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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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Abbott Announces Medicare Plus Deal With Senate Independents

Mar 10, 2004

The Health Minister, Tony Abbott, has secured passage of his MedicarePlus package through the Senate, following a deal with four senators.

The deal with Senators Brian Harradine, Len Harris (One Nation), Shayne Murphy (ex-ALP) and Meg Lees (ex-Democrats) gives the government the 4 additional votes it needs to pass the legislation 39-37.

Amongst other measures, the deal involves a reduction in the level of the annual threshold for concession card holders. It also provides for incentives for bulk-billing doctors in non-metropolian areas and Tasmania. Harradine and Murphy both represent Tasmania. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Health, Howard, Legislation, Senate Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Ten Motions That Sank Stott Despoja

Aug 21, 2002

According the website crikey.com.au, these are the 10 motions that were passed by the Australian Democrats party-room.

The motions were opposed by the leader of the party, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, who resigned the leadership shortly afterwards. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Australian Democrats Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Meg Lees Under Attack By Democrats; Senate Numbers At Stake

Jun 25, 2002

Senator Meg LeesThe former leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Meg Lees, is embroiled in a bitter dispute over the leadership of Natasha Stott Despoja that threatens to split the party and hand the Howard Government the chance of passing its contentious privatisation of Telstra legislation.

At a meeting of the Australian Democrats’ National Management Committee on June 5, a motion was carried requesting Lees attend a meeting of the National Executive on June 22-23 to “address issues of her comments on the sale of Telstra and perceptions of disunity in the Party”. Another motion described “perceptions of disunity and unreliability” in relation to comments Lees made about Telstra. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Australian Democrats, Senate Tagged With: , , , ,

Stott Despoja Comments On Leaked Letter From Lees

Jun 25, 2002

Arriving at Parliament House, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja, leader of the Australian Democrats, commented on the leaked letter from Senator Meg Lees. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Audio, Australian Democrats Tagged With: ,
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