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This website is in imminent danger of being shut down. It has been online since 1995, but the personal circumstances of the owner, Malcolm Farnsworth, are such that economies have to be made. Server costs and suchlike have become prohibitive. At the urging of people online, I have agreed to see if Patreon provides a solution. More information is available at the Patreon website. If you are able to contribute even $1.00/month to keep the site running, please click the Patreon button below.


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Morrison Government Says Victorian COVID-19 Measures Are Hard And Crushing News

Sep 07, 2020

The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and senior ministers Josh Frydenberg and Greg Hunt have criticised COVID-19 measures announced today by the Victorian government as “hard and crushing news”.

Whilst generally supportive of measures to rid Victoria of the virus, the three ministers said that “the proposed roadmap will come at a further economic cost.”

In a statement, they say: “Now that we have been advised of the plan and it has been released we will also seek feedback from Victorian business and industry stakeholders to understand their concerns and seek to ensure they are addressed.” They said Victoria’s contact tracing system has to be “strengthened to the highest possible levels”. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Coronavirus, Morrison, VIC Tagged With: ,

The Great Recession: Treasurer Frydenberg’s Reaction To 7% Quarterly Decline In Growth

Sep 02, 2020

The recession Australia knew it was in was finally confirmed today, with the release of economic growth figures showing a 7% decline in growth over the past quarter, the largest single quarter decline since The Great Depression of the 1930s.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg held a press conference at 1pm today to lay out the economic data and the impact of COVID-19 on the Australian economy.

Watch Frydenberg’s press conference (46m):

Listen to Frydenberg’s press conference (46m):

Transcript of Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s press conference on Australia’s 7% Decline in Economic Growth.

Frydenberg

Today’s National Accounts confirm the devastating blow to the Australian economy from COVID-19. Our record run of 28 consecutive years of economic growth has officially come to an end. The cause; a once in a century global pandemic. The effect; a COVID-19 induced recession.

Real GDP fell in the June quarter by 7 per cent. The largest quarterly fall on record.

Since the series began in 1959, the previous largest fall was 2 per cent in 1974.

Behind these numbers are heartbreaking stories of hardship being felt by everyday Australians as they go about their daily lives.

Be it the tourism operator in Cairns, the tradie in Melbourne, the café worker in Adelaide or the domestic flight attendant in Sydney, they are all affected by COVID-19.

Today we are reporting these devastating numbers. Australians are living them. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Coronavirus, Economy, Morrison, Video Tagged With: ,

Frydenberg: Energy Security Is The Government’s Number One Priority

Sep 29, 2016

Energy security is the federal government’s number one priority, according to Josh Frydenberg, the Minister for the Environment and Energy.

Frydenberg

Frydenberg held a press conference this morning, following last night’s blackout across the whole of South Australia. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Energy, S.A., Turnbull Tagged With: , , ,

Turnbull Announces New Ministry

Jul 18, 2016

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced his new ministry, following the 2016 federal election.

The Second Turnbull Government will be sworn in at Government House tomorrow morning at 9.00am.

There are 42 members of the executive. The Cabinet has been increased to 23 members, the largest number since the Whitlam governments (1972-75), when all ministers were in the Cabinet and there was no outer ministry. The Outer Ministry has shrunk to 7 members and there are 12 Assistant Ministers, previously known as Parliamentary Secretaries.

Most major portfolios in the Cabinet are unchanged. Scott Morrisonremains Treasurer, whilst Julie Bishop continues in Foreign Affairs and Peter Dutton stays in Immigration and Border Protection.

Christopher Pyne has been moved from Education into a newly-created portfolio of Defence Industry, in which he will oversee the South Australian submarine building program. Senator Simon Birmingham becomes Minister for Education and Training.

Kelly O’Dwyer’s position as Assistant Treasurer has been re-named Revenue and Financial Services. Her previous responsibility for Small Business has gone to Michael McCormack.

Greg Hunt becomes Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, whilst Josh Frydenberg takes over Environment and Energy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Liberal National Party, Liberal Party, Ministries, The Nationals, Turnbull, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Peter Costello: The Colt From Kooyong?

May 09, 2012

Peter Costello has canvassed a return to federal politics with his old friend Michael Kroger, according to ABC 7.30’s Heather Ewart.

Peter CostelloIn a report broadcast tonight, Ewart claims Costello and Kroger discussed a return via the electorate of Kooyong, currently held by the promising newcomer Josh Frydenberg. Ewart says they also discussed the possibility of persuading other Liberal members to stand aside in favour of Costello.

Ewart says the discussions are common knowledge amongst Victorian Liberals and have contributed to factional infighting. She says Costello has not spoken with Kroger since word spread and that some Liberals believe Costello was behind the successful move to relegate Kroger’s ex-wife Senator Helen Kroger to the difficult third position on the next Senate ticket. [Read more…]

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

Tony Abbott Speech To The Victorian Liberal Party

Apr 28, 2012

The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, has addressed the Victorian division of the Liberal Party in Melbourne. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Liberal Party, Video 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 19-20 – House of Representatives & Senate Condolence Motion Speeches

    • Julia Gillard (ALP)
    • Tony Abbott (Lib)
    • Tanya Plibersek (ALP>
    • Julie Bishop (Lib)
    • Kevin Rudd (ALP)
    • Watch Kevin Rudd
    • Malcolm Turnbull (Lib)
    • Senator John Faulker (ALP)
    • Watch John Faulkner
    • Senator Marise Payne (Lib)
    • Senator Bob Brown (Greens)
    • Josh Frydenberg (Lib)

    • Natasha Griggs (CLP)

    • Mar 23: Tony Whitlam’s eulogy for his mother
    • Mar 23 Catherine Dovey’s eulogy for her mother
Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Video, Whitlam Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sir Zelman Cowen Eulogised By Josh Frydenberg

Dec 13, 2011

The former Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowen, was remembered today at a funeral service in Melbourne.

The service was attended by Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former prime minister Malcolm Fraser, who appointed Cowen in December 1977. Former PMs Bob Hawke and John Howard also attended, as did Cowen’s successor as Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Governor-General, Obituaries Tagged With: , , ,

Josh Frydenberg (Lib-Kooyong) – Maiden Speech

Oct 25, 2010

This Josh Frydenberg’s maiden speech to the House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Kooyong.

Frydenberg won the seat at the 2010 federal election, replacing Petro Georgiou, who had held the seat since 1994. He had unsuccessfully challenged Georgiou for preselection for the 2007 election.

Kooyong is a safe Liberal seat in the inner south-east suburbs of Melbourne. It has never been held by the ALP since its creation in 1901.

Frydenberg, 39, worked as an adviser to Howard government ministers Daryl Williams and Alexander Downer between 1999 and 2003. Between 2003 and 2005, he worked for Prime Minister Howard, before taking up a position as Director of Global Banking with Deutsche Bank. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Liberal Party, Maiden Speeches, Video Tagged With: , ,