sisemen

Thank you. Hopefully everyone (and I include myself ) will heed those words.

Buster Hyman

I'll just add my 2c before the inevitable lock happens...

Indeed. Ignorance is bliss. In fact, this is why I won't vote for a Republic. If we are to have one foisted upon us, lets get one where we actually have a say. Sure, there'll be a bunch of Nancies putting their hands up for the gig, but if you play the party line each time you vote, you'll know who your "team" has endorsed.

I don't vote for Gillard, or Abbott, or Katter! I vote for the numpty that gets put forward in my electorate. He/She will then elect a leader for the country, if they win office. Personally, if I vote for my local numpty, AND a leader for the country, then the Republic will have my vote. Until then...

CoodaShooda

and to the good of JG?

Labor, federally, seems to have achieved the level of disfunctionality that the Libs displayed at state level for the past decade and which kept labor firmly at the helms of the states. And look where that's now got labor in most states, other than Vic.

Let's presume that Gillard holds a spill in caucus and wins. What happens to Rudd? Does he go to the backbench and continue to undermine her? Does he stay on as Minister for Foreign Affairs and continue to undermine her? Or does he resign from Parliament, triggering a by-election that the LNP has a chance of winning and changing the balance in Parliament?

If Rudd wins, what does Gillard do? Back to Education? Backbench? Resign?
Labor would probably have a better chance of holding her seat if it went to a by-election, something which might count in Rudd's favour when caucus members are thinking about their own future prospects .

And what if caucus brought in a compromise candidate? What do Rudd and Gillard do? Stand up and applaud him/her and provide full and unquestioned support? Somehow, I don't think so.

Regardless of the outcome of the leadership dispute, it has only served to distract commentators from the fact that it's labor's overall performance and policy direction that has driven the loss of electoral support.

Once the dust settles on who is to be in the drivers seat of this inevitable train wreck, the underlying problems and the instabilityremain.

Is being in Government, particularly a minority government in thrall to the water melons, the best place to be when you are trying to sort out who you are and what you are doing? Possibly not. (Definitely not if you believe in providing sound government rather than simply holding power to satisfy your ego.)

Australia does best when we have a moderate socialist party balanced by a moderate conservative party.

At present neither party can be described by their detractors as being moderate.

It therefore appears inevitable that we will be experiencing rapid changes in government and a degree of social turmoil until one or other party sorts themselves out.

Labor is pursuing a political line that has been discredited both here and in the UK.

The libs are far from perfect but are demonstrating greater electoral appeal at present.

Taking the long view, it would be better for labor to ditch both Rudd and Gillard and rethink their direction. And the safest place to do this is in opposition, while watching the flaws in the liberal lineup expose themselves.

But it ain't going to happen while the egos rule.

CoodaShooda

Only if you take the NT with you.

Buster Hyman

I had a conversation with someone the other day that was all about abolishing the States. It surprised me that they didn't know that the Feds exist because the States decided it was a good idea.

I wonder how hard it would be to pull out of the Commonwealth? (Won't happen here of course)

Worrals in the wilds

Queensland has been secretly working on it since Federation... You guys want to join in?

sisemen

That's the last thing that Gillard wants right now - another gaffe.

Hopefully they were talking about canning the government and having an election; at least that way their disrespect would be worth something.

dat581

How ironic, NSW and Victoria have been subsidising Qld and WA since federation until the start of the mining boom.

Fliegenmong

You can take back all your Ex Sydneysiders if that is what you meant....and those from parts further South!

The 2 headed Apple Islanders can stay, they're always good for a laugh!

CoodaShooda

Back in the 90's we were staging a genuine attempt to achieve statehood.

Our then Chief Minister, later to become President of the Liberal Party, succeeded in killing it off.

Which was sad, really, because a few months before the move went to the people, I'd managed to convince an enthusiastic labor member that the Chief's strategy was to gain statehood and then secede. Territories are tied to the Commonwealth; States aren't.

The story went that, ultimately, the Chief saw himself as President for Life.

If you knew the size of the Chief's ego, the story became eminently believable.

I had quite a few weeks of wry amusement hearing my rumour come back to me from a growing number of labor faithful. Then the bugger showed his true colours and stuffed the referendum.

I think the only way we'll achieve state sovereignty now is for the states to dissolve the federation and for us to claim our borders as our own.

But then we'll probably have WA, SA and Qld fight over who gets which bits and take us back to the days of being controlled from southern capitals.

Slasher

Fliegenmong

When I hear Kevvy say Jools has my 100% backing....like Tone did for Mal we'll know it's on

Seldomfitforpurpose

Quite correct, the Aboriginal populace have suffered greatly over the years.

sea oxen

SFFP

Not for want of money.

When I lived there, I was quite involved in politics. What a complete and utter fscking waste of time and energy that was.

I do not blame Gillard, nor do I blame Rudd, much in the same way as I do not blame the pigeons who eat the fresh vomit on the streets of a morning. It's what they do.

John Howard failed to deliver reforms to prevent this situation arising. He was a William McMahon clone. I was delirious when he won his first election, but after a little while, I hoped he'd do a Harold Holt.

SO

Lex Talionis

Interesting idea and I wonder how much we would save by abolishing the duplications and inefficiencies we have by operating Government on both a State and Federal level.
Imagine how many less politicians we would need for a start?
I'm not suggesting that we get rid of the States but the State Government apparatus and while I'm at it why not get rid of local council as well.
Easily achieved when you don't have to actually do anything except so 'NO' to everything the incumbent Government does.

The opposition only has to exist so it's only natural that they look good because they have not done anything to upset the applecart or produce anything.
Still,when you think about Tony Abbott has still managed to makes more gaffes than Mr Bean.
I agree with Sea Oxen as successive Governments of both sides have taken the easy and politically expedient and popular path and throw money at the problem than any real attempt to solve the problem.The problem is that like most complex issues it is a multi faceted obstacle.

If you just give a group of people a lot of money then what incentive is there for them to be interested in education and a career.Like the cliche if you give someone a fish and you will feed them for a day but give them a fishing line and show them how to fish and they will eat for the rest of their lives.

Worrals in the wilds

It seems a pity not to acknowledge the meme of the week (okay, the meme of last week, I'm into retro ) so here goes...
No personal attacks and there's one for everyone . Displayed order = number of seats in the federal House of Reps. (and yes I've already seen the flogging a dead horse version ).

tinpis

Not necessarily the case up here.
You give someone a football and they will play for a day. Give them a fishing line and and they will go fishing when not playing football for the rest of their lives.

Rollingthunder

Darwin 1942

Brian Abraham

Worrals, you forgot the people really running the place - greens, and perhaps independents.

Pinky the pilot

I suspect that she's working on that Brian. Should be a good one too.

As to what will happen over the coming weeks; A repeat of the events of November 11th 1975 perhaps?