Gillard and Abbott’s Adding to Decline in Our Trust of Each Other

The antagonist approach taken by both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott could possibly be linked with a decline in volunteer work or how we view our own neighbours.

An Australia-wide survey showed that trust in politicians took a significant fall when former PM Kevin Rudd’s flip flop over the emissions trading scheme.  The survey, consisting of 2000 participants, revealed that many of us have not yet rebuilt the same levels of trust since then.

It added that one-third of those surveyed believed that asylum seekers heading for Australian shores should be detained and deported, or be ordered to turn their boats around.

More than 25% of coalition voters in the survey, which took place prior to the High Court’s rejection of the Malaysia solution, … Continue Reading

Pauline Hanson: “Gillard Worst Ever PM”

Former Queensland MP Pauline Hanson has dubbed Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard as the “worst ever”.

Adding insult to injury, Ms Hanson questioned the Labor MP’s loyalty to the nation.

The former fish-and-chip shop owner revealed she was so disgusted in the current leadership that she has even considered running during the next federal election.

Ms Hanson also made a rather strange accusation, attacking Prime Minister on the matter of citizenship.  The former MP queried whether the struggling Labor leader has dual citizenship, or is solely an Australian citizen.

“I would like to know, has she got dual citizenship because she was actually born in Wales, or is she solely an Australian citizen?

“Because I do not believe a prime minister or any member of parliament should have a dual citizenship because I want to know where their loyalties really lie,” she said. … Continue Reading

Gillard Speaks of Difficult Times

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has said that the Labor Party, along with many centre-left political parties around the world are facing a difficult time.

Ms Gillard made the statements in a speech at Old Parliament House in Canberra where she outlined her response to the review of the state of the ALP by Bob Carr, Steve Bracks and John Faulkner.

She opened her address by acknowledging that the party comes together during a difficult phase.

“We meet in difficult days for social democracy – at home and around the world,” she said, referring to heavy Labor losses in Western Australia, NSW and Victoria and a turning of the tide against the centre left in Europe and the US.

Ms Gillard went on to refer to the paradox of the “lean season” for social democracy, saying that it was happening when … Continue Reading

NSW Police: ‘No Crime Committed’ in Thomson Scandal

NSW authorities will not conduct an investigation into the allegations against Labor MP Craig Thomson. Police say that there is no reason to investigate as it was deemed that no crime had been committed.

Despite the revelations, the news is unlikely to end a bitter campaign against Mr Thomson, which has left the Labor Party with some of its worst opinion poll results on record.

It has left the Opposition embarrassed, but determined in its chase for the Labor backbencher. … Continue Reading

O’Farrell Focuses on Trust and Credibility

The O’Farrell Government in NSW has used its vital first Budget to build a strong credit balance of public trust and credibility.

The budget focuses on delivering on election promises while trimming spending, boosting revenue and containing the size of the public service.

Transport, Health – notably infrastructure and disability services – and Police are the major spending areas.

Marketed by Treasurer Mike Baird as the budget to start rebuilding NSW, it will involve a $718m deficit in 2011-2012 (on an overall spend of almost $60 billion) followed by small surpluses in the out years. … Continue Reading

Peter Beattie Approached to Stand for PM As Gillard Dangles by a Thread

Last Days for Julia?

ALP powerbrokers have called on former Queensland Premier Peter Beattie to run for a seat in Federal Parliament with the view of becoming Prime Minister.

Party insiders have confirmed that Mr Beattie has been approached to stand for the seat of Brisbane at the next Federal election.

As current PM Julia Gillard holds her position by a thread and struggles to get her policies over the line in a hung parliament, the ALP’s faceless men are turning to Mr Beattie who retired from politics in 2007.

If Beattie agrees, the ALP would even consider going to great lengths, including declaring him the leader of the party, who is not even elected.

Given Mr Beattie’s previous success as Premier, Labor believes that he is the only viable contender that is untainted by some of the ALP’s worst ever polls.

The radical option was confirmed this week by sources within the Labor party, as well as a number of public appearances made by the former Queensland premier. … Continue Reading

Federal ALP Heading for NSW-style Polls Meltdown

Federal ALP heading for NSW-style polls meltdown

Kevin Rudd may well be the Queensland Labor Member of Parliament if an election were to be held today. The ALP is playing down one of its worst polls in recent history, indicating that the Federal Government may be heading for a similar meltdown experienced by the NSW Labor Party earlier this year.

The figures, taken from a poll conducted last week, reveal that if an election were held now, Kevin Rudd would be the only ALP Queenslander in the house.

Labor MPs were putting on a brave face in spite of the poll, with Trade Minister Craig Emerson saying that the government was focused on its policy work. He said that recent comparisons by the media of the anger of voters in 1975 and today were inaccurate. Emerson acknowledged that there was some annoyance towards Labor, but pointed out that there was also annoyance with the coalition.

The poll, conducted by a Queensland newspaper showed supported for Prime Minister Julia Gillard at a record low in Queensland, with just 23% of the saying that they would vote for the … Continue Reading

Thomson Scandal Cuts Deep into ALP Government

Thomson scandal cuts deep into ALP government

The scandal that has plagued Labor MP Craig Thomson has reached the heart of the government, after it was revealed that her chief of staff phoned the Industrial Registrar in 2009 to question whether one of the party’s MPs was under investigation.

Doug Williams, a former Industrial Registrar, confirmed that a phone call from Ben Hubbard that cam prior to the fraud allegations were unearthed to the public.

Mr Williams informed the Prime Minister’s most dependable adviser that on legal grounds he could not provide any information about his investigation.

The explosive allegations prompted questions about when Ms Gillard, who was deputy PM under the leadership of Kevin Rudd, initially became aware about claims that Mr Thomson had stolen union money to pay for prostitutes.

Ms Gillard yesterday seized on reports that NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher had made a telephone call to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione to instruct George Brandis to investigate … Continue Reading