Dear SM,

Rob Oakeshott has got plenty of support in his
electorate. At least that's what I'm told by
family members who live in Port Macquarie and
South West Rocks. The only way that his electorate
might vote against him is if he doesn't deliver
on some of the promises that were made. And, for that
we'll have to wait and see. Overall, his performance,
to date has been credible - and acceptable to the majority
of his constituents. And, as I said, that's from
people who know him and live in his electorate.

As for his application for the position of Speaker.
Well, his motives may well be the best of intentions,
(to drive parliamentary reforms), but realistically,
both you and I know that at present that position
happens to be taken. In a way, it would be extremely
unfair to the current Speaker to oust him out of a
job that he's performed satisfactorily. However, I
guess this is politics - and what's fair in politics?
We'll have to wait and see what develops. However,to
blame a man for applying for a job - is a bit tenious
at best, and rather narrow - in my opinion.

Shadow Minister refers to " attempts to get involved with the labor cabinet" regarding Rob Oakeshott.

No such thing happened. He was offered a position on the cabinet, which he REFUSED.

Shadow Minister, what is this problem you have with the "truth"?

I grow weary of Shadow Ministers confrontation, question his balance even his reason for stretching the truth.
However if it becomes other than his right OLO is not a place for free speech.
We here often ignore posters who seem lost, in taking the bait we give SM a reason for threads like this, who posted sleeping your way to the top?
Look at the last twenty threads started by our SM ask your self this, why bother?
Why respond.
Are we to be side tracked from our future? this unique Parliament is full of promise and threats but we just may get some things done.
Rudd is back doing very well in his post that was made for him.
Take no notice of the constant confrontation it is the only true policy conservatives have.

Jockey,

Are you stating that you know that RO did not ask for a cabinet position? Because it is pretty clear that he requested the position and was forced to turn it down, as happened with the speaker position.

Belly,

It takes two to tango, and much of what you have said has been pure conjecture, much of which has proved to be false.

“Is Mr. Oakeshott testing Mr. Abbott? Does he want to expose him as a person who does not intend to keep his word? One of the complaints that the independents raised was their lack of trust of Mr. Abbott.” If this was not his intent, it has been the outcome of what he did. Mr. Abbott desire to rule knows no bounds. He has shown that he is willing to do anything to win. Mr. Abbott half heartily agree to the demands, knowing that he would find it easy to dump his promises whenever it suits him. Mr. Abbott is not willing to respect the voter’s desires and give Labor a fair go. Mr. Abbott still believes that the election results are somehow wrong and that he won the right to rule. I am not too sure that Mr; Abbott would know what to do with government if he manages to gain control. He knows that the longer this government survives the harder it will be for him to win

Flo, it's only a matter of time till he's replaced as leader, probably by Malcolm Turnbull. There's nobody else in the Liberal party who possesses even half the capacity of Malcolm Turnbull.

Tony Abbott is living on borrowed time. The knife is coming at some stage.