The BludgerTrack poll aggregate records a slight move back to the Coalition this week, which is more to do with the reduced impact of last week’s Newspoll outlier than this week’s ReachTEL and Essential Research results, both of which landed right on trend. The Coalition is up 0.7% on the primary vote, 0.4% on two-party preferred and one on the seat projection, that being in Tasmania, where the Liberals scored strongly in the unpublished ReachTEL breakdown. No new figures for the leadership ratings this week.
Missed this line yesterday from Shorten – I like it.
“Every time the Government scrape off a barnacle, they just reveal another hole in the hull.”
I’m a bit confused by the defence pay issue.
The government keeps saying the decision was entirely the Independent Remuneration Tribunal’s decision and completely out of their hands.
But I just find it hard to believe that a Remuneration Tribunal acting entirely without input from the government would just spontaneously decide to award a below-inflation pay rise just when this government comes to power.
Is the Independent Remuneration Tribunal really independent? Do they have to work within budgetary parameters set by the government or can they just rule whatever they think is fair and reasonable? How did they justify a below-inflation pay deal this time around?
It just smells a bit funny to me, and the government are doing a big act of having their hands tied on the matter when I suspect they have a lot more say in things than they are admitting.
GG
Good list but where is Hockey? Off to spend more time with his family?
GG
Hockey suited to to small business. He has turned a few big ones into small ones in the last year
[Sorry Hockey goes to Small Business.]
Appropriate. Has a skillset that includes making small businesses out of larger businesses.
too quick Ross.
So on the “price signals” in health?
Seriously? They are considering doing it by regulation??
Which if for no other reason than the because of the method will get everyone talking about Health cost increases,
(liars!!, cost of living!! lying friar!! …..)
in the same conversations where they are talking about shonky Finance advisers ripping people off,
(Lib Spiv mates!!, Bastard Banks!!! Liars! Scholarships for Lib kids!!…..)
And somehow going anywhere near linking these ideas in the public mind is a good idea?? Having had such an embarrassing loss on the FOFA stuff what is this? Please Sirs and Madame’s may we have another??
I think it would be difficult to shift Hockey from Treasurer without basically terminating his career. Unless of course he could get the numbers to challenge for the top spot, which he won’t.
At the very least it would be a massive humiliation. (Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, of course, but there’s so many you’d like to see it also happen to.)
If Hockey were demoted to the back Bench he’d become the source of festering resentment against Abbott. However,on the ther hand, a few year’s in exile might be good for building his character.
Notwithstanding the fact that it’s an elected rather than appointed position, Johnston might be best applied as Government Senate Leader.
[ The problem with the current Minsitry is that it is too Sydney centric and lacks the input of women. ]
And you would fix that by putting Cash in there??
Ian McDonald seems to be telling everyone who’ll listen that he’ll vote against the GP co-payment if it comes to the Senate, and that he would have voted against the Petrol excise indexation (and presumably will when it finally gets to the Senate to be confirmed).
Always tricky to dump Senators from your front bench eh Tones? It’s just so easy for them to become a real pain in the arse.
He’s going to be dragged kicking and screaming to a reshuffle. Johnstone might drop a few hints about Senate numbers and save his cabinet spot. Tony’s just not the sort of guy who needs more enemies right now…
GG
I reckon Hockey would leave parliament. He has never shown much willingness to fight, not even for his budget.
He wouldn’t even fight Abbott for the opposition leadership when by many accounts it was his for the taking. Having to fight for his career would be beyond him.
[ If Hockey were demoted to the back Bench he’d become the source of festering resentment against Abbott. ]
The best part would be that he would cause trouble for anyone in the top job, but always lack the actual numbers to do anything about it. 🙂 Frustration, impotence, and leadersh$t. 🙂
imacca,
Last time I saw a picture, Cash was a woman.
Regardless, you re arrange the jelly beans and see how you go!
Posted without comment:
David Johnston @SenJohnston
“I have just recorded my Christmas message for all ADF members” #youradf #auspol #Christmas pic.twitter.com/T2ClS8yz48
GG,
The problem of course is that Whitlam’s first ministry had more talented people to choose from than the entire Coalition partyroom does.
ross,
He wants to be PM. He’s going to have to wait awhile.
He’s quite wealthy and his missus is a good earner. If he left Parliament he’d have to get a job again.
So, I don’t reckon he’ll leave.
If Hockey is demoted it’d be on the cards that he resigned altogether. Even *he* must realize now that he’s a dud, and that Abbott will always sucker-punch him.
Time for Joe to move off and enjoy his (reported) millions sitting in on a few plum board positions, where smoking cigars is practically compulsory.
markjs,
On the first day of Christmas I told the ADF to get stuffed….
IF that tweet is from the real Johnstone, the picture is a shocker. He looks like he’s just been told he’s been sack—– Oh… wait…
Bushfire Bill
[He looks like he’s just been told he’s been sack—– Oh… wait…]
His press officer had just sent him an update on his current position.
[ Last time I saw a picture, Cash was a woman. ]
Are you reallllly sure GG??
LoL! So the Liberal Brains Trust really does seem to think that regulation is a good way to increase the punters health costs??
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/price-signal-needed-to-make-medicare-sustainable-says-dutton/story-fn59niix-1227136552889
Don’t you just love the smell of Tories self immolating in the morning?? 🙂 Dutton is the kind of person who really should not be allowed to play with matches.
Ciobo says Defence pay is done and dusted. The 1.5% had to be because of the budget deficit and disaster. Sorry, guys.
Johnston says that the ADF will be better off as a result of pay rises that will not keep pace with inflation. Go figure.
A couple of hours after Ciobo says it is done and dusted, Abbott says that Defence pay is still under ‘review’.
Cormann says that the FOFA legislation is live.
A day or so later, Abbott pulls the FOFA legislation.
A fortnight later the Coalition and Labor agree to the subset of the FOFA reforms relating to grandfathering.
Bishop says Australia is ‘standing up’ to China.
Robb cuts a FTA deal with China. It includes selling our sovereign rights down the drain by allowing foreign firms to sue the Australian government of the day if it makes decisions that financially hurt foreign firms. Such decisions might include decisions to protect the health of Australians and the Australian environment.
Abbott says privately that the $7 doctor’s tax is dead. He says this with such clarity that half a dozen newspapers report it as a backflip.
The morning after this, Abetz says that the $7 doctor tax is still Government policy.
Johnston says the ASC is useless. This prompts just about everyone who knows him to think and/or say that Johnston is useless.
Abbott says that Johnston is not useless.
The Assistant Treasurer has been absent with leave for his involvement in what is, IMHO, at the very least dereliction of his Director’s duties. Abbott is hanging off deciding his reshuffle until he finds out about the Assistant Tresurer’s judicial fate. Meanwhile a swag of underperformers stay in the job while Abbott waits to see what happens with Arthur.
Meanwhile Joe’s Hole grows bigger, and bigger and bigger.
There may be something remotely adult about some of the above but it is difficult to spot.
[The best part would be that he would cause trouble for anyone in the top job, but always lack the actual numbers to do anything about it.]
Yeah, he could really inject some jelly into the spine of the Liberal moderates.
davidWH @120, no hockey hasn’t resigned yet, but it is only lunchtime,with QT to come..
Why would Hockey resign?
It is not his fault.
Labor should resign.
Oh, wait…
Scope creep:
200 to 600
fueling fighter bombers on bombing runs into Syria
killing people ‘regardless of nationalisty’
…so how would someone dropping something from 30,000 feet check passports…
[Vice Admiral Johnston conceded some of the planes might have been fuelled for operations in Syria.
He also said Australian forces would attack any legitimate target regardless of their nationality.]
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-05/australian-special-forces-troops-close-to-being-deployed-in-iraq/5868420
Kelly, in yesterday’s ‘The Australian’ infers that Abbott is out of touch with reality.
Barker in today’s Fin refers to Abbott’s ‘hubris’.
Shanahan in today’s ‘The Australian’ uses the adjective ‘manic’ to describe some of Abbott’s behaviour.
Slowly, slowly, slowly…
We warned youse for four years that the bastard was a sociopath.
Fancy doing a reshuffle?
Current barnacles and their locations on the hull:
[Prime Minister
The Hon Tony Abbott MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
(Leader of the Nationals)
The Hon Warren Truss MP
Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party)
The Hon Julie Bishop MP
Minister for Employment
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
(Leader of the Government in the Senate)
Senator the Hon Eric Abetz
Attorney-General
Minister for the Arts
(Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate)
(Vice-President of the Executive Council)
Senator the Hon George Brandis QC
Treasurer
The Hon Joe Hockey MP
Minister for Agriculture
(Deputy Leader of the Nationals)
The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP
Minister for Education
(Leader of the House)
The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
(Leader of the Nationals in the Senate)
Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion
Minister for Industry
The Hon Ian Macfarlane MP
Minister for Social Services
The Hon Kevin Andrews MP
Minister for Communications
The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP
Minister for Health
Minister for Sport
The Hon Peter Dutton MP
Minister for Small Business
The Hon Bruce Billson MP
Minister for Trade and Investment
The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP
Minister for Defence
Senator the Hon David Johnston
Minister for the Environment
The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Minister for Finance
Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Outer Ministry
Assistant Minister for Social Services
(Manager of Government Business in the Senate)
Senator the Hon Mitch Fifield
Assistant Minister for Employment
(Deputy Leader of the House)
The Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP
Assistant Minister for Health
(Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Senate)
Senator the Hon Fiona Nash
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC
Special Minister of State
Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson
Assistant Minister for Education
The Hon Sussan Ley MP
Minister for Human Services
Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Justice
The Hon Michael Keenan MP
Assistant Minister for Defence
The Hon Stuart Robert MP
Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
The Hon Jamie Briggs MP
Acting Assistant Treasurer
Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann
Parliamentary Secretaries
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
The Hon Bob Baldwin MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator the Hon Brett Mason
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer
The Hon Steven Ciobo MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services
Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment
Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education
Senator the Hon Scott Ryan
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
The Hon Darren Chester MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications
The Hon Paul Fletcher MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
The Hon Josh Frydenberg MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
The Hon Alan Tudge MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance
The Hon Michael McCormack MP]
Boerwar
Kevin Rudd was (is) much more personable than Tony Abbott, yet he descended to earth like Icarus. How much longer can Abbott fly?
We have just received our electricity bill. A magnificent rebate of $114.
As our household are really big spenders on electricity, there must be many who are hardly receiving anything.
Boerwar,
He was always going to blow up. A clear danger hidden in plain sight.
I just want all the media that have been so active in misdirecting peoples attention from the disaster in front of their faces to go up in flames with him when he explodes. But being cockroaches they’ll probably survive.
[As our household are really big spenders on electricity, there must be many who are hardly receiving anything.]
That would be me, lizzie. Our rebate was $11. Hooray carbon tax repeal! Huzzah big polluters!
Joe doing what he does best.
[GP Fee:Treasurer Joe Hockey has added to the confusion ]
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/confusion-over-7-gp-fee-deepens-as-joe-hockey-contradicts-pms-office-20141127-11v3tj.html
[Lots of Australians asking today how they can set up a tax-exempt ‘think tank’ like high profile conservative commentator Gerard Henderson.]
Y’know, paint me cynical, but I’m beginning to think that this household saving of “$550” was a load of horseshit…
gg
Here’s a more realistic reshuffle:
Abetz to back bench
Pyne to back bench
Brandis to back bench
Morrison to back bench
Robb to back bench
Cash to back bench
Turnbull to back bench
Fletcher to back bench
Bishop J to back bench
Frydenburg to back bench
Bilson to back bench
Porter to back bench
Cormann to back bench
All portfolios to be wrapped into one mega ministry handled by Tony Credlin and Peta Abbott (after all they’re doing such a sterling job as Minister for Women and Indigenous Affairs)
Dan,
That looks more like your wish list to Santa.
gg
[That looks more like Australia’s wish list to Santa.]
There. Fixed that for you. 😉
FoFA is a classic example of what is wrong with this government, before introducing such legislation, the banking sector is in need of a royal commission and the findings of that royal commission should have formed the bases of any changes to FoFA but this government just isn’t smart enough to work out that sometimes you need to undertake serious self-reflection before you can proceed.
This government’s performance has been pathetic, not necessarily because we kind of expected it from the hacks that Tone surrounded himself with but considering the carry on we saw from this lot during the last six years whilst in opposition.
People wonder why Shorten isn’t being more aggressive, I would caution that Shorten is being smart as he isn’t making the mistake Tone made over and over again which has in turn become a feature of its performance.
poroti,
I’m re reading The Yes Prime Minister books again and Joe Hockey’s statement reads like the “Man Overboard” chapter.
Could be some movement at the station!
[ As our household are really big spenders on electricity, there must be many who are hardly receiving anything. ]
A couple of years ago my pensioner Mum got solar panels. We have to harass her to use her air con in summer 🙁 but since she had them put up she does not get power bills, only credit notes.
So she gets bugger all back for the abolition of the “carbon tax” but with the stuff announced in the last Fed budget may lose the 50% discount on her council rates. She is not a happy camper.
Re Poroti @185: the Government must be ‘in disarray’ by now.
On the Phil Hughes tragedy.
There is a silver lining. Ambulance response times have become an issue.
The end result may be more resourcing for Ambos to do their job and not be stuck waiting at hospital for their trolley to be cleared.
I just saw on Twitter that Stephen Marshall has been on radio backing away from his position on Johnston and says now that “they are doing their best”.
Strong words – and much more like what I’d have expected.
Welcome to new reality series: ‘The BallsUps’, starring Petanque Credlin and the Demented Monk.
Re GG @159: better still, Hockey, like Howard in 1995, could make a comeback after 12 years in Opposition. He would be 61 in 2028. But unlike Howard, he loses in 2029.
The next test for the Coalition Government is…
Oh, wait…
[Sue Dunlevy 9 minutes ago
Pensioners would have to pay a fee EVERY time they go to dr if government implements GP fee by regulation, no 10 visit limit or exemptions.]