I am amazed that you cannot see this;

1. PM suggests Slipper resign.

2. Slipper resigns.

No motion to remove then necessary.

Where is the sub-judicy ?

One thing is evident despite the empahsis on Left and Right wingers is that the Labor and Liberal party are so closely aligned now on many policy issues that the only avenue left for engagement is on the trite personal comments of politicians, inappropriately used gender cards, he said-she said, hyprocisy and so forth.

It always amuses me to read about the supposed surge of left wingers of which there has not been any sign of in the last 20 years in Australian politics.

A woman interviewed by a journalist after calling an Obama a Communist was asked what she meant by that word and she said she had no idea. I think that sums it up really.

'Pale pink under the beds' does not sound as conclusive nor as derogatory.

Pelican,

You have hit the nail on the head.

What a great (and ultimately simple) analysis!

My problem, and something that has led to my recent disaffection with Aussie politics, stems from that very point - that it became increasingly difficult to differentiate between the two major parties. You're spot-on that all that is left for them to engage in are sniping, puerile and petty put downs...because, in the main, they are both media-driven and beholden to populist politics. ( I will, however, give Labor some kudos for introducing a scheme for the mitigation of human polluting practices - it's a start if nothing else)

Having said that, Mr Abbott inspires absolutely nothing that would make me reassess my Labor leanings. He is no alternative elixir.

(that communist bunkum aimed at Obama was part of a construction cooked up by Fox News under the auspices of Glenn Beck - before he overstepped the mark and was shown the door)

Do those text's that we seen, constitute sexual harassment, or has the goal posts shifted again.
200+ text's and we only see a few.
Was there reference to Ashby, or was it just obscene language.
I do not know why the text's were released before a decision, and why just those ones.
I say Ashby has had help in getting to court, by Payne and Abbott.
It seems pretty thin evidence that Ashby was harassed.

579 said;
I do not know why the text's were released before a decision, and why just those ones.

I have read plenty of reports of evidence given in court while the
trial was still in progress.
It is not unusual at all. Why else do we have court reporters ?

I think anyone can get copies of the evidence while the trial is current.
Very occasionally you see a judge suppress evidence from publication.
Do others agree with this ?

Pelican and Poirot,
I disagree, the big difference between the major parties is that Labor are far less compedent in financial management than Liberal. Labor started with about $20 billion in the bank and now has a $187.6 billion loan which must be repaid at some time. This has been because Labor has wasted the money on hair brained schemes which all failed. They have nothing, no infastructure or anything to show for the huge spending.

On the other hand Liberals have a well proven record of financial management.

I think labor puts far to much emphasis on their leader whilst the liberals rely more on cabinet decissions. Rudd's stupidity in reversing policy on the illegal boat arrivals is a classic example.