Shadow Minister

I disagree that Oakeshott is shameful for wanting the position as speaker - he is ambitious.

Unless you equate ambition with shame there is no basis for your topic.

I agree with Graham to a point. However, GY is disappointed that Windsor and Oakeshott sided with Labor so Abbott missed out on being Prime Minister - something that you and other far-right Libs have difficulty accepting.

I believe that what Oakeshott would be a loss as speaker because he would no longer be able to vote - if my understanding of Speaker is correct. I do agree with Jockey that he is a very ethical person. This might be difficult for you to grasp - people can be both ambitious and ethical.

Finally Jockey's maths is spot on. Fact is the Libs would rarely win elections at all if they did not form a coalition with the Nats.

That Labor has had to form an alliance with the Greens is very unusual and indicative of the message most voters (with the exception of the rusted on elements of either side) were sending to both the Labor and Liberal parties.

As for "pork barrelling" and "fantasy projects" the Libs and Labor are guilty of both.

Pot & Kettle?

Dear SM,

"Pork Barrelling," and "Fantasy Projects?"

You mean like the 11 billion dollar blow-out
in the Libs budget found by the Treasury
examiners, or the $1 billion offer made to
the Independent in Tassie for the hospital?
And the $3 billion offers made to the other
three Independents, on top of the $11 billion
blow-out. All promises they guaranteed to keep,
if they get into government.
Or their antiquated "Broadband" scheme - instead
of Cable Broadband, or planting trees ,instead
of the ETS? which is not going to be favourable
with the farmers, who want to clear land to plant
crops. And the list goes on...

Scientist estimates that tree-planting would only
solve less than 20% of the carbon-pollution problem.

From my understanding, most of the Liberal Budget
Estimates savings are based on cuts in public-service,
roads, rail, schools, hospitals, welfare, pensions,
and everything that the country needs to survive.
However if you view these cuts as positive steps in
national development, then definitely we need the
Libs to govern. Luckily most of Australia doesn't
agree with that scenario.

cont'd ...

Sorry, I forgot to add that as for
your statement that the Libs will only
oppose policies they don't agree with?

My goodness, they haven't agreed with
much during their term in Opposition
to date - so according to your theory,
it will be the same old, same old,
tactic, with perhaps even more aggression,
unless they replace Tony Abbott as leader.

As for Rob Oakeshott, as Speaker; what better
person to bring reform to parliament than an
Independent who proposed parliamentary reforms
during the election. And as I stated earlier,
whoever fills this role will have a great chance
to drive the changes for a better parliament.
And that's something we all need.

Shadow Minister says maths is not my strong point. Ok SM, I'll repeat the maths and I ask you to show me where the following figures and statements are inaccurate:

Labor primary vote 37.99%

Liberal primary vote 30.46%

Labor + Greens primary vote 49.75%

Liberals + LNP + Nationals primary vote 43.31%

Labor 2 party preferred vote 50.12%

Liberal/National coalition 2 party preferred vote 49.88%

Election result:

Labor won

Liberals lost

GY hang on bloke focus please this is not the first time you charge in to defend Shadow Minister.
He she has one focus to slag off my side
And I agree Oakshot should not get that job but can you assure us Abbott would not do exactly what Gillard does?
IF Shadow needs help after posts that stretch fairness and balance I am concerned.
2 PP is the measure not much in it, then seats won if Katter is a conservative win if the separate party nationals are,, then greens labor and our independents are ours.
has rob Oakshot got no shame?
Is it so? having a history of not being a national he has lost his honor, why, how?

Jockey, you are factually incorrect. The LNP is a division of the Federal Liberal Party. David Russell is both a member of the LNP Council and a Vice-President of the federal Liberal Party. They have some odd arrangements re: elected members and who they sit with, but you can't count them as not the Liberal Party.

If you are going to start adding all the minor party votes together, then you should go to the two-party preferred where Labor wins by the narrowest of margins.

The country is virtually split right down the middle, and that split is somewhere along a line drawn between Wilsons Promontory and Perth.