Publicly attacking Senators who block government plans is a fairly novel way of winning their support, when all they need is a bit of charming, explains former senator Natasha Stott Despoja.
Senate
The bewildering search for Abbott’s agenda
The Senate obstructionism has hit the headlines this week, further highlighting that Tony Abbott has yet to figure out exactly what he stands for as leader apart from opposing everything the government suggests.
Senate inquiries: sport yes, abuse no
The Senate normally conducts inquiries into pretty much anything that takes its fancy. But it was different when the issue was Scientology.
No love lost between Labor and Greens
For years the Greens have been regarded by the ALP as the “harmless fairies at the bottom of the garden”. But the Greens’ power is growing and the ALP — particularly the Labor Left — need to be on alert, writes Nick Dyrenfurth.
Plumbing new depths in the Senate
Daily media wrap: With a back-up of 41 bills, does the Senate have a plumbing problem? Or is it time for the Rudd government to shit or get off the pot?
From gatekeeper to gridlock — a brief history of Labor obstructionism
Quit the high horse act on Senate obstructionism, Labor. As the record of the Howard Government shows, what goes around comes around.
Question without notice to Abbott: what about parental leave?
Questions for Tony Abbott: when the Government brings its parental leave legislation into Parliament, will you support it? Will coalition senators allow the legislation through, so women can plan their next year’s birth possibilities?
The Senate lends Scientology a helping hand
Last week, the Senate allowed Scientology to respond in Hansard to allegations made against them. As usual, the cult used it as an opportunity to attack its former members.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: 2009: a merry media year for the PM
Who were our biggest media hogs this year? Kevin Rudd’s dominance of media coverage was slightly less than last year, even if he did come out on top.
Sisters are doing it for themselves, and only themselves
Four years ago, four women senators from a variety of political parties cosponsored and passed a bill in support of the abortion pill RU486. Why was this a one-off? Why don’t we have a women’s caucus and more collective action?
Don’t let Godwin Grech fade away
The privileges committee’s report into the Utegate and Godwin Grech saga must stay on the radar. An undemocratic Senate has no business trying to have a separate relationship with public servants.
Crikey Clarifier: Scientology. WTF?
Who exactly are the Scientologists and why have they suddenly come up in the news? Crikey intern Michelle Loh waded into the morass…
When minimal accountability and mind-numbing tedium reign in Canberra
This week, Senators are conducting Supplementary Budget Estimates for the whole week, rather than sitting. For the most part it’s a colossal waste of time and money.
Small parties to be squeezed out of Senate?
Electoral reform of the Senate is being floated by the government, in the hope that the likes of Steve Fielding will never get elected on preferences alone, again.
Costello: Early election a gift to the Greens
PM Kevin Rudd doesn’t really want a double dissolution, because he’d prefer the Opposition to pass the ETS scheme and share the blame of future problems, writes Peter Costello.
Balance of power: can we predict Senate seats?
At its most basic level, the relationship between the lower house primary vote and Senate votes is extraordinarily linear and very, very strong. PossumComitatus crunches the numbers so you don’t have to.
Prospects for health reform just got worse
The prospects for health reform in the near future just reduced considerably with the Senate’s rejection of the legislation to reduce the private health insurance (PHI) rebates for high income earners, writes Robert Wells.
Coalition in dangerous territory as health bill stalls
Means-testing of private health insurance rebates has been rejected by the Senate, blowing a A$1.9 billion hole in the budget and serving as a potential trigger for double dissolution.
Political snippets: Downer agrees with Rudd on China, health reform dependent on senate numbers
Health reform will be interesting since the ALP don’t have the numbers in the senate, NAB and their rate cutting, Downer endorsing Rudd’s handling of the Hu case in China.
Airlines, the Senate and the transfer of criminal responsibility
A back door attempt to water down the absolute responsibility of airlines for the actions of their employees and criminalise pilots has been blocked in the Senate.
Steve’s not buying man-made global warming
Well you can’t say Crikey didn’t try to sell climate change to Family First Senator Steve Fielding.
Andrew Bartlett: Feisty final Senate week ahead
The Senate is moving into its final sitting week til mid-August with a large pile of legislation the government insists must be dealt with. And yet the ETS alone could take that long to debate.
Utegate: PM’s office asked treasury to intervene
A treasury official has admitted to a Senate committee that the Prime Minister’s office may have made a representation to him on behalf of a car dealer friend of PM Kevin Rudd.
A big parliamentary fortnight, by any estimate
In the aftermath of the budget, the next fortnight should be a target-rich environment for Opposition senators. If they can’t score some points now, it may be time to give up.
Rudd looking for double dissolution trigger
Kevin Rudd is desperately looking to trigger a double dissolution in the Senate with his changes to the ETS, says Alan Kohler.
