Brendan Nelson’s farewell speech, praising both the Howard and Rudd governments, restored some much needed decency to the chamber, writes Dennis Shanahan.
Brendan Nelson
Crabb: Nelson’s piercing and emotional goodbye
Brendan Nelson is known for his tear jerking speeches and his final one to Parliament was no different, writes Annabel Crabb.
Full text of Nelson’s farewell speech: the earring saga explained
Brendan Nelson’s final speech to Parliament yesterday, discussing his earring, the misunderstood George W. Bush and giving a parting shot to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Brendan Nelson’s parting shot: Don’t sign climate change deal
In his farewell speech Brendan Nelson has urged Libs not to be “intellectual lemmings” on emissions trading until other nations’ intentions are known; Malcolm Turnbull, lemming, wants to negotiate.
Political snippets: Turnbull or Nelson? It’s all the same to the polls
There’s one message we can take from the consistency of the opinion polls. Sacking Brendan Nelson to put in Malcolm Turnbull as head of the Liberal Party did not work.
Stimulus package ‘blow out’ worth it
PM Kevin Rudd needs to convince voters that the economic stimulus package did stave off recession, even with its issues of money wastage and poor service delivery, says Phillip Coorey.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Della Bosca sexes up NSW politics
Crikey readers weigh in on John Della Bosca’s sex scandal and messy NSW politics, Tim Holding’s Monty Pythoneseque ordeal and Dr Brendan Nelson’s diagnosis.
Guy Rundle: Getting personal when it comes to disorders
Brendan Nelson left politics, describing his successor as suffering from “narcissistic personality disorder”, which gained a whole news cycle of coverage it didn’t deserve.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Nelson’s narcissistic attack
Crikey readers weigh in on Brendan Nelson’s accusations of Malcolm Turnbull as a narcissitic personality disorder sufferer, Ikea and their font changes and Melbourne Uni’s fundraising.
Mungo MacCallum: Nelson salutes, Howard on rights and the mess of NSW
Mungo MacCallum discusses Brendan Nelson’s departure, John Howard’s shameless return to his soap box, and Nathan Rees’ attempts to avoid the Obeid and Tripodi kiss of death.
The Nelson diagnosis: does Turnbull suffer from narcissistic personality disorder?
Brendan Nelson has diagnosed the leader of his Liberal Party, Malcolm Turnbull with narcissistic personality disorder. Crikey asked personality disorder expert Professor Henry Jackson if the diagnosis is accurate.
Nelson blasts Turnbull: ‘he’s got narcissistic personality disorder’
In explosive comments by retiring MP Brendan Nelson against his leader Malcolm Turnbull, Nelson says Turnbull has no empathy and tempts him to be vindictive. Will Turnbull learn from anything from Nelson’s spray?
Climate change to heat up Bradfield byelection
Brendan Nelson’s caution on emissions trading helped lose him the Liberal leadership. Ironically, the Coalition’s climate change policy will prove crucial in the Bradfield byelection, writes Miranda Devine.
podcast Canberra Calling: Bye-bye Brendan Nelson
Crikey’s Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane and editor Jonathan Green are back with your favourite podcast. Today they stew over Brendan Nelson’s retirement.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Rudd’s media domination continues
A sign of unexpectedly benign economic times when the Treasurer doesn’t even make the Top 20. And vale Brendan Nelson.
Crikey Says: Dear diary: by Kevin Rudd
So what exactly does PM Kevin Rudd think of Brendan Nelson quitting and forcing a byelection? Luckily, Crikey has access to Rudd’s diary, thanks to The Oz…
Wright: Good blokes don’t make strong generals
Brendan Nelson was a good bloke, says Tony Wright — perhaps too good a bloke for the harsh reality of federal politics.
The cost of Brendan’s by-election
By leaving the seat of Bradfield early, Brendan Nelson will make taxpayers spend an unnecessary $500,000, writes David Penberthy. But the cost to Malcolm Turnbull and the Liberals will be much higher.
Salusinszky: Nelson stays loyal until the end
Brendan Nelson may not see eye-to-eye with Malcolm Turnbull, but he has remained a loyal, tight-lipped party member until the very end, says Imre Salusinszky.
Shanahan: Another headache for Turnbull
Brendan Nelson’s decision to leave parliament couldn’t have come at a worse time for Malcolm Turnbull, says Dennis Shanahan. With poll numbers so low, the last thing he needs is a test of popularity.
Crabb: Keeping Bradfield afloat
Who’s next in line for Bradfield? asks Annabelle Crabb. Please let it be Tom Switzer, who previously worked for a company called “Studs Afloat”.
Bye-bye Brendan: a by-election for Bradfield
With the departure of Brendan Nelson, the seat of Bradfield is headed for a by-election. William Bowe wraps all the speculation in the press and blogosphere about likely candidates to take his place.
Nelson headed to defence job, Sinodinos a likely successor
Brendan Nelson, a former defence minister, will probably look to the defence sector for a job, with his replacement frontrunner likely to be John Howard’s former chief of staff Arthur Sinodinos, writes Christian Kerr.
Nelson shouldn’t leave alone
There are plenty of other Liberals who should follow Brendan Nelson’s example and determine that, if they’re not going to make a contribution any more, they should give up their seat for someone who will.
