“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‘
So I was thinking, as I so often do; I thought about Prime Minister Abbott, after my last entry about Prime Ministerial interviews – what will his legacy be?
I (over?) simplified John and Julia’s tenures into a series of bullet points as below:
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!
“[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!
******Firstly, however, A UPDATE ON MY PREVIOUS ENTRY: “The American Government Shutdown Explained!”*******
The Democrats, [Obama and his Government] have the majority in the Senate, not House of Representatives. The Republicans have the majority in the lower house [the HoR] – but the Democrats have the majority of seats over the total seats in both houses: 332 [to the Republicans 206]. US politics is a very different kettle of fish to Australia. Legislation doesn’t usually originate from the Upper House in a Westminster system [Aus, UK, Canada], but in the case of the US Presidential system, it can. But because the Americans are Bicameral [two houses of Parliament] it needs the approval of the other house, despite where it starts, so Obama is dealing with a hostile [Opposition majority] House of Reps.
Concisely, more people should be worried about this Government shutdown. There could be some serious ripple effects!
What’s happened? The budget, or ‘supply’ has been blocked.
Basically, the Americans have the same Bicameral (two Houses of Parliament, Congress and the Senate) system we do, and Legislation has to pass both houses. The budget is a piece of legislation just like any other, most political parties, particularly in Australia, will vote supply through without much fuss, because it’s money for the country to run on.
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…
tangible.blog 