Individual wrote, "Be that the case OR NOT" ..... ha ha ha ha, the crazy righties here are still in denial about Tax'Em Tony's lies and deceit. They can't tell fact from fiction. Gee, I hope they never serve on a jury.

Poirot,

I find your assertion that because Peta Credlin discussed her fertility issues in a interview, that any sexist attack on that basis is OK quite offensive. It is the same logic used when people imply that because women wear revealing clothes that a subsequent rape is their fault.

Similar logic would then imply that because Juliar openly used her position as the first female PM, that any sexism she suffered was entirely her own fault. You can't have it both ways. You either oppose sexism or you don't. All I see is boundless spite.

Today's news is evidence before the RC on union corruption that Juliar not only was aware of receiving corrupt union funds, but received a wad of cash. Definitely the most deceitful and apparently crooked PM Australia's ever had.

On Government(s):

You can't please all of the people all of the time;
Maybe you can't even please some of the people all of the time.

But, it may be possible to please most of the people most of the time.

Question is, how to achieve this?
Question #2 is, would such resultant government action always be the best course to follow in the national interest - and, what 'formula' may be applied to determine the 'bona fides' of any appropriate compromise?
Question #3 is, does serving the (majority) public interest also always equate to serving the national interest - or, is compromise an essential requirement for effective overall governance?

a) We need to revise our electoral system to more closely approximate 'first past the post' outcomes (whereby the most preferred is usually elected), by introducing a 'limited' preferential system.

b) We need a national 'Business Charter' determined by experts, which clearly identifies key objectives and spending priorities (as a % of GDP) covering all essential government programs and services - subject to annual review. And, similar Charters for each of the States and Territories.

c) We need Government(s) to adhere closely to the 'Charter', or to fully explain, and canvass response to, any substantial proposed deviations.

d) We need a clear and agreed 'Contract' defining the roles of all three levels of government AND the incontrovertible relationship between, and amongst, all three. As with any contract(s), such roles and relationships to be compulsory and binding in terms of their service(s) to the public and the national interest.

e) Whereas there may be no restriction on interest-groups contributing to the public debate on issues of public and/or national interest, there should be strict conditions to determine which organisations or groups may participate in the electoral process, State or Federal, through the standing of candidates for any election, for any level or house of government - but with lesser, but still specified, conditions applying to the local government electoral process.

We are over-governed, but we are also lacking specifics in what to expect, and who to blame for any 'deficiencies'.

poirot: more of a "Tony Abbott is sensitive new age guy - not anti-woman - vote for him!"

Nah. Woman think of themselves first. It was about her.

Is saying that misogynous. Stiff Chedda,. It's a truism.

SM,

As usual, you miss the point.

I was highlighting your defence of Credlin resting on your opening paragraph where you were bemoaning that "her deeply personal struggle to fall pregnant [was]dragged into the public domain to score cheap parliamentary points..."

You obviously have no problem with Peta Credlin herself using her fertility issues to score party political points - as she most overtly did in promoting Abbott in that "discussion". That was the only reason she did that interview, it's apparent - to plug Tones as a sympathetic ear to women's issues...for votes.

And who do you think you are to ponce around here defending feminine virtue - after your extended blizzard of attacks on Gillard over the years?

I submit you couldn't give a toss about Peta's position in this, except to use it as a stick to beat up on "lefties".

Disingenuous much.

It's a laugh.

I see Shadow Minister is continuing to avoid, at all costs, answering Foxy's post from several pages ago where she pointed out *THIRTY* lies from Tax'Em Tony. SM is obviously incapable of proving these 30 LIES were not lies.

Yes, by his silence Shadow Minister is openly admitting that ToneLIAR is the most deceitful and crooked PM Australia's ever had.