At last Labor has some political momentum. However, it’s mostly come from Tony Abbott’s stumbles — a series of errors that have made life considerably easier for the government.
Parliament
Gruen: scripted questions are nothing new in Canberra
Is it any wonder that people sometimes make what they end up conceding are “errors of judgment” in an environment such as this, asks Nicholas Gruen?
Crikey Says: The calm before the storm
If only politicians could be trusted to acknowledge that, as Possum lamented last week: “Not everything about government is about electoral politics.”
Hockey hunts for class on the Swan gong
Joe Hockey’s attack on Swan over the Euromoney award was not just graceless but missed an opportunity.
The opposition was right to walk out on Gillard
Politicians insist parliamentary debates are important but there’s no evidence they are. The collection of speeches given to a chamber almost entirely devoid of life plays no role in improving legislation.
Crikey Says: And you thought voters were disenchanted before …
You can feel the collective “meh” around Canberra and beyond today.
Oakeshott has wrecked Jenkins’ authority — and it shows
Harry Jenkins was never the most authoritative of speakers but is losing the ability to control question time — fast. And this class of pollies is desperately in need of control.
Why Abbott can wreck with impunity
The Government can attack Tony Abbott as a “wrecker” all it likes, but it’s unlikely to have any impact on his electoral standing.
Coalition plays smart on speakership
The Opposition may not be adhering to the spirit of the parliamentary reform agreement, but it’s playing smart politics.
Spokespersons and journalists who hang off every word
The Press Gallery tradition of briefings following party room meetings doesn’t always go according to plan, partly because the Press Gallery is obsessed with trivia and over analysing every word uttered.
Midwinter Ball red carpet special: fashions on the hill
After last year’s colourful train wrecks, it seems black, ruffles and old-fashioned glamour were the order of the evening for the Midwinter Ball. With not a fedora in sight.
Play it again, Kev: the monotonous drone of Question Time
Kevin Rudd bores. Government thugs Opposition. Question Time irrelevant. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…
Crabb: Combet turns comedian while the Coalition clowns around
Greg Combet isn’t usually Parliament’s resident comedian, says Annabel Crabb, but he had them rolling in the aisles yesterday. Punchlines are a-dime-a-dozen with the Coalition’s climate sceptics around.
Keane: Does anyone even care about misleading Parliament anymore?
Malcolm Turnbull called a press conference yesterday to accuse the Prime Minister of misleading Parliament over the Oceanic Viking deal. But does telling the truth in Parliament even mean anything any more? asks Bernard Keane.
Kerr: Chaos rules as Costello runs down the clock
Parliament resumed yesterday, and the big news was that Peter Costello would not be giving a valedictory speech. Instead, he held a doorstop presser to talk about himself. Christian Kerr has all the highlights.
Crabb: Parliament’s back!
Parliament resumed yesterday, and it was like they’d never been away, says Annabel Crabb: Rudd was hurling figures, Hockey was breeding and tweeting, and senators were trying to get a peek in Kerry O’Brien’s wallet. Business as usual.
Mungo: Malcolm’s parliamentary shemozzle
Malcolm Turnbull must be very grateful that he does not have to front up again until February, writes Mungo MacCallum.
The Crikey Pet Register
The Crikey Political Pet Register has the democratic denizens of the ACT agog and a dog with the knowledge that we will soon know everything there is to know about our pollies and their beloved pets.
New Liberal leadership’s week one report card
There was some press comment that Labor was “rattled” by the elevation of Turnbull. But Rudd doesn’t do rattled, at least in public, writes Bernard Keane.
And the Wankley Award goes to…Tony Wright’s Beef Stroganoff
Stroganoff-gate had many high points, but nothing beats the conversation between ABC Brisbane’s Madonna King and The Age’s National Affairs Editor Tony Wright.
This week in politics
Kevin Rudd finally comes home
Goodbye to Squeaky, Noddy and Emo Man
Things got a little tetchy at the end of this fortnight’s sittings, writes Bernard Keane.
The first week and a bit in Parliament
A First Dog On The Moon review
The greatest wedge of all
Yesterday in Parliament…
