Malcolm Turnbull
Whether you agree with Malcolm Turnbull on climate change or not (I don’t) you have to admire his gutsy performance.
Bizarre logic on Federal Coalition
Peter van Onselen has written a bizarre piece in The Australian suggesting a split in the Federal Coalition would be political suicide.
Van Onselen claims: “… it would be absolute folly for the conservative side of politics if the Coalition were to disintegrate, and it would hurt the Liberal Party at least as much as it would the Nationals.”
He makes some spectacular leaps of logic, most of which are so fanciful I don’t know where to begin in pointing out how ridiculous they are.
I’ll work through them in his order. (more…)
Peter Costello’s retirement
Broelman’s cartoon today on Peter Costello’s retirement was a ripper.
Poor Peter has stood in John Howard’s shadow for so long he hasn’t needed sunglasses since 1998.
There was a similar cartoon in The Australian yesterday. It showed Peter standing variously next to Alexander Downer, Howard and Brendan Nelson with the words “tick tick tick” in the background.
In the final frame, Peter was alongside a watchful Malcolm Turnbull and the text read “Pop”!
The time bomb was gone. I forget the catchphrase; it might have been “plenty of ticker, but no timing”, or something like that.
Peter enjoyed the eulogies this week (he described them thus).
Someone said he was the best leader the Liberal Party never had. I wouldn’t go that far; he could have been leader if he wanted to, which in my opinion shows a lack of leadership ability.
Brendan Nelson having a go
I’m not exactly a great admirer of Brendan Nelson, but I do think he deserves to be given a chance. I wonder if much of the speculation about his position isn’t just political mischief.
Compared with state leaders Ted Baillieu and Troy Buswell he’s doing a pretty good job in unenviable circumstances.
I didn’t hear his budget reply speech, but reading the news summary it sounds quite good. (more…)
The Victorian election
There was no major surprise in the Victorian election result where Labor has been comfortably returned. Interesting aspects include:
- The Nats defied doomsday predictions and retained party status.
- The Liberals and Greens failed to increase their primary votes.
- The media darlings (Greens) won't win a lower house seat.
- Labor no longer holds any seats in Gippsland.
- The Labor primary vote in Mildura was just 6.53%. Has the ALP ever polled that badly in any seat anywhere?
- The winners: Steve Bracks and Peter Ryan.
- The losers: Ted Baillieu (despite his bluster) and the Greens.
Victorian election
Political junkies will be interested in this article from The Age and will recognise the significance it holds for the seat of Morwell, which includes Traralgon where I grew up.
Several high-profile members of the Traralgon ALP branch have quit the party and one, Lisa Proctor, will stand as an independent and direct preferences to the Nationals.
Another who resigned, Derek Amos, formerly held the seat for Labor. Apparently the current Member doesn’t live in the electorate.
I met Proctor when I was consulting for Pauls and she struck me as an impressive lady. As a Latrobe councillor she was a fierce advocate for Traralgon. I had no idea she was a member of the ALP until reading The Age article. (more…)
Barnaby Joyce
I met Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce this week during his visit to Kalgoorlie. There was a good article in the West Australian today comparing him with Sir Joh, albeit describing him correctly as somewhat more urbane.
The National Party has a massive struggle ahead to survive. Although the Liberals don’t like it, Barnaby’s approach is the only viable one.
The alternative is a proliferation of rural independents and maverick right-wing nutters.
In terms of Western Australia, I think Brendon Grylls is doing the right thing for his party and the State. I don’t know if he has the charisma to pull it off. We’ll have to wait and see.
