Comments on: Malcolm Turnbull, my part in his Liberal conversion http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Matthew Hingerty http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35998 Matthew Hingerty Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:27:01 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35998 Right on Mr Squid. The reason that Liberals like me and Andrew Robb felt comfortable in 1999 was that it was about replacing a by-birth-right English-born ceremonial head of state with an elected Australian-born ceremonial head of state, with the Parliament's role undiminished. A popularly elected President? A FOURTH level of Government? (Sorry, FIFTH if we get our "Bill of Rights") Leave me out. Matt H Right on Mr Squid. The reason that Liberals like me and Andrew Robb felt comfortable in 1999 was that it was about replacing a by-birth-right English-born ceremonial head of state with an elected Australian-born ceremonial head of state, with the Parliament’s role undiminished.

A popularly elected President? A FOURTH level of Government? (Sorry, FIFTH if we get our “Bill of Rights”)

Leave me out.

Matt H

]]> By: Jillian Blackall http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35657 Jillian Blackall Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:14:05 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35657 Matt Hingerty, 'Labor couldn’t staff their booths in Wollongong.' How outrageous is that? Things like that should be pointed out more often. I was in Cook for the 'yes' campaign on the referendum day. Mr Squid, I agree it's very bad that we are going to have an uphill battle to get a republic without a direct election or similar model. I don't know whether you can entirely blame John Howard for that though. Howard, as a monarchist, was always going to oppose any republic. Labor, as mostly republicans, could have been expected to show more support in the 1999 referendum. Matt Hingerty, ‘Labor couldn’t staff their booths in Wollongong.’ How outrageous is that? Things like that should be pointed out more often. I was in Cook for the ‘yes’ campaign on the referendum day.

Mr Squid, I agree it’s very bad that we are going to have an uphill battle to get a republic without a direct election or similar model. I don’t know whether you can entirely blame John Howard for that though. Howard, as a monarchist, was always going to oppose any republic. Labor, as mostly republicans, could have been expected to show more support in the 1999 referendum.

]]> By: Mr Squid http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35642 Mr Squid Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:27:19 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35642 the sad thing is not so much that we didn't get a republic, but that howard and his toadies have ensured that the inevitable next time round we will more than likely get a very radical and, to me, entirely unsatisfactory and dangerous, result. It will be another result bred of Howard short-termism. the sad thing is not so much that we didn’t get a republic, but that howard and his toadies have ensured that the inevitable next time round we will more than likely get a very radical and, to me, entirely unsatisfactory and dangerous, result. It will be another result bred of Howard short-termism.

]]> By: AR http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35641 AR Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:19:13 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35641 MatH - as on so many issues, Bumber & Co adopted the small target, terrified to adhere to anything within cooee of a principle. Their forebears will give them hell in ...wherever. MatH - as on so many issues, Bumber & Co adopted the small target, terrified to adhere to anything within cooee of a principle. Their forebears will give them hell in …wherever.

]]> By: Robert Hogg http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35629 Robert Hogg Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:26:56 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35629 I nearly let this one go. But the narrow historical perspective from Greg Barns was too much. The battle re the Republic campaign was lost well before the actual referendum. It was lost when Malcolm accepted Howard's model for the Convention. This was despite the Republican movement's executive's decision that Malcolm should advise Howard we did not and would not accept the process he proposed. We saw it - as it was - a recipe for failure. Malcolm ignored that decision. At the best Howard simply gulled him and dudded the movement. Dave Britton was no casual observer. He worked full time on the campaign for a Republic and did his best, with a bad call, to help elect delegates to the 'designed to fail convention'. Like Dave, I'm sure Malcolm hawked his wares to the ALP. Some how it that appears there was a collective ALP view - not for us thank you. So that narrowed his options somewhat. Cheers, Bob Hogg - I was a member of the "Republic movement's executive in Constitutional Convention phase of the campaign. I nearly let this one go. But the narrow historical perspective from Greg Barns was too much. The battle re the Republic campaign was lost well before the actual referendum. It was lost when Malcolm accepted Howard’s model for the Convention. This was despite the Republican movement’s executive’s decision that Malcolm should advise Howard we did not and would not accept the process he proposed. We saw it - as it was - a recipe for failure. Malcolm ignored that decision. At the best Howard simply gulled him and dudded the movement. Dave Britton was no casual observer. He worked full time on the campaign for a Republic and did his best, with a bad call, to help elect delegates to the ‘designed to fail convention’. Like Dave, I’m sure Malcolm hawked his wares to the ALP. Some how it that appears there was a collective ALP view - not for us thank you. So that narrowed his options somewhat.
Cheers, Bob Hogg - I was a member of the “Republic movement’s executive in Constitutional Convention phase of the campaign.

]]> By: Matthew Hingerty http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35557 Matthew Hingerty Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:04:55 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35557 A good article by Greg and accords with my memories from my role as a bit-player in the Yes campaign. I was lucky enough to observe some of those high-level strategy meetings between Greg, Malcolm and the the Labor aristocracy and there was a real oil-and-water feel to it all. They seemed more comfortabble with Andrew Robb because they understood his poltical motives - allow Liberals and Nationals to vote yes without feeling guilty and permanently alienated from their parties. Greg's article raises an important question - who really killed the Republic? I'll never forget diligently and somewhat self-destructively running around arranging polling booths in Sydney's North Shore (where we had some success), only to be told that Labor couldn't staff their booths in Wollongong! Thanks to them I had to put up with the rantings of a Citizens Electoral Council worker all day on my Castle Hill polling booth (he was going to have me hung for treason) - without the support of a burley CFMEU type. Even a Balmain basket-weaver would have done to place in the line of fire. But I can't help laughing out loud these days when I hear Labor-types ranting against John Howard for "killing the Republic". Ok, he didn't make it easy but it could have been won if Labor had bothered to lift a finger. Matt Hingerty A good article by Greg and accords with my memories from my role as a bit-player in the Yes campaign. I was lucky enough to observe some of those high-level strategy meetings between Greg, Malcolm and the the Labor aristocracy and there was a real oil-and-water feel to it all. They seemed more comfortabble with Andrew Robb because they understood his poltical motives - allow Liberals and Nationals to vote yes without feeling guilty and permanently alienated from their parties.

Greg’s article raises an important question - who really killed the Republic? I’ll never forget diligently and somewhat self-destructively running around arranging polling booths in Sydney’s North Shore (where we had some success), only to be told that Labor couldn’t staff their booths in Wollongong! Thanks to them I had to put up with the rantings of a Citizens Electoral Council worker all day on my Castle Hill polling booth (he was going to have me hung for treason) - without the support of a burley CFMEU type. Even a Balmain basket-weaver would have done to place in the line of fire.

But I can’t help laughing out loud these days when I hear Labor-types ranting against John Howard for “killing the Republic”. Ok, he didn’t make it easy but it could have been won if Labor had bothered to lift a finger.

Matt Hingerty

]]> By: Mr Squid http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35553 Mr Squid Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:54:13 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/08/26/malcolm-turnbull-my-part-in-his-liberal-conversion/#comment-35553 the story was written by glenn milne. why would anyone believe it in the first place? the story was written by glenn milne. why would anyone believe it in the first place?

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