Parliament’s back in session, and much to the surprise/delight/slight disappointment of the gallery and interested observers, it seems to be proceeding in an orderly fashion.
Question time
Crikey Says: A note of civility, care of Slipper
The People’s Question: dragging question time into the 21st century
An experiment to crowdsource a parliamentary question is under way, which will briefly drag federal parliament into the social media age.
Crikey Says: Introducing The People’s Question
Today, Crikey in conjunction with the people at OurSay are launching a new project entitled The People’s Question.
Question time: offline and out of line, but they’ve still got it
Ah, House of Representatives question time, that 2pm trip back to Year 10 assembly in which the nation’s best political minds joust unceasingly for petulant advantage — and that’s just the limelight addicts in the front row of the press gallery.
High-speed hypocrisy in the pursuit of Thomson
The Opposition’s in such a rush over Craig Thomson it looks uninterested in doing the basics.
Crikey Says: And you thought voters were disenchanted before …
You can feel the collective “meh” around Canberra and beyond today.
Political snippets: Some words of wisdom from a retiring President
At question time in the House of Representatives yesterday there was something of a novelty.
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.
Political snippets: No signs yesterday of parliamentary reform
Attempts by members of the cross bench at the start of this parliament to make question time in the House of Representatives a meaningful part of parliamentary democracy have clearly failed.
Jericho: And the Oscar for the worst performance in QT goes to…
This week’s Question Time awkwardly began with Tony Abbott unsuccessfully trying to launch a censure motion and Joe Hockey whining about the price of smokes. At least it wasn’t as bad as the Oscars, writes Greg Jericho.
Get Shorten: the opposition’s only highlight
While the Opposition focused on targeting Bill Shorten, Labor appears to have decided there are diminishing returns in keeping a low profile on immigration.
Australia’s parliament the worst in the world
The outsider-looking-in article makes for great reading and this Financial Times article dissing Australia’s farcical Question Time, the factional warlords running the two parties and this year’s riotous prime ministerial spill is a beauty.
So, what does the Coalition stand for?
All the focus has been on what Labor stands for. Yesterday it looked a lot like it was the Coalition that was adrift and lacking policy.
Old Julia sparks up new question time
Shock, horror, Labor showed up to question time yesterday with a plan and a purposeful PM. It’s been quite a while since her aggressive, laser-like policy focus was in the parliament.
Neither side get the Murray Darling basics right
On the Murray-Darling, Labor is doing what it always does — allow its opponents to frame the debate. Luckily, the Coalition still hasn’t learnt the basics either.
Hudson: Press the snooze button during QT
Politicians could do with a few lessons in brevity and wit. Question Times has declined into a mass of childish games and pollies trying to protect their media image, says Phillip Hudson.
Marr: Question Time — waste of time
Animal sounds by pollies braying for blood, hypocrites fighting hypocrites, pouring over their BlackBerrys with no respect for their peers: Question Time is a farce, writes David Marr.
The new hit TV show, Question Time
Question Time needs a little bit of jazzing up and perhaps renaming it is the way to go. What about QNA: Questions No Answers, MasterBore or Overbelly?
Goward: Kristina Keneally gives women a bad name
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally acts like a bitchy girl in parliament, making personal comments about dress and appearance. If she’s such a feminist, why resort to typical sexist remarks? asks Liberal MLA Pru Goward.
Government and Opposition trade blunders
Suddenly we’re into election debating season. For that you can thank the dud Parliamentary tactics of both sides.
A bar brawlin’ Question Time
Yesterday’s Question Time was most exciting, with Tony Abbott and Kevin Rudd flexing their health muscles (and vocal cords) with some early election campaigning and Julia Gillard wiping the floor with her opponents.
Showdown at the old despatch box
After shooting it out in a Question Time stand-off, Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott have agreed to an old fashioned showdown over health in a debate next week. Bernard Keane recounts a wild, wild day in the chamber.
“$1b gouge” tag unfair on tax-and-spend Abbott
Labor’s claims that Tony Abbott “gouged $1b out of health” are rubbish. But Abbott’s response shows why his instincts are at odds with his party’s. It’s the nearest thing to kabuki in Parliament.
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…
