Industry shuns, but anti-government protest keeps on truckin’
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The disgruntled truckies leading the convoy to Canberra are on the margins of the sector they purport to represent, disowned by industry groups and many of their colleagues. Among the small crowd of perhaps 150 people outside Parliament House this morning was disgruntlement at their mates, too, for not showing up. It’s a familiar story for a traditionally disunited workforce. But the feeling among participants runs deep, even if the politics of the movement are as difficult to pin down as the issues they’re fighting for. Ken Wilkie, a self-employed driver who led a 50-strong convoy from Queensland, insists the rally is not an endorsement of Tony Abbott. “I know he’s probably a PM in waiting,” he told Crikey over the din of angry speeches this morning. “But our ambition here is to have an election, not to have Abbott installed in power. If Julia [Gillard] is good enough and can demonstrate her integrity to the electorate after selling us a lie then she could get re-elected.” About 80 trucks made the journey to the nation’s capital — well short of the 100-plus promised — only to be blocked from entering Parliament’s front yard (the protest was held down the hill). MC Alan Jones fumed that was a threat to democracy. The self-declared leader of the gathering, Mick Pattel, is a long-time industry rabble-rouser and disendorsed Liberal-National Party candidate in Queensland. The National Road Freighters Association, of which he is the national president, is a loose collective of owner-operators that isn’t recognised by any other industry group. Pattel wasn’t answering his mobile today. The key industry lobbyist, Australian Trucking Association CEO Stuart St Clair, is another former National Party member. He held New England for the Nats for a final term before independent Tony Windsor claimed the seat in 2001, and went on to advise former leader John Anderson. But St Clair wants none of the convoy and its rabble of supporters. The ATA, as the main industry conduit to Canberra sitting at the foot of parliament in the diplomatic core of lobbyists’ row, doesn’t involve itself in protests or politics. ATA spokesperson Bill McKinley (another former Coalition adviser, incidentally) told The Power Index the convoy reinforces the cowboy stereotype of the industry. It’s a popular view in an industry paranoid — with good reason — of its perception in the media, fuelled by tabloid TV stories of speeding, drug-addled truckies. Indeed, McKinley makes the point it was lobbying efforts from groups like the ATA (and the Transport Workers Union, which isn’t represented at the rally either) that forced the government to delay applying the carbon tax to diesel fuel for two years. So just what is the fight about? Ken Wilkie — who reckons the “too politically correct” ATA has failed to serve its constituents — says the carbon tax deal with the Greens is still “the straw that broke the camel’s back”. And he lists the government’s handling of live cattle exports among a “combination of issues”. “We’re taxing the incentive right out of the country in the sense we’re losing employment,” he said. “We’re taxing the productive part of the economy.” He admits the turn-out is disappointing, but insists the road-side support they’ve had on the trek south shows “a lot more support then what’s been made evident here”. “It’s at Julia’s peril to ignore this,” he declared. Daryl Pederson, the vice president of the rebel NRFA and a driver from the Tablelands of Queensland, adds the mining tax and “the way primary producers and graziers are being treated” to a laundry list of complaints. One speaker at the rally today talked of poor phone reception from Telstra; another told the media the problem was the increased power of the United Nations. “We need stable government, the issue is that the government does not have a mandate,” Pederson told Crikey. “We need to take it to the Australian people to vote, the result being a government we have confidence in who have a mandate to rule the country.” Frank Black, the owner-driver representative to the ATA, was steering clear of the protests today and making the point the issue of cost recovery for sub-contractors — as Crikey detailed last month — would be better pushed through the union’s “safe rates” campaign. TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon is keeping pressure on the government to act but wasn’t supporting today’s protest. Alan Jones introduced a long line-up of Coalition MPs including Nats leader Warren Truss, Senator Barnaby Joyce and Liberal front-bencher Bronwyn Bishop. Abbott spoke to members of the convoy outside Canberra last night and appeared at the protest as Crikey hit deadline. |
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48 Comments
150 to 300 people attending a rally to protest everything from the carbon tax to poor mobile reception, you really have to ask why is this getting any media attention? Anybody could get more people to a rally or anything with just 24 hours notice.
80 people does not a revolution make - no matter how big their vehicles.
I was watching the people involved and listening to them. They very much sound like an Australian version of the American Tea Party. They do not have an intelligent grasp of any of the issues that they are demonstrating about. And so why would anyone listen or how would one debate, with people who do not have informed opinions??
Sounds like more pollies and media crazies then protesters at this rally.
We had an election. Just because you don’t like the outcome isn’t good enough reason for another one - a year later? Many countries have a coalition of more than two parties. States in Oz have experienced same. there’s been lots of Legislation passed through both Houses - most voted for by the Opposition, but of course they don’t publicize that do they?
Of course, if The Greens were properly represented as per the 16% or so who voted for them there’d be several more in the Parlt., but the right wing whiners wouldn’t buy that. They only approve of the vote if it goes their way. They’ll do a Reagan until that happens. He told the people of Nicaragua who had the damned cheek to vote for a left wing govt, that they’d keep on going to the polls until they got it right - literally!
There’s a couple of hundred truckies there. There were over 13 million voters last time. I don’t think they can claim a respectable crowd, certainly not with Alan Jones there? He’s mouthing off because trucks aren’t allowed access close to Parlt House, and whined about the fact that Unions could be that close - he omitted to mention that they usually arrive in buses and then walk to Parlt House, as hundreds if not thousands did for the Apology in ‘08!! But when has fact got in his way? What a hateful bastard he is!
Some people only get their political views from the likes of Alan Jones or ACA or TT? Otherwise they watch the competitions on most commercial channels ad nauseum, whether it’s cooking, singing or renovating homes etc? Not one would read the SMH or watch docos etc? The ABC/SBS etc? Yeah, right!
Just when you think Jones and Abbott can’t scrape any lower the barrell sinks some more. Have they given us their explanation yet as to why the government is ‘unconstitutional’?
Poor fella, my country.
Convoy of no competence perhaps?
Capt. Planet - yep, there’s Tony’s “peoples’ revolt” - all 150 of them!
Talk about schadenfreude! Down here in Canberra I’m delighted (that’s ROFLMAO) that this much-hyped event has fallen flat on its face. And how! The organisers originally talked on Canberra radio about up to 10,000 people turning up and a couple of thousand trucks. The Canberra Times had a front page this morning about the expected disruption to traffic, and plenty of people made alternative arrangements for work as a result. And (to paraphrase Monty Python) [just about] Nothing Happened… Who doesn’t have a mandate (in this case to speak for the wider community) now? Ironically a hastily-organised counter-demo of local cyclists supporting the carbon tax attracted 50 people, a third of what turned up for the “big” event.
It gets worse when people laugh at you - ABC local radio at 8:30 after AM lead off with the start of the song “Convoy”, “This here is Rubber Duck…” etc
The excuses are already coming out from the organisers. One is that fuel had become too expensive (so who didn’t think in organising the rally that it would cost a bit to drive a truck from WA), another that they didn’t want to cause too much disruption to the people of Canberra by having too many trucks turn up. (Yes, we’re really (a) moved (b) convinced by that one). More bizarrely, the ACT Roads and Traffic authority has issued a press release denying a report on SYDNEY RADIO that ACT officials were stopping trucks at the ACT border and that’s why numbers were down!!!
However, I can reveal the real reason the event failed - it’s the United Nations. Just don’t tell anyone else because I don’t want it getting back to the UN that I’m onto them…
The CONvoy of confusion ?
Can we have a best out of 3 elections ?? or if the Fiberals loose , best out of 5 ? 10 20 ? till they get Rabbitt in ?
Abbottttttt face! Right, right, right right right. Right, right, right right right.
More on the claims on Sydney radio of trucks being kept out. You guessed it, it came from Alan Jones…
From The Canberra Times article on the protests:
Talkback radio announcer Alan Jones began addressing the crowd about 11am, while a convoy of about 150 trucks and other vehicles made its way around Parliament House at slow speed.
Jones was almost drowned out by the sound of horns of trucks passing Parliament House, as he told the crowd that the carbon tax would cost Australia $1.3 trillion.
“Go away Julia, get out of our lives Julia,” he said.
He said it was a dark day for democracy because people who had come to Canberra to protest were being kept out.
“They can’t get in here. The picture that the nation is being given today is utterly inaccurate. This is the denial of these people - it is the death of democracy,” he said.
People had come from all over Australia, but police had been told not to let them in.
“This is the most disgraceful thing that has ever been done to democracy. That people who come here can’t get into the precincts to be heard. You can hear them driving around and around and around us.”
ACT Policing have confirmed via Twitter that heavy vehicles are not being permitted access to Parliamentary Drive, “for public safety reasons”. Police are using patrol cars to block access to come parts of Parliamentary Drive.
Jones also told the crowd that a convoy of trucks “2km long” had been stopped at the ACT border, however ACT and NSW Police have said no trucks have been stopped and there are no traffic problems at the border.
Malcolm - “Jones also told the crowd that a convoy of trucks “2km long” had been stopped at the ACT border, however ACT and NSW Police have said no trucks have been stopped and there are no traffic problems at the border” So does that mean Jones didn’t tell the truth, should we now refer to him as “Aliar” Jones?
I am amazed that Alan Jones is allowed use distortion, spin and slander and now downright lies, in order to misinform some of the Australian public. Is there no law against that or do ‘radio shock jocks have some sort of “Un-Diplomatic Immunity”
@MALCOLM - Imagine the reaction if someone was injured or worse? You can’t have those big vehicles where there’s a lot of people. Just common sense and basic safety precautions I’d say.
@JIMMY- Yeah - he has an ugly mean mouth - take a look! I dare you to ring him in the morning. Apparently his callers are checked out - fancy that? I’d love to make out that I’m a hateful right winger and then say the opposite on air - then he’d be able to find his 7 second delay button wouldn’t he? Can’t find it when people speak in a revolting manner though!
I’ve never heard him call a Conservative PM by his christian name, has anyone? His treatment of Julia Gillard is disgusting as is Tony Abbott’s?Lots of “she” in there! Yuk! Again! Just plain rude!
Sorry to keep posting but I’m hoping this clusterf*ck may be the beginning of a return to sanity in national political debate. The Right has very publicly made utter idiots of itself.
Anyhow, from the linked SMH article here’s the “caliber” of some of the attendees:
“Gordon Crawford, 61, was the group’s lead driver in one of his company’s removal trucks. He said he was a swinging voter but had only voted Liberal. [!]
Organising the Perth convoy was Matt Thompson and his wife Janet. Their discontent with government intrusion into their lives began when their feedlot business collapsed after new air pollution-reporting regulations in 2007. Both are climate-change sceptics but say the convoy is about more than the carbon tax.
Mr Thompson is concerned about the increasing power of the United Nations [!], but said the government’s decision to ban live animal exports was one of the concerns of drivers across the country that he had been in touch with.
Nick Weckert and his wife Fluff [! - how Sylvania Waters can you get?] drove from Port Lincoln, spending about $3000 on fuel. [!]”
In the case of Mr Weckert, I must say that even if the claims of the carbon tax adding $1200 per year to truckie’s costs are true, if he can spend $3k in a week or so for this protest without going bust he can easily afford it.
Anyway, let’s hear from the protest organiser:
“Mr Pattel, president of the National Road Freighters Association, said he had spoken to hundreds of Labor voters who would never vote for it again ”because the party had been taken over by Greens”. Should Julia Gillard choose not to dissolve Parliament, he said the protesters would return home to consider their next move.”
Wait a minute… Did he imply that he thought that this protest would cause the government to immediately call another election (and I gather they were looking at a double dissolution) when the Senate from the last election has only just taken office and I gather we can’t under the Constitution have a double dissolution until 2014? And that returning home is just plan B? Is he really that arrogant and ignorant? Sounds like his followers deserve him.
And if the government did dissolve the Reps and call a Reps-onlly election, and Abbott did get in, and was then facing the existing Senate, with Greens holding the balance of power, what would they do then?
But what would I know - I live in Canberra so I must be out of touch with all this assembled brainpower…
Malcolm - I did see a quote from the organiser saying that this protest was not an endorsement of Tony Abbott but a call for a new election and if the electorate chose to vote in Gillard after she had lied and basically destroyed the country then he would accept that. So at least he is keeping an open mind!
Why are the truckies blaming their loss of business on the Fed Govt? I thought that retailers etc were also doing it tough? Not the fault of the Gillard govt? It’s still the fault of the greedy bastards on Wall St and its equivalent. Look at Spain, Italy, France the UK and US, Ireland etc? We’re doing it easy by comparison. I wonder why? Could it be due to the Rudd Govt’s response/s? No surely not!
The cost of diesel isn’t going to be affected by the tax on the big polluters? What is their problem? The Fed Govt isn’t responsible for rules re trucks, drivers etc are they? That’s a state issue isn’t it? As usual, people are so ignorant they don’t know what govt does what? Typical! Too busy watching ‘tits and bums’ on commercial TV rather than educating themselves via ABC, SBS, docos and other news outlets - apart from Alan Jones and his ilk, that is!
They’re showing their ignorance every time they open their mouths?
The absolute best outcome. “Suppose They Gave A War and Nobody Came?” Well, next to nobody, despite Alan Jones frantic backpedalling for why there was nobody there. More spin spin spin than Murray Walker.
Quite pathetic but the media still gave it far too much credibility. RN treated all their comments as worthy of serious air time and didn’t question the fact that most of them seemed to have come for a few days out with no clear idea of why they were there, what they wanted and whether it was even remotely possible to achieve. And I am sure it will get way more time tonight than it deserves.
And dont get me started on A Jones. I dont even listen to his radio show but can almost feel the hatred dripping off his airwaves. Why on earth does this man thing his opinion is so important?
150 people? I reckon the Socialists Whatevers can do better than that on the corner of Bourke and Swanston on a Tuesday Afternoon. C’mon guys..
I love it when I read the comments attached to a story and find that I agree with Every Single One. What more can I add - you’re all brilliant!
Good comment Malcolm. Was listening to Macca yesterday morning talking to the furniture removalist from WA, who said he had spent something like $5000 on fuel to make the protest. My thought was, as this is a political protest, is the fuel cost a legitimate business expense and thus tax deductible, or as I suspect, should the tax man be looking very closely at this guys books for the year 2011-2012. My train ticket to go and attend a refugee rally in Brisbane Square, is not tax deductible.
Interesting piece in the Drum about some of the strange connections for these evidently strange people.
They seem to have had a remarkably sweet media ride with lots of attention and soft questioning, even though the “leader” was an LNP candidate and the purpose clearly partisan.
One thinks the meejya want pictures of biffo in the capital but all they got was a bedraggled bunch of bogans with a tendency to piss and moan.
Some interesting stuff on ABC radio Canberra in the last hour or so:
Caller to said that due to the predictions of traffic chaos from the protest organisers she had to postpone her daughter’s cancer treatment which was due today.
Police interviewed - say they were in communication with the organisers from the start and had no inkling that numbers would be so far down as late as this morning. They totally deny the Jones allegations about a roadblock at the ACT border, and say that the prohibitions on trucks driving around Parliamentary Drive was because of safety concerns and *** this had been agreed with the event organisers long before ***.
One of the organisers interviewed - claimed that numbers were down because they decided out of the goodness of their hearts (not wanting to inconvenience us in the ACT) they changed the structure of the convoy to a sort of rolling one. You see, the full number of people took part, but it was in the form of some going part of the distance, then others taking over. When the interviewer asked why they didn’t tell the police, the line went dead.
Big questions remain over Jones’ claim re. the 2km queue at the border. Apparently he later retracted this claim, but said he made it on the basis of information that was given to him. Everyone wants to know just who told him that in the first place? Or was that just Jones looking for a way out after shooting his mouth off and getting caught out?
The disparagement here of truckers, the last bastions of independent Digger masculinity, even the girls, is a disgrace. Just coz they couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery doesn’t mean that their leader wasn’t capable of organising a root in a cottage. Don’t forget that. We’ll be back as the Billy Tea Party and then youse watch out.
I liked the naming of the convoy somewhere in question time today - I think it was the PM, but might have been one of the Ministers:
Convoy of no consequence!!
Then at the end of QT, the speaker Harry Jenkins, was asked by one of the lunatic fringe from the opposition to investigate why the truckies were not able to drive right up to parliament house. He said he would get back to the member!
I wouldn’t be allowed to drive my lovely 4 cylinder sedan car up to Parliament House. It’s to do with safety and security of those persons inside. One of the reasons why we don’t have awful situations in our Parlts is due to security. Big trucks are dangerous. We only have to look at the number of little kids injured or killed in their own driveways due to 4 wheel drives - they’re not as big as trucks. Many suburban streets do not allow trucks to travel on these roads - they endanger people and break up the roads! I’m sure that the roads around Parlt House aren’t made for heavy vehicles?
The police have come out and denied that they were ‘ordered’ to disallow truckies from going to or near Parlt House - it’s been on a few ABC news broadcasts in late afternoon.
As for Alan Jones telling porkys? Nah! That wouldn’t happen - would it?
I heard the organiser on ABC radio. Every issue he raised isn’t a Federal issue, except the tax on polluters, but diesel isn’t going to be part of it! So, what’s his problem? Just got on the bandwagon to complain against Julia Gillard - out of ignorance! Or design? The design of the Opposition with their hate filled media supporters!
Thank you Liz45 and many others for your tremendously sane comments.
What I want to know is whenever the Libs and Nats get together to form government can I demand a new election because neither of them make a majority. If not WHY not?
I find it extremely offensive, even treasonous, that some a calling for a new election just because they do not like the outcome. Unless you can prove the counting was crooked, too bad.
Strong recommendation re. Western Red’s link to the Drum article on who’s behind the protest. Here’s the URL: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2850098.html
Sounds about as grass roots as the US Tea Party.
Liz45 - a friend of mine’s car was rammed from the back one night by a truck on a freeway while coming from an entrance ramp a few years back, and spun off the road and rolled. Husband had his neck broken and was in a frame for months, while their six-year-old son was killed. Try going to the funeral of a child… The truck driver didn’t stop and has never been found.
Meanwhile an uncle of mine died when his 4WD/caravan combination went out of control when a big truck clipped him while overtaking. Took 1.5 hours to get my aunt out… At least in this case the truckie stopped and police verdict was that it was a tragic accident.
Dangerous bloody things and yes, many of the owner drivers are screwed into the ground and skimp on safety and sleep as a result. We need to look at the nation’s freight transport system as a whole and particularly see what can be moved to rail rather than allowing bigger and bigger trucks.
From the SMH this evening - http://www.smh.com.au/national/the-fee-me-and-alan-jones-how-question-of-money-turned-crowd-nasty-20110822-1j6fu.html
Alan Jones as bully at its worst. Not to mention the crowd…
Despite their protestations this is a pale imitation of the Tea Party movement in the US, driven by the politics of fear and simplicity. They are also obviously a pro Abbott movement is you can call the small numbers a movement. They are getting the widespread press coverage because the burghers of the media agree with them and want them to give Gillard as much stick and they can rustle up. As with all movements of this type - who is funding them?
How about Convoy of No Conscience? Unconsciousness? Or Convoy of Unconscionable?
Maybe we can call them the “Beer Party”.
After todays effort what about the twee party ?
Alert & alarmed: Canberrans becoming worried successive anti-carbon tax protests lowering average IQ of Canberra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3wzh3jQvP4
@MALCOLM STREET - Malcolm that is just awful. I’m so very sorry that those things happened. Those parents will never get over that little boy’s death - it’s just horrific!
I’ve met some truckies on the roads over the years who’ve been most helpful and polite, but wow! I’ve come across some absolute cowboys too.
There are more trucks on the road in the Illawarra these days, thanks to the last govt organising Port Kembla as the port for the arrival of new cars - then lots of them are put on trucks and taken back to Sydney. How that was a sensible idea beats me. The Howard govt and/or NSW State Govt had stopped the transportation of fuel by rail, which resulted in two horrific accidents in just over a year - all those involved in the accident/s were burnt to death, one in Canberra and one near Katoomba from memory! It’s a wonder there isn’t more!
The only time I’ve ever reported anyone to the police happened a few years ago. I was driving through a 70’s area, traffic lights, it was in the morning on a school day with kids walking along and wanting to cross the road etc and a b-double in front of me was going too fast. The b-double was empty and it was ‘waving’ back and forth - I was scared stiff so I stopped when I could and let it get way ahead of me. When I got to my friends house I rang the police - I was still shaking! Scary!
@JENNY HAINES - If a truck driver can afford to take the time off and pay $5000 for fuel, I don’t think he has much of a problem?
My niece’s ex husband drove trucks, and he reported a high incidence of drug taking by his peers; being bullied to drive for long hours without rest, and the lack of concern for the drivers and or public safety. It’s all about dollars!
I can’t see what truck drivers are complaining about. I’d have thought they’d welcome stricter rules that protected their health and safety. Apart from fuel costs which isn’t the Fed govt’s fault except for the double dipping in GST they demand from drivers. I’d like to see a better public transport system to get cars off the road.
I think lots of people are confused with the different tiers of govt, and with lots of encouragement, they’re making Julia Gillard the scapegoat for issues that are State or Local govt. In the past, I’ve been on polling booths handing out ‘how to votes’ where some people have to ask who they’re voting for? makes you wonder? Even these days, the majority of people don’t follow politics. any quiz I listen to always surprises me when people don’t know basic facts about politics and parliaments etc. Amazing! Scary even!
@DAMATRON - I did think that Anthony Albanese was stupid to ridicule the protestors. This is supposed to be a democracy and people have a right to protest. Nick Minchin on Q&A went on like a pork chop, which made me yell at the TV. I recall how approximately 1 million people in this country were ridiculed in 2003 when we marched/rallied against the invasion of Iraq. Downer firstly laughed at us, then ridiculed us, then abused us - who was right? So Anthony was pretty stupid to engage in such childish behaviour. Let those protesters bring themselves into disrepute - which they usually do by their lack of knowledge, stupidity and/or hateful language and signs etc.
@Liz 45,
Let’s be fair - It’s only a tiny minority of truck drivers complaining: the vast majority were still at work (perhaps they had the sense to crunch the numbers, and realised that several thousand dollars would be better spent on paying their businesses’ carbon tax obligations over the next 20 years or so, instead of driving futilely to Canberra).
To Quote Ghandhi Ji:
“First they ignore you.
Then they ridicule you.
Then they fight you.
Then you win.”
what has to be realised, is that we are seeing the third stage of this truism of activism.
The forces of unrestrained capitalism, having first ignored, then ridiculed, environmental activists for decades, are now fighting for their supremacy and right to rule the world.
Their most potent weapon in a democratic society is public opinion. Hence Gina Reinhart buying into the media, the Tea Party in the USA, and other astroturf movements (of which this convoy of no commonsense is just one example).
Make no mistake - the underdog fighting for the rights of the oppressed here, is actually the Gillard / Greens / Independant coalition, backed up by environmental organisations and the painstaking, irrefutable research of the vast body of the worlds’ scientific establishments.
The oppressor in this case is Global Capital and the rapacious greed of Corporations.
They are now fighting us - soon we will win.
Yes Malcolm, $3000 is a lot of cash to burn just to get to a rally against wasting cash, but they have to get back to Lincoln too. This would be a good week to be relocating to/from Canberra, I bet you could get your whole house moved for a few cartons of rum and cola if you were willing to get your hands dirty!
Personally, I would’ve flown to Canberra and rented a truck if needs be, and had my mechanic overhaul my truck in my absence with the money I didn’t waste. But then what do I know.
Where’s Tony’s usual fan club that’s on here? Embarrassed, guys? C’mon TruthHurts, Suzanne, et al.
@ Meski
I am NOT an Abbott fan. Have said numerous times he needs to go. I am not an Gillard fan either. She is an embarrasing shocker.
We need both to change.
Labor will elect Crean, thats a given (unless he has a sudden health scare) and I tip he will be leader by Christmas 2011.
The LNP have a poor list of potential leaders…..I could not even tip one at the moment.
Why would you be a politician……
Suzanne Blake -
“Labor will elect Crean, thats a given (unless he has a sudden health scare) and I tip he will be leader by Christmas 2011.”
The same Crean who was judged unelectable by the party a few years ago? When an abbreviation running round the Labor members was ABC - Anyone But Crean?
Howard could make a comeback like that, but CREAN??? ROFL!!!
@ Malcolm Street
Would you like to place a wager on that?
Bad luck, I don’t gamble. But I have it on high authority from ALP powerbroker. Living in a Labor seat, there are plenty of them circulaing through.
Yeh, SuzyB, I can rilly, rilly believe you having ,of any sort, with an ALP type.
@ Suzanne
I will take your bet. I will wager my laptop against a cup of coffee that Julia Gillard remains leader by Christmas 2011.
Where on earth do you get the idea of Labor ditching a second successive successful political leader, at such a politically sensitive time?
It actually reeks of a coordinated attempt by the Liberal / National Coalition to destabilise the government by fomenting ludicrous rumours of ALP leadership instability.
Your insistence (belated and halfhearted) on your political neutrality leads us to two possible conclusions:
You are a very poor astroturfer who has only just now realised the value of concealing your professional bias, or,
You are an incredibly negative person who subscribes to the moronic “all politicians suck” school of thought, and you are so lacking in genuine independant critical thought, as to be entirely unable to acknowledge the many good points about many members of our nation’s ruling parties, and Her Majesty’s Opposition.
Captain - “Where on earth do you get the idea of Labor ditching a second successive successful political leader” especially as the Independents have said their deal is with Gillard and changing leaders changes their postion!
“You are an incredibly negative person who subscribes to the moronic “all politicians suck” school of thought, and you are so lacking in genuine independant critical thought” I’d go with this option regarding Suzanne given that she wants to throw out a year old govt for an opposition she is not a real supporter of but likes their agriculture policy.
I think Simon Crean works hard, but he wasn’t very popular with voters when he was Leader before. He’s not the best communicator. I hope the ALP doesn’t make the mistake of ditching Julia Gillard - I think it would be a bad move!
They need to get on the front foot and start pressing the positives that they’re doing. Such as putting through over 150 pieces of Legislation in about 12 months - Howard performed a lot less during his first year! I’m impressed with what they’ve done already and what they plan to do.
Question time is just one avenue to keep up to date with the positives - it also clearly shows what an obstructionist Abbott is. He votes against things he agreed with only a few months ago. He advocated certain things while in Govt; didn’t do them, and now the Gillard Govt is he speaks and or votes against them! If that’s not destructive I don’t know what is! But msm doesn’t challenge him on much if anything! It’s a disgrace!