A Scenario For Tony Abbott And A Motion Of No-Confidence

May 13, 2013 1 Comment

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s intention to give notice of a no-confidence motion when Parliament returns this week has always been a potentially messy business.

A brief explanation: the government controls the Notice Paper in the House of Representatives. This is the document which outlines the order and timing of debate, including the order of legislation.

Whilst there are set times when the Opposition can bring on debate on particular issues (such as in regular Matters of Public Importance), if it wants to move a specific motion it needs to first move a motion for the Suspension of Standing Orders.

Abbott

Abbott attempted to do this during Question Time on March 21, whilst the government was preoccupied with the leadership spill that wasn’t. He sought to suspend standing orders in order to move: “That this House declares no confidence in the Prime Minister.”

The motion was carried by 73 votes to 71 but was defeated because a suspension of standing orders requires an absolute majority of 76 votes.

Abbott then announced that he would give notice of a no-confidence motion when the House resumes tomorrow. He didn’t say whether it would be no-confidence in the government or the prime minister. The difference is technically significant but may not necessarily be crucial to the outcome of any vote. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, Gillard, House of Reps, Liberal Party, Opinion, Parliamentary Procedures, Political History Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Gillard Confirms $12 Billion Budget Shortfall

Apr 29, 2013 Leave a Comment

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says there will be a $12 billion budget hole this financial year.

Gillard

In a speech to the Per Capita think tank today, Gillard said: “The ‘bottom line for the Budget bottom line’ is this: the amount of tax revenue the Government has collected so far this financial year is already $7.5 billion less than was forecast last October.

“Treasury now estimates that this reduction will increase to around $12 billion by the end of the financial year.

“This unusually low revenue, which wasn’t forecast even a few months ago, creates a significant fiscal gap over the Budget period.”

Gillard said “every reasonable option” is on the table, “even options previously taken off the table”.

The government “will not cut to the bone” in next month’s budget.

She said: “In the Budget, the Government will do the right thing by the nation, the right thing for the long-term. We will save responsibly, even when that means spending less on things which are important and valuable. We will invest wisely for the future. No one will be singled out, the burden of our decisions will be shared across the whole Australian community.”

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  • Listen to Gillard answer questions (17m)

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Text of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s speech to Per Capita.

It’s a great sign of the growing recognition of Per Capita’s work that your Executive Director David has been in such good company at the international Policy Network’s Progressive Governance and Global Progress conference in Denmark.

Congratulations to you on the fine contribution Per Capita is making in the world of ideas.

With the Federal Budget just fifteen days away, I thank you for this opportunity to share with you the clearest possible picture of the purpose and context of our Budget deliberations.

This year’s Budget will be about a national challenge – and a national plan.

A challenge for Australia: to respond to the huge reductions in revenue growth over the next four years.

A plan for Australia: to make necessary investments in the nation’s future, to ensure that none of our people is left behind.

Tuesday 14 May will be no old-fashioned pre-election Budget night. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, Audio2013, Budget, Gillard Tagged With: , ,

Gillard Reshuffles Ministry; Supporters Promoted; Four New Ministers

Mar 25, 2013 Leave a Comment

In the aftermath of last week’s ALP leadership spill, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced her reshuffled ministry.

The new line-up was necessitated by the sacking of Simon Crean and the resignations of Chris Bowen, Martin Ferguson and Senator Kim Carr, and parliamentary secretary Richard Marles.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Gillard announced that Gary Gray will become Minister for Resources and Energy, replacing Martin Ferguson. He will be joined in the Cabinet by Jason Clare.

Anthony Albanese, a prominent Rudd supporter, takes on Simon Crean’s former responsibility for regional development and local government, in addition to his existing role as infrastructure and transport minister.

Gillard

Craig Emerson takes on Chris Bowen’s former role as tertiary education minister, whilst retaining his existing job as trade minister.

Senator Jan McLucas takes Human Services, formerly held by Kim Carr.

The Department of Climate Change has been merged with the Industry department to become the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

There will be four new ministers in the government: Catherine King, Senator Don Farrell, Sharon Bird and Senator Jan McLucas.

Five new parliamentary secretaries have been appointed: Michael Danby, Andrew Leigh, Amanda Rishworth, Shayne Neumann and Senator Matt Thistlethwaite.

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Text of a media release from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Changes to the Ministry

Today Gary Gray joins the Cabinet as Minister for Resources and Energy, Minister for Tourism and Minister for Small Business.

He has been a tireless advocate for business in his own community and in Western Australia and will bring that purpose to promoting the interests of the tourism sector and small business.

His current roles as Special Minister of State and Minister for the Public Service and Integrity will be taken by the Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.

Jason Clare joins Cabinet as a full member while retaining his current responsibilities. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio2013, Cabinet-Ministry, Gillard Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chris Bowen Resigns From Gillard Ministry

Mar 22, 2013 1 Comment

Chris Bowen has resigned as a minister in the Gillard government.

Bowen was the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, and Minister for Small Business. He previously held the post of Immigration Minister.

Bowen

In the Rudd government, Bowen held the posts of Assistant Treasurer, Financial Services and Competititon Policy.

At a press conference in Canberra this morning, Bowen said he felt that after voting against Prime Minister Julia Gillard once he could not remain in the ministry having opposed her a second time.

Bowen’s resignation follows yesterday’s sacking of Simon Crean and the resignation of Richard Marles. Ed Husic and Janelle Saffin also resigned as assistant whips whilst Joel Fitzgibbon is expected to resign as Chief Whip.

Bowen tweeted: “It was an honour to serve in Cabinet for four years. Thanks for your messages of support.”

  • Listen to Bowen’s press conference (23m)

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Transcript of Chris Bowen’s press conference.

BOWEN: Morning everybody. Twenty-five years ago, I joined the Australian Labor Party. Every day since then I’ve done what I thought is in the best interests of the Labor Party always.

Yesterday was a difficult day for the Labor Party. On that difficult day, I took the decision that the best thing for the Labor Party and for Australia would be for Kevin Rudd to return to the prime ministership. As you know, I’ve held that view for some time. That’s the way I voted last February. Having expressed that view, having worked towards it, last night after discussing the matter with my wife and close friends, I decided to resign from the Gillard Cabinet. I informed the Prime Minister of this earlier this morning.

I want to stress that other ministers will reach their own conclusion. Other ministers who supported Mr Rudd will reach their own decisions. This is what I regard as the appropriate and honourable decision for me and I completely respect the decision that other ministers may reach.

Being a member of the Cabinet, that group of 20 or so people that makes decisions, that guides a nation of more than 22 million, is a huge honour. A huge honour that hardly anybody as a proportion of the population gets to achieve. Even a small proportion of MPs, aspiring MPs get to sit in a Cabinet room of Australia. I thank Kevin Rudd for appointing me to the Cabinet and I thank Julia Gillard for maintaining me in the Cabinet. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio2013, Cabinet-Ministry, Gillard Tagged With: , , ,

ALP Leadership Spill: Live Blog

Mar 21, 2013 Leave a Comment

10.30pm – Channel 10 Late News surveys the day’s events.

8.15pm – Ed Husic, member for Chifley, one of the Assistant Whips, has resigned his position. Husic appeared on Sky News and confirmed his resignation. Janelle Saffin, member for Page, has also resigned. Earlier today, Chief Whip Joel Fitzgibbon said he was considering his position. He can be expected to resign prior to the resumption of Parliament in May.

Crean, Marles, Fitzgibbon, Husic and Saffin are the five of the six main victims of today’s leadership fracas. Rudd is the sixth.

Husic

7.50pm – The reaction of most people to today’s events is “WTF”, according to independent Senator Nick Xenophon. He told 7.30 that no-one will support Rudd again. Whilst the May Budget could be a “circuit-breaker”, the voters have the baseball bats out ready. He said Rudd should say he will never accept the leadership under any circumstances. Greens leader Senator Christine Milne says it’s too late now because all the bridges have been burnt. [Read more...]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio2013, Gillard, Parliament, Rudd, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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