“The (Abbott) government’s narrative is that they haven’t been able to do anything… There’s a negative story attached to the government. They must somehow shift the momentum. The mould will be set if they don’t do something soon and they will have a really, really hard time — and most likely will lose the next election.”
Source: ‘Tony Abbott’s knightmare could be fatal if his government fails to change tack‘
We’ve had two former Prime Ministers do newsworthy interviews in late September, within the same week.
I would have thought the media would have spread them (a week?) apart for maximum impact, but the media seem to love a good adversarial matching – Liberal vs Labour – at any opportunity.
3 Liberal, 1 Palmer United, 1 Green, and 1 ALP candidates all walk into a Red Room.
WA,
Meet Your Senators!
So. This was probably your face when we were told we had to vote again…
…..Senate Byelections are exciting things.
But seriously. They are!
Pictured: Your fair author and Dr. Alexey Muraviev
When: 6.30pm, March 25th
Where: St. Catherine’s College, UWA
Who: Dr. Alexey Muraviev, Head of Social Science and International Studies at Curtin University
What: Speaking at the Australian Institute of International Affairs WA Branch Meeting on:
“UKRAINIAN FRONT 2.0:
RUSSIA’S STRATEGIC INTENT, GEO-STRATEGIC CONSEQUENCES
& IMPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA”
***Note: This Meeting was held under Chatham House Rule. ***
** Read about this rule HERE **
It took me less than 5 minutes into Alexey’s talk for me to realise how ill-focused the media reporting has been on the “Crimea Crisis”.
Our understanding has been distorted.This is what I learned…..
Pictured: Your Fair Author and Director General of ASIO, David Irvine
When: 6pm, March 4th
Where: St George’s College, UWA
Who: Director General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation [ASIO], David Irvine
What: Speaking on “Intelligence and National Security in the Democratic State”
**NB: This special event, hosted by the Australian Institute of International Affairs WA was held under Chatham House Rule**
**I took extensive notes throughout his talk, this blog entry is based on them.**
I didn’t know much about ASIO, ASIS, or Secret Services until I attended this talk and had the privilege of meeting David afterwards.
This is what I learned…..
“[In] Australia increased trust in the institution of government is up 13 percentage points to 56 per cent.
However, three in five Australians (60 per cent) do not trust government leaders to tell the truth regardless of how complex or unpopular it is.
And two in five Australians (40 per cent) do not trust government leaders to make ethical and moral decisions.”
Source: Business Insider
February was a really interesting month — Schapelle released, Ukraine in turmoil, Protests at the Winter Olympics, The USA dodging another fiscal default, Aussie troops coming home from Afghanistan, The violent death of an asylum seeker at Manus Island and GWAR’s decapitation of a Tony Abbott effigy at Soundwave.
First entry on the road! Currently on the Eastern Seaboard!
Kevin Rudd resigned from Parliament last night.
“Why should I care, PIK? What does it mean? What will it change?!”
Firstly, there will be a By-election in the seat of Griffith, Queensland. A by-election is an out of term (Parliament is elected every 4 years) election for a single, or multiple electorates. Because we live in a Democracy and the institute of Parliament is a pretty important one, KRudd’s seat can’t be left vacant for 4 years. Just because one seat goes to an election doesn’t mean the whole state or country has to — unless you were the Gillard Government of 2010-2013(!)
By-elections are often non-events, they will happen very quietly and we’ll hear in a few weeks who replaces Kevin. The ALP are confident of holding the seat, which is likely. By-elections occur when an MP dies or retires; if electoral boundaries change, then that change usually affects the next election (informed well in advance), but never mid term.
Check out how the electoral boundaries of Griffith have changed!
I initially started out wanting to do an entry on why Gen Y were so disengaged from this election, then came the furor about Tony Abb-…Prime Minster Abbott’s Cabinet. I sent out a survey to some fellow Gen Y-ers, and got some fascinating responses; I have talked to many other people ofdifferent ages and professions, and every generation had a different experience.
I want to explore Gen –Y’s…
I got Facebook message from a buddy of mine this morning, it read:
“SKY NEWS NOW!!!!”
I turned on ABC24, and there it was…
“LIVE BREAKING NEWS”
“LABOR LEADERSHIP”
“KEVIN RUDD”
“JULIA GILLARD”
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