Let me stop pussy-footing around. There will be a Labor leadership change.
Penny Wong
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of Penny Wong. Crikey’s Penny Wong coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
Customers snore on hold as federal cardigans rebel over Wong’s cuts
As Budget speculation reaches fever pitch over a looming Max Moore-Wilton-style disembowelment of the federal public service at the hands of Wayne Swan’s surplus fetish, a survey from the major union representing Canberra cardigans has revealed a tranche of serious workplace issues plaguing the APS.
Gillard’s to-do list to achieve a miracle comeback
If Julia Gillard is to have any chance of turning around her fortunes, she has a brief window of opportunity to overhaul her government.
Brian Greig: Christian Lobby plays the victim card
The Australian Christian Lobby has taken its bat and ball and gone home, writes former Democrats Senator Brian Greig.
Sideshow Alley: Rann’s presser, Nile on Wong’s baby & a non story
With the inimitable Lindsay Tanner about to rule on the merits of Crikey’s Slideshow Alley initiative, we thought it was time to bring out the big guns and shine a light on three instances of pollie and media egregiousness over the week that was.
Risky business in planning for rising sea levels
New government reports found a “worst-case scenario sea level rise of 1.1 metres” within 90 years would have a devastating impact, with as much as $266 billion worth of potential damage, writes David Spratt, climate change analyst and author of Climate Code Red.
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.
Penny Wong’s magic asterix
Finance Minister Penny Wong has said that part of her budgetary miracle moving towards a surplus is increasing the “efficiency dividend.” Hey presto — it’s a magic asterix! writes Richard Farmer.
Wong: in the name of equality, Labor must adopt gay marriage
Labor Finance Minister Senator Penny Wong took to the floor of the South Australian Labor Party convention over the weekend to advocate for gay marriage (a motion passed to push the issue at next year’s national conference). This is her speech to the convention.
Van Onselen: Wong is prepared to slice and dice
If Julia Gillard is to make good on her promise to return the budget to surplus by 2012-2013 - and to maintain any notion of credibility she certainly needs to - the budget may have to take substantial cuts. That’s why she appointed Penny Wong as Finance Minister, writes Peter van Onselen.
Taking stock of climate change — what now?
Greg Combet’s arrival as Climate Change Minister provides the opportunity to rethink where we go from here, given Labor has so badly botched the issue in its first term.
Keane: the good and very bad of the Gillard line-up
There are some worthy promotees in the first proper Gillard Ministry, but the plotters have been rewarded.
Too little too late for Snowy in its death throes
The Snowy River: among the attributes that might be expected of one of Australia’s major tributaries, it lacks only water, writes Joel Tozer.
Political snippets: Getting depressed watching television
If you need a reason to be depressed about our political system watch Penny Wong and Greg Hunt’s performance on The 7.30 Report last night.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: The Media Monitors’ Top 20
This almost surreal campaign continues, with one side starting up a scare campaign on what is thought to be a weak point of the other, the other side immediately caving in and agreeing to no change ever without every Australian citizen’s signature in blood.
Lay off Penny – real change occurs slowly
Penny Wong has copped much criticism for being gay but also claiming to view marriage as a union between a man and a woman. But real reform happens gradually and she deserves respect for choosing to fight her battles within caucus, writes Adrian Phoon.
Crikey Says: Meet the political vacuum on climate change
Tim Flannery has urged people to become more politically active with climate change. Let’s take a look at what politicians are filling the vacuum for the Politics of Climate Change panel.
The heart says Rudd will lose, the head says he’ll win
This is not a normal election year. The disappointment in Rudd’s confusing waffle and failed projects turns the idea of a one-term government into a definite possibility, writes Peter Brent.
Crikey Says: Testing Rudd’s realities
Rudd cited two “realities” that he says have derailed the government’s proposed ETS. One being the slow progress on global action. Let’s take a turn around the globe, shall we?
Clean energy sector bets everything on RET legislation after demise of CPRS
Abandoning an emissions trading scheme has frozen the renewable energy market and the Government’s “flawed” clean energy targets are stifling investment in large-scale projects like wind farms and solar generation.
Those waiting in the wings need to work on their lines
Tony Abbott was right to reject acting lessons, he’s already a showman, writes Peter Brent. But other pollies desperately require some professional personality jazzing. Here’s looking at you Wayne Swan and Penny Wong.
Costello: We need to be cynical about climate change
Last year climate change was “the greatest moral challenge of our time”, this year Rudd’s realised that climate change is tricky politics and it’s easier to talk about health funding, says Peter Costello.
