Posts in ‘Australian Politics’

Nothing you could say would change my mind

Sunday, August 18th, 2013

Unless things pick up this will be a disastrous election for TV stations. In elections not only do they have to spend a lot more covering politics than normal, but this is generally at least partly offset by income from political advertising. I’ve been watching TV for the ad Tsunami, but it is either still […]

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Posted by Graham at 12:22 pm | Comments (1) |
Filed under: Australian Politics

The Local Government Referendum

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

This week, the Parliament has been debating the Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill 2013.  It is the legislation to authorise the amendment of the Constitution to recognise local government.  If the referendum is successful, section 96 of the Constitution will read as follows: During a period of ten years after the establishment of the Commonwealth and […]

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Posted by Nick at 7:23 pm | Comments (6) |

Got any good Joe Richards stories?

Friday, June 14th, 2013

Joe Richards, while at school at Villanova College, Coorparoo, borrowed a priest’s regalia, and took himself up to Loretto College, offering to hear the girls’ confessions. I’m not sure how far he got, but I vaguely remembered the incident when reminded by Janine Walker before our ABC radio spot this morning. She also told me […]

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Posted by Graham at 10:36 am | Comments (5) |
Filed under: Australian Politics

Swan in kamikaze dive into Republican ditch?

Monday, June 3rd, 2013

Someone, I don’t remember who, said that Joh Bjelke-Petersen was behaving like a Victa Lawnmower just before the end because “they always speed up before they run out of gas”. So, if you don’t like the idea of a kamikaze swan, you can opt for the victa lawnmower. Because nothing other than malignant hyperactivity could […]

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Posted by Graham at 8:39 am | Comments (4) |
Filed under: Australian Politics

Adam Goodes

Monday, May 27th, 2013

This morning I read the Sydney Morning Herald’s letters page, which was largely devoted to Adam Goodes’ pointing out a racist slur during an AFL game the other night. The reactions ranged from the typical schtick of the victimhood lobby to the ramblings of someone who tried to explain away Goodes’ being called an “ape” […]

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Posted by Nick at 9:25 am | Comments (10) |

A powerful argument for dumping federal Labor

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

Could there be good reasons for rusted on Labor voters to change their vote to Liberal this election? And if there are, what does it say for the likely poll result, and the responses currently being garnered by pollsters? Former Queensland Council of Unions President Dave Harris is quoted in today’s Courier Mail which says: […]

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Posted by Graham at 11:15 am | Comments (8) |
Filed under: Australian Politics

Fine cuts: some feedback on the public service

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

I haven’t been overwhelmed with responses on public service overmanning, but I’ve had a couple I want to pass on. If you want to add to this, please either leave a comment below, or go to my survey by clicking here. Jane, who has experience of how short term contracts and the recruitment agencies interact […]

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Posted by Graham at 11:31 am | Comments (4) |
Filed under: Australian Politics

Newman hikes workers’ compo insurance 23.4% for video stores

Friday, June 29th, 2012

If the Queensland government is interested in privatising anything, they could do worse than running their ruler over WorkCover. They  must be sensitive about their latest price hike – I’ve never before had a phone call from WorkCover to inform me that my premiums are about to rise. Perhaps they are super sensitive in that […]

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Posted by Graham at 12:53 pm | Comments (3) |

Why 20K Queensland public servants could lose their jobs

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

I’m on Steve Austin’s ABC radio program tomorrow along with former Queensland Labor A-G Cameron Dick. Not sure what we are going to talk about, but there’s a good chance public service cuts will be on the list. I’ve been wondering how Campbell Newman has reached the conclusion that 20,000 public servants have to go, […]

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Posted by Graham at 2:36 pm | Comments (12) |

Newman’s feat not so unique

Sunday, March 25th, 2012

There is precedent for Campbell Newman contesting a seat he as a potential premier when he is not a sitting memebr according to historian, and former Queensland Attorney-General, Denver Beanland. Campbell Newman standing for Premier of Queensland as Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal National Party outside of parliament is not unique, as has been reported. […]

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Posted by Graham at 1:54 pm | Comments (1) |
Filed under: Australian Politics