Plain-speaking PM’s blatant grab for centre
Plain-speaking PM’s blatant grab for centre
Now that Julia Gillard has defined the parameters of the debate on asylum seekers, she is trying to swim through the politically perilous rip that runs through the middle of it.
You don’t ever need help
From nobody else
All you got to do now
Express yourself
Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St Rhythm Band
JUST in case you hadn’t heard, your freshly minted Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, would like you to express yourself.
She reckons you should have the right to say what you like about asylum seekers – sorry, “unauthorised arrivals” – without being branded either a redneck or a bleeding heart, soft-centred liberal.
Which all sounds great in theory. At least until you go to the footy and hear Aboriginal players referred to from opposing cheer squads as “black —-s”, and others of varying ethnicity as “reffo bastards”.
Greens Leader Bob Brown is tipping an August 21 or August 28 election
Greens leade Bob Brown tips election date in late August
- From: AAP
- July 11, 2010
GREENS leader Bob Brown is tipping an August 21 or August 28 election.
The election date would be the top priority on Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s agenda at a Tuesday cabinet meeting, Senator Brown said.
“I think either this week or next week she’s likely to go to the Governor-General’s office asking for an election,” he told the Nine network.
“The Labor strategists who changed the prime minister so readily over the mining tax will now be looking at the best time for the Government to go to an election.”
The Greens lost ground at the polls after Ms Gillard was installed as leader.
Senator Brown said he put it down to her popularity as Australia’s first female prime minister.
“I raised a glass to that myself, it’s an historic breakthrough,” he said.
Her hair may be red, but she’s no bleeding heart
Her hair may be red, but she’s no bleeding heart
PETER HARTCHER
July 10, 2010
The closest thing to a Rosetta Stone for interpreting Julia Gillard’s prime ministership is an exchange she had on Darwin radio this week.
During a talkback session on ABC 105.7, a caller asked: “I’d like to know your personal definition – not necessarily the community’s view – of marriage. As, for example, do you believe that it’s between one man and one woman, or two people who love each other?”
Gillard’s reply: “My definition of marriage is the same definition as the Marriage Act that we have now, which is that marriage is between a man and a woman. Obviously, we live in an age where there are all sorts of committed relationships which are not marriages.
“I’m in a committed relationship of that nature myself with my partner Tim, so I think this all boils down to personal choices. Obviously, we want every individual treating others with decency and respect, but it does boil down to personal choices.”
We see here a rigorous separation of Gillard the private citizen from Gillard the politician. She has no intention of legislating to make her own life’s choices national policy.
Opposition wants Greens Loans inquiry
NB How much more of this incompetence will we see from the Labor
Govt? The Govt. investigating themselves????
Opposition wants Green Loans inquiry
Updated
Under the original Green Loans scheme householders were offered $50 vouchers to spend on green products and access to interest-free loans. (ABC News)
The Federal Opposition is calling for a police inquiry into the Government’s dumped Green Loans scheme, which was set up to allow Australians to make their homes more energy efficient.
The Government has announced it is replacing the Green Loans scheme in response to three highly critical reviews of the household energy efficiency program.
It is also investigating allegations of kickbacks to staff at the Environment Department.
Opposition environment spokesman Greg Hunt says Prime Minister Julia Gillard should be held accountable for the failure of the program.
“There must be an apology by Julia Gillard to taxpayers and to assessors and to homeowners for a program which ran off the rails,” he said.
“This was pink batts, fortunately, without the tragic consequences.”
Mr Hunt also says former Climate Change Minister Peter Garrett should be sacked.
“Not just the home insulation program, not just the solar program but now the Green Loans program has been systemically rorted,” he said.
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Preferential Voting in Australia.
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