Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this.
The big question is, will there be a Federal Election this year or will the ALP simply axe Julia Gillard?

Good luck with the fishing - hope you get a whopper.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 5:01pm:

Good luck with the fishing - hope you get a whopper.

With Kevin Rudd being a continuing embarrassment for the ALP, it may also be the same person who ends up leading the ALP this year.


Oh and DNA, try tuning into the radio and you too will her the political comments on this very subject.

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 4:45pm:

Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this. The big question is, will there be a Federal Election this year or will the ALP simply axe Julia Gillard?

In my opinion, it is likely that Labor will struggle to maintain its hold on power and see out is full term.

That said, if I were a Liberal supporter or simply an Australian who thinks that Labor could have done better, I would not see Labor's demise as cause to cellerbrate.

In fact, as even the Liberals will quickly come to understand, their Ascension back to power, after the next election, will be unlike anything they have previously experienced and it will certainly not be a repeat of 1996-2007!

perceptions_now wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 5:12pm:

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 4:45pm: Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this. The big question is, will there be a Federal Election this year or will the ALP simply axe Julia Gillard? In my opinion, it is likely that Labor will struggle to maintain its hold on power and see out is full term. That said, if I were a Liberal supporter or simply an Australian who thinks that Labor could have done better, I would not see Labor's demise as cause to cellerbrate. In fact, as even the Liberals will quickly come to understand, their Ascension back to power, after the next election, will be unlike anything they have previously experienced and it will certainly not be a repeat of 1996-2007!

True, and would probably see Malcolm come back and assume the Liberal Party's mantle.

If Malcolm and Kevin both rose from the ashes, then can see the Phoenix headlines already.

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 5:21pm:

perceptions_now wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 5:12pm: Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 4:45pm: Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this. The big question is, will there be a Federal Election this year or will the ALP simply axe Julia Gillard? In my opinion, it is likely that Labor will struggle to maintain its hold on power and see out is full term. That said, if I were a Liberal supporter or simply an Australian who thinks that Labor could have done better, I would not see Labor's demise as cause to cellerbrate. In fact, as even the Liberals will quickly come to understand, their Ascension back to power, after the next election, will be unlike anything they have previously experienced and it will certainly not be a repeat of 1996-2007! True, and would probably see Malcolm come back and assume the Liberal Party's mantle.

I think both Malcolm & the current Liberals may have some difficulty accepting that situation!

Could you not put this in one of the 1400 threads on Labor not seeing out its full term?

Have you not got any new material?

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 5:07pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 5:01pm: Good luck with the fishing - hope you get a whopper. Oh and DNA, try tuning into the radio and you too will her the political comments on this very subject.

Yes - I have a friend who works at 2GB.

THey could use the slogan "a fair and balance view".


A whole media outlet who could be nominated for life membership of the Liberal party.

Yes - I have a friend who works at 2GB.

THey could use the slogan "a fair and balance view".


A whole media outlet who could be nominated for life membership of the Liberal party."


As could the whole news and current affair team in the ABC for labour.

James Bluntus wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 7:26pm:

Could you not put this in one of the 1400 threads on Labor not seeing out its full term? Have you not got any new material?

Try keeping up with today's media there James.

Dnarever wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 7:34pm:

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 5:07pm: Dnarever wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 5:01pm: Good luck with the fishing - hope you get a whopper. Oh and DNA, try tuning into the radio and you too will her the political comments on this very subject. Yes - I have a friend who works at 2GB. THey could use the slogan "a fair and balance view". A whole media outlet who could be nominated for life membership of the Liberal party.

I see that you're much more accustomed to the ABC.
I suppose that propaganda would be much more to your liking.

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 4:45pm:

Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this. The big question is, will there be a Federal Election this year or will the ALP simply axe Julia Gillard?

Gillard has unravelled like a cheap wooly jumper in a  rottweiler cage.  The point is, who are the unions going to put into power next?

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 4:45pm:

Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this.

MAD, one of the more annoying elements to your posts is that not only do you state you opinion as if it was a fact, but you also claim that everybody else shares your opinions.
Everybody knows that this is clearly a fantasy of yours.  ;)

The_Barnacle wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 10:24am:

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 4:45pm: Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this. MAD, one of the more annoying elements to your posts is that not only do you state you opinion as if it was a fact, but you also claim that everybody else shares your opinions. Everybody knows that this is clearly a fantasy of yours.  ;)

For the simple minded, Anne could have said "Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think anyone with half a brain and more realises this."

I would think it very unlikley for a Labor Leadership change this year.

For the main reason if no other that the deal on the balance of power is dependant on the status quo in this area.

A change in leadership would be very likley to trigger a change of government, this is not in the best interests of any potential challenger.

If Labor changed leader, it would be to a right wing Labor puppet, rather than a left wing one.


A right wing Labor would have so much in common with the neo cons that between the two wings, they could form outright government.


Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister +  Julie Bishop, Bridesmaid Revisited (Dept P.M)

Dnarever wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 12:31pm:

I would think it very unlikley for a Labor Leadership change this year. For the main reason if no other that the deal on the balance of power is dependant on the status quo in this area. A change in leadership would be very likley to trigger a change of government, this is not in the best interests of any potential challenger.

Maybe so, but Rudd is only concerned with himself and wouldn't see it that way.

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 12:40pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 12:31pm: I would think it very unlikley for a Labor Leadership change this year. For the main reason if no other that the deal on the balance of power is dependant on the status quo in this area. A change in leadership would be very likley to trigger a change of government, this is not in the best interests of any potential challenger. Maybe so, but Rudd is only concerned with himself and wouldn't see it that way.

Rudd may be able to get away with it and not disrupt the Status quo as far as the independants are concerned.

Though I would think the probability would be under 1% that this could occur - its just not on.

Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen.
I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t.
Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy.

skippy. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 2:29pm:

Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy.

Agree, Liberals have much more to gain from a leadership change.

It's gonna be an interesting year .

Griff wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 3:43pm:

It's gonna be an interesting year .

Yep, the year Liberals divide over climate change // carbon price.

Sit back and watch the implosion.

aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 10:37am:

For the simple minded, Anne could have said "Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think anyone with half a brain and more realises this."

Really?
I've made a copy of this thread and I'll be re posting it 31/12/2011.

As I have said before,

Julia's leadership is unstable. She is from the left faction. The second that Centre Unity pulls their support, she's gone.

That was witnessed with Nathan Rees in NSW.

whatsforme wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 7:49pm:

Yes - I have a friend who works at 2GB. THey could use the slogan "a fair and balance view". A whole media outlet who could be nominated for life membership of the Liberal party." As could the whole news and current affair team in the ABC for labour.

PFFFFT
When was the last time you watched the ABC. They have gone so far right so as to counter these FALSE allegations of bias they risk being accused from the otherside.
Put up some proof of this bias, something better than pointing to Maxine McCew as there have been as many ABC journalists leave for liberal pre selection as ALP.
We are lucky enough to have still 1 news outlet not owned by a political interest, still brave enough to ask politicains of both sides uncomfortable questions and here you are wanting it shut up.
Australia's poor immation of Glen Beck, Alan Jones would be proud.

skippy. wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 2:29pm:

Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy.

God I hope this will come true.
It would be nice to have someone with Turnbulls interlect leading the country instead of the idiots we do and the currently worse alternative.

I'd agree smithy - this current leadership in Australia is beyond poor.

Gillard's response to a question in the Meet the People in Sydney -

"Thank you for your question. I have said what the policy is, and the policy is that policy. I appreciate not everyone agrees but my view is that the policy is the current policy of the party"

What a leader.

At least, and I rarely give him credit, Obama makes decisions and leads.

I hope we torpedo every fking policy in the senate on his obama-care but at least you know where he stands.

Where does Gillard stand? Anyone know?
Governing by weekly opinion polls and a couple of crackpot independents.

Great.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 3:31pm:

I'd agree smithy - this current leadership in Australia is beyond poor. Gillard's response to a question in the Meet the People in Sydney - "Thank you for your question. I have said what the policy is, and the policy is that policy. I appreciate not everyone agrees but my view is that the policy is the current policy of the party" What a leader. At least, and I rarely give him credit, Obama makes decisions and leads. I hope we torpedo every fking policy in the senate on his obama-care but at least you know where he stands. Where does Gillard stand? Anyone know? Governing by weekly opinion polls and a couple of crackpot independents. Great.

The quality of our elected officials today is so depressing even I am finding it hard to care.
As you say with Obama, both Howard and Keating at least had the guts to publicly state their vision and then go about implementing it.
BOTH sides these days change their minds with every focus group report. >:(

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 3:22pm:

skippy. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:29pm: Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy. God I hope this will come true. It would be nice to have someone with Turnbulls interlect leading the country instead of the idiots we do and the currently worse alternative.

I still cant believe the Libs haven't made the move, look at the FACTS
1- Turnbull only lost to Abbott by ONE vote.
2- Turnbull would attract the swinging voter and the small l Lib.
3- Turnbull would still hold the neo con vote, they are never going to go over to Labor.
4- Turnbull would have a much better chance at dealing with the GREENS than Abbott ever will.

The Liberals must not want to be in gov, at least half of them think Turnbull is a better choice than Abbott, not to mention people like Hockey, who stood against Abbott and Turnbull, must also think he's a better choice. But the sleeper is Andrew Robb, he sees himself as the leader and another Liberal party ballot could see Abbott, Robb Turnbull and hockey vying for the leadership.
In my opinion, Turnbull is the best bet for Australia, Hockey is another Kym Beasley, everyone likes him but he;s not PM material, Robb couldn't hack it, he has a history of depression, a lot of Aussies do, but being PM would put huge pressure on an illness like he suffers. Abbott would be the biggest mistake this country ever made, he'd make Howard look moderate.

Malcolm Turnbull would implement a tax on carbon emissions.

Malcolm Turnbull is a Republican.

Malcolm Turnbull would bring about some issues which would be against traditional moral values.

It is for these reasons many on the Centre-Right like myself are suspicious of Turnbull and much more comfortable with Abbott who is more aligned to my, and others, beliefs.

skippy. wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 3:44pm:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 3:22pm: skippy. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:29pm: Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy. God I hope this will come true. It would be nice to have someone with Turnbulls interlect leading the country instead of the idiots we do and the currently worse alternative. I still cant believe the Libs haven't made the move, look at the FACTS 1- Turnbull only lost to Abbott by ONE vote. 2- Turnbull would attract the swinging voter and the small l Lib. 3- Turnbull would still hold the neo con vote, they are never going to go over to Labor. 4- Turnbull would have a much better chance at dealing with the GREENS than Abbott ever will. The Liberals must not want to be in gov, at least half of them think Turnbull is a better choice than Abbott, not to mention people like Hockey, who stood against Abbott and Turnbull, must also think he's a better choice. But the sleeper is Andrew Robb, he sees himself as the leader and another Liberal party ballot could see Abbott, Robb Turnbull and hockey vying for the leadership. In my opinion, Turnbull is the best bet for Australia, Hockey is another Kym Beasley, everyone likes him but he;s not PM material, Robb couldn't hack it, he has a history of depression, a lot of Aussies do, but being PM would put huge pressure on an illness like he suffers. Abbott would be the biggest mistake this country ever made, he'd make Howard look moderate.

The faceless numbers men of the liberal party still believe they owe Abbott something for his performance in the last election.
What they are deluding themselves with is that it was Abbott that did the damage to Labor not Labor itself.
Labor destroyed their own majority Abbott is/was lucky enough to be in the position to falsely claim the credit, kinda like his puppeteer Howard did with the economy.

Quote:

Malcolm Turnbull would implement a tax on carbon emissions.

So ,you don't live here ,yanky doodle,remember?
Its inevitable, wait and see.



Quote:

Malcolm Turnbull is a Republican.

so is Costello and half of the current Liberal party.



Quote:

Malcolm Turnbull would bring about some issues which would be against traditional moral values.

Like what?


Quote:

It is for these reasons many on the Centre-Right like myself are suspicious of Turnbull and much more comfortable with Abbott who is more aligned to my, and others, beliefs.

The centre right voted for Turnbull, it was the far right extremist neo cons that voted for Abbott. You are not centre right, you are an extremist , just like Abbott.
You see its not the far right extremist the Libs need to attract, its me.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 3:56pm:

Malcolm Turnbull would implement a tax on carbon emissions. Malcolm Turnbull is a Republican. Malcolm Turnbull would bring about some issues which would be against traditional moral values. It is for these reasons many on the Centre-Right like myself are suspicious of Turnbull and much more comfortable with Abbott who is more aligned to my, and others, beliefs.

Malcolm Turnbull would implement a tax on carbon emissions. - As will any government eventually even Abbott.

Malcolm Turnbull is a Republican.- So what? Both you and I are big fans of the USA a republic last I looked, besides this is a side issue that really only resonates with people over 60, the rest of us don't care either way.

Malcolm Turnbull would bring about some issues which would be against traditional moral values. - Again so what, it used to be ok and moral to own slaves, societies evolve, values change, its life.

Quote:

What they are deluding themselves with is that it was Abbott that did the damage to Labor not Labor itself.

You're 100 % correct, and you only need to read the posts of hicks and the other neo cons living in never land to understand what you're saying is correct.

Quote:

[quote]Malcolm Turnbull would bring about some issues which would be against traditional moral values.

Like what?[/quote]




I wondered that MYSELF ?

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 3:22pm:

skippy. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:29pm: Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy. God I hope this will come true. It would be nice to have someone with Turnbulls interlect leading the country instead of the idiots we do and the currently worse alternative.

It's almost as if none of you Turnball fans were actually around when he was leader. He did BADLY and the polls reflected it. Abbott however took them from a woeful position to one where only treachery (again) from QLD istopped him from being PM. If you think the libs will change leader back to Turnball in that environment then you are more foolish than I imagine.

longweekend58 wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 4:40pm:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 3:22pm: skippy. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:29pm: Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy. God I hope this will come true. It would be nice to have someone with Turnbulls interlect leading the country instead of the idiots we do and the currently worse alternative. It's almost as if none of you Turnball fans were actually around when he was leader. He did BADLY and the polls reflected it. Abbott however took them from a woeful position to one where only treachery (again) from QLD istopped him from being PM. If you think the libs will change leader back to Turnball in that environment then you are more foolish than I imagine.

This is what we mean,when Turnbull was leader Rudd was getting the best preferred PM polls in history, Turnbull didn't do bad, Rudd was the messiah in those days.
Abbott was in the right place at the right time, Abbott didn't take the Libs anywhere, Labor imploded. In fact Labor imploded sooooooooo bad that had ANYONE other than Abbott been leader last August the Libs would be in gov today.
You really need to get your head around the circumstances, Abbott, even today trails Gillard as preferred PM, Turnbull Hockey or even Robb would have better numbers.
The votes Abbott got at the last election is as good as its ever going to get for the Libs with him as leader, ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE of the other candidates have much less baggage and would have a much better chance at winning than Abbott.
I just cant get my head around how you don't see that, who do you think you need to attract to win? its me, me and the likes of smithy, and those other swinging voters out there, we are NEVER, NEVER EVER going to vote for the Libs with Abbott as leader.
There is no point the likes of you trying to spin the story, WE CAN SEE LABOR are not performing, so the Libs need to attract us with someone worthy of being PM, its up to them, and its up to you to swallow some pride, admit Abbott is not palatable to at least half the voters and get someone who is.

skippy. wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 4:56pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 4:40pm: Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 3:22pm: skippy. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:29pm: Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy. God I hope this will come true. It would be nice to have someone with Turnbulls interlect leading the country instead of the idiots we do and the currently worse alternative. It's almost as if none of you Turnball fans were actually around when he was leader. He did BADLY and the polls reflected it. Abbott however took them from a woeful position to one where only treachery (again) from QLD istopped him from being PM. If you think the libs will change leader back to Turnball in that environment then you are more foolish than I imagine. This is what we mean,when Turnbull was leader Rudd was getting the best preferred PM polls in history, Turnbull didn't do bad, Rudd was the messiah in those days. Abbott was in the right place at the right time, Abbott didn't take the Libs anywhere, Labor imploded. In fact Labor imploded sooooooooo bad that had ANYONE other than Abbott been leader last August the Libs would be in gov today. You really need to get your head around the circumstances, Abbott, even today trails Gillard as preferred PM, Turnbull Hockey or even Robb would have better numbers. The votes Abbott got at the last election is as good as its ever going to get for the Libs with him as leader, ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE of the other candidates have much less baggage and would have a much better chance at winning than Abbott. I just cant get my head around how you don't see that, who do you think you need to attract to win? its me, me and the likes of smithy, and those other swinging voters out there, we are NEVER, NEVER EVER going to vote for the Libs with Abbott as leader. There is no point the likes of you trying to spin the story, WE CAN SEE LABOR are not performing, so the Libs need to attract us with someone worthy of being PM, its up to them, and its up to you to swallow some pride, admit Abbott is not palatable to at least half the voters and get someone who is.

Longy likes to ignore context when it dilutes his point and inform us of it when it helps.

These 'Faceless Men" behind Abbott ;

Critical Times
independent news & views
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The real struggle for power
September 3rd, 2010 by Critical Times

Source: Guardian

During the election campaign Tony Abbott made numerous
references to the “faceless men” of the Labor Party (ALP) who had
organised a coup and “executed an Australian prime minister”. It is
no secret that Labor men Bill Shorten, Paul Howes, David Feeney,
Don Farrell, Mark Arbib and Karl Bitar played a role in convincing
caucus that they should dump prime minister Kevin Rudd.
But they were not the faceless men behind the coup who really
wield the power in Australia. If Abbott wants to talk about faceless
men, he should ask who were the faceless men behind the dumping
of Coalition leader Malcolm Turnbull and his own election as leader
of the Coalition. It is the same faceless men, just different public
executioners. There are striking similarities between the Abbott and
Gillard ascendancies to leadership.

When PM Kevin Rudd and Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull
sewed up a deal for Labor’s emissions trading system (ETS) to pass
through the Senate the alarm bells rang in the mining industry’s
corridors of power. Despite the scheme’s huge subsidies to the big
carbon polluters, they were determined to stop it.
And stop it they did. The opinion polls turned against Turnbull,
his leadership was destabilised and Abbott, the climate change denier
replaced him. The leadership battle was presented in terms of sliding
opinion polls and personalities in a bitterly divided party – and
they certainly played a part. But there were also some powerful
faceless men behind the scenes who played on those divisions and
poor opinion polls. They had buckets of money at their disposal for
campaigning and political donations and their agents within.
One of the most powerful of these faceless men behind Abbott’s
rise to the leadership was Mitchell Hooke, not exactly a household
name like Howes or Shorten. Hooke is the chief executive of the
Minerals Council of Australia (MCA).

“Hooke led the MCA, the leading mining companies lobby,
into two major policy battles over the past year. And he emerged
triumphant in both – the defeat of the Labor government’s proposal
for an emissions trading scheme to combat climate change and the
spectacular end to the resource super profits tax,” notes Colleen
Ryan in an interview with Hooke in the Australian Financial Review
(13-08-2010).

The unelected, “faceless” Hooke wields considerable power and
influence. He has been a member of the official Australian delegation
to WTO ministerial meetings since 1994. He is a past chair of the
Australian Industry Greenhouse Network, a business lobby group,
better known as the Greenhouse mafia. He also holds various positions
in other business lobby groups and deals with government at the
highest level in Australia and on international industry bodies, including
APEC. The MCA was a major player defending WorkChoices
prior to the 2007 elections.

In his interview with Colleen Ryan Hooke expresses pleasure
with MCA’s success in killing the ETS. The MCA had a war chest of
$100 million at its disposal when it launched a massive advertising
campaign against the Labor’s resources super profits tax (RSPT).
The big miners claimed they had shelved billions of dollars worth of
projects, and said the tax would not only make investment in mining
unprofitable but ruin the Australian economy and cost thousands
of jobs.

The opinion polls stepped in again with poor ratings for Labor.
Hooke, ably assisted (consciously or unconsciously) by sections of
the trade union movement as well as backroom boys of the Labor
Right (some from Rudd’s own faction), takes credit for the coup. In
particular, the right-wing Australian Workers’ Union, which has a
relatively cosy relationship with the mining industry, played a key
role under the leadership of Paul Howes.

Hooke, who had a hand in the execution of both Kevin Rudd
and Malcolm Turnbull, is just one of the real “faceless men” (and
women) who run Australia. They can be found in the boardrooms
of oil, mining, banking, finance, tobacco and other big corporations
and their industry lobby groups.

Climate change is one of the key issues that resulted in Labor’s
poor electoral performance. The Howard Coalition government was
kicked out by an electorate wanting action on climate change in
2007. Beholden to the big mining interests, Abbott treats climate
change as “crap” and Gillard has backed down on Rudd’s RSPT
and deferred action on climate change until 2013.

http://www.criticaltimes.com.au/uncategorized/the-real-struggle-for-power/

Mitchell Hooks

One of the "Faceless Men Within The Liberal Party"

---

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 4:45pm:

Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this. The big question is, will there be a Federal Election this year or will the ALP simply axe Julia Gillard?

Aha. The ALP is so stupid that they will try to axe another PM within term. Because the only people with any political savvy are people who require a dictionary to form the sentence, "Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this."  <-- (NB: In case you didn't realise this is called sarcasm.)

I doubt an election will be held this year. I predict Gillard will continue to falter in the polls because she is quite a ridiculous PM. Nevertheless, while Abbott is the leader of the opposition we will continue to have very close poll results.  Gillard can be the worst of PMs, but it's still a better alternative than some right wing church loving maniac who has a knack for talking to simple minded people and raising fears in their minds.

Anyways, with the polls still very close, if an election were to be held this year the electorate will punish whoever it was who made them waste 10 minutes of their life on a precious Saturday. It is as simple as that. The polls will need to begin showing a slide in one party or another before anyone contemplates it.

Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1^st, 2011 at 5:07pm:

Dnarever wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 5:01pm: Good luck with the fishing - hope you get a whopper. With Kevin Rudd being a continuing embarrassment for the ALP, it may also be the same person who ends up leading the ALP this year. Oh and DNA, try tuning into the radio and you too will her the political comments on this very subject.

What are you talking about?! Seriously, what the wonk are you actually talking about?  

As for the radio station, congratulations that you make all your opinions based on the likes of Allan Jones.  Just goes to show how one sided your thought process actually is.

aussiefree2ride wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2011 at 10:37am:

The_Barnacle wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 10:24am: Miss Anne Dryst wrote on Jan 1st, 2011 at 4:45pm: Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think we all realise this. MAD, one of the more annoying elements to your posts is that not only do you state you opinion as if it was a fact, but you also claim that everybody else shares your opinions. Everybody knows that this is clearly a fantasy of yours.  ;) For the simple minded, Anne could have said "Julia Gillard will not last as PM this year, I think anyone with half a brain and more realises this."

;D ;D ;D ;D  Obviously that's a lie.  If it were true you would not be able to realise it. ;D ;D ;D ;D

longweekend58 wrote on Jan 3^rd, 2011 at 4:40pm:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 3:22pm: skippy. wrote on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 2:29pm: Gillard may be rolled this year, but I doubt it, who have Labor got to replace her, they wont roll another PM, it just wont happen. I think its much more likely the Libs will roll the mad monk and install Turnbull, then Labor are in big shi t. Turnbull would attract the swinging voter, who is not a religious nutter, believes in climate change and small l Liberal ideas. He;d still keep the far right neo con vote,as they would never vote Labor, and hey presto, the Libs are back in gov,too easy. God I hope this will come true. It would be nice to have someone with Turnbulls interlect leading the country instead of the idiots we do and the currently worse alternative. It's almost as if none of you Turnball fans were actually around when he was leader. He did BADLY and the polls reflected it. Abbott however took them from a woeful position to one where only treachery (again) from QLD istopped him from being PM. If you think the libs will change leader back to Turnball in that environment then you are more foolish than I imagine.

Agreed.  Turnbull himself won't be contemplating it until such time as Abbott says something completely and utterly retarded and displays his true colours to the simpletons.  That or the mood of the electorate moves back towards the progressive-center.  

I won't be holding my breath because:
1. Abbott's continued fear mongering over the government debt will keep progressiveness in the cage.

2. Abbott has already come out and said some of the most ridiculous things and yet he is still the leader of the opposition.  He will have to basically come out and declare he is pro-Nazism, and even then some of simpletons will applaud him for his "convictions."