Well I must admit, even I was surprised that our devout Monarchist PM put forward a non-Australian for an incredibly ancient award like the Knight of the Order of Australia no less, let alone old Prince Phillip!

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/prince-philip-awarded-knight-of-the-order-of-australia-by-prime-minister-tony-abbott-20150125-12xzk8.html

Really?
He couldn't find anyone at all in Australia to use instead of the husband of a Queen of another country?
Australia must be a land full of very undeserving people indeed if Abbott had to choose this bloke to be 'honoured' with this incredibly backward award.

Happy Australia Day to all on OLO, but I wonder what everyone else thinks of this dubious award, and of this royal recipient?

Has the PM lost the plot?
Should we still have such old-fashioned English 'awards' anyway?
Or is he so glued to the Motherland that he had to choose Prince Phillip over other much more deserving Australians?

Suse,

"Has the PM lost the plot?"

Indeed, he has - and that came across loud and clear today when he was roundly condemned by left and right for his "kooky" captains call in knighting Prince Philip.

I've spent most of the day on twitter laughing about it. You should know that journos from the right have been lampooning him as well as from the left - ministers from his own party are now groaning louder than ever.

I've been smelling cooked goose all day...and I believe with this crowning action, Mr Abbott's days are numbered as leader - loathe as they are to change leaders - this guy doesn't appear to have the full deck.

Agreed Poirot.
Even I feel a little sorry for Abbott.......what with the whole country either laughing at or being annoyed with him.

The British press will have a field day with this announcement.
Not even his own country would bestow such an ' honour' on the old Prince, when all they seem to do is laugh at his constant embarrassing comments.

Bring on the Republic I say.

<<He couldn't find anyone at all in Australia to use instead of the husband of a Queen of another country?>>
Firstly he did find someone else: Angus Houston. Tony Abbott awarded the knighthood to Prince Philip because he wanted to, not because of a lack of alternatives.
Secondly Prince Philip is the husband of the Queen of Australia.

But the decision probably means people are less likely to take Australian knighthoods seriously now.

I've been reading headlines on the net
along the lines of -
"Is it April Fool's Day?"

Even The Herald-Sun has turned against the
Prime Minister as has the award-winning political commentator -
Laurie Oakes.

Feelings are running strong and all are running
along the same lines. Has our PM lost the plot?

The Herald Sun makes the points that - ok, even
if we can accept these antiquated titles to be granted
to previous and current Governor-Generals.
We can at least rationalise that - after all,
each Governor General is the monarch's representative
in this country.

We can try to understand that the
knighthood awarded former Defence Chief Angus Houston,
"a brave Australian who's served this country
magnificently also fits."

And we can try to find some logic in making an
allowance for the Fraser government's
1981 awarding of a knighthood to Prince Charles
"because eventually he will be King of Australia."

But Prince Philip, the faithful consort of our current
monarch? Who on his visit to Australia in 1992
when asked if he wanted to stroke a koala bear
stated, "Oh no, I might catch some ghastly disease!"

The message to Prince Philip's appointment appears to be
that "of 23 million Australians who rose to celebrate
Australia Day - none but Air Chief Marshall Houston
had contributed as much to Australia as Prince Philip."

Our PM appears to be seriously out of touch with
Modern Australia.

Still I dare say that this award will get lost amongst
the many other awards that Prince Philip has received.
Some of which are:

Knighhood of the Order of the Elephant (Denmark)

A Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico).

Grand Commander of the Order of Maritime Merit
(the San Francisco Port Authority).

And now a Knighthood from Australia.

I'm sure Prince Philip will make an appropriate comment
for this occasion.

Lol Foxy!
Thanks for those interesting points about Prince Phillips other awards.

I too have been listening to the fallout from this decision that was obviously made by Abbott alone.
How he thought this was a bright idea is beyond me.

Aiden, do you really think the PM couldn't think of anyone else, other than the soldier, that he could put forward for this silly award than Prince Phillip?

If he really couldn't think of any Aussie more deserving than the Prince, then that is a disgrace......

Aidan,

"....Tony Abbott awarded the knighthood to Prince Philip because he wanted to..."

Precisely!

And in doing so he sent a great big "up yours" to the rest of Australia - simply because he must have known what sort of reception it would receive. Why, only last year his hastily conceived Bunyip Honours were howled down to shrieks of laughter - and this year he makes a prize (cooked) goose of himself by compounding it by bestowing high honour on Prince Philip (not to mention there's something weird about a ten pound pom bestowing a knighthood on a Prince of the Realm)

Laurie Oakes, Chris Kenny and many more were laying into Abbott big time today. Peter van Onselen was having the time of his life on twitter lampooning this decision.

And LNP ministers and backbenchers were groaning in their cups somehwere far away from Abbott.

Lol!..Foxy, Suse,

One expects after this latest debacle that Abbott is in danger of receiving The Most Excellent Order of the Boot....

Nothing for Randy Andy?

Foxy "Prince Philip, the faithful consort of our current
monarch? Who on his visit to Australia in 1992
when asked if he wanted to stroke a koala bear
stated, "Oh no, I might catch some ghastly disease!

Faithful consort, faithful consort indeed, makes Randy Andy look like a celibate monk, faithful consort, yeah to right!

How do you stroke a Koala Bare (Bear)? Rub him a lot. faithful consort..I'm still laugh'n!

p/s We should give Abbott a knighthood. THE ROYAL ORDER OF THE BOOT would do just fine.

Royalty is high on the list for Abbott. Probably the only way it was going to happen is by stealth. He doesn’t have any trust in the judgment of his fellow colleges. He is different in many ways, and somehow thinks he knows best.

How long can his team put up with his arrogance. It certainly makes the whole coalition alliance look rather weak.
Another barnacle added to Abbott’s ship. It can’t stay afloat much longer surely.

It is quite puzzling to me that nobody felt it appropriate to take the lad aside and whisper in his shell-like, "Tony, is this a good idea? Think about it..."

Maybe that Credlin lady is actually a Trojan horse for the Labour Party...?

The award to Philip is appropriate for a country that elected Tony Abbott as prime minister. From a pig's ear you get filet mignon?

Repealing the carbon price
Winding back, freezing or abolishing the renewable energy target
Abolishing the Climate Commission
Attempting to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Renewable Energy Agency
Keeping fossil fuel subsidies
Wrecking the Great Barrier Reef
Tearing up the Tasmanian forest deal and attempting to de-list the Tasmanian World Heritage forests
Reviewing the marine national reserves
Attempting to handover environmental powers to the states
Defunding the environmental defenders office
Creating an unsafe and underpaid "green army"
373. Disbands the Australia Awards Board – 15 December 2014
Knighting Prince Phillip
When you look at the impressive list, you may come to the conclusion that our PM has a bias.
We did elect Abbott as PM didn’t we.

Pericles,

"It is quite puzzling to me that nobody felt it appropriate to take the lad aside and whisper in his shell-like, "Tony, is this a good idea? Think about it..."

Maybe that Credlin lady is actually a Trojan horse for the Labour Party...?"

This article goes a long way to analysing that.

http://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2015/01/24/why-the-liberals-cant-kill-tony-abbott/14220180001407#.VMbEcCxP-Sr

Autocratic PMO - here's a sample:

“...Everyone has to talk in whispers,” says one Liberal staffer. “Criticism is forbidden. It’s like being in East Germany and worrying the Stasi is listening....”

Abbott is so out of touch its dumbfounding. What is even more concerning is the Coalition doesn't have the balls to throw him overboard.

“...Everyone has to talk in whispers,” says one Liberal staffer. “Criticism is forbidden. It’s like being in East Germany and worrying the Stasi is listening....”

If this statement is true, or at least the whispers and forbidding criticism parts, then the rest of the 'Team' are a bunch of wimps.

Baring in mind, a staffer's comments may not be that trustworthy given they wouldn't have any say in important matters and most likely think they are more important than they really are.

In answer to the question, "Prince Phillip wins an Aussie Award?"

The answer is "No", it was given to him.

Had he rejected the idea, and it leaked out, then the same people that are up in arms now would have been at Phillip's throat for the rejection.
Even the fact that he didn't want to touch one of those utterly useless Koalas is held against him, maybe, like a lot of other people he didn't want to run the risk of being pissed on with a substitute for eucalyptus oil.

That said, the Knighthood was a bad idea, conceived by a troubled mind that is out of touch with reality.
I'm tipping that Tony will get "The Order of the Sword" ere long and I imagine that the sharpening stones are being taken out of their protective old socks as I write this.

ConservativeHippie,

"Baring in mind, a staffer's comments may not be that trustworthy given they wouldn't have any say in important matters and most likely think they are more important than they really are."

I don't believe there's any question as to the problem. These mutterings have been going on for yonks. The Abbott/Credlin leadership team which was so successful in Opposition has proved itself a dud in actual government.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/control-freak-peta-credlin--accused-of-pulling-coalition-strings-20131204-2yqte.html

"But Senator Ian Macdonald's public accusation that Mr Abbott's office, led by senior aide Peta Credlin, has instilled a culture of "obsessive centralised control" in the government has struck a chord among sections of the Coalition."

"Rumblings of discontent have been growing since the election win in September.

The strict media control of ministers by the Prime Minister's office has been reported but a bigger irritant for Coalition members and staffers has been a tight grip on appointments by Ms Credlin and the so-called "star chamber" staff appointments panel she heads.

A Coalition member told Fairfax Media: "The level of control is far in excess of the Howard government at its peak. It's Peta Credlin who is the problem, she's a control freak and this is feeding into all sorts of things."

The selection of government members for committees is now being done from "on high", whereas in the past, MPs and senators had been given a level of freedom to sort out appointments among themselves."

...and that article was written in 2013!

This article was written today.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/angry-liberal-backbenchers-consider-meeting-after-tony-abbotts-decision-to-make-prince-philip-a-knight-20150126-12yr5d.html

"Angry Liberal backbenchers consider meeting after Tony Abbott's decision to make Prince Philip a knight"

Now centralised control might be okay if you've got people at the top who are savvy - but to have people at the top who "repeatedly" unleash debacles is not so useful.

Our Tone has delusions of grandeur and sees himself as one day becoming the exalted head of Australia's Bunyip Aristocracy, naturally with Her Majesty as the titular head back there in Buck House, but the real power behind the thrown will lay in the hands of King Tone I of Bombowambie! I could not be a Liberal, I would be too embarrassed!

If they wanted to give an award to a great Australian, it could have gone to the late Tom Uren. who has passed away aged 93. Tom did more for Australia in 5 minutes of life than this dill Price Phillip has done in ironically 93 years of his life.
Tom does not need a cheap and nasty gong from Abbott, it would be an insult, his deeds speak loud enough for this truly great Australian. RIP Tom Uren.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-26/tom-uren-former-whitlam-minister-dead/6046340

Until this little episode, I was sure the Coalition would stick it out with Abbott - gaffes, mismanagement ‘n’ all - but I’m certain his days are numbered now. The Coalition was determined to not commit Labor’s great sin of removing a leader in the first term of government, but I don’t think they have much choice now. While they normally might have been willing to pretend something like this this didn’t happen, it comes only weeks after the failed and inept attempt to gut Medicare. The level of poor judgment this displays is mind-boggling.

It’s bad enough that the Liberal Party’s policies are underpinned by the philosophy that Australia needs a large pool of working poor with intergenerational poverty and little hope of social mobility (something the Coalition government has made no effort to hide this time around - think university de-regulation). But the fact that Abbott would apparently also like Australia to have an aristocracy makes me wonder what his party and the swinging voters were thinking when they put him in charge. It’s not like we didn’t have warning of how backwards he was on a political level, and how much of a bad person he was on a personal level (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvYzLIywCiA, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUdPabnXUNA).

Gawd I wish he would just bugger off back to England. Clearly he’s never fully embraced Australia as his only home. Or perhaps he’s just determined to strengthen our symbolic ties to Britain for the xenophobic reasons that are so often disingenuously cloaked in an appreciation for our history?

Dear David F.,

"You can't make a silk purse out of
a sow's ear."

Dear Paul,

I think that the title that would be more
appropriate for Mr Abbott would be -
"Sir Pository," (of wisdom). ;-)

And so it starts:

"UK press dig up Prince Philip's gaffes after knighthood"

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/world/2015/01/27/10/35/uk-press-cover-prince-phillip-s-knighthood-by-digging-up-his-gaffes#BCCiPWvZxifb6Sdj.99

Is anyone else as embarrassed as I am about our PM?

Paul,

Apparently Abbott as a "young-un" had already bestowed Tom Uren an offering...here's a news clipping reporting that Abbott was apparently busy defacing a poster announcing a Tom Uren speaking engagement at uni.

http://twitter.com/chrismurphys/status/559629864601260032

"I really should not be doing this", says Abbott.

If we apply that comment instead to his Prime Ministership - he's spot on!

Dear Suse,

We have only ourselves to blame, and what will be worse
is - if we allow it
to continue for several more years.

Scene: one of the smaller breakfast rooms in the east wing of Buckingham Palace.

HRH (for it is she) : Philip, will you please stop kicking the corgis. I know you think I can't see you doing it, but I can.

Phil: But Liz, these bloody Australians have made me a knight, or some such tommyrot. Next thing you know, they'll want me to go there and receive it. Whose idea was it, anyway?

HRH: Oh do stop moaning Philip. They're just trying to be nice.

Phil: Nice? It's like the cat dropping a dead bird in your lap as a sign of its affection.

HRH: Don't be silly dear. We don't have a cat. The corgis ate them all. Anyway, it would be nice to get you out of the house for a while. They really liked that visit last year – who did we send? Oh yes, that Middleton girl. And whatsis-name. One of Diana's boys.

Philip: Didn't do much good though, did it. They still don't want to grow up and be a republic.

HRH: Actually, that's another reason for you to drop in on them. A couple more of your “accidental” faux pas should do it, y'know.

Philip. S'pose so. Have we used the one about the fox hat before?

HRH: Yes, silly. That was Charles. But maybe they've forgotten by now... and please, stop kicking the corgis. It's not their fault...

[Exeunt omnes]

Whee listen to the lefties rant.

Who the hell cares who is given a knighthood, it has absolutely no meaning in the real world.

Well no meaning except perhaps for the lefties who desperately want gongs.

I can only assume this whole kerfuffle is to distract attention from the ratbaggery of the Australia day awards.

This Labor appointed "organisation", after the catastrophe of last year elevating some Victorian football playing thug to Oz of the year have reversed track.

They still have made no improvement, elevating a few of the victim industry feminists to the type of honour so desired by our lefties.

Is it any wonder people go surfing, eating or just vegetating, on Australia day, & most don't even know why they got the day off.

These incestuous organisations like the Australia Day Honours Committees have no respect in the wider community, & most deservedly so.

Verum In Ingenium, Pericles.

But, perhaps it is a cunning plan of our Prime Minister? Is the AK merely to have Australia mentioned ahead of New Zealand?

Have a look at the order of precedence in the titles...

"His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, Extra Companion of the Queen's Service Order, Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu, Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada, Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Canadian Forces Decoration, Lord of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom"

Although for the Kiwis to entitle His Royal Highness an 'Additional Member' seems demeaning to someone consorting with The Queen.

Paul,

I have no doubt that Tom Uren, with whom I often used to chat on the ferry, would not appreciate your remarks
".... Tom did more for Australia in 5 minutes of life than this dill Price Phillip has done in ironically 93 years of his life."

Tom Uren would never stand anyone knocking his fellow fighters from WWII.
When you've earned a few medals have a go....

Hasbeen,

"Whee listen to the lefties rant."

Lol!....I spent much of yesterday on twitter listening to the "righties" ranting....which I think should be something you'd be well advised to digest.

Loathe as the govt is to replace their leader - if there isn't a jolly good shake out at the top, they can kiss goodby to "any chance" of a second term.

A foreign palace freeloader.

It figures.

This really tops it.
Maybe our PM is speculating to receiving a knighthood in order of Great Britain in return. Well he sure earned a medal for being the biggest embarrassment for educated Australian's worldwide. In terms of the amount of gaffes Tony is definitively beating Prince Philip by a long shot. Maybe he should have given the knighthood to himself.

Stroke of genius by Tony Abbott.

No-one is talking about the budget now.

Hasbeen,

Exhibit 1 (of many):

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/tony-abbott-blind-to-the-damage-of-prince-philip-knighthood/story-e6frg6n6-1227197575747?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=TheAustralian&utm_medium=Twitter

"TONY Abbott has shot off his mouth and severely damaged his own foot.

That the Prime Minister does not see the depth of political ­distraction and damage for his ­colleagues, and insult, even, to Australian voters demonstrates his incredible blind spot on the monarchy.

Just as Abbott appeals directly to his backbenchers for calm and seeks to hear their complaints in an atmosphere of tension and nervousness, he seems oblivious to the fact that an accidental leadership crisis can be easily created by the leader on the most innocuous of subjects."

"Abbott’s own colleagues and supporters yesterday — Australia Day — were incredulous, puzzled, bemused and exasperated with his announcement, but fearful of saying much at all least it kick off a new phase of destabilisation just as the government was trying to get back on an even keel.

After the initial shock of last year’s creation of the order of Knights and Dames of Australia, some of Abbott’s colleagues had been able to adjust and even defend his personal choice based on genuine conviction.

It would have been easy to ­defend the appointment of Angus Houston as Sir Angus, but sending an Australian title to a royal who has more titles than the closing ceremony of the Oscars is politically indefensible."

Dennis Shanahan - The Australian (that would represent a "rightie" opinion, would it not?)

Houellie,

Don't joke!

(I went to "favourite" your post - too much time on twitter:)

Is Mise, do not presume you can talk for a great Australian such as Tom Uren, how would you know? I am just as entitled to my opinion as you are, so pull your head in, don't telling me about winning tin pot medals! They don't make you special.
Mountbatten, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, married the future Queen of England and has been a parasite on the public purse ever since. The bloke is a joke, even in England. If that gets the buffoon a gong from the likes of Abbott, then so be it. By this action Abbott clearly insults ever Australian.
-My opinion.

Pericles, very clever indeed :)

Hasbeen, the so-called 'lefties' are lining up behind the mad 'righties' on this one, so you can't use that old argument anymore.
Mind you, I don't see how the way men dress themselves in trousers has any bearing on this issue at all :)-

I am certain good ol' Phil won't give a damn about this 'honour', whereas some much more deserving Australian may well have been happy to receive it.....

Paul,

I knew Tom Uren and as I said I often had a yarn to him on the ferry to or from Birchgrove, we had a mutual friend, the late Arthur Gentle of Rockley (NSW) who had been a POW with him on the Burma Railway.

So I have a fair idea of how Tom would have reacted to abuse of a man who did his bit in WW II and whom Tom had met more than once.
We had, in fact, discussed Prince Phillip when I told Tom that I'd met him once in his capacity as the patron of the Alvis Car Club in England, Prince Phillip drove a rather hot 1926,12/50 'Beetleback' Super Sports model (mine was a 'Ducksback' Super Sports of the same year).

You are entitled to your opinion but mine is based on personal knowledge of what Tom Uren had said to me.

So inwardly draw your cranium yourself.

Suseonline,
“I am certain good ol' Phil won't give a damn about this 'honour'“
Don't be so sure — apparently he collects them!

I am getting very concerned that the leading nations of the world have their animal awards to bestow upon His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, Extra Companion of the Queen's Service Order, Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu, Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada, Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Canadian Forces Decoration, Lord of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom and Buff to his mates.

If that is to much to say in one breath, then just call him "Buff" for short, short for buffoon!

Gee, have I used up my 350 word limit getting Buffs name out. As I was saying, I am very concerned that leading world nations are ahead of us, bestowing animal awards on you know who. For instance Zaire was able to bestow the leopard award. Iceland gave him the falcon, and The Netherlands threw in a lion. This should be seen as a national disgrace. Here we are with loads of marsupials and we haven't as yet be able to bestow one upon Buff. I know he's not that keen on kola bears, pissy little animals they are, but surely we could award The Royal Order of the Wombat or something, and avoid national humiliation! All those in favour start blinking now.

‘morning all,

I just love a bit of hypocrisy. In 1988 Bob Hawke, recommended that Prince Philip receive what was then Australia's highest honor, the OA.

For a bit of a giggle I’ve substituted Bob Hawk for Tony Abbott in some of the comments.

@ Suseonline;

“I was surprised that our devout republican PM Bob Hawk put forward a non-Australian for an incredibly ancient award like the Order of Australia”

“Has Bob Hawk lost the plot?

“Even I feel a little sorry for Bob Hawk.......what with the whole country either laughing at or being annoyed with him”.

“Is anyone else as embarrassed as I am about Bob Hawk?”

@Poirot;

“And in doing so Bob Hawk has sent a great big "up yours" to the rest of Australia”

I guess the only difference in 1988 was there was no “twittertariat” to promote the hypocrisy.

Feel free to discuss “Goose meets Gander”.

Keep spinning spindoc,

First of all Goosey Abbott introduces his Bunyip line of honours...and down the track of an extremely fraught year when he and his govt are "desperate" for some credibility, he makes a "captain's call" and awards Phil a knighthood.

Apart from giving the entire nation a collective hernia from laughter, he's got almost the entire right-wing cringing.

That's not easy to do...note the Courier Mail has him festooned on its front page in a jester's hat. Murdoch even went so far to tweet his displeasure.

Abbott's a goner - and my prediction is Julie Bishop will be leader not too far down the track.

Poirot,

I agree that Abbott’s as good as gone. And in addition to losing the highground they hold by not having yet booted out a first-term Prime Minister, they’re going to have replace Abbott even sooner than Labor did Rudd. It's beautiful.

I’m not sure how they’ll go about a transition to Bishop, though. Abbott’s not going to leave without a fight and after Gillard’s “knifing” of Rudd, it’s not exactly going to be a good look for women in politics if our second female Prime Minister acquires the job through another “knifing”.

It’ll be interesting to see how plays out.

A friend just sent me an email of an article
written by Ben Eltham which I thought may be of
interest. It reflects the general consensus of
feelings being currently expressed in the media:

"To say that Prince Philip is rather low on the
list of Australian popular heroes is a bit like
saying Islamic State has an image problem. For
most Australians Prince Philip is an obscure royal
known only for his exceptionally fortunate choice
of life partner and a tendency for embarrassing
gaffes. And the newest recipient of the newly
re-created Knighthood of Australia is not even an
Australian..."

"Nothing could better exemplify Mr Abbott's 1950s
mentality and his increasingly tenous grasp of the
concerns and interests of modern Australia."

Mr Abbott claims that "It is fitting that we pay tribute
to an extra-ordinary life of service."

"It seems all the more out of touch when we consider that
this "service" was largely as the husband of the
figurehead of a disintegrating empire."

It will be interesting to see what happens next.

Foxy,

"It will be interesting to see what happens next."

Here's what Peter van Onselen just tweeted...

"Based on chats with Libs this AM, for the 1st time (& i can't believe i'm saying this) I now don't think PM can make it to the next election"

Dear Poirot,

Yes that is interesting - and not surprising.
No political Party is going to take the risk
of losing an election if they see that their
leader's star is descending. The writing is
on the wall. Julie Bishop please step up!

Poirot, I agree that Abbott may not make it to the next election as leader, but I doubt that Bishop will be the next Liberal leader, given the male-heavy top end of the party.

I feel she was the token female at the start, put there to show that Abbott really isn't a misogynist, although she has proved herself as a reasonable foreign minister.

I think she would make a better leader than Abbott by far, but she won't get the job.

Suse,

Not so sure...she popped in for a chat with Rupie on the way to Afghanistan apparently.

Rupie also tweeted his displeasure at Abbott's "stoopid" decision.

Julie's been photo-shopped and featured muchly of late - she's the Murdoch-captain's-pick IMO

Tony, please don't go, we need you here for the next election. You are doing "TOO GOOD" a job, please stay!

Abbot is embarrassing and for Australia the equivalent of the worst US president Bush junior. The earlier his voice vanishes from TV and Radio the better. I still wonder why the Libs replaced Turnbull with this comic figure.

Latest is Murdoch is calling for Credlin's head - in an effort to preserve Abbott's.

I think he may be biting off more than he can chew with that call - it's been a joint Abbott/Credlin shambles and they should both wear the dishonour and go together.

?? Was Murdoch sponsoring Abbott and Credlin - why is he pulling strings ??

"?? Was Murdoch sponsoring Abbott and Credlin - why is he pulling strings ??"

Lol!

I guess Murdoch wants to save Abbott as PM to let him finishing the task to cut funding for the ABC, the free national broadcaster. Murdoch should shut up. Since 1985 he is anyway no Australian any-more.

Tony Abbott’s debt to Rupert Murdoch. John Menadue
http://johnmenadue.com/blog/?p=738
Very interesting ;-)

Chris_ho asks: "I still wonder why the Libs replaced Turnbull with this comic figure"

The way I heard it, Abbott reminded them of how the Santamaria axis used its numbers in the ALP to put them out office for a generation and of how riddled the NLP was with the same crew and how it would get the same treatment as the ALP if it didn't make him leader. Got him over the line by a whisker. Serve them right.

I have a conservative voting relative who was doing a rant about Rudd over the weekend. We batted around Rudd's legacy for a bit before he remarked that "Rudd was the worst prime minister this country has ever had" then he continued casually "until the current one".

I was pretty taken aback and asked when he had jumped ship? His reply was that he hadn't, rather it was Abbott 'off swimming his own race'.

This is what is so dangerous for Abbott and the LNP. Their voters feel he has left the reservation, stepped outside the norms and boundaries of Australia politics where we don't go after the poorest nor do we give to those who have the most in wealth and resources. The knighthood to Prince Phillip seemed just so much more of the same and it continues to offend those who were once his supporters.

I think the LNP have to do something or risk being tarred with the Abbott brush and thus risking their chances in the next election. There is a real sense of Abbott having made his own bed as an extremely unrelenting opposition leader who employed the swords of partisanship and negativity but now is floundering against similar weapons deployed by a far less proficient Shorten.

He made much of Rudd's 'dictatorial style' but rightly stands accused of his own. He also was unforgiving of Gillard's difficulties without a clear parliamentary majority but now faces just the need of similar negotiating skills but clearly lacks those tools.

I think that Australian's, whatever their politics, have always liked seeing a bully get their comeuppance and I get the sense that is in play now.

<<I think that Australian's, whatever their politics, have always liked seeing a bully get their comeuppance and I get the sense that is in play now.>>

SteeleRedux, Rupert is going to cop it? Please tell me it is so.

Here we have a 'Septic Tank' telling a 'Pom' how to run Australia! AND we think we are independent.

Oh no! Poor old Tones!
Andrew Bolt has called Tone's decision as stupid and possibly 'fatal'.
Tony might as well throw himself on his sword right now.....

Dear Suse,

He's Tone alone!

No "possibly" about it, IMO.

If they turf Credlin - and wobble on with Tones at the helm, they're going to waste the rest of the year limping along.

By year's end they're going to have to start pork-barreling, etc in election mode.

To put it bluntly, I think they're "stuffed"...don't think there's any way out of this mire as "Abbott" himself appears totally on the nose with his former "supporters".

And the Prince Phil thing is only the shining star at the top of the Credlin/Abbott fiasco tree...brings the entire leadership debacle into sharper focus, is all.

What a disaster!

I remember being concerned when his own party members shared their problems about Rudd's dictatorial strange decisions, but Tony is of way more concern.

When you hear a bloke like Andrew Bolt say that Tony is 'irrational' and 'bonkers' re this knighthood decision, you know Tony is in deep, deep excrement!

Dear Suse,

I agree with the "Herald Sun," -
Mr Abbott is "wounded but his condition is
not critical - yet!"

Who else has the Liberal Party got?

Julie Bishop? Would she have the numbers from the
"old boys club?" Joe Hockey? - he didn't do so
well with the budget. Scott Morrison? Possibly
too young. Christopher Pyne? More suited to the
"attack-dog," role in Parliament.
Malcolm Turnbull? He's not
very popular within the ranks.

From reading the newspapers - it would appear that
much as the party members may criticise Mr Abbott -
they still feel the party has a better chance of success
with him. And remember that Rupert Murdoch did not
say that Abbott should be replaced - only that his
Chief of Staff - Peta Credlin should be fired or
should resign. Blaming her not Abbott for this latest
farce.

I wonder if Rupert Murdoch had not been critical of this
latest knighthood farce - would Andrew Bolt still have
had the guts to criticise Abbott's decision?
Somehow I doubt it. Bolt knows on which side his bread
is buttered.

I suspect in the end it will be up to the voters to
set things right at the next election.

Suseonline, "Well I must admit, even I was surprised that our devout Monarchist PM put forward a non-Australian.."

Of course you and others are shocked and outraged that an Australian award is to be given to a foreigner.

Even though the Leftists claim the 'nationalistic' honours reinforce 'privilege' and are anachronistic anyhow. Goodness gracious, knighthoods toady to the UK, as leftists complain. However, the leftists don't ordinarily care about such things and wouldn't want those horrid honours themselves now would they? It is not 'Progressive', eh what?

It would be a very different proposition entirely if Prince Phil was not one of the hated 'old white men', where 'white' is the code for UK origin and so despised by the leftist 'Progressives. Royal just makes it worse.

Come to think of it, it was quite OK when the globe-trotting Australia's first feminist, womyn feminist that is (some Labor PMs have posed as male feminists), was buying recognition abroad. Ex-PM Julia Whatshername gave a gong, the Order of Australia, to an Indian cricketer. She even sent one of her senior boy gophers, a cabinet minister to give it to the lucky Indian gent, he being too busy on the cricket tour to pay much attention.

Like Julia Whatshername's Indian gent, who had heaps of obsequious praise and recognition being heaped upon him, it would be like taking a bag of Ocker boiled lollies to Willie Wonker to be giving a gong to Prince Phil.

The hypocrisy of the leftist 'Progressives' is amazing. They do 'shocked and outraged' rather well though. It helps to have a baying tabloid media - led by the once-proud ABC.
tbc..

contd..

Simply amazing though how deeply entrenched and widespread political correctness has become in Australia that some of the 'conservatives' you also despise have joined in the chorus. The Jackass should replace the roo and emu on the coat of arms.

There are far too many career politicians in Canberra and Tony Abbott is one of them. The only learning to come from this and it is crucial, is that the political parties must focus on recruiting people who have demonstrated their worth in real life, real work, real achievement.

What encumbrances, hugely expensive management overheads, the federal and State governments have become for Australians. Honestly how many politicians and senior bureaucrats would survive in private industry? Just goes to show that paying more is no guarantee of getting the right people, but the exasperated public already knew that.

Dale Hughes, a Liberal voter from Victoria
has written an interesting article for
The Drum:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-23/hughes-the-power-politics-of-tony-abbotts-leadership-woes/6043096

Hughes presents another perspective of some of the problems
that Liberal Party members are faced with and why they
are currently voicing their concern. Prince Philip's
award is only part of an ongoing problem.

Worth a read.

Mr Abbott should have followed his first career path to become a priest. But the quality of his speeches would have emptied the church ;-)

otb,

"Of course you and others are shocked and outraged that an Australian award is to be given to a foreigner."

I couldn't really give a toss who that silly man gives an award to.

It's the totally unnecessary damage that Abbott has caused by trying to big note himself by reintroducing the honours in the first place. And after a solid year of wall-to wall-debacles, he goes out of his way to make a goose of hmself and awards an Australian honour to Prince Phil.

There's no rhyme or reason for such a stupid decision.

And it's not the "lefties" who are Abbott's problem - it's his own team who are sick and tired of this man making a fool of himself and the LNP govt.

Dear Poirot,

The rumblings have been going on for some time
about Mr Abbott's leadership. Now its growing
louder and more disgruntled as Liberal Party
members are venting their frustration with the
government's seemingly inability to navigate
a clear path and stop being impulsive, and erratic.

Members of the Liberal Party are left with the job
of defending the party brand in the face of
criticism in the streets, on the media, and in the
community and their job as the link that I cited
earlier makes quite clear is all the more difficult
when the government doesn't stay the course, or when
both the treasurer and the PM prove out of touch.
Remember the treasurer's comment - that poor people
"don't drive cars." And now the PM's knighthood
for Prince Philip - has turned into a joke.

There's also the uncomfortable truth. Mr Abbott is PM
not because voters wanted him - but because they
didn't want Labor.

Circumstances were what elevated Mr Abbott and it now
appears that circumstances is what will bring about
his demise.

That's politics.

thinly disguised hatred of everything British and Abbottphobia provides the daily entertainment. Fine for Bob Hawke to award Prince Phillip with a noticeable silence from the left. Just shows how hatred just blinds the minds of the socialist and provides distractions from the previous 'great'choice of captains pick. What a disgrace. Free junkets for lovers is ok even if American.

Spot on, On the Beach, and I agree except that one thing picqued my pedantic spot, the kangaroo and the emu are not on the Australian coat of arms!!

Well OTB, it seems it is only you, Runner and Is Mise, otherwise known as the rightist aggressive regressives, that don't seem to have a problem with Abbotts mad decisions of 'awarding Knighthoods' no less, and to Prince Phillip of all people.
Is the Mother Country still calling you all home?

Everyone else seems to think Abbott has lost the plot, as well as his own party members, so what do you guys have such an unpopular view about this issue for?

I would suggest it is because your holy hero Abbott, sent to us all to save us from the deadly Labor party , royally stuffed up, big time!

Sour grapes?

Is Mise,

I know what you are referring to, affects wattle as well. I went along with the Dept of PM&C's common usage.

Suseonline,

Take a chill pill and go back and read my posts.

Keep your tiara on runner,

The point being that the PMO has delivered nothing but debacle after debacle - and Abbott's latest contribution to the collective mirth of the nation is just one more blight on their house.

It was totally "unnecessary" - and because he possesses no real governing nous, he's in deep doo doo with the rank and file, ministers, backbenchers, you name it.

I'm quite happy for him to serve honours on the entire Royal family - and their corgis.

I'm equally happy for he and Credlin to stay where they are...all the way to the next election.

Why not:

Dame Faith Bandler, New South wales
Sir Wally Lewis, Queensland
Sir Noel Pearson, Queensland
Sir Ian Chappell, South Australia

and so on and so on. So many wonderful Australians. Brings tears to my eyes.

Joe

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

You forgot to mention:

Sir Rubert Murdoch

Sir John Howard

Dame Gina Rhineheart

Just to name a few more - for "services" rendered. ;-)

OTB, I try not to read many of your posts, because they are ultimately the opposite of how I feel.
I don't need a chill pill at present, as I am too busy laughing at the current carry on about my fave PM!

I said well before the last election that I would be embarrassed to have Abbott as the PM, and I have been proved right unfortunately.

He said himself that this decision was made all by himself, so all the ranting about poor Credlin is just a smoke-screen by Libs that can't believe that they thought Abbott was the preferred leader at the last election....

Dear Suse,

I've just come across an interesting snippet
on the web with a writer suggesting that
Cardinal Pell would have been a much better
choice for the award then Prince Philip (for
services to religion and Royal Commissions).

We're reminded that Cardinal Pell is now in
charge of the Vatican finances and "giving him a
Knightly honour might help send some hard earned
Catholic cash our way - to help balance the
budget and help pay for the Royal Commission Pell's
church helped spark."

Suseonline, "I try not to read many of your posts, because they are ultimately the opposite of how I feel"

True, you often demonstrate only a vague awareness of the content of posts, my own included, before letting loose with your sarcasm - your trademark 'drive-bys'.

Tony Abbott, 'white' men, honours, UK, Royalty, 'MSM', etc., pressed so many of your red buttons it is no wonder you are struggling where to apply your whacking stick.

That is amusing to watch.

Fox has the speculative gossip covered. LOL

Oh Foxy, you do know how to push my buttons!
Cardinal Pell would be my absolute second last choice for a Knighthood, after Ol' Phil of course.
Certainly, the Catholic Church were wise to spirit hm out of Australia.....

"Tony Abbott, 'white' men, honours, UK, Royalty, 'MSM', etc., pressed so many of your red buttons it is no wonder you are struggling where to apply your whacking stick."

Seems to have pushed quite a few buttons in govt as well (isn't he a clever Tones)...I have a good idea where their whacking stick is aimed.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/liberals-weigh-up-leadership-options-as-prime-minister-tony-abbott-faces-criticism-20150129-131f0o.html

"Nervous Liberal MPs have begun discussing alternative leadership options, and the pros and cons of switching to either Foreign Minister Julie Bishop or former leader Malcolm Turnbull are now being "actively" considered."

Lol beachy, you must know I write just for your amusement?

Beats me where you got the 'white men' thingy from though.
You have been spending too much time with that KuKluxKlan guy JOM again haven't you?

I am happy for anyone of any colour, creed or gender to take over from Abbott.......

Hi Foxy,

Whatever floats your boat, although they don't do it for me :)

Love,

Joe

PS. Come on, you fellas, make some suggestions for Julie Bishop next year !

Gawd, What a storm in a teacup !

Have you ever heard such a rumpus about a not very significant event !

When Bob Hawk did something similar, not a peep !
Do I get the feeling that a lot of this righteous indignation is just opportunism ?

"Gawd, What a storm in a teacup !

Have you ever heard such a rumpus about a not very significant event !"

What's significant is the utter idiocy of the PM...on top of all the other debacles unleashed by his office over the course of their tenure.

The govt don't mind us being outraged...but they don't take kindly to repeatedly being set up to be mocked - and that appears to be the only thing the PMO is capable of.

That's why the reaction - and he "is" on the nose with his teammates.

Oh come on Bazz, is that the best you can come up with?

Bob did his thing 35 years ago......when monarchists were not as thin on the ground as they are today. He didn't make Prince Phil a 'knight' either!

At the time, Bob was quite popular too, and had not made nearly as many embarrassing gaffes in public as our current PM has.

This latest silly decision is just the straw that I think will break the camel's back.....

those who have wet their pants with excitment are now only left with the smell. Fever pitched abbottphobia.

"those who have wet their pants with excitment are now only left with the smell. Fever pitched abbottphobia."

Gee, runner, you have a way with words - it's like debating with a four year-old.

Did you catch silly Tony today telling everyone what a good captain he is?

I didn't know whether to cringe or laugh.

Hey Piorot, someone else has taken the Turing award, you are acting
like you still hold it.

'Gee, runner, you have a way with words - it's like debating with a four year-old.'

Yea Poirot I doubt whether a four year old would get so obsessed with such a trivial matter as handing out a gong.

runner,

I'm not obsessed with it - I'm amused by it....it's "funny".

His fellow ministers and backbenches are the one's obsessed - so much so, they're plotting his removal.

Just saying....

What are you suggesting, runner?

"...I doubt whether a four year old would get so obsessed with such a trivial matter as handing out a gong."

That our Prime Minister who consulted about his decision to award a knighthood with the Governor-General and the Chairman of the Order of Australia Council before requesting The Queen give her husband one on the occasion of the Australia Day Honors List was being trivial?

Or that they all were?

One thing that people seem to have avoided asking is: why now?

Could it be that he knows he's going to have to dump Peta Credlin soon, so he wants to accomplish the really unpopular stuff first while he still has some blame shifting opportunity?

This was stale bread before the OP was posted.

The only remaining interest is in why the ABC alone is still kicking the can.

Let me get this right. These Knighthoods are an anochronism and nonsense? So why all the excitement?
The fact is that when offered a "Sir" or a Dame or some OAM they all opt for the old British award lol.
Same with Queens Council or Senior Council it is always the old snobby British award. You guys make me laugh you are so funny.

There isn't a newspaper outlet both local and
global - who's not
covering Prince Philip's Aussie Award.
From the Huffington Post, Daily Mail, The Guardian,
to the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and locally -
to The Age, The Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph, The Mercury,
The Canberra Times, The Sydney Morning Herald. To name
just a few. And the news outlets on TV, and social media,
have all joined in and are thoroughly enjoying to this fiasco.

Foxy, "..have all joined in and are thoroughly enjoying to this"

Stale bread. Frivolous. It wasn't in the same league as Australia Day 2012 where there was footage of a terrified PM Julia Whatshername (the one with the $2million bungalow in Adelaide) being dragged away to safety.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqzk3FcCqFI

There was an aftermath that provided very solid interest worldwide too, from her shoe that was held hostage by indigenous activists, through to the allegations that the indigenous demonstration was purposely triggered, it wasn't 'spontaneous' at all.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-19/tony-hodges-takes-up-new-role-in-canberra/6025170

Leftists have considerable form for stirring and not taking responsibility.

As for the brouhaha over the knighthood for Prince Philip, you and others are bouncing off one another, that is all.

The public would be more interested in the UK parliamentary debate over easing Australian and NZ visa restrictions to the UK,

http://www.news.com.au/national/easing-australian-visa-restrictions-to-the-uk-has-become-a-hot-topic-among-westminster-mps/story-fncynjr2-1227201214796

Poirot, I agree, Captain Rabbit is one of the greatest captains ever, right up there with Captain Smith of Titanic fame, is he not?
Two more wonderful Australians passed away this week and both would be deserving of a gong well before Prince Dill, Kel Nagle and Colleen McCullough.

Is there any truth to the rumor that the Mad Abbott was actually tossing up between Prince Dill and Archy Pell for this gong and Price Dill drew the short straw.

"Leftists have considerable form for stirring and not taking responsibility.

As for the brouhaha over the knighthood for Prince Philip, you and others are bouncing off one another, that is all."

Lol!...Abbott makes a goose of himself - and his colleagues turn every shade of green, Murdoch uses "electronic graffiti" to tell him to give Credlin the boot...ministers and backbenchers are groaning up and down Oz - but apparently it's the lefties who are "stirrers".

As for Abbott's "captain" blather today - a desperate bleat from a guy whose days are numbered.

Dear Poirot,

A commentator has pointed out that the PM could have
given the Knighthood to his daughter Frances. For
Services to Education and Media.

"If someone who won a scholarship that didn't even
exist isn't worthy of a knighthood - than we don't
know who is."

And -

"If you can't give the daughter of a rich and powerful
white man a bit of a helping hand - then what exactly are
the Liberals here for?"

More stale stuff from Fox and from New Matilda of course. Trivial and boring.

Nothing like the embarrassing, "horrifyingly unacceptable" catastrophes of the previous Galah'd+Greens 'partnership'. The attempted break in of the Canberra Restaurant was a story that had real legs because it kept on giving: "Just like Hollywood, a Clint Eastwood movie 'In the Line of Fire'" one commentator observed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbdlHRveHnI

Interrupted the awards presentation too, which shows the complete contempt the leftists have for Australia Day and the Australia Day honours anyway.

What did you say back then about that rudeness and disrespect to Australia Day, Foxy et al? In view of your new found concern(sic) about Knighthoods. LOL

My "The attempted break in of the Canberra Restaurant" should have read, "The attempted break in of the Lobby Restaurant in Canberra".

<<What did you say back then about that rudeness and disrespect to Australia Day, Foxy et al? In view of your new found concern(sic) about Knighthoods.>>

Rudeness and disrespect is shown for Australia and all Australians when you give any kind of award in our name, to a crusty old pom, who doesn't, and never has given a toss about the country or its people! That is really disrespectful. Long live the republic!
Just another nail in Abbott's political coffin.

"MEDIA RELEASE - 26th JANUARY 2015
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S INTERNATIONAL AWARD - AUSTRALIA
CONGRATULATES PRINCE PHILIP ON KNIGHT ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Shane Stone, National Chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia, today congratulated The Award’s Founder Prince Philip on the Australia Day award of Knight in the Order of Australia in recognition of his proactive support for the Award in Australia. Mr Stone thanked Prince Philip for his ongoing support of Australian youth over the last 52 years.

Mr Stone says, “The accolade recognises the numerous contributions Prince Philip has made to young people internationally and in Australia, particularly through his development of The Duke of
Edinburgh’s International Award and his hands-on involvement that has spanned over 50 years.

“The youth development program, which Prince Philip founded with educationalist Kurt Hahn and Mt Everest expeditionary Lord Hunt in 1956 and which he has personally championed since, has exceeded all expectations with respect to its outreach and positive impact on young people.

“In Australia alone, over 700,000 young people have undertaken the Award, with many participants referring to the impact of it as 'life-changing'. The outcomes of The Award for young Australian have been particularly beneficial regarding developing good citizenship through volunteering work; career and personal development through extension of interests and personal life skills; and leadership qualities through teamwork, goal setting and peer recognition.

Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh has remained committed to The Award. He continues to be involved, particularly in recognising the achievements of Award participants and the adult volunteers
who support them. With each visit to Australia since its inception, he has given his time to recognise youth achievements involved and further promote The Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is Australia’s largest youth development program and is totally inclusive – it is open to all young Australians regardless of location or circumstance, with
over 22,000 young Australians taking up the challenge to complete the 4 part Award annually..."
http://tinyurl.com/ksyt2qc

Just one of the corporations that the Greens love to trash-talk,
http://www.dukeofed.com.au/Coca-Cola-Australia-Foundation.html

Now, precisely what have the Greens done for youth?

As I said Prince Dill has personally done nothing for Australia and Australian, you could call it the Humpty Dumpty Award if you like, and it would be just the same. All this royal leach has done is lend his "name" to it, thus gaining a bit of respectability from the likes of Beach and others from the ultra right. You award people for what they do, not what is done in their name, that is too easy.

Nice to acknowledge that Professor David Flint and otb are in favour of the PM dolling out gongs in some weird and misguided attempt to clutch at some substance.

Cartoonist Alan Moir sums it up nicely here:

http://twitter.com/moir_alan/status/561251814683574272/photo/1

(Btw, word is Abbott is set to jettison his PPL on Monday)

Poirot, "Nice to acknowledge that Professor David Flint and otb are in favour"

What about reading my posts instead of jumping to conclusions? I did not say I was for or against, however it is worth questioning some of the opinions being expressed.

It is all 'support your footy team' isn't it? It is very sad that so many are willing to suspend their own judgement and allow some other party (or site for some here) to make up their mind for them.

However, the really shameful circumstance in which we (the public) find ourselves is that the people we have elected to represent us are so easily led and so completely gutless that they spin about like weather vanes before the wind of tabloid populism on such simple issues. There are far too many spineless, self-serving career politicians in the major parties (and too many barking mad loons in the Greens).

Parliament is a sea of bobble-heads. -So much for paying the PM more than the US President and backbenchers at Senior Executive (APS) remuneration and better. More money seems to guarantee more monkeys not less.

otb,

"Parliament is a sea of bobble-heads. -So much for paying the PM more than the US President and backbenchers at Senior Executive (APS) remuneration and better. More money seems to guarantee more monkeys not less."

Fair enough...but you - like the rest of us - are often extremely partisan.

Abbott is behaving like a buffoon.

Was just in a convo on twitter (with others) with one of his former advisers who reckons it's a jolly good thing that Abbott has "realised" and finally ditched the PPL - as if it wasn't the desperate act of a PM in an effort to gain some ascension after this latest debacle.

"Signature Policy" - and all that.

Paid parental leave ‘over my dead body’, says Abbott
09 February, 2010 | Media Release Reports that Liberal leader Tony Abbott is considering a taxpayer-funded paid maternity leave scheme must be treated with extreme suspicion given his track record as a supporter of WorkChoices and previous hardline opponent of helping working mothers, say unions.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said the Howard Government’s WorkChoices had undermined pay and conditions for women, and it was simply not credible that Mr Abbott believed in supporting working mothers and would actually deliver on such a scheme.

She said that when it came to women in the workforce, Mr Abbott was an unreconstructed traditionalist who was now attempting to court the female vote.

“After years of entrenched views antagonistic to the interests of women, Tony Abbott is now trying to con the electorate,” Ms Burrow said.

“His real views are contained in comments he has made in recent days that housework and ironing are the role of women.

“During his years as Employment Minister under John Howard, Mr Abbott never made any attempt to introduce a paid parental leave scheme. He is on record as opposing it.”

In 2002, he told a Liberal Party function in Victoria:

“Compulsory paid maternity leave? Over this Government’s dead body, frankly.” Maybe he passed away.

I agree with 579.
Abbott took his PPL scheme to the last election, and secured many votes with it.
I believe he knew he was lying about ever delivering fully on this promise, and should never had put it forward in the first place.

He knows it is now an unpopular policy with an electorate still upset with the budget that seemed to target the sick, the unemployed, and the disabled.

So after embarrassing Australia with his silly knighthoods, he now seeks to soothe the masses by dropping the PPL.
If he does do this, will we see any sudden increases in the budget for the health and education funding do you think?

Not a hope.

We will probably see an increase in the funding for the school chaplain schemes, or for the retired priests fund....

Suseonline,

The public services, particularly the federal public service have led on conditions of service for many years. In fact from Whitlam on, the feds have been raging bulls where conditions of employment are concerned. Women senior managers, executives and highly paid professional categories have enjoyed maternity and parental leave at full pay for a very long time.

What about the extension of the entitlements to de factos that cost the taxpayer hugely?

Cut them back ASAP, you say? If not, why not?

No OTB, I don't think any hard fought for conditions should be lost at all.

I actually liked the PPL scheme but realise it was probably too expensive to have at a time when such groups as the poor, sick and disabled are being targeted to 'save' money in this budget.

I dislike lying politicians who take their 'signature' policy to the election, and then go back on their word.

Nice one, Queensland.

No-one's talking about Prince Philip anymore.....

'Hard Boiled' Newman, gone, the drongo in Victoria, gone, time for that rabbit Abbott to be gone! Good one Queensland.

Who is printz fillip.
Abbott has really done it now. Good on QLD for speaking their mind.

Do not give prestigious awards to non AU persons, the masses don't like it.

What about Indian cricketers?

Amazing results in the Queensland election.
Which just goes to show that when politicians
do not listen to their constituents people
will let them know their dissatisfaction - and
vote accordingly.
One can only hope that the Liberal Party learns
from this election and that the conservatives don't
look to shifting ther blame onto others as they've
done to date. That simply no longer works.
Labor should also not be complacent - and structure
a strong and clear path for Queensland if they want to keep
what they have currently won.

It will be interesting what the PM will have to say
about all this at The National Press Club tomorrow.
And whether he's learned anything at all - after his Prince
Philip fiasco.

OTB "What about Indian cricketers?"
Hmmmm.....let me see. Would Aussies like to see sportsmen or Royals win Aussie awards? Lol!

"Good Knight Tony" scream the headlines in today's Sunday Times.

Apparently, if there was an election today, Tones and the Libs would get only 36% of the vote. And apparently it is this latest gaffe that is responsible for part of that drop in popularity.
Good on you queenslanders for dumping the conservatives.

Foxy,

Judging by his presser this morning, his gall is fully intact - as are his slogans.

He's flapping around on the end of the pier, gasping for credibility.

He won't be PM by the end of the week...Tuesday probably.

Dear Poirot,

Let us hope that Mr Abbott will do the right
thing by the party and himself - and resign on his own accord.
It would be to his own shame - if the party chose
to throw him out.

We'll have to wait and see - whether his own interests
matter more than that of the Party's.

Abbott says there are lessons to be learned from QLD, why is he coming to that conclusion. Abbott should be saying the electorate do not like politicians that tell lies and break promises. He should do the right thing and resign before any more blunders are done. Probably already to late.
He is still peddling the same line of why he got elected. Spare a thought for the string of lies that got him elected.
Abbott and Newman are like two peas in a pod, there is no hope for either of them

Tone, please don't quit, resign, chuck it in, throw in the towel, what ever! What would The Labor Party do without you? You are their one and only, their inspiration, their rock, you are their everything. Please say you will be there "leading" The Coalition at the next election. We don't want to swap a Abbott for a Bishop, not even a Turnbull. You are the one and only Liberal that can guarantee certain defeat for The Coalition at the next election. Prince What's-His-Name would have more chance of victory.

Gee, once upon a time there was this bunch of 'Usual Suspects' on the forum what constantly called for the blood of the unpopular Gillard. Post after post they demanded an election to get her out! Where are they now? Their silence is deafening.

Hi Paul,

It must be pleasant to live in your either/or world. Many of us would be happy with neither Gillard nor Rudd nor Abbott. There are always many alternatives, and I'm sure that, as we write, some of those are being explored.

The Libs inherited a hell of a financial mess from Labor, and the economics of our current honey-pot, mineral resources, have gone downhill since the Election. No matter who takes over from Abbott, they will have a huge job turning the economy around.

Welcome to the real world.

Joe

"The Libs inherited a hell of a financial mess from Labor, and the economics of our current honey-pot, mineral resources, have gone downhill since the Election. No matter who takes over from Abbott, they will have a huge job turning the economy around."

Chortle...

Is that the best you can do...under the circs?

Abbott and his incompetent bunch of cronies - elected as moderates, governing like extremists - have been one long drawn out debacle.

Ah, the wounded goose ......

I'm don't think there is much to chortle about, Lib or Lab. We're in the economic world, we're not half-interested spectators of it. No economy except perhaps the Americans' is doing all that well, and many are going down the drain. Australia provides little more than mineral resources and some services to other economies, particularly China's, and none of them is all that flash. Our economy depends on those exports for its revenue, in order to pay for pensions and benefits and salaries and infrastructure. Less revenue means either less spending or more deficit. More deficit means more borrowing. More borrowing, without means to eventually pay it back, means Greece.

One may indeed chortle at all of that, if one lives in the clouds - capitalist b@stards ! they deserve whatever happens to them; it would be a relief to be immune to the needs of money or comforts of any kind. But so many problems ! So many sticks up the Libs' arses ! Wonderful !

But, Dame Margot, we are not immune, neither you nor I.

Though I loved the quote from a bloke in the UK, "It's immoral to expect people to pay back what has been loaned to them." If I see him, I wonder if he'll lend me a couple of thousand dollars. Perhaps the implications of what he said are clear: why aren't we planting vast plantations of money-trees ? why can't we just print as much money as we need, any time we need it ? Thank god for intellectuals.

Joe

yada, yada...Loudmouth.

You know there was no "emergency" - and that Australia under Labor fared better than almost all developed economies in the wake of the GFC.

What we do in the future is of course up to innovative governance willing to invest in productive infrastructure....not cutting science research and development to the bone and funnelling profits to the already grotesquely wealthy.

We're in the box seat to develop 21st century technology and not just be a resource quarry - if we have the right leadership...not wall to wall austerity.

In any case, this election if anything, has shown us that we're no longer beholden to the likes of Murdoch and his anointed few. Victoria and particularly Queensland, in delivering a catastrophic blow to extreme right-wing government, has shown the way.

Hi Poirot,

".... productive infrastructure", yeah, that might do it. What we need is really productive infrastructure.

Yes, we could be in the box seat, if only ...... yes, we can import all the highly-skilled people we will need, in technology, IT, and the right sorts of engineering, if our universities aren't producing enough. Or we could have an Art-and-Design/Journalism/Cultural Studies-led recovery. Piece of cake.

So what was our deficit in 2007 ? In 2013 ? Now ? Are you suggesting we don't have a deficit, it's all a Lib lie ? No, it's not all Gillard or Rudd's fault, there are all manner of international factors now, but they certainly didn't help with their dopey spending policies.

On-topic, would it have helped Newman if Abbott - crass as it may seem as an obvious vote-grab - had nominated Wally Lewis or Noel Pearson for knighthoods ? It may not have saved Newman but it might have pushed the LNP over the line in a couple of tight seats.

Joe

Loudmouth,

"So what was our deficit in 2007 ? In 2013 ? Now ? Are you suggesting we don't have a deficit, it's all a Lib lie.....?"

Don't pull your vacuous 20 questions rubbish on me.

You do talk some rot at times.

You know why we didn't have a recession?

We surfed the post GFC repercussions extremely well - one of the best performances in that economic climate.

How many developed countries who opted for austerity had a recession?

But as you say, the Abbott govt has added to the deficit for no good reason - great stuff from the party who's sailed into office on a gigantic economic scare campaign.

Loudmouth,

The conservatives claim they are the economic masterminds, miracle workers in fact. You can't have it both ways, if a GFC hits during a Labor administration, then its all down to Labor's incompetent economic management. If there is an economic downturn due to the busting of the resources boom, and the conservatives are in power then its not their faults, its beyond their economic control. As I said, you can't have it both ways.

Paul/Poirot,

The Howard government was tossed out in 2007, leaving a multi-billion dollar surplus, and a mineral-oriented booming economy, thanks to high commodity prices. The GFC hit and the Rudd government, then the Gillard government, spent vast amounts on various schemes to keep the economy stimulated. The surplus vanished. The Abbott government inherited a deficit at a time of falling commodity prices, a vanishing manufacturing sector and a wide range of innovative spending programs.

If Labor is re-elected next year, it too will inherit a huge and growing deficit. I realise that might be an unprecedented situation for them since Labor usually inherits surpluses. But the novelty might present exciting challenges for them.

Sometimes I'm glad to be old.

Joe

Joe,

I agree with your first paragraph, "The Howard government was tossed out in 2007 yuda yuda yuda,,"
All good and well to say "Abbott government inherited a deficit yuda yuda, yuda,," We are in agreement about the history.
Now where we may differ! What did these great economic gurus do, when they came to power? Through some blind philosophical belief they tried to hammer the poor and reward the rich, it did not work. Can you not see, this Abbott mob have no grand economic master plan, in fact they have no economic plan at all, its all smoke and mirrors. Economically, Abbott, Hockey, Cormann etc are clueless, the best they can come up with for the economy is a knighthood for Prince Dill! Come on Joe and others, admit it, the people got it wrong voting in these galahs, and now we are all paying the price.
p/s As one of those so called "Lefty's" I wanted Abbott in, and like a dose of castor oil, Abbott has not disappointed, actually this mob have exceeded my wildest expectations. I though it would take about 3 to 6 years for the people to learn what a disaster they had voted for, but they wised up in less than 12 months. What's that about, "You can fool some of the people, all of the time, yuda, yuda, yuda.

The $96 billion “Labor debt” inherited by the Howard Government in 1996 comprised $39.9 billion of Fraser Government debt that carried through the Hawke/Keating period meaning that the true level of Labor debt in 1996 was $56 billion. To pay that $56 billion off, the Howard Government sold almost $72 billion of Government assets meaning the move to negative net debt was not really due to any miraculous and bold fiscal settings, but owed everything to a series of asset sales.

Abbott will never change his spots no matter what he says, being a profound liar, he will again shoot from the hip.

What the libs need is a by election, with gross uncertainty amongst backbenchers you would not blame any one of them from taking another job if the opportunity arises. They all have credibility to protect.

This month will have periods of hilarity to keep us amused, no doubt.
Paid parental leave another broken promise. Abbott says a family package, which will have to come from new money, there is none, so where will it come from, he tried getting money from doctors [ public ] to pay for his med science project.

All Abbott govt; has done is add to the deficit by backing out policy that earns money, to suite his super rich corps.

Abbott, in turning over a new leaf and being all consultative, is going to publicly lay out his agenda today at the NPC - and then take it to a two day Cabinet meeting afterwards.

Business as usual at the PMO

Prince Phillip won't be affected by his Aussie award, but Campbell Newman and the LNP have, in effect, been affected by their 'Aussie Awards'*.

Tony will address the National Press Club today, I'm recording it, mainly so that I can use the Fast Forward function or the Off button at will.

* I got 'effect' and 'affect' into the same sentence!!

Tone, to address the 'National Press Club' today the mood of the audience could be ugly. Is there any other kind of audience for our Tone, even the Cabinet audience are ugly, and those fellas are Tony's pretend mates.
Tone, all I can suggest to lighten up the audience today, tell em's a funny one to start with. Like a joke about a Wombat PM and a Prince Dill, that should have em' in stitches! Just don't mention the war! The war your having with the rest of Australia.

Paul1405,

You have a lot of front. The Greens put up 67 candidates in Queensland and none got up.

Score, 67 ducks.

Loudmouth,

"Gross debt was $50 billion when Howard lost, was $273 billion when Rudd lost; is [now] $353 billion.

(Stephen Koukoulas)

Which of those had a GFC to contend with?

At least we know now why Abbott is so unpopular, it’s labor’s fault.
He has not taken one ounce of the blame himself. He is frightened of what is going on while he is not around, and it’s business as usual.
His consultative ambitions are all on paper and I bet that is where it will stay.
He defended no telling any lies or broke any promises.

Poirot,

Obviously any government after the GFC. Any Treasurer would have known, keeping the GFC in mind, that he would have had to keep spending, i.e. any new spending programs (and certainly any Grand Schemes), within tight bounds, and any Treasurer suspecting an imminent drop in commodity prices would have steeled himself for a harsh, unpopular budget, with no new freebies and perhaps the termination of others.

Hence a spending of the surplus and the emergence, and rapid growth, of the deficit, which any government, Labor or Lib, has to confront.

It's not too late to enrol in Economics 1, at a university near you :)

Joe

'It's not too late to enrol in Economics 1, at a university near you :'

After Swan's promises of numerous surpluses I thunk unis have failed dismally.

Loudmouth,

Lol!...."It's not too late to enrol in Economics 1, at a university near you :)

There is no instance of a large economy getting to growth through austerity.

http://www.theage.com.au/business/in-praise-of-stimulus-20100808-11q8e.html

"THE great recession of 2008 reached the furthest corners of the earth. Here in Australia, they refer to it as the GFC - the global financial crisis. Kevin Rudd, who was prime minister when the crisis struck, put in place one of the best-designed Keynesian stimulus packages of any country.

He realised it was important to act early, with money that would be spent quickly, but that there was a risk the crisis would not be over soon. So the first part of the stimulus was cash grants, followed by investments, which would take longer to put into place.

Rudd's stimulus worked: Australia had the shortest and shallowest of recessions of the advanced industrial countries. But, ironically, attention has focused on the fact that some of the investment money was not spent as well as it might have been, and on the fiscal deficit that the downturn and the government's response created.

For an American, there is a certain amusement in Australian worries about the deficit and debt: Australia's deficit as a percentage of GDP is less than half that of the US; its gross national debt is less than a third."

(I'll let Stiglitz know about Economics 1:)

Hi Poirot,

Can you get into uni without the points ? Good luck.

Well, as for austerity, there's New Zealand. And Britain after about 1986. And, in reality, China from the year dot.

As for growing economies from a position of utter destitution and continued spending, there's ........

Nope, can't think of one economy. Nazi Germany maybe.

If you can't get officially into uni, try sitting at the back of the lecture theatre from March 1st, armed with a copy of Samuelson, Hancock and Wallace, or Lipsett, or anything by Frank Stilwell, or any standard first-year textbook. Stay for the bits about income and expenditure, and government revenue and outlay, they're worth the wait.

If only Wayne Swan had done the same :(

Joe

Oh and can you explain to this simpleton why Hockey has added $80 billion to the deficit in 18 months?

Is there a GFC I've missed...a stimulus?

Hi Poirot,

No probs: commodity prices have fallen dramatically in 18 months. Hence less tax. Hence less revenue. Hence bigger gap between committed expenditure and revenue received.

You might have to wait until Week 2 of Eco 1. The tutes are really valuable, don't miss them :)

Joe

That right Loudmouth, less tax as Abbott's multinational mates get away with paying less than 1% tax. So much for Tax Em' Tony!

Beach, I thought you would still be shell shocked, with one of your hero's, 'Hard Boiled' Newman getting unceremoniously rolled the way he did. Good on the Greens for being able to run 67 candidates, giving 170,00 plus voters a democratic alternative choice. Did your mob run any candidates? Was the Jason Deller your pick? He fits the mould.

I say Paul, Loudy,

Did yer catch Abbott's crappy speech to the NPC?

Drrrripping with slogans and not much else, it was delivered to his backbenchers in an effort to stop them hauing out the catapult.

He's still a goner, but they're going to have to lever him out.

Should be entertaining.

And Lol!, Joe....you waffled on about the nasty debt Labor left - didn't mention the GFC - but when I enquire about LNP debt, out yer come with:

"... commodity prices have fallen dramatically in 18 months. Hence less tax. Hence less revenue. Hence bigger gap between committed expenditure and revenue received."

Oh, you mean there was a reason?

So Hockey gave the RBA nearly $9 billion buckeroos because - commodity prices falling?

Poirot,

What's your point ? Commodity prices have fallen, tax revenue falls. But spending commitments stay the same, so ..... surprise ! Bigger deficit. QED.

And yes, Abbott will be gone by the end of the week. Who are you going to slag then ? Is that your concept of 'politics', Abbott or not-Abbott ? Oh dear, perhaps you need to enrol in Politics 1 as well :(

Joe

Loudmouth,

"And yes, Abbott will be gone by the end of the week. Who are you going to slag then ? Is that your concept of 'politics', Abbott or not-Abbott ? Oh dear, perhaps you need to enrol in Politics 1 as well"

Why should I not criticise Abbott?

The Likes of you wouldn't dream of critiquing his debacle of a tenure.

If you cared to troll though my old posts, you'd find a fair amount of critique of Gillard from me.

As I mentioned, regarding this crop of LNP pollies - campaigning as moderates and morphing into extremists upon taking govt, deserves some commentary.

Lol!...Freudian Slip...

"troll" should be "trawl".

I think the Queensland election results
were truly amazing. Who would have thought
that Labor would gain so many seats and that
the Premier would get booted out of his own
electorate.

I wonder if the Federal Liberal Party has learned
anything at all from this. It was obvious that Mr
Abbott hasn't from his speech to the National
Press Club. We were given the same old spiel -
"It's All Labor's Fault!"
And the same old rhetoric.
It's sad to have a PM so out of touch with Modern
Australia.

When are the real changes that so desperately need to be
made going to be seriously discussed and implemented.
You can bet it won't be with the current PM running the
show. That was so obvious from his same-old-spiel.

I hope we don't have to wait too long for the axe to fall on Abbott, as I am sick of the groveling tone in his voice now.

The trouble is the Libs don't seem to have anyone willing to accept the poison chalice of Liberal leadership.
I too was quite surprised with how bad they did in Queensland, but also shocked that some people in Queensland have allowed Pauline Hansen to have another go at being a politician.
At least Jacqui Lambie won't feel so alone now.....

Poirot, Abbott's got a new name it 'Termite' once he gets in you can't get him out. Yes the speech was nauseating at best, down right sicking at worse.

Joe, you don't need to enroll in some namby pamby political cause, just get yourself down to the nearest shopping centre street corner on a Saturday morning and listen to what real voters have to say. In NSW the people have the same message for Bugsy Baird and the North Shore Liberal Mafia (Abbott and Hockey are both members) as the voters of Queensland delivered to Hard Boiled Newman last weekend.
Labor may not win the state election here in March, they are just as corrupt as the Liberal's, but they will give it a shake.

One for the Green hating Beach, our chances in Newtown just skyrocketed as the out of touch Baird, posted 40 eviction letters to locals for his $20 billion 'Westconnex' project. There were about 2000 people protesting in King Street Sunday, telling Baird what they think of him, the Liberal candidate was nowhere to be seen! The Greens are strong supporters of the local community and its people power that we want, not political power as exercised rough shod by the likes of Abbott, Newman and Baird.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/westconnex-protest-brings-1500-newtown-locals-out-to-voice-their-objections-20150201-13322y.html

Paul,

You are so right, the voters don't really have a choice at all.

The Abbott factor is taking it’s toll in NSW. The greatest wreaker of all times is loose in the community, unless it can be captured and disposed of in a hurry NSW will be the next in line for political destruction, and all caused by a loose cannon. That is what you get for to much high tech equipment and robotics, they grow a mind of their own.

Hi Is Mise,

Things going on in NSW. The Shooters Parties Bob Borsak has accused the Liberal Attorney General Brad Hazzard of an attempted bribe. The top cops are attacking each other. Its all happen'n here in the number one state for corruption New South Wales.

http://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2015/01/31/bribery-allegations-against-brad-hazzard-to-close-down-police-judicial-corruption-inquiry-have-to-be-investigated/

Kangaroo Court, good web site, full of juicy stuff!

Joe Hockey today says you can't just remove a prime-minister over knighting the DoE.

The myopia! Joe represents the entire cabinet, presumably. It really is a case of remove Abbott or get removed as a government. In his stepped-up, staged public appearances Abbott now looks as calm as a cat on a hot tin roof. He and his cabinet just don't get it.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-03/lewis-woods-abbott-is-losing-the-competence-contest/6066056

PS Why isn't Shallow Minister here defending his man? Perhaps even he sees the problem, or, Rupert ordered him to desist.

"...It really is a case of remove Abbott or get removed as a government...."

Can't put it any more succinctly than that.

Luciferase, poor Shadow may well be suffering from a severe bout of the ague following the latest revelations about his beloved Tone, I certainly hope not, but should he be, all I can suggest for the good lad, to returning him to his sparkling best, is a Bex, a cuppa tea and a good lie down, in that order. It worked wonders for me old Granny!

The coalition have failed to quell debt and backing out policy that brought revenue in by 6 billion $ surely is a disaster.

We were promised extraordinary results. Labor had the budget at reasonable levels, since LNP lied their way to power debt has run rampant. They have created debt at unprecedented levels, and in very short time.

The LNP let their leader have his way without obstruction, it has failed miserably. Good long term policy backed out, has done nothing but add to the deficit. We need a govt; with a plan not slogans.
Slogans are good for propaganda but will not run a nation, and Abbott wanted to give rich parents the welfare they deserve, according to him.
A health science project was proposed, but there is no new money, so what do they do ,they pull it away from medicare to fund their proposal. That means the small people pay the bill. That was tried but failed, and rightly so.

Their greatest achievement for the past 16 months was backing out revenue of 6 billion $, incredible.

Great link there Houlebeck :)
I can honestly imagine Tony writing all that!

I especially liked all the measures he and PETA discuss to take the heat off Tony....the Dealth Cult may just do it...

Bets are on. I reckon it's pack ya bags, Tones.

The decision that the Liberal Party is
now faced with is - what do they have to
lose in keeping Mr Abbott as leader?

Whether they are prepared to risk that loss
is up to them to decide.

Public opinion dictates the removal of Mr Abbott.

While we are in awards mode. This weeks 'Stunned Mullet' Award goes to Campbell 'Hard Boiled' Newman for losing the unloseable election. Stay tuned for next weeks award, 'Our Tone' is a leading contended for a second 'Stunned Mullet' for the month, having already pick one up for the peoples reaction to the knighting of Prince Dill! It will look nice on the mantelpiece with the numerous 'Wally' Awards he has already collected.

Paul1405,

To your one 'stunned mullet' I raise you 67 big fat ducks. The Greens put up 67 candidates in Queensland and none, nil, nada got up.

The comedy highlight of the Queensland election was Greens Larissa Waters very much out of her depth on Q&A and doing a very good imitation of Nancy Reagan on one of her not-quite-with-it days. The lights were on but there was definitely no-one at home. This is the same Larissa that The Courier Mail challenged for her big spend on an already swish executive suite in trendy Paddington,

"GREENS Senator Larissa Waters spent a whopping $414,000 to fit out her trendy Paddington office – more than any of her Queensland political colleagues at the time.

The office, on the top floor of a pristine-condition, split-level building on Given Tce, includes a rooftop patio with timber outdoor furniture and artificial turf."

http://tinyurl.com/mre6ntt

The Greens obviously know how to live. It was most fortunate for the Queensland taxpayer that all of the 67 Greens scored big fat ducks in the Queensland election.

Turnbull probably the best of a bad bunch, even that will cause chaos in the camp. It may even be better if Abbott was allowed to prove himself , give the man a chance.

If you change leaders now most of the front bench would have to go also, Abbott has got it stacked to suite himself, that includes the PM’s office. Turnbull wouldn’t live with that.

Julie is loyal to the PM, but all that could change, they tend to look after number one. No matter what happens we are in for a torrid time, just as well we are equipped with auto PM

579,

Yes, good old Tones makes a point that Julie Bishop is standing beside him on the spill motion.

She is doing such purely on protocol.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-inside-story-of-how-the-liberal-leadership-duo-of-tony-abbott-and-julie-bishop-cracked-20150206-13884m.html

"When Julie Bishop returned to Australia from visiting Afghanistan last week, she could see that Tony Abbott's prime ministership was in serious difficulty.

She phoned him on Thursday last week and told him she was not campaigning for his job. Neither was anyone else, as far as she could see. The deputy offered to work with the leader to improve the government's fortunes. She offered to help him with the major speech he was scheduled to give to the National Press Club the following week.

Abbott, apparently suspicious of Bishop's motives, brushed aside her offers and a tense and sometimes angry conversation followed. Abbott rejected his deputy's help...."

"But after rebuffing Bishop's spontaneous offer of unity last week, Abbott next tried to engineer a forced one this week...."

"In a private conversation before the dinner, Abbott probed Bishop's loyalty. "Come on," she replied, "I shouldn't have to do this. I'm not your problem. You're your own worst enemy." The next morning Fairfax Media reported that Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop, under growing pressure from colleagues to challenge Abbott, were actively considering their options for the first time."

Julie Bishop has obviously given Hartcher the inside running on this - or he wouldn't be quoting her.

OTB,

She had green artificial turf; 'artificial' does shew a certain consistency though.

Is it any wonder that public opinion currently
dictates that the voters have had enough.

The state of affairs in both Victoria and Queensland
clearly show how unhappy voters are with
the current state of political affairs.

It is no longer acceptable (or convincing) for
politicians to talk about the "Age of entitlement"
being over - while they continue to enjoy their
generous perks that include tag-along overseas trips
for spouses, business-class airfares for kids',
chauffer-driven cars, and so on.

According to the Courier-Mail - more than
$35 million was spent on office fit-outs - which
undoubtedly did not include the taxpayer money that
funded a second custom-built bookshelf for the
library of Attorney General George Brandis and also
for the stocking of his library, and lets not forget
the obscene cost of the dinner that was funded by
taxpayers in his hotel in London - all this while
the Treasurer was flagging that the "Age of Entitlement"
was over and that the rest of us should "tighten our
belts" and that coming generations would have to work
until they're 70, and relegating pensioners to the
Budget hit list.

Senator Anne Ruston racked up a $438,800 bill for her
office fit out in South Australia - And what about
Mr Newman? - and the list goes on.

In Queensland the result was remarkable. That Labor should
get from a mere nine seats - to over 40 says it all.
And unless things do change - the "Age of Entitlement" will
indeed be over for those politicians who are deaf or
indifferent to the concerns of the voters. Finger-pointing
no longer works. Not when they're all in the same sinking
boat.

Suseonline ...

Actually, and without trying to justify the award itself or being overly pedantic, Prince Phillip is the husband of the Queen of Australia as well as Queen Elizabeth II being the Queen of other countries. Until Australia makes the decision to separate itself from the Monarchy and become a republic (or some other state structure devoid of the Monarchy, like it or not, Queen Elizabeth II will still be this country's Queen.

Dear JDBris,

So what's your point?

That being the Queen's husband he deserves
to receive the highest award that Australia
has to offer?

The Green vote improvised by almost 10% in the Queensland election. Some on here must be rather peeved that they look like scoring a double whammy as their favorite Queensland son 'Hard Boiled' Newman goes down the gurgler, but to add insult to injury their very own sweetie pie, Pauline (I'm not a racists) Hanson looks sunk as well. Sorry fellas you just can't take a trick at the moment.

Is Mise, are you still smarting because The Greens blasted The Shooter and Hooters Party in NSW with gun control? Your mob wanted to shoot EVERYTHING, and we wanted you to shoot NOTHING. So we compromised, you get to shoot NOTHING, can't be fairer than that.

Then they are the "usual Suspects' from the ultra right, telling us how they never did like TA anyway. Got to admire their loyalty!

Hi Paul,

Yes, the Greens' vote was around 10 %, much higher in more affluent and middle-class seats. As an ex-Marxist, I still think in terms of parties representing (or claiming to represent) classes on the whole, and the Greens clearly represent a sort of up-market petty bourgeoisie, well-educated but not engaged in productive work, dependent on publically-funded jobs, and so divorced from the real world of work, of where public money comes from and where it goes.

In other similarly affluent countries, like Britain or Germany, they also pick up around 10-12 % of the vote, like the old Democrats used to. That might be their limit.

The vote for the Labor Party in Queensland rose by a third or so, picking up thirty five-odd seats. How many seats did the Greens get, out of 67 candidates ?

Joe

Foxy, "..and the list goes on"

No it doesn't. The SA example you gave involved setting up an electoral office in a country area.

Whereas Greens Senator Larissa Waters spent $414,000 outfitting an existing high standard (executive/professional business) top floor of a pristine-condition, split-level building on Given Tce in Paddington. What about the rooftop patio with timber outdoor furniture and artificial turf?

Further, there is oversupply of offices in the suburbs surrounding hipster Paddington and at cheaper rates. There are advertisements in the paper then and now where developers and property managers will offer incentives to lease.

Larissa must not want to rub shoulders with the sort of people who vote for her, unless they are all upper middle class hipsters that is.

Further, this self-important Green had the gall not to bother even responding to The Courier Mail, either before or after publication of this article,

http://tinyurl.com/mre6ntt

Paul,

"Is Mise, are you still smarting because The Greens blasted The Shooter and Hooters Party in NSW with gun control? Your mob wanted to shoot EVERYTHING, and we wanted you to shoot NOTHING. So we compromised, you get to shoot NOTHING, can't be fairer than that."

What twaddle, are the Greens now trying to steal John Howard's thunder?
One also wonders, given the above, why David Shoebridge voted in favour of hunting in National Parks and State Forests?

I see that the blatant lie is still up on the NSW Greens' website.

"Thursday, Dec 18th, 2014
Today's revelation that the gunman at the Sydney siege had a gun licence must lead to tougher gun laws across the country.

NSW Police Commissioner Scipione must immediately explain how a man charged with such serious violent offences retained a gun licence with the NSW Police Firearms Registry.

Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:

"....It is impossible to understand how the NSW firearms registry did not take immediate action to revoke this man's gun licence once he was charged with this offence....Why didn't Commissioner Scipione move to suspend the gunman's licence given the serious charges he faced?"

As has been pointed out these LIES were deliberately posted over two hours after the AFP had publicly corrected their mistake in advising the PM that Monis had a NSW Firearms Licence.

The terrorist in the Lyndt Cafe DID NOT have a licence and yet the Greens persist in pushing the lie.

Tell us, Paul, why is this LIE still up on the site and under 'Policies' not 'Press Releases', as you stated when you implied that it was OK to lie in a press release?
http://nsw.greens.org.au/news/nsw/sydney-siege-shows-tougher-gun-laws-needed-now

Politicians cannot tell
voters to tighten their belts - and that
the "Age of entitlement" is over - while they
themselves continue to indulge in their
generous perks. Hence the situation that
currently exists - we are stuck between a party
that wants severe and unfair cuts and voters
who worry about services. Politicians who are
deaf or indifferent to the concerns of voters -
end up paying a heavy price - as we've currently
seen in Queensland.

The voters in Queensland sent a very clear
message to the LNP. They afterall were the ones
governing - not the Greens.
Victorians sent the same message to the Liberals.
It will be NSW next - and unless things change -
the results at the next federal election will
also prove disastrous for the Liberal Party.

Fox, "Politicians cannot tell voters to tighten their belts - and that
the 'Age of entitlement' is over - while they themselves continue to indulge in their generous perks"

However you stop short of criticisng Greens Senator Larissa Waters who blew $414,000 outfitting an existing, pristine-condition, split-level building on Given Tce in Paddington. In hipster Paddington the executive suites are plush. Not good enough for Greens Senator Larissa Waters though. No roof top garden for her soirees, for starters.

Yet she presents as a young clone of Nancy Reagan in her dotage - lights on but no-one at home. If there is any departure from her script she is lost.

Foxy,

My understanding is that the vote for the Greens went up by a bit more than one per cent, while the vote for Labor went up by (correct me, please, if I'm wrong) 13-15 %. The LNP was on the nose but voters did not turn to the Greens. 10-11 % may be their natural 'class' limit.

It's fascinating, and surprising, to realise that the working class has almost never been particularly revolutionary, much more reformist - and that talk of 'revolution ', or drastic change, or millennial statements of that sort, are usually the preserve of the class upon which the Greens depend, the intellectuals, bureaucrats, public servants, teachers - the publicly-funded petty bourgeoisie. Even Marx and Lenin and Mao and Pol Pot and his cronies came from this class, so it's nothing new. The working class would sooner vote for Katter or Palmer, or even the LNP, than for the Greens or the Socialist Alliance with Terrorists, as is their right.

Just trying to put the Greens into some sort of perspective.

Love,

Joe

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

I agree that the Queensland election was about
the LNP (not the Greens).

After all, the Greens
were not the ones holding power in the Queensland government.

It wasn't me that
brought up the "Green" vote - (although I imagine
that their preferences would probably have gone to
Labor).

The person who did
bring this up tried to point out the cost of what was spent
on a first time Greens' Senator's office fit-out - while making
excuses for the office fit-out of a South Australian Liberal
Senator's office fit-out that was by far - more expensive.

(It was in the country you know - was the given line, you'd think
thw cost would be less in that case - but of course it was
more expensive).
All absurd, and the usual predictable attempt at - diversion.

Best ignored.

Beach, your only upset because your party has to hold meetings in a damp and dingy basement in Tempe (HQ for Jim and Beach and their Aussie First Party) and not only don't you have any members in the Queensland parliament, you don't have any members in any parliament, council, club board, scouts, brownies, not even represented on a CWA committee. I can understand your envy and frustration.
Are you going to run in Newtown, Tempe is next door, almost.

Joe, you are letting your imagination run away with you, looking through your minds eye and trying to stereotype Green voters.

Is Mise there are no lies published on The Greens website, all relevant to the events of the day, and are kept as an historical record for future generations. The only one who lied was your man Tone, he came out with those claims and The Greens responded to the PM.End of story.

Paul,

"Is Mise there are no lies published on The Greens website, all relevant to the events of the day, and are kept as an historical record for future generations. The only one who lied was your man Tone, he came out with those claims and The Greens responded to the PM.End of story."

Abbott was misinformed by the AFP, who misinformed David Sandalplank?
Or was it just a bit of incompetence?
So Abbott was not telling a lie, he was stating something that he believed, on supposedly good authority, to be true.

The Greens do not have that excuse because over two hours before the Greens' lie the truth had been revealed.
It's not the end of the story because this lie will be kept for future reference along with other Green lies.

Tell me about the times that the Shooters' and Fishers' Party MPs have lied, or is that difficult/impossible?

Darn!