Is Mise,

I was not referring to the government regarding
tolerance but to - "making a cordial effort to
understand each other's beliefs without necessarily
sharing or accepting them."

.

I see that Matt Thistlethwaite, Federal MP for Kingsford Smith NSW, cumulates three portfolios in the new Albanese federal government :
.

Reporting to the Defence Minister :

1. Assistant Minister for Defence

2. Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
.

Reporting to the Attorney-General :

3. Assistant Minister for the Republic
.

That’s quite a mixed bag – obviously minor portfolios. It makes me wonder just how minor is minor – sinecures, perhaps ?

Assistant Ministers are designated as Parliamentary Secretaries under the Ministers of State Act 1952 :

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Chamber_documents/Senate_chamber_documents/standingorders/d00/Procedural_orders_of_continuing_effect/d08

.

Whitlam/Coombes
ttbn,
Spot-on !

Hi BP,

Matt Thistlethwaite seems a decent bloke, having met him several times when I was living in his electorate of Kingsford Smith. He big in the life savers org.

Indyvidual

We are regressing to the Whitlam days. We go one step forward with a Coalition government, then two steps back with a Labor one. Albo chunters about being like Hawke, but he is more like Whitlam and Rudd. Like Rudd in that he has opened the gates for illegals again with those horrible lawless Sri Lankans, who were knocked back for asylum status 7 times! Yet, here they are, back in a hick town, feted by the local morons, who have collected a quarter of a million dollars for them. The loony left is determined to ruin Australia; republicanism is just part of their plan.

Outdated, undemocratic, a bizarre anachronism -
all these things have been said of the monarchy,
but to many the monarchy remains popular in part
because it has been around for so long that few
can quite imagine what the alternative would
be.

However talking about the republic and debating
the pros and cons does not equate to hatred of the
Queen or the monarchy, or England or be anti-Australian.
If there is to be a change to a republic in Australia
that maintains the Westminster System of responsible
government this will take time, considered thought,
and debate. So it is important to get it right.

Trying to suppress certain opinions because we're
not comfortable with them lowers the bar in a discussion
forum. However through accepting differences and
debating from an equal standing we can do much better
and learn even more than we already do.

The recent election results have illustrated that people
are sick of the same old well worn and tired attempts at
divisiveness - new approaches are needed. And the newly
elected government is attempting to do just that through
consultation, negotiation, and listening.

They should be given a chance to show us what they can do.