Wayne Swan is re-introducing the alcopops legislation into parliament - that legislation was shot down by the barest of margins, with Steve Fielding's vote being the decider.

In my humble opinion it was a dumb piece of revenue-raising legislation that would just encourage young people to buy spirits by the full bottle, which is hardly an improvement, but actually, the merit of the alcopops legislation is only partially relevant to the topic I'm bringing up here.

If the legislation fails again, it will be the trigger for a double dissolution - an early election.

Federal Labor is riding high in the polls, but I'd bet that they're worried that as the recession bites, they'll take a hit.

So it would be very good for them to have an election sooner, rather than later.

They won't mind a bit if they have an early election. The only other outcome, is that they'll get their tax, which would raise $26 billion over four years (so they say. Says a lot about the state of alcohol consumption in Australia).
Given their recent broadband announcements, I imagine they could use the money. So it's a win-win for Labor.

But, regardless of whether you agree with the legislation, isn't it a bit rich to simply ignore the will of parliament?

In regards to legislation, my view is that regardless of whether I agree with it, if it gets shot down in parliament, you either change it significantly or take your lumps and go home.

Labor is doing neither. They're charging back in, like a pissed off bull.

Look, I'm hardly going to vote for the opposition party while it includes the likes of MPs such as Abbott, Andrews and Pyne.
But as was the case with the Bligh government's contemptuous decision to call an election, this kind of politicking really pisses me off, and causes me to direct my vote to whatever third party I can.

Is this cynical manipulation, and would you punish Labor for it? (And yes, of course Howard did similar things, but that's not what this is about).

More here: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25337918-601,00.html

You bet he is.They will go for an early election this year.What they have of do is cut taxes and reduce the size of Govt.It was not until after WW2 did the Great Depression end.People lived in real hardship from the 30's to the 50's and it was not until Govt cut taxes by 33% and it's spending likewise,did the good times return.

The Rudd Govt cannot spend it's way out of recession or borrow it's way out of debt.It is a balanced free enterprise system that creates prosperity.Kevin must secure alternative energy systems,stop preditory pricing and get the banks to pass on interest rate cuts.

We now have less competition in the banks and they are screwing us once again.

re the alco pops thing[they were overpriced before and are more over priced to come[but bying a four pack was plenty to have a good social night out...now its cheaper to buy a botle of straight spirit

but polititions love tax to save us from our selves[its all about revenue raising from those who have no voice[like smokers]who are vilified then taxed,standard opperating procedure for the two party farce

please note the poor get the taxes[noting no tax on whine drank by the rich[thus also no vilification on the whine drinkers,who run the two party farce[what happend to no tax without representation[oh thats usa ..lol

anyhow re the double trouble dis-solution,that wont be re the/revenue raising neo-tax con[that will be re/carbon credits[the greens cant support the low number

[and the libs half know its a con,but arnt rebutting the non-debate we never had on the topic..

[so the double/trouble-disolution comes[and labourites get back in with a mandate to bring in the neo-tax..[for the derivitives/scammers next derivitive/scam..[the_carbon_tax]..lol

and people think they had their say in the demon[mock]racy..via auto-rat-tic demon mokery;..the two/party farce pretends to be demo-c-rat-tic

[people dont know the beuro-roc-rats run the two party farce,for the unspeakable shadow-govt[big buisness and bankers via the media and law societies run by the teutronic zionista builder/burgers and masons

its all a joke[your vote is a defacto power..of atourney..you give as a legal imbisile..for others to take care of your affairs...lol..[ie to tax you and percicute and criminalise your kids]

via the real sepperation[lol]of powers,state fed and council[are we over governed..you bet,..but soon the un is going to bring its carbon tax[globally via the imf,and nothing govt going to do but make it legal,...

for them to tax you into serfdom and perpetual bondage..[while your omnipotant over/lords lord it over you with their free big busins-ness tax egsemptions..[and no doudt further bonus and yet more tax cuts..[for them...lol,..while you get a casual fixed contracted wage,

you think is income..and pay income tax on[its not wage tax its income tax]..but heh with free govt re/education you get what you earned..[demon mockracy]..history...never..learned

Sorry OUG, I find your post virtually unintelligible, perhaps you could try writing it in a more structured form?
I don't think TinTin will use this YET, he will wait for a more advantageous situation, when Mal-mouth has shot himself in the foot in some spectacular fashion, and I suspect that's bound to happen.
I wonder if the Libs have ever had a leader who was more out-of-touch with the general population than Turnbull?
I think Labor will go early, just not yet, and it will probably be a double, to try ridding themselves of the Independents in the Senate, but I reckon that will blow up in their faces in the end, we could easily see MORE Independents elected.
Did you know that if you put both parties last on your ballot, it's almost impossible for them to seize your pref's?
And that it's a crime under the electoral act to publicise that fact during an election?
A bloke in Melbourne was prosecuted for it during the election before last, under Little Jonnie. He did a letter-drop explaining it, and was fined thousands and threatened with gaol. Go Democracy!

I doubt they will call a DD over alcopops. The emissions trading scheme or the broadband rollout would be more likely DD triggers.

TRTL wrote
"isn't it a bit rich to simply ignore the will of parliament?"

You mean the will of one unrepresentative independent dont you?

I figure just taxing alco-pops only transfers teenagers to other spirits as TRTL points out. If the governemnt is serious about alcohol and binge drinking it would tax the whole gamut of products out there. I don't expect this will happen due to the risk of election backlash and Australia's entrenched drinking culture.

That said, the idea that a DD over such an issue is a bit bewildering and looks to be taking advantage of Turnbull's low opinion polling, or maybe they are hoping it goes through with Coalition support given that there is no advantage to the Libs for a DD at this time.