My ongoing effort to spice up the election guide with preselection argybargy has recently led me into the quagmire of Cook, where the Liberals finally settled on a candidate last Thursday after months of factional brawling. The drama began in April when Bruce Baird, who turns 66 in February, announced he would not seek another term. A former minister in the Greiner-Fahey state government, Baird had himself come to Cook in eventful circumstances. He was installed as a compromise candidate in 1998 after one-term member Stephen Mutch was challenged by Mark Speakman, a local barrister who had been best man at Mutch’s wedding eight years earlier. Baird’s nomination was a victory for his moderate faction over a member described by Irfan Yusuf as a “small ‘c’ conservative”. The demise of Mutch did not please the Prime Minister, who pointedly failed to promote Baird at any point in his nine years in Canberra. It also did not help that Baird was close to Peter Costello, and was spoken of as his potential deputy when fanciful leadership speculation emerged in early 2001.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Baird’s retirement was influenced by the prospect of a preselection challenge from the Right, which was exerting growing control over the Cronulla and Miranda branches. There had already been talk Baird would be succeeded by Scott Morrison (right), former state party director and managing director of Tourism Australia. Morrison left the latter position last year after a falling out with Tourism Minister Fran Bailey; a travel industry news site talks of rumours the Prime Minister promised Morrison support in Cook as “payback” for agreeing to go quietly. According to Steve Lewis in The Australian, Morrison boasted “glowing references from a who’s who of Liberal luminaries, including Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull, former Liberal president Shane Stone, Howard’s long-time chief of staff Arthur Sinodinos, and Nick Minchin, the Finance Minister and another close ally of Howard”. However, it quickly became clear that such support would not avail him without the backing of the Right. Unfortunately for Morrison, much of the Right’s local strength was achieved by courting energetic local numbers man Michael Towke, who was himself intent on running. Imre Salusinsky of The Australian reported that Morrison was further starved of support when the Left resolved to resist Towke by digging in behind its own candidate, Optus executive Paul Fletcher.
Towke went on to defeat Fletcher in the final round by 82 votes to 70, with Morrison finishing well back in a field that included PBL executive David Coleman (who had the backing of Left-aligned state party president Geoff Selig), economic consultant Peter Tynan, 2004 Barton candidate Bruce Morrow and the aforementioned Mark Speakman. Towke’s success over what Imre Salusinszky of The Australian described as “a Rolls-Royce field of candidates” enraged opponents of the Right’s growing ascendancy, and doubts soon emerged as to whether the party’s state executive would ratify his nomination. Allegations of wide-ranging branch-stacking activities soon filled the media, as did reports of extravagant claims in his CV concerning his barely-existent security business. Towke had also said he had quit the ALP at the age of 18, but “other documents” emerged to suggest he was a member at 23. There was also talk of a whispering campaign surrounding Towke’s Lebanese heritage (his surname is a recently adopted Anglicisation of Taouk), and how this would play in the white-bread electorate that played host to the 2005 Cronulla riots. With the Prime Minister’s voice joining the anti-Towke chorus, the 22-member state executive voted to remove him by 11 votes to nine, with two abstentions.
This did not resolve the issue of Right control of local branches, which would still have been the decisive factor in any straight preselection re-match. It was reported that the seat was set to go to state upper house MP Marie Ficarra, a close ally of Right powerbroker and fellow MLC David Clarke. Ficarra’s Legislative Council vacancy would in turn be filled by Scot MacDonald, the party’s rural vice-president. MacDonald’s nomination for Senate preselection earlier in the year was rejected by the party’s nomination review committee, a body designed to vet candidates on grounds of character or ethics. This decision was reportedly prompted by Senator Bill Heffernan’s fierce lobbying at the direction of the Prime Minister, who wished to protect Left faction incumbent Marise Payne. However, Towke instead agreed to a deal in which a new preselection process would involve only those who had nominated the first time around, in return for the dropping of disciplinary action against him (which perversely enabled him to sit on the preselection panel).
The new preselection saw Morrison defeat Peter Tynan by 26 votes to 14, from a panel consisting of 26 representatives of local branches and 17 of the state executive. Imre Salusinszky reported that Morrison owed his win to Right delegates from the executive who persuaded local branch delegates to fall behind him. Fletcher and Speakman withdrew at the last minute, while Morrow ran but failed to secure any votes.
Re Cook
probably not able to be won by ALP unless they get a LOT of help
from the libs. On last state figures Cook would not have been alp
held
Re Hughes possible with a very good ALP vote and a lot of luck
the state seat of Menai would have been representative of Hughes as
a whole or close maybe a 47% vote in that area would have equated
to a ALP win in Hughes. Certainly labor would have won Hughes on State
figures
I apologise for the double posting in 2 streams guys. I didnt think it went through on the other one but I didnt click on the show all posts…duhhh.
Can anyone imagine Howard answering this question which was put to Rudd on FM Radio ( no wonder the young people like him ):
Radio DJ on Brisbane’s B105FM: ” Have you ever farted in front of your wife?”
Kevin Rudd: ” We all have to act responsibly on greenhouse gas.”
That is brilliant. I am sorry, but it is.
I think you cut a lovely figure Julie @ 57. Size 17 (seats) is just right !!
Glen, I think you miss the importance of the 39%, in that prior to this period it would have been much lower. Don’t know if anyone has any historical data on this, but that would be my guess. So to put it the right way round Glen, 60% is not bad, but previously it was much higher.
Don’t you love this honest comment on the Independent candidate for Forrest’s website 🙂
http://www.noelbrunning.com.au/Have%20Your%20Say?bb_topic_id=391
Guys, enough with the Glen bashing. Its getting boring listening to you all rabbit on about the election being done and dusted and only the final margin is going to be the talking point. I wouldn’t be wanting to swallow that large humble pie if Howard holds on…
But I must admit Glen, Lennon looked a little nervous but what he was saying was basically good points. From a business standpoint though, Lennon has done the right thing – in a time critical deal, you must accommodate the investor as best you can.
The delay from Turnbull may kill the project, but at the same time saving his own ass with the Green vote. The bottom line is that Tassie needs this investment – its economy is struggling due to the almost mono-dimensional nature of its revenue. What it doesn’t need is $6 billion being wasted for more useless sentiment.
Paul K @ 103
That was really good. Now I have to get myself up from the floor … and stop laughing. But. Wasn’t the same question put to Sophia Loren by The Chaser a coupla months ago? FM radio is not my favoured medium.
I have to confess I had never heard of Noel Brunning until this evening. Is he a big fish in the small and brackish pond of WA media? Are his views rightish, leftish, nothingish? Does he have a show of winning Forrest? I guess he must against a Liberal who hasn’t been able to get her own website fixed in four months.
Noel Brunning was the Main Newsreader on GWN, which is owned by Prime and covers all of REgional WA outside of Perth.
According to an article in the print edition of the West (not online), it was suggested that his preferences may benefit the local ALP Candidate win the seat, hence his “break”, is seen as a lifeline for the Liberal Candidate.
Re Noel’s politics, here is his “Platform”
http://www.noelbrunning.com.au/_content/documents/Press%20Releases/Noel%27s%20Election%20Platform.pdf
I say small l Liberal of the Menzies ilk.
Gentlemen, please. No more name calling.
Grooski: Yes, I agree that Tassie needs investment but surely it has to be with due regard to its unique status as one of the great untouched areas on earth. It goes to much more than sentiment.
Following your logic, the Victoria Building in the heart of Sydney should have been bulldozed … to “accommodate the investor.”
117
Derek Corbett Says:
August 30th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
Gentlemen, please. No more name calling.
Fair enough.
Wow i should learn to keep my head down and toe the Labor Party line or else ill get my head bitten off by you lot…i dont play the man like many of you seem to be doing perhaps your arguments wouldnt sound so radical if you didnt personally attack people who have a different opinion to yours…
No i do not want to be an American, im a proud Aussie thankyou very much and for OLLIE and Paul K id much rather debate you on policy than on childish name calling…i would have thought you would have been above name calling but there you go…you reflect badly on some less aggressive left wingers on this blog…
And for those who think the election is already over take a cold shower because it aint over till the other man concedes on election night…
There are, however, four reasons why Labor might still lose….and why ‘Lazarus with a triple bypass’ could well become Harry Houdini…
Howard’s lead in economic management continues to remain healthy. While interest rates and housing affordability might favour Labor, atm the strong economy is one factor that could still return Howard to office if most voters are content enough with this central aspect of their lives…they wont want to risk an inexperienced Labor Government…
Business will eventually back the Coalition to the hilt on industrial relations if they believe that they alone stand between Labor and victory. Business will still back Howard when the chips are down and they’ve already helped by trashing Labor’s IR policy…expect alot more noise from them they are for the most part fearful of Labor’s policies especially considering the number of Trade Union leader who’ll form a Rudd Labor Cabinet and will most surely push him into relaxing restrictions on Unions…
The power of incumbency is another reason, especially the government advertising blitz, remains very important. Howard can not only chose the election date but marginal MPs will have a considerable advantage over opponents in the costs of waging campaigns and this should benefit the Coalition.
Finally, Labor might just fall short if the government can successfully fight an election with a marginal seats campaign. Labor might well win 51 or 52 per cent, like Beazley did in 1998 and Andrew Peacock did in 1990, but lose in the marginal seats. If Labor manages to lose any of its own marginals it will struggle to form government…
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=6306
Derek – Tassie has almost 50% of its landmass tied up in protected heritage. At least 4 times larger than than anywhere else in Australia. Certainly no-one wants to see this magnificent region spoilt – but Tasmania has to diversify to grow. The claim that it is one of the most untouched region on earth doesn’t help its economic future one bit. Now I’m not suggesting an open free-for-all development marketplace in Tassie as the Coalition desires, but neither am I advocating a freezing of critical investiture like the Greens demand. That this mill will have the toughest and most extensive protection warrants on its eco-development is testament to this.
If Turnbull backs it, I think he will get the Coalition some votes in Tas. If he turns it down or delays it, he has a chance to save his own ass in Wentworth. Tough choice – I reckon they’ve given up on Tas and he’ll delay to save his seat.
Glen, I agree with you on one thing, if Howard gets up it will be the greatest victory in the modern era and he will leave the arena unmatched. And I bet thats the target that his bushy eyes are on…
Kina(92) Glen (94). On the poverty measurements, both can be right. As the measurement is 50% of median income, incomes for most people can increase but the higher income earners are increasing at a faster rate. In other words, it’s not a measure of an absolute poverty level, but rather of an increasing disparity between higher and lower income earners.
In this respect, Glen, its still a bad report for the government this close to the election.
It is a difficult debate Derek. On the one hand, I imagine Gunn’s committed to getting underway a.s.a.p and it would cost them alot more in transport costs to shift to the mooted ‘alternative site’.
The Tasmanian Premier was somewhat convincing about the need/want for Tasmania to get on the economic map and make use of an opportunity other than its very heavy reliance on ‘environmental tourism’.
Gunns is about making money for its investors, no harm in that. The Premier wants to develop Tassie’s economic potential, no harm in that.
The Greens and others want to preserve Tassie’s Tamar Valley, no harm in that.
It becomes then a question of whose interests can be served and can ALL interests be served in a cooperative, consultative approach instead of an us v them or environment v economic growth adversarial relationship akin to the labor v capital contest that dominated IR policy and debates until Hawke-Keating ‘tried’ to break that binary divide apart and bang it together.
If, simplistically speaking, Gunn’s thinks the business has the potential to produce many millions of dollars of profit over a long period of time, surely waiting abit longer for that profit to come or accepting its delivery at a slower pace from the added ‘transport costs’ involved in shifting the pulp mill to the ‘alternative site’ would be a reasonable compromise Gunns and their investors could tolerate ? If not, their projections about profitability and longevity of that profitability must be suspect.
The problem with the Greens position, and that advocated publically by Bob Brown on 60 Minutes, is that there is no compromise for them on this issue. There is black and white, right and wrong. It simplifies things for the common denominator to understand. It is also a dangerous position. While they love being the ballbreakers of the big 2 in any seat they can find, their stance has little room for them to maneuver as this goes to their core principle.
Howard won’t win. Rudd is a younger, fresher, less radical version of Howard, with no baggage, and has a front bench that also has no baggage. The strip incident gave him a Hawke like appeal, as does comments like the one mentioned in #103.
We’re all a bit wary because of past JWH comebacks, but not this time. The old coconut has used up his nine lives and we’ll have a new federal government by Christmas.
Back on topic – I think the Liberals will win Cook also. Labor won’t devote any resources to this electorate – there’s no need to now that Towke is out.
On other matters, isn’t there a Morgan poll out tomorrow? No-one has mentioned it thus far.
Glen I accept that i got out of hand calling you names, and I sincerely apologise for that.
However, don’t go lecturing us lefties as you call us with “i dont play the man like many of you seem to be doing” when you have been playing the man {RUDD} for months and months on here, albeit with more polite concepts and terms.
I remember starting in the Public Service and learning very quickly that people were telling other people to ‘go and #@#* themselves’ without ever using concepts usually associated with ‘playing the man’ as you put it. No names, no overt aggression or rudeness, but equally offensive.
That is pot n kettle stuff mate. Be real.
I gather the cost of living on basic goods and services etc is based on supply and demand most influenced by those at around the median income by definition. Thus anyone half of the median income would be experiencing some difficulty coping.
Glen,
I wouldn’t like to see you stop posting here as there are so few Howard people on this site ( or anywhere else ). So please do not take offense and I’ll try not to make it personal in future.
Rod Cameron is running logical rings around Michael K on Late Line.
[And for those who think the election is already over take a cold shower because it aint over till the other man concedes on election night…]
Of course it isn’t over, but Howard needs basically everything to go his way. From this far out the best swing a either party has received is a 3% change on the 2pp vote. Howard needs 5% and even with that could still lose.
[Howard’s lead in economic management continues to remain healthy. While interest rates and housing affordability might favour Labor, atm the strong economy is one factor that could still return Howard to office if most voters are content enough with this central aspect of their lives…they wont want to risk an inexperienced Labor Government…]
I disagree, Morgan, Ipsos, and Galaxy are all showing that the governments lead on the economy is declining. People are rusting on to Rudd, then saying he will be better at everything to justify supporting him. His support is becoming self fullfilling.
[Business will eventually back the Coalition to the hilt on industrial relations if they believe that they alone stand between Labor and victory. Business will still back Howard when the chips are down and they’ve already helped by trashing Labor’s IR policy…expect alot more noise from them they are for the most part fearful of Labor’s policies especially considering the number of Trade Union leader who’ll form a Rudd Labor Cabinet and will most surely push him into relaxing restrictions on Unions…]
Business ALWAYS back the Liberals! This is absolutely nothing new. I would be completely shocked if businesses came out endorsing Labor, even though Labor built both the post WWII and modern Australian economy.
Off Topic federally, but it seems the WA Libs Laura Norder Campaign has backfired somewhat 🙂
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/30/2020010.htm?site=perth
What the Greens are doing in regard to ‘split tickets’ in seats is a good decision. Labor needs the Greens more in my view than the Greens need Labor. In Victoria’s election last year their were a number of seats in the Eastern part of Melbourne which Labor won due to Greens preferences.
Additionally the Pulp mill issue quite simply has been pathetic from day one.. meaning the lack of a open and transparent process and the whole process being dictated by a Business this is an appalling situation. People elect governments and governments must act according to the people not business. Jobs and economics dominate the debate here and yes okay they are important but we as people should start asking what is happening to the environment world wide… The arctic is melting, temperatures world wide are soaring and we want to put more toxins in the air and oceans, and chop down more trees for a pulp mill.
The arcitic according to scientists will be totally melted within 30 years making temperatures soar further due to reflection that snow does to the suns rays and we as sensible society want to allow more environmental damage. Maybe we should have governments investing in tree planting or cleaning up the environment giving Tasmanians jobs in these areas instead of a further degradation of the environment. Quite simply few people yet still recognise climate change and the change that has significantly happened in our climate in the last twenty years in Australia.
I for one would like to see Glen leave this site. He is no more than a Liberal Party troll who comes here solely to pick fights, and he contributes nothing of any interest or value. He and two or three other like him have just about wrecked this site as a forum for useful discussion of electoral matters. When I see that a thread has racked up 200 comments in a morning I know that Glen has been trolling again, and I don’t bother reading any of it.
Adam,
Here are some video examples of Noel’s TV work so you can judge for yourself :_)
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Noel+Brunning
“A FUNDAMENTALIST church pastor had sex with two of his teenage daughters to educate them on how to be good wives, a South Australian court has heard.”
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22334577-2,00.html
( had sex with two of his teenage daughters )
Hey, if the Lord told him to do it, what could possibly be wrong. After-all Christians can do no wrong as long as they’re born again. Maybe GO could enlighten us on Family First’s policy on incest?
Looks like no-one’s going to answer my question re: the Morgan poll,. some I’m calling it a night.
Hopefully over breakfast in the morning there’ll be a 62-38 surprise waiting for me…
Sorry that should be “so I’m calling it a night”. Grammatical errors are the first sign of sleep depravation.
Paul K you have just demonstrated that you do not support free speech…we live in a free country Paul K and unless William changes the blog to be for Labor/Greens supporters only i wont leave or stop posting…
“Glen,
I wouldn’t like to see you stop posting here as there are so few Howard people on this site ( or anywhere else ). So please do not take offense and I’ll try not to make it personal in future.”
Adam…for someone who is probably a member of the ALP to suggest that i am a troll beggars belief why dont you just debate the issues and not play the man i think you’re big enough to do that…personally i dont think you like any opposition to Rudd or Labor on this blog but hey…
Back to political debate I enjoyed watching Cameron and Kroger tonight i think they both handled themselves well especially Kroger (but i am biased) its a shame he’s not in Parliament but i guess family/business comes first…still he is a talented Liberal that would have taken Kooyong in 1994 instead we all got Petro oh well…
Anyway it seems Kroger believes it will be held in December arguing that Menzies always tried to hold elections in December when people were upbeat about the holidays…i suppose with Howard’s support as it is he’ll need every bit of good cheer if he’s to hold on while Rod seemed to support a November poll…interesting to note that the Murdoch Press may have cast its vote early with today’s editorial critical of the Howard years for lack of reform…for all those who hate the Australian they just about stuck a fork in Howard today but thems the breaks…
(Paul K you have just demonstrated that you do not support free speech)
Glen,
Yeah, you got me Glen. Me and the other petty Dictators on this site want to close down all free speech. Today William’s blog and tomorrow the world.
Maybe you could tell me what it is I said that was so anti-free speech?
Glen for once i agreed with Kroger on one thing, the efforts against Turnbull by Cousins and other groupings in my view will have little effect… Turnbull will be defeated if a swing is on and that is all nonetheless i think he will just hang on.
[Back to political debate I enjoyed watching Cameron and Kroger tonight i think they both handled themselves well especially Kroger (but i am biased) its a shame he’s not in Parliament but i guess family/business comes first…still he is a talented Liberal that would have taken Kooyong in 1994 instead we all got Petro oh well…]
Kroger is very moderate as well, maybe not Petro class, but reasonably close.
He is a bit of a failure though, he should’ve helped Costello knock Howard off last November.
“Probably” a member of the ALP? I’ve said several times I’m a member. However this blog is not intended to be a forum for political discussion at all, there are numerous other blogs for that. It wouldn’t make any difference whether I’m an ALP member and you’re a Liberal, if conversation was confined to the actual purpose of this blog. But you and your Liberal mates have deliberately flooded it with your endless repetitive, abusive partisan tripe, even though the majority of users here have made it clear you’re not welcome. This is not a competition, there are no votes to be won here, no prizes for flooding a blog with partisan spam and pissing everybody else off. If you want to fight against lefties etc etc, get out into the real world and do it – I dare you.
Examples of Anti-Free Speech on Poll Bludger…
Paul K to Glen
“I wouldn’t like to see you stop posting here as there are so few Howard people on this site ( or anywhere else ).”
Adam to Glen
“I for one would like to see Glen leave this site.”
To Adam and Paul just because you hold different views to me i would never ever ever say you shouldnt or dont have the right to have your say in a free and open society you ought to have a long hard look at yourselves im sick of having to defend myself on this blog all i want is to debate current political issues nothing more nothing less.
True Simon…What Turnbull has done and Rod Cameron pointed this out is that his position on the Pulp Mill has been between a rock and a hard place and because of all the angst it has caused the Liberal Party is going to have to waste money to keep him afloat in a blue-ribbon seat instead of putting it into defending Eden Minaro and Lindsey…and i think he’s right but Cousins should remember that Labor supports it too how come he’s not campaigning in a Labor marginal seat…attacking Garret in Kingsford-Smith wont do anything…
Perhaps Kroger will come back in if Howard loses the election…he is a talented individual say what you will about his politics but he is a ‘wet liberal’…but i think he reckons he can make more money outside politics so thats that…and Simon you are right i dont remember hearing much from Kroger about Costello last year did he go silent???
If there’s going to be a Morgan Poll today Friday, it will presumable be posted at Morgan’s website
http://www.roymorgan.com/general/Home.cfm
But there’s nothing there at present, except that “Support for NZ Labour hits all-time low.” We’ll have to get Kevin cloned and send them a copy.
I am also a member of the Labor Party and continuously i am critical of them… but on this occasion I am tend to agree with Adam.
Adam @ 133,
Part of his caper is to spook commenters of goodwill such as yourself. Glen’s uses, however, range from being a pesky mascot, to providing a service similar to that of a palooka who keeps hangin’ around the gym just in case some of the troupe need to spar with him. Mind you, even with a ton of hard yakka, the best he’s ever gonna be is a journeyman lightweight.
[Examples of Anti-Free Speech on Poll Bludger…
Adam to Glen
“I for one would like to see Glen leave this site.â€]
That is an example of Adam using his right to free speech, it doesn’t mean you have to agree with it.
re the pulp mill, albeit OT, the issue for us in Tasmania is not really whether we should have a mill, but how it is assessed, and where it is sited.
The assessment process has been a total farce, made worse by government behaviour that gives credence (justifiably or otherwise) to conspiracy theories that Lennon et al are acting at the behest of Gunns. This is what has made the issue so divisive – we had an independent panel assessing it, and then Gunns threw a tantrum and pulled out, so Lennon gave Gunns an assessment process that suited them.
As for the site, it’s in the middle of a valley that is a hub of vineyards and cottage industries that are heavily reliant on the clean/green Tasmanian brand, and the tourism that generates. Do people (Grootski?) really believe that having a pulp mill across the river from a vineyard is not going to have an effect on cellar door sales? What will happen to our fish exports if unaccaptable levels of dioxins are found in our fish catches?
The Tamar Valley is one of Tasmania’s premiere wine regions, and Tasmania is now renowned worldwide for pinots and chardonnays. Now… think about it – how would people react if such a development were proposed to be built in the Barossa Valley?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m no rabid greenie – and I’ve deliberately left the issues surrounding the impact on our forests alone – but even a blue blooded merchant banker can see that plonking a pulp mill in a region like this doesn’t make sense for anyone but Gunns’ accountants.
Examples of Anti-Free Speech on Poll Bludger…
Paul K to Glen
“I wouldn’t like to see you stop posting here as there are so few Howard people on this site ( or anywhere else ).â€
Glen,
I guess I’m missing something. I just don’t understand how what I said could be offensive but whatever. How about I just ignore you in future and hopefully that will make you happy.
Simon point taken…but for Adam and Paul to consistently belittle my opinions as ‘propaganda’ shows how little they respect free speech in society let alone this blog…i guess they just dont want to debate Liberal Party supporters on policies…
I thought we are a tolerant country…one that accepts different views ect…
But unless i say how good Kevin Rudd and the ALP is and say how bad John Howard and the Coalition is I’m not entitled to have a say and my views are less valid than yours and come direct from party HQ that’s ludicrous????
I never thought id see the day that Labor supporters would chicken out of debating Liberal supporters…but ive seen it i never knew you all find me so threatening…i dont intend to ‘change’ any votes i only want to debate politics fairly and squarely but i guess the supporters of Rudd arent up for a meaningful debate on the issues oh well…personally im not surprised ive stopped listening to you Paul after all nobody has been so personally vindictive of me as you on the blog.
[I never thought id see the day that Labor supporters would chicken out of debating Liberal supporters…]
I think your contributions today have been very measured. However, you have built a reputation for some lame responses that seem designed simply to provoke angry responses from others. Given that reputation, I’m not surpised that some simply don’t want to reply to your posts.
#81.
Enemy Combatant Says:
August 30th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Guess who’s gonna jump in with a generous rescue package for the racing industry?
Et voila mes amis, nussink up my sleeve, Monsieur Glen? Non?…. merci.
Posted 2 hours 38 minutes ago, ABC Online
“The Federal Government has established a $4 million fund to provide grants to people affected by the equine influenza outbreak.Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran says grants of up to $1,500 will be available to people in Queensland and New South Wales whose livelihood is dependent on horses.â€
Thank you and goodnight.
Rod Cameron on Lateline made the point that the News Ltd tabloids are giving Rudd much more favourable coverage – I’ve certainly noticed it in the Daily Telegraph lately.
I’d love to think there might be a huge swing against Ruddock in my neck of the woods, but not likely, too many dyed in the wool Libs on Sydney’s North Shore.
Adam: William shouldn’t ban Glen from this board. We need at least one Howard lover to laugh at, and to be fair, Glen at least doesn’t resort to the abuse of a Cerdic Conan.