to and define our continued contribution in the years after 2014.

“Today, around half of the population lives in areas where the Afghan National Security Forces have begun taking lead security responsibility. The next stage of transition – tranche three – will be announced soon. And it’s likely that by the middle of next year, mid-2013, the fifth and final tranche of districts and provinces will have commenced transition.”

  • Listen to Julia Gillard’s ASPI speech (31m)

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

  • Listen to Gillard’s responses to questions (15m)

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Transcript of Julia Gillard’s speech to ASPI

Some of you here will remember that the Council of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute met for the first time in late winter 2001 – less than a fortnight before the September 11 attacks on the United States.

One thing that did not change after September 11 was Australia’s need for the work of an Institute such as this. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Foreign Policy, Gillard Government, Video Tagged With: , ,

Bob Brown Resigns As Greens Leader; Leaves Parliament Mid-Year; Christine Milne New Leader

Apr 13, 2012

Senator Bob Brown has resigned as leader of the Australian Greens.

Brown’s surprise decision was announced at a party meeeting in Canberra. Senator Christine Milne was immediately elected as the new leader.

Later in the day, Melbourne MP Adam Bandt was elected deputy leader.

Brown said he would leave the Senate later in the year when the Tasmanian Greens division has finalised pre-selections. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Greens, Senate, Video Tagged With: , , ,

Rick Santorum Withdraws From Republican Presidential Contest

Apr 11, 2012
Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum has announced his withdrawal from the Republican Party’s presidential nomination race. The announcement was made in Gettysburg, in Santorum’s home state of Pennsylvania, where he served as a senator for 12 years until his defeat in 2006.

Santorum made no mention of Mitt Romney and did not endorse him. His decision finally confirms that Romney will run against President Barack Obama in November’s general election.

  • Listen to Santorum’s withdrawal speech

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Elections, Republican Party Tagged With: ,

State Treasurers Not Impressed After Meeting With Swan

Apr 04, 2012

Liberal State Treasurers were in Canberra today to meet with Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan, ahead of the Council of Australian Governments meeting.

State Treasurers Mike Baird (NSW), Kim Wells (Vic), Christian Porter (WA) and Tim Nicholls (Qld) commented on their meeting with Swan.

  • Listen to the Treasurers before their meeting:

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

  • And after their meeting:

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

  • And Treasurer Wayne Swan’s perspective:

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Federalism, Gillard Government, N.S.W., QLD, VIC, W.A. Tagged With: , , , , ,

ACTU Distances Itself From Health Services Union

Apr 04, 2012

The Australian Council of Trade Unions is about to suspend the Health Services Union.

Kearney, Lawrence - ACTU

Officials of the Australian Council of Trade Unions officials said today the organisation had “zero tolerance” for corruption or the “misuse of members’ funds”. Ged Kearney and Jeff Lawrence said the ACTU was considering suspension of the Health Services Union.

  • Listen to Kearney and Lawrence:

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Gillard Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Gillard Pressed On Craig Thomson

Apr 04, 2012

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has again responded to questions about Craig Thomson, as allegations surrounding the Health Services Union continue to be levelled.

Julia Gillard

  • Listen to Julia Gillard’s media conference in the Chifley electorate:

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Gillard Government Tagged With: , ,

Craig Thomson: Fair Work Australia Investigation

Apr 03, 2012

The Fair Work Australia investigation of Craig Thomson and the Health Services Union dominated political news today.

Craig Thomson

Filed Under: Audio, Audio2012, Gillard Government Tagged With: , , ,

Lionel Bowen, Former Whitlam Minister, Deputy PM To Hawke, Dies At 89

Apr 01, 2012

Lionel Bowen, a minister in the Whitlam government and Deputy Prime Minister under Bob Hawke, has died, aged 89.

Bowen was Deputy Prime Minister for the first three terms of the Hawke government from 1983 to 1990. He was Minister for Trade in 1983-84 and Attorney-General from 1984-90.

Lionel Bowen at the first meeting of the Hawke Cabinet in 1983

Bowen was one of the original Whitlam government ministers, serving as Postmaster-General between 1972-74. He was Special Minister of State and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister between 1973-75. [Read more...]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Audio2012, Hawke Government, Whitlam Government Tagged With: , , ,

The Death Of Margaret Whitlam

Mar 23, 2012

Margaret Whitlam died, aged 92, on March 17, 2012.

Parliamentary tributes were delivered on March 19. A memorial service was held on March 23.

Margaret Whitlam Memorial Service

  • Mar 17: Prime Minister Julia Gillard comments on the death of Margaret Whitlam

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

  • Mar 17: Remembering Margaret Whitlam
  • Mar 17: Margaret Whitlam Dies, 92
  • Mar 19-20: House of Representatives & Senate Condolence Motion Speeches:
    • Julia Gillard (ALP)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Tony Abbott (Lib)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Tanya Plibersek (ALP>

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Julie Bishop (Lib)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Kevin Rudd (ALP)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Malcolm Turnbull (Lib)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Senator John Faulker (ALP)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Senator Marise Payne (Lib)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Senator Bob Brown (Greens)

      Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

    • Josh Frydenberg (Lib)

    • Natasha Griggs (CLP)

  • Mar 23: Tony Whitlam’s eulogy for his mother

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

  • Mar 23 Catherine Dovey’s eulogy for her mother

    Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Audio2012, Video, Whitlam Government Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,