Australia General Discussion

[MaxQue]

I really doubt than going from Gillard to Rudd would make Labor go from 48 to 56. It's a major change, which is doubtful.

Still, it should give hope to Labor, as voters don't seem to be in love with the Coalition, far from it.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The Coalition's support really has little to do with them... and they know it.

[Smid]

The Coalition's support really has little to do with them... and they know it.

This has traditionally been true in Australian politics at both state and federal levels. It's the old saying that oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them.

[Mr. Morden]

The Coalition's support really has little to do with them... and they know it.

This has traditionally been true in Australian politics at both state and federal levels. It's the old saying that oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them.

Isn't that pretty much the case everywhere in the world?

[Smid]

The Coalition's support really has little to do with them... and they know it.

This has traditionally been true in Australian politics at both state and federal levels. It's the old saying that oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them.

Isn't that pretty much the case everywhere in the world?

Quite probably. I'm just making the point that the issue raised by Max and Polnut is far from being unique.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

The Coalition's support really has little to do with them... and they know it.

This has traditionally been true in Australian politics at both state and federal levels. It's the old saying that oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them.

Of course, but there are plenty of examples in recent Australian history where Governments were terribly unpopular BUT oppositions didn't present a palatable plan and lost elections they had no right to lose, 1993/2004...

While governments tend to lose elections, rather than oppositions win them, there is a rule about incumbency, people are inherently conservative and need to be made comfortable about a change. Which is the potential trap I see for the Coalition. The small-target strategy that worked in NSW/QLD I doubt will be working at the Federal level.

[RogueBeaver]

Antony Green says there is a path to partial Senate control. Enough for repeal, not much else.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/03/could-western-australia-deliver-the-coalition-control-of-the-senate.html

[Smid]

Antony Green says there is a path to partial Senate control. Enough for repeal, not much else.

http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/03/could-western-australia-deliver-the-coalition-control-of-the-senate.html

The Australian also ran a similar story yesterday (behind a pay wall). I think Labor or the Greens are probably pushing the line and the journalists have picked it up (not saying it isn't true - I actually haven't looked at the numbers, but I respect Antony Green and would take his analysis at face value). The story certainly does the Coalition no favours, however. It sends the message to Labor supporters "we're done and can't win, but don't protest vote against us because you'll give the Liberals too much power. In fact, there's no need to protest vote against us, because we're going to lose anyway."

[RogueBeaver]

Also, congrats to the Laborites here for 1993 @ 20. Without that there wouldn't have been a PM Howard.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

As someone who knows a bit about how the carbon price works... I will bet money, even if they could repeal it, they won't.

It'll cost too much to undo and more than likely they'll ACCELERATE the ETS union with the EU, which will push down the price.

[RogueBeaver]

I wouldn't be surprised.

[Knives]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BiQxIP0-FQ

Should be our national anthem.

[Platypus]

Eeeww. EEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW. No please.

[Knives]

Please, anything (save God Save the Queen) is better than what we have at the moment.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Please, anything (save God Save the Queen) is better than what we have at the moment.

You have no idea how much I hate Waltzing Matilda... I'll happily bring back God Save the Queen over that.

[Knives]

Please, anything (save God Save the Queen) is better than what we have at the moment.

You have no idea how much I hate Waltzing Matilda... I'll happily bring back God Save the Queen over that.

Please go die.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Please, anything (save God Save the Queen) is better than what we have at the moment.

You have no idea how much I hate Waltzing Matilda... I'll happily bring back God Save the Queen over that.

Please go die.

Wow, my hyperbole was out hyperbole'd

[Knives]

Please, anything (save God Save the Queen) is better than what we have at the moment.

You have no idea how much I hate Waltzing Matilda... I'll happily bring back God Save the Queen over that.

Please go die.

Wow, my hyperbole was out hyperbole'd

I wasn't being hyperbolic.

[Platypus]

So we should have skippy the bush kangaroo as out anthem. Great.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

So we should have skippy the bush kangaroo as out anthem. Great.

Something written by The Whitlams would no doubt fit the bill for some.

Our national anthem, like everyone else's is based on the dominant story of our history... our development into nationhood was quite tame and evolutionary compared to many - so we've got a sedate and pretty tame song. I mean, Waltzing Matilda is about a sodding sheep thief who commits suicide. What about We Are Australian? Which I see having enough of a message to suit the job.

Mind you, getting my knickers in a twist about symbolism is not my thing.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

So we should have skippy the bush kangaroo as out anthem. Great.

Something written by The Whitlams would no doubt fit the bill for some.

I'd think something written by The Wiggles would be more appropriate.

[Platypus]

OK, so tune of Waltzing Matilda, lyrics of I Still Call Australia Home mixed with We Are Australian?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

Leaks are saying Newspoll last week was a blip. Nielsen Poll will be steady on 56-44 with Gillard falling further behind Abbott as preferred PM and Rudd as preferred ALP leader by 2:1 (although Gillard has a small lead when only ALP voters are asked, the gutting of Gillard's numbers is coming from LNP voters (for context, they have Shorten on 24% and Gillard on 12%...))

[Knives]

So who will replace Gillard as leader?

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

If Gillard goes or is challenged, then I think it has to be Rudd... I can't think of anyone else who could cut through in this time and, at the same time, can't be tied to everything this Government has done.

Smith is too boring, Shorten is too green and tied to Gillard (despite his attempts to suggest otherwise) and is known as a faceless man, Crean is past it, Carr is in the Senate... Swan, just no... Plibersek? no... so that leaves someone like Combet or perhaps someone like Clare as a dark-horse.