Crikey has an unbalanced climate change debate? Plus, Peter Garrett and the patheticness of politics and reporting and the VCA insiders continue.
Garrett’s roofing insulation scheme
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Crikey’s unbalanced climate change judgement
We must accept some of the ministerial responsiblity
It’s not fair to scapegoat ministers for programs which rely on community involvement. Peter Garrett shouldn’t take all the rap for the insulation mess, because the public failed too, writes John Warhurst.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Garrett’s insulation scheme: good or bad?
Crikey readers weigh in on the Garrett roofing fiasco, Kevin Rudd’s mea culpa and the media’s reaction to the whole ordeal. Plus, automated electoral rolls: good or bad?
Garrett’s demotion could give clean energy some clear air
The shift of ministerial responsibility for energy efficiency allows fresh thinking about the management of Australian climate solutions and low carbon development, writes John Connor.
Newspoll: Not quite whacking day
A month of full-blown media negativity, in all media consumption demographics, with the threat of little old ladies getting burned alive in their bedrooms and a two party preferred of 52/48 to Labor is all the Libs could manage? Possum crunches the data.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: No sympathy for Rudd
Crikey readers weigh in on Kevin Rudd’s mea-culpa, the Tassie election, the difficulty with differing between debts and the climate change debate continues.
Don’t spread Combet too thin on Defence
Minister Greg Combet is very competent but surely there are limits to even his talents, time and attention? asks the Australian Defence Association’s Neil James.
Burchell: The growing anxiety in Rudd’s soul
Part of Kevin Rudd’s whole mea-culpa act is due to the knowledge that Ruddspeak will no longer be tolerated by the electorate. Too bad that the political spin continues, as Rudd refuses to accept responsibility without also blaming others, writes David Burchell.
Rudd dons the hair-shirt
It’s been a busy few days of self-flagellation for PM Kevin Rudd, from the demotion of Peter Garrett to his appearance yesterday on Insiders, where he acknowledged serious government mistakes. What risks does his mea-culpa carry?
Garrett loses insulation et al to Rudd’s Mr Fixit
Peter Garrett got the boot from the home insulation program so that Kevin Rudd’s Mr Fix It a.k.a Greg Combet could take over. Can Combet clean up in the same way he did with the CPRS?
Grattan: Relax, Rudd our knight in shining armour is here
Kevin Rudd is riding in to save the day and give off a clear message of power by calming the Peter Garrett roofing insulation scandal, writes Michelle Grattan.
Abbott’s charge falters
Despite their best attempts, the Opposition couldn’t breach the Government’s desperate defence of Peter Garrett this week.
Garrett’s a nice guy, but that doesn’t make him innocent
Yes, it is fiction that ministers can know every little detail about their department, but if Peter Garrett can’t declare that they did everything possible to limit risks then he should resign, writes Simon Longstaff.
Journalists more incompetent than Garrett
The insulation scheme was shut down not because of Peter Garrett’s ministerial stuff-ups, but because of lazy journalists who twisted the truth. If the Minter Ellison document was reported accurately, the program would still be operational, writes Possum Comtitatus.
Did the insulation program actually reduce fire risk?
Garrett’s insulation program dramatically increased standards in an industry where there were previously very few, with less house fires due to installation than before. Possum crunches the numbers.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Garrettgate not proof that the market is better
Crikey readers weigh on Garrett’s roofing insulation scheme, the possibility of double dissolution election and the recent sainthood of Mary MacKillop.
Why Tony Abbott needs to shut up
This constant slandering of Peter Garrett is counter-productive. Tony Abbott’s Opposition thrives on opposing everything the government says simply to gain the political upper hand, and therefore loses its own authority.
Van Onselen: Ministerial responsibility never means having to lose your job
No matter how slow, corrupt or inept, federal ministers never resign over failures in their departments. Ministers lose their jobs over politics, not ministerial responsibility, writes Peter Van Onselen.
Farr: Abbott dents the Rudd armour
The insulation scheme was a rush job, placing economic aims over environmental ones. For this, Kevin Rudd is responsible, but he doesn’t seem regretful, writes Malcolm Farr.
Grattan: Rudd is also responsible
Peter Garrett may be bearing the heat of the roofing insulation scandal, but Kevin Rudd is no innocent bystander, argues Michelle Grattan. Rudd and his bureaucrats should have picked this up long ago.
Opposition fails to pin Garrett
The Coalition’s pursuit of Peter Garrett has faded in only the second Question Time this week, with the Minister untroubled by sustained Opposition questioning this afternoon.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Peter Garrett and the “responsibility” paradox
Crikey readers weigh in on Garrettgate, Mary Mackillop and the changes to Sydney transport.
Garrett is soiled but solid
Peter Garrett’s fate has nothing to do with the merits of his case and everything to do with how long he deprives the Government of clear air in its task of attacking Tony Abbott.
Holy departmental memo, it’s Batt-man
After a tense day yesterday, it seems that Peter Garrett’s ministerial life will live to see another day. But with 160,000 houses to be safety checked and jobs being lost, the heat isn’t off the Batt-man yet.
Abbott is lying on Work Choices
The latest Essential Report dishes the dirt on Work Choices, with 57% seeing a return likely of at least some aspects if Tony Abbott gets the top job. Interestingly, 50% don’t believe Abbott when he says Work Choices is dead. Possum Comitatus has the numbers.
