Comments on: Tragedy brings the best out of Parliament http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/10/tragedy-brings-the-best-out-of-parliament/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: mirek http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/10/tragedy-brings-the-best-out-of-parliament/#comment-18983 mirek Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-18983 "It’s a shame such a vast tragedy was required to bring out the best in our parliamentarians, but it did. Yesterday’s condolence speeches, replacing Question Time, were deeply moving and a great credit to the Parliament". Perhaps. As great as this human tragedy of the Victorian fires and the simultaneous one of the Queensland floods, undoubtedly is, isn`t the Government and the Opposition a tiny bit defensive about their ETS scheme that rewards the polluters and promises vast profits to participants, whilst doing little, too little, to reverse global warming? This is a classic exercise in diverting attention and politicking!<br />Julia Gillard`s voice breaking in emotion as she delivers condolences; is this the same voice that proclaimed sternly that "Israel has a right to defend itself" as lives of men, women and children were stuffed out under a cowardly Israeli assault on Gaza, just last month? Is this massive hypocrisy,a double standard, or is there a stronger word in the English language? Throughout that carnage, only the Greens condemned it whilst the PM remained silent. I certainly hope that the fires of Victoria will not cleanse, nor the floods of Queensland wash away the shame that the Australian Parliament brought upon itself. Certainly, the victims in Victoria and Gaza stand in stark juxtaposition as a challenge to our humanity. “It’s a shame such a vast tragedy was required to bring out the best in our parliamentarians, but it did. Yesterday’s condolence speeches, replacing Question Time, were deeply moving and a great credit to the Parliament”. Perhaps. As great as this human tragedy of the Victorian fires and the simultaneous one of the Queensland floods, undoubtedly is, isn`t the Government and the Opposition a tiny bit defensive about their ETS scheme that rewards the polluters and promises vast profits to participants, whilst doing little, too little, to reverse global warming? This is a classic exercise in diverting attention and politicking!
Julia Gillard`s voice breaking in emotion as she delivers condolences; is this the same voice that proclaimed sternly that “Israel has a right to defend itself” as lives of men, women and children were stuffed out under a cowardly Israeli assault on Gaza, just last month? Is this massive hypocrisy,a double standard, or is there a stronger word in the English language? Throughout that carnage, only the Greens condemned it whilst the PM remained silent. I certainly hope that the fires of Victoria will not cleanse, nor the floods of Queensland wash away the shame that the Australian Parliament brought upon itself. Certainly, the victims in Victoria and Gaza stand in stark juxtaposition as a challenge to our humanity.

]]> By: David Sanderson http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/10/tragedy-brings-the-best-out-of-parliament/#comment-18984 David Sanderson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-18984 I agree that many of the speeches were excellent and all were heartfelt. Julia Gillard's was particularly moving.<br /><br />We do our shared humanity a disservice if we automatically ascribe cynical motives to politicians at a time like this. Automatic cynicism is just as foolish and unintelligent as excessive credulity. I agree that many of the speeches were excellent and all were heartfelt. Julia Gillard’s was particularly moving.

We do our shared humanity a disservice if we automatically ascribe cynical motives to politicians at a time like this. Automatic cynicism is just as foolish and unintelligent as excessive credulity.

]]> By: David Grice http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/10/tragedy-brings-the-best-out-of-parliament/#comment-18985 David Grice Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-18985 Bernard, I often agree with your articles, but Turnbull was a shocker during the condolence debate.<br />Turnbull said 3 words are needed to define our response to these tragic fires. He totally avoided mentioning 3 words definitely needed STOP CLIMATE CHANGE. <br /><br />We all know that the scientist say extreme fire days can happen 300% more often if we do not take action on climate change. (CSIRO, Climate Change Impacts on Australia and the Benefits of Early Action to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Preston and Jones, 2006) (Bushfire Weather in Southeast Australia: Recent Trends and Projected Climate Change Impacts. Lucas et al 2007.)<br /><br />Our politicians (Turnbull being a key player) have directly helped Bush delay world action on this and they continue to delay real and effective action to this climate emergency. When will they admit a particular tragic fire event is due to their support for no action? When will they accept responsibility for increasing the frequency of these events? 300% increase means that a least 2 out of 3 extreme fire events will be due to climate change. In other words, political inaction to stop climate change will be responsible for most of these appalling tragedies.<br /><br />Our PM has said those appalling fire bugs are mass murderers. What are politicians who accept the science, accept the predictions from that science and yet continue to offer only pathetic responses to stopping climate change? By all means continue to treat the symptoms, but if they do no take action on the underlying CAUSE, then why are you not as culpable as those fire bugs? Who are the mass murderers in this situation? Bernard, I often agree with your articles, but Turnbull was a shocker during the condolence debate.
Turnbull said 3 words are needed to define our response to these tragic fires. He totally avoided mentioning 3 words definitely needed STOP CLIMATE CHANGE.

We all know that the scientist say extreme fire days can happen 300% more often if we do not take action on climate change. (CSIRO, Climate Change Impacts on Australia and the Benefits of Early Action to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Preston and Jones, 2006) (Bushfire Weather in Southeast Australia: Recent Trends and Projected Climate Change Impacts. Lucas et al 2007.)

Our politicians (Turnbull being a key player) have directly helped Bush delay world action on this and they continue to delay real and effective action to this climate emergency. When will they admit a particular tragic fire event is due to their support for no action? When will they accept responsibility for increasing the frequency of these events? 300% increase means that a least 2 out of 3 extreme fire events will be due to climate change. In other words, political inaction to stop climate change will be responsible for most of these appalling tragedies.

Our PM has said those appalling fire bugs are mass murderers. What are politicians who accept the science, accept the predictions from that science and yet continue to offer only pathetic responses to stopping climate change? By all means continue to treat the symptoms, but if they do no take action on the underlying CAUSE, then why are you not as culpable as those fire bugs? Who are the mass murderers in this situation?

]]> By: Tom McLoughlin http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/10/tragedy-brings-the-best-out-of-parliament/#comment-18986 Tom McLoughlin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-18986 The best of parliament is just words, words, words. <br /><br />Politicians are natural actors. Of course they know how to express grief, along with every other aspect of the human condition. They are well paid actors. <br /><br />My point is this: You wouldn't know if it was sincere or not. You just wouldn't know. And if you think you can pick the difference then you don't really know politics at all! <br /><br />But just remember even if it was totally sincere, it was still on a stage and words, words, words. It's there actions that I will judge them and nothing less. The best of parliament is just words, words, words.

Politicians are natural actors. Of course they know how to express grief, along with every other aspect of the human condition. They are well paid actors.

My point is this: You wouldn’t know if it was sincere or not. You just wouldn’t know. And if you think you can pick the difference then you don’t really know politics at all!

But just remember even if it was totally sincere, it was still on a stage and words, words, words. It’s there actions that I will judge them and nothing less.

]]> By: Edward James http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/10/tragedy-brings-the-best-out-of-parliament/#comment-18987 Edward James Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-18987 At some point this week, we’ll return to politics as usual. Why would we return to that $hit circus Bernard Keane? While Kevin Rudd was almost in tears, and I would feel the sadness of meeting with constituants who have lost everything including any future. Our Australian Prime Minister is still nothing more than a ageing Labor Party politician who served the Beatie government at a time when dirty deeds were allegedly done dirt cheep. There is another Kevin. Kevin Lindeberg a man who has remained unbowed under the weight of powerful, people with influence and something to hide. Unsilenced on the public shame of the the shredding of the Heiner Inquiry documents. Our other Kevin is not alone, there are others who can articulate those obsecure truths which we all of us pay for. Again I say why would we want to go back to a rabble of political point scoreing which has buried any chance we had of the Westminister system of government working for we the Peoples. Some times the lack of political will pales into insignifigane when up against the determnation of a few bent politicians intent on exercising their influence in their own best interest. Edward James <br /> At some point this week, we’ll return to politics as usual. Why would we return to that $hit circus Bernard Keane? While Kevin Rudd was almost in tears, and I would feel the sadness of meeting with constituants who have lost everything including any future. Our Australian Prime Minister is still nothing more than a ageing Labor Party politician who served the Beatie government at a time when dirty deeds were allegedly done dirt cheep. There is another Kevin. Kevin Lindeberg a man who has remained unbowed under the weight of powerful, people with influence and something to hide. Unsilenced on the public shame of the the shredding of the Heiner Inquiry documents. Our other Kevin is not alone, there are others who can articulate those obsecure truths which we all of us pay for. Again I say why would we want to go back to a rabble of political point scoreing which has buried any chance we had of the Westminister system of government working for we the Peoples. Some times the lack of political will pales into insignifigane when up against the determnation of a few bent politicians intent on exercising their influence in their own best interest. Edward James

]]> By: JamesK http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/10/tragedy-brings-the-best-out-of-parliament/#comment-18988 JamesK Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-18988 A sympathetic and suitably kindly piece from Bernard Keane. <br /><br />I saw a recording of Julia Gillard's speech. It was not necessarily eloquent but it was unifying, uplifting and exquisitely pitched. <br /><br />She is all class and hopefully our future Prime Minister.<br /><br />David Grice needs therapy and I hope he acts decisively' on urgent climate change action needed to halt the critical poisonous atmospheric changes in both the cerebral hemispheres between his ears. A sympathetic and suitably kindly piece from Bernard Keane.

I saw a recording of Julia Gillard’s speech. It was not necessarily eloquent but it was unifying, uplifting and exquisitely pitched.

She is all class and hopefully our future Prime Minister.

David Grice needs therapy and I hope he acts decisively’ on urgent climate change action needed to halt the critical poisonous atmospheric changes in both the cerebral hemispheres between his ears.

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