Tips for Tony Abbott
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This would have to be one of the most infuriatingly incompetent Oppositions I’ve ever seen. There are two huge opportunities for the Coalition to inflict serious damage on the Government at the moment, and it is wholly ignoring one and feebly prosecuting the other. Today, at least, the national broadsheet moved on the absolute disgrace of the Government’s quarter-billion-dollar gift to the free-to-air television networks — although the story could and should have been written 24 hours earlier and it still missed the point Glenn Dyer made on Monday, that the a big chunk of the handout will go directly to senior free-to-air executives. The Opposition has not touched the issue. No questions about what discussions were held between the Government and FreeTV, none about whether Wayne Goss met with Kevin Rudd on the issue. Nothing about why there is no requirement of any kind placed on the free-to-airs. At least the car manufacturers have to make green cars for their taxpayer handouts. Doubtless the Coalition is deeply concerned about offending the free-to-air networks, but it rather makes a mockery of Tony Abbott’s claim that under him the Coalition was going to start being a fair dinkum Opposition. Given he has opposed pretty much everything from the Government since he became leader, this sticks out like a sore thumb. And then there’s the peculiar case of Peter Garrett and the Green Loans and foil insulation debacle yesterday. The Green Loans program has been a victim of its own appeal, true, but Garrett has been badly let down by his bureaucrats, who have botched these programs. The Green Loans problems should have been foreseen. The foil insulation issue is more complicated, because — and blink and you’ll miss this in the press coverage — foil insulation has been in widespread use in new housing long before the Government’s program started. Even so, lives have been lost. Word in bureaucratic circles for many months has been that the Environment Department, these days run by Robyn Kruk, previously Morris Iemma’s top bureaucrat in Health and Premier and Cabinet in NSW, has been struggling with the massive expansion in its program administration role under Labor. Garrett has executive and management experience after two stints as Australian Conservation Foundation but no background overseeing program administration. With more admissions coming from Environment bureaucrats at Estimates about the implementation of the Green Loans program and Garrett announcing a ban on foil insulation, he should have been a prime target in Question Time yesterday. The minutes ticked by after we gathered at 2pm. Early questions were on the Coalition’s ETS electricity price rise campaign. Then they shifted to Mike Kaiser. Then to asylum seekers. There was confusion in the gallery. Why wasn’t Garrett, looking less than his normal relaxed self, being targeted? Finally, nearly 90 minutes into Question Time, at the last Opposition question, Abbott rose and asked Garrett about home insulation. Since then there has been a steady stream of Coalition backbenchers demanding Garrett resign. Sorry guys, but you don’t get gifted resignations. You have to earn them through Parliamentary pressure, and one question at the fag-end of QT ain’t pressure. Four questions and a censure motion is more like it. Maybe they can give that a go today. Two more days and Garrett will be in the clear when Parliament rises. |
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47 Comments
Madonna King put on a much more aggressive questioning of Peter Garrett on this morning’s ABC-612 Brisbane. It went on and on and Peter Garrett seemed rattled and adopted the Penny Wong defense, and consequently, even if his statements were true, it was a bit of an audience put-off.
Agree they are lacking teeth. Where is the offensive on all the recent mistakes? Insulation deaths, Home Assessment Rorts, Media backhanders (tantamount to bribery), Failure to seriously question Labours fiscal record of spending should the world economy recede again’as there’s no money left in the kity. Is it time for a return of the Democrats?
Isn’t it likely that Abbott doesn’t want to touch the TV payouts because handing tax money out to private businesses is the Liberal’s stock in trade? He’d just be setting himself up for charges of hypocrisy in that alternate dimension where he’s electable.
What are you doing giving Abbott hints anyway?
Then again perhaps the reason why the Libs aren’t attacking Labor over the issues you have raised is because they know full well they would do it themselves! Either that or they are scared Barnaby will join in the comment…..
Well BK the bimbos in the Opposition led by the head bimbo the Monk, had a go. They tried to tear Garrett to shreds. What did we get? A toothless, powder puff, Peter come clean whinge. Suddenly climate change is off the list. Hockey tried to tear the Finace Minister down. Fat chance given the stupidity that has come out of the mouths of the wonderful finance team in the Opposition Abbott, Joyce and the junior spokesperson Hockey (the shadow treasurer!!!!!!)The credibility is going down the gurgler and its a long road to the election. 3 days of QT 3 wins to the Govt. If it wasnt so serious, it would be a joke. Man for man, woman for woman the Government buys and sells the rabble opposite
You have to wonder at the nonsense Bernard and the Left proffer, by way of advice, at the best of times, and this article is a perfect illustration.
Bernard opines that the ‘incompetent’ Liberals are missing “huge opportunites…to inflict serious damage”.
Have I missed something?
The government are down for the count, end of round 1, and doing their very best to avoid any discussion of the ” most serious moral issue of our times”. They are absolutely on the run. Why would you shift the point of attack ?
It’s a little like telling a boxer who has just floored his opponent with a right cross that he should have thrown a left hook.
Sure, all in good time, but let’s see if the guy gets up first. These other questions wont go away soon.
But right now, Abbott is demonstrating what Bernard, and team ‘Crikey,’ have been unable to acknowledge, forever. Talk about the national broadsheet being behind the curve!
Abbott is a much better communicator than Rudd.
So whether its a right cross, or a left hook, doesn’t much matter. Right now, Rudd is just praying for the bell.
Ah, yes. The nascent “Abbott’s killing the government” meme.
I remember being very excited about Mark Latham. He was a straight-shooting, direct brawler and “conviction politician” who was mauling the then government in parliament. It seemed like everything he did, he did well, and from a certain viewpoint on the political spectrum, it looked like he’d floored the PM - does that assessment sound familiar, John James?
How could Latham fail to be elected? But he did, because the qualities that hardcore lefties admired in him were regarded by the majority of the (centrist) electorate as signs of an inflexible, egocentric ideologue who would destroy the country rather than ever compromise. Similarly, what we thought were brilliant attacks on the government were regarded by most as redundant, warmed-up ideology from a past era.
So, while I’m sure the far Australian Right is impressed with Abbott and, apparently, sincerely believes that he’s doing a good job in opposition, they’re going to be scratching their heads at the election when the electorate puts him back in the can with his economic illiteracy, Groucho Marx principles and proud history of misogynist policy-making.
Sancho, I just love your analysis. Real Alice in Wonderland stuff!
Sure, I and the ‘extreme right” are as capable as the next guy of getting “carried away” but let’s look at what the journo’s are writing in the major broadsheets.
Geoff Kitney, in the AFR to-day, states that Abbott is proving a much better “communicator” that Rudd.
Paul Kelly, in The Oz, states that Rudd is presently losing the political battle.
Finally, do you see Labor rushing to engage Abbott on his Carbon reduction plan?
Mate, listen to QT. Not one question from the government backbench, not one Dorothy Dixer, on Climate Change. The silence is deafening, and the public know it.
It’s true, Latham did present difficulties. But Latham spent his initial days talking about work-life balance and reading to kids. Abbott, by contrast, has engaged the government, immediately, on what had been its major focus.
It sure isn’t anymore!
I have a question which I have not seen answered in any of the insulation death stories.
Have all the people that have been killed by electrocution, been killed in homes without safety circuit breakers in their fuseboxes?
If so, why has the government not made the installation of safety circuit breakers in old homes mandatory? Surely if people are getting electrocuted nowadays in homes the lack of modern circuit breakers in those older homes is the real story. What is the government’s position? Only people who can afford to live in new homes should be safe from electrocution.
It is astonishing/hysterical to hear all the old ladies on talk-back radio getting steamed up about Tony Abbott’s constant flashing of his balls in Speedos and Lycra bike riding gear. Indeed, the amount of time he spends doing this leaves him with little time to oversee a superficial attempt to come to terms with climate change.
If JOHN JAMES is so besotted with Tony Abbott-or is your real name Tony Abbott’s PA? You might advise him stop showing off his undercarriage on the basis that there aren’t enough little old ladies with the hots for forgotten memories to swing an election.
Or is it all a huge diversionary tactic?
JOHN JAMES, I’ve seen you get excited about the perfomance of a number of conservatives (remember Sarah Palin?) convinced that they had “the left” on the ropes. Each time your conservative hero has departed the stage defeated.
It is about to happen again. As they say in the classics: it’ll be deja vu all over again.
Dave, its true, I’m a big Sarah fan. I’m not sure who the other conservatives are to whom you’re alluding.( Not, God forbid, Malcolm T, please )
Palin didn’t go head to head with Obama. What saved his tight black arse was Lehmann brothers falling over. And aren’t the Americans regreting his election. That’s why the Dems just lost in Massachusetts
Next time, Palin vs Obama.
I hate seeing a man cry!
Defeated? Well, she’s sold millions of books, she’s pulling huge crowds across the country, she’s been hired by Fox. And she’s pro-life, God bless her, giving the gift of life to her baby boy, when you, and your abortion loving mates, would have him dismembered, and all in the name of freedom.
The Left don’t understand economics, or freedom.
Palin vs Obama? You are in a fantasy world. Palin is a political celebrity, not a serious politician. She will never be a Republican candidate. Obama is more likely to win next time around than the Republican candidate but it is early days still.
The rest of your little verbal spew was disgusting and revolting. Antiabortion fanaticism has a viciousness and intolerance that completely undercuts its supposed pro-life position.
Whenever I hear or read anything concerning the commercial media and power, I always think of “cash for comment” :- “pay up or I’ll slag you off to my adoring public”!
Imagine the government not giving in to these “industries” - the subsequent editorial “direction”.
What did those media ownership laws of Howard’s cost both sides when compared.
From all the evidence there seems there are three constants in political “overheads” here:
Political advertising costs megamoney (“recouping taxes and all”).
“Free” good publicity is priceless.
But bad publicity usually follows no payment - be it money or deference!
How long does a party want to be in Opposition copping regular public slanted, not always fully informed or balanced, slaggings - or “pay” the unelected ferrymen!
(Some people reckon the Canberra media is stacked with “lefties” - let’s see that “list”!)
As mentioned Madonna King gave Garrett the grilling she never lit under Howard or any of his pals, and regularly exhibits an overt preference for one particular side, that hasn’t waned over the years - foil roof lining has been around for years without “notice”. But “this” is another issue with which to bash “Rudd Labor”. Check out Saturday’s column(s).
oh gee Bernard, its like taking candy from a baby isn’t it? as soon as a topic is released the right comes out in force. Vice versa of course!
The only good thing about Palin is her looks, not bad for a pollie but that won’t win her an election. But let her run, her gaffes provide years of entertainment for everybody.
The difference between Abbott and Latham is that Abbott does not have as many skeletons in his closet. The coalition was able to exploit a nexus between Latham and the bankruptcy of the Liverpool council and not to mention his aggressive pre-disposition.
But really Bernard, is there any difference between the current Opposition and when the ALP was in Opposition? I can’t remember anyone from any political persuasion offerring compliments about the quality of the opposite party.
Well Venise I thought he looked nice, won’t get me voting lberal but…
after all that talk of balls and speedos and old memories (ooh where’s me HRT tablets) I was just wondering, was that supposed to read swing an ‘election’?
as a fellow surf life saver, I think it is great that we have a leader that obviously has an interest in sporting pursuits - especially a great and healthy aussie past time in surf life saving.
we all saw Hawke get smacked in the eye by a cricket ball, we all saw Howards attempt at bowling a cricket ball and shooting a basketball. But as for Rudd, he just doesn’t look like the sporty type to me….
It’s no surprise Labor doesn’t want to campaign on climate change. NewsCorp has so successfully sullied the debate that someone like Lord Monckton is now considered a serious commentator.
The issue has left the realm of scientific enquiry and is now in true moonbat territory. Two years ago you didn’t hear terms like “one-world government” in the Australian media - and for good reason: it’s a concept borrowed from the literally schizophrenic American Right - but now it’s all over the place. I don’t blame Rudd for not wanting to focus on an issue that a well-trained core of Right-wing media jocks is successfully promoting as a cover for global communism. Besides which, Rudd himself doesn’t give a rat’s about the climate, as the polluter-friendly CPRS demonstrates, so I’m pretty sure he’s not too fussed about leaving it low, provided he has an issue to substitute.
Interesting, John James, that you mentioned Palin’s son and pro-life principles without the necessary addition that her daughter is an unmarried teenage mother who learned everything she knows about sexual health through conservative abstinence programs. Why did you leave that spectacular example of hypocrisy and ignorance out of your assessment?
This is what I mean about the Lathamism. You’re completely shutting out the many howling failures that disqualify your favourite pollies as serious candidates. The voting majority doesn’t make the same mistake.
Incidentally, the Pure Poison blog has a “claim chowder” thread, where you can post your belief that Abbott will be PM in a year’s time, and the reasons why. Then we can laugh at you when he’s not. Do you have the courage of your convictions?
Barnaby Joyce is the Sarah Palin of Oz politics.
While I may have to concede that there is a lack of physical resemblance (although Barnaby’s designer red face nicely matches Palin’s designer red jackets) there is the same utterly unwarranted big-mouth self-confidence and the same bereft inability to understand what governing might be all about.
Oh, and the same ability to talk jumbled rubbish and then claim that is somehow more real and authentic than coherent thought and speech.
imagine a Palin and Barnacle ticket?
who would ever need to watch comedy again!
“and the same bereft inability to understand what governing might be all about.”
David, you’re missing the point.
If Sarah gets elected in 2012 it wont be for her ability to govern - noone here gives a shit about that.
What we are looking for is something that looks and feels radically different, but isn’t. Something that seems like a departure from W, but remains the same old conservative mess.
Obama did a great job of saying he was different, and now like a complete fool he’s attempted to be different. He’s actually gone ahead and tried to make some of the changes he promised. What an idiot.
S Palin wont make the same mistake.
GEF05, you can scare yourself silly imagining Palin as President bit it is never going happen. Bush was the absolute nadir and to imagine that a far less evolved person such as Palin could make it is to stray into the realms of gothic horror, not political reality.
SBH: That was a moderately amusing question but I refrain from answering it. On the basis that you cleverly encouraged me to think of you as having a sense of humour. I was polite to you, then the trap was sprung and I was left with the vitriol handed out by you and your vicious running-dog ELAND.
What’s the old cliché? Once bitten etc.
I am asking you politely to desist from attempting to engage in further converse with me.
“you can scare yourself silly imagining Palin as President bit it is never going happen”
I did a poor job of writing the post. Let me put it this way:
Swap the name “Palin” with “Jeb” or “Dick” or “Mitt” or “Rick” or “Mike” etc etc ad nauseum. No one cares about their ability to govern. All of them offer a fresh face on the same-old-same-old and that’s what is being sought.
“…Incidentally, the Pure Poison blog has a “claim chowder” thread, where you can post your belief that Abbott will be PM in a year’s time, and the reasons why…”
Of course the Blow Monkeys that proliferate Jezza’s Stream-O’-Conscious tipsheet can barely scrape together the intellectual dynamite to power a small torch.
Such bedwetting earnestness is always good for a laugh though.
Now, back to the topic.
Here’s a tip for Tony Abbott:
You are in Opposition.
You are not obliged to do or say anything about anything until you are called to an election.
Let Rudd keep digging his hole.
The Mandarin he claims fluency in will come in very handy when he pops out the other side.
Robyn Kruk was head of the National Parks Service in NSW and if memory serves original under the Coalition Govt? Certainly from Carr in the mid 90ies.
A card carrying greenie - she is not, a butterfly wing detaching bureaucrat? We recall an anecdote of Gavin Gatenby current rep in 2010 of Ecotransit, respected public transport advocate here, allegedly being called into Kruk’s office at NPWS. Gatenby starts quoting sections of the Public Service legislation at her to save his job. GG is one tough smart cookie. And so is Kruk out of the Neil Shepherd mould (stood up to Greiner Tim Moore Terry Metherall boondoggle which ended up before ICAC).
I politely decline
Best to ignore MPM no matter how tempting it is to respond to her provocations. Responding to a troll only feeds her peculiar psychological needs.
As a rock-and-roller Peter Garrett was a rock-and-roller, but as a politician he’s a club act.
@David Sanderson
“…Best to ignore MPM…”
As expected no-one appears to be listening to you.
What’s next in your clown bag o’ tricks?
Don’t keep us guessing long.
Yay….. more football.
Once all the partisan flag-waving dies down a little, I want to suggest to Abbot & Co. this:
Do the job of Opposition.
Now, fair enough, it’s an election year every year for both parties.
But the Job of being in Opposition is not just about trying to use the platform as a vehicle to get elected.
It is about keeping the actual government in line, holding them to their worthy promises and challenging their mandate on the unworthy. And to inform this, they must take notice from the General Public - not just their own voters, lobbyists or personally held moral outlook. They also have to listen to actual expertise on the matter.
I am not seeing enough of this from the current Opposition, at a time when the Government seriously needs this balance.
Unfortunately to me it is reminiscent of the old crazy guy I sometimes see on the bus, arguing with himself.
That is, the brand-differentiation is quite small - the impression to me is all the ingredients of collusion are assembled ready for baking.
Real Consent is Informed Consent.
As examplified (I know, not a word, but it should be) in: how many of the overwhelming percentage of supporters (as identified by a recent poll) of Conroy’s Filter are actually aware that it will cost at least 10 times as much as what they give the REAL protectors (the cops who catch those online predators and abusers) are given, how many are aware IT CAN NOT WORK in its stated goal of protecting the children, how many realise what is to be blacklisted will not actually be up to them, nor will they be informed?
(cue the uncritical-thinkers calling me a pedophile for not supporting it)
The major parties have FAILED in their responsibility to educate the voting public on the issues kicked about in their name.
It would seem they do not want you to Understand the Issues - they want you all to remain trusting, comfortable and ignorant while they get on with Running the Country (into the ground).
There is a case for Representation and a case for Leadership. One leads to doing what the voters want, the other leads to doing what they think the voters actually need (hopefully with accurate nonpartisan expert advice). Both need to be applied.
KRudd isn’t even a particularly hard target - we all know he got in mainly by dint of NOT being Howard, despite looking really quite a lot like him. The fact that Abbott’s actions to date have ONLY dented the poll results by as much as they have doesn’t bode all that well for an alternative - with the ammunition handed to them by the ALP I feel they could have done so much better. Once he gets into his stride we shall see…
@David Sanderson: I think I will not follow your suggestion to ignore MPM - he is not really a Troll, only someone with Views who is prepared to state them. The vitriol and rudeness of course make it difficult for me, at least, to parse through and find points he may make of value to the debate. Though I am getting a little tired of having to read through American politics to get to the Australian stuff - I am happy to say I don’t have a horse in that (US) race, certainly not a vote on it.
@MPM: Do you vote in our elections here in Australia? I don’t mind either way, merely curious.
PS what is with all this Garrett-bashing about insulation? HE wasn’t the one who installed the stuff incorrectly. That’s like saying it’s the cop’s fault someone was murdered because they didn’t stop it. How about baying for the scalps of those fools who DID staple it up there with metal fastenings eh? Or the paper-pushers whose job it actually was to ensure safe practices? Sure, to an extent he is responsible (by being the minister at the top of it), but that doesn’t stretch as far for me as fault. To do so would make it not just KRudd’s fault, but the fault of all who voted him in (and all who did not do enough to stop him getting in).
@MPM (11 February 2010 at 11:31 am): Understandable response I suppose, but ad hominem bickering really contributes nothing.
My notices are a little like health warnings and it is the health of the particular thread that is damaged by trolls such as MPM.
Of course, there is some political content in some of MPM’s sprays but it is very meagre and primitive. The major purpose of her posts is a pathetic attention seeking and attention from others is most easily obtained by provocation and abuse. Every post that responds to her feeds her psychological needs and prompts her to produce yet more provocations and abuse, further damaging whatever value the thread has.
Nothing productive is gained by responding to her so she is best ignored.
“…My notices are a little like health warnings and it is the ZZZZzzzzzzz…”
There you go again.
You don’t DO irony David so please give it up.
And stop following me around…it’s starting to creep me out.
@Man of Straw
”..@MPM: Do you vote in our elections here in Australia? I don’t mind either way, merely curious.
I can.
“…PS what is with all this Garrett-bashing about insulation?…”
He is the Minister responsible.
In the annals of accountability - a la his boss, Dear Leader - his desk is where the buck stops.
He is 100% accountable for how this scheme was devised and implemented.
Right down to the smallest detail.
He wasn’t elected on the “She’ll be right” ticket.
peter gattet has no need to resign.
if i get sick and die in a hospital that is governement funded its the ministers fault
OF COURSE NO end of story,.
MPM he’s not the minister responsible for every detail. He’s not the minister responsible for workplace safety or building standards. This point has been allegorised several times above but just to be clear - In this country there is only ONE trade that requires a licence in all states and territories and thats electrician. Yes some states still licence plumbers but they all licence electricians under state and territory schemes and legisation. So work carried out by electricians is a regulated by the state not the federal government. A more direct and serious responsibility however is that of an employer. Employers in this country, once again under state and territory legislation (with some exceptions) are required by law under pain of imprisonment or heavy fine, to provide a safe workplace. This includes workplaces that are of site or on someone else’s property. So the primary responsibility for insuring no one dies when they go to work is the employers. Unfortunately, and despite the best efforts of legislators, OH&S regulators, unions and every body else involved people, thousands of them each year, are killed or injured at work.
The attack on Garret would be much more effective if it focused on the deficiencies of the management of the scheme rather than the complete red herring of workplace safety. Given the dynamics of on-line debate I make the following further point. Anyone who thinks I am somehow diminishing the importance of ensuring (as opposed to trying hard) workers are safe at work is wrong.
@SBH
“…MPM he’s not the minister responsible for every detail…”
I’m sorry, but you are wrong.
In this instance it was very much Minister Garrett’s responsibility…all the way.
His haste to get the scheme up and running meant mistakes were inevitable.
Sadly, in some cases, these were fatal.
Ignorance is no excuse.
Why are you protecting him?
If it was Ian Campbell you’d be screaming for his head on a stick.
Have a look at the filleting even Red Kerry gave him tonight…the man has to go.
I don’t think hurrying the scheme through is in any way responsible for the fatalaties; there is no mechanism for the public service to put pressure on the private contractors. Besides which Building Standards are a State issue.
However, it appears he ignored advice months ago that foil insulation could lead to such an accident. This is bad. I don’t think it’s a resignable offence though.
@Eponymous
“…I don’t think it’s a resignable offence though…”
People DIED.
The fact that people died is not in dispute.
Use your brain for a second and see that this is not a battle between Labor and Liberal. There are bigger concerns here. Do you really want a world where the Federal Government intervenes in every little decision? How does that fit into your Small Government mantra?
Mama, Thank you for the double spacing it helps these old eye no end. Now, make yourself a cup of tea, sit down with a nice biscuit and think this one through.
A) saying ‘you are wrong’ is not an argument. Garrett is not responsible for workplace safety. He just simply factually, statutorily, ministerially, legally or morally is not. I await the proescution of the people responsible for the workplace deaths and I will bet both my ovaries that it won’t be Garrett, anyone in his department or any one employed by or holding office in the federal government.
B) If you want to attack Garrett continuing to attack an area he is not responsible for give him a safe place from which to defend himself. A better course would be to focuss on the deficiences of the scheme. I’m still not sure that’s going to get him booted out but it’s a much stronger argument.
@MPM
Great Big New Tax !
People Died !
What about this one
John Howard and senior ministers to face war crime tribunal after AWB admissions !
Realist far too wordy how about simply - SIEVX
@SBH
Genocide/ war > murder , thats why !
Tips for TA
Keep you body hidden by clothes, it ain’t anything special !
It has been the grim experience of the people of Victoria that major stuff-ups are usually caused at state government level. There’s a far greater amount of cash paid by state governments to anyone in the construction industry. Ensuring a wide swathe of jerry-built MacMansions littering this state. A place is built and within two years there are bloody great cracks in it.
To castigate Peter Garrett for having personally been the cause of the five deaths is ludicrous. For a truly indictable crime look no further than Victoria’s appalling bush fires last February. Hundreds of people killed, thousands of livestock and millions of wildlife all because corrupt developers were encouraged to build up to national and state parks, and construct their jerry- built homes on, in some cases, cul-de-sacs thus making impossible for fire crews to get their trucks through to another street.
I am far from impressed with Peter Garrett’s performance. If he gets the chop for not filling his ministerial briefs, then why not get Senator Penny Wong fired at the same time? What on earth have either of them done compared to the promises Kevin Rudd made to the electorate? Gunns timber, eliminating the slaughter of the whales by the Japanese, the MDB, in joint partnership by John Brumby premier of Victoria, whoever happen to be the state premiers of SA and NSW (they keep changing) the meek aquiesence on the Global Warming issue.
Please let’s get rid of the really guilty parties. Peter Garrett and Penny Wong are merely pen-pushers.