Harry Jenkins has ended the parliamentary year with a surprise, announcing he will resign as Speaker today:
In a statement to Parliament, Speaker Jenkins said he’d divorced himself from party political matters in order to carry out his duties in a non-partisan manner. “In this era of minority government I have progressively become frustrated at this stricture,” he said. “My desire is to be able to participate in policy and parliamentary debate, and this would be incompatible with continuing in the role of Speaker.”
Which is no huge deal if that’s all there is to it. But with the rift between Deputy Speaker Peter Slipper and his party widening of late – the LNP is presently considering disciplinary action against him – the suspicion exists that the government has reached an arrangement with him. If so, the return of Jenkins to the floor would enable the government to win confidence motions 76-73 rather than 75-74. Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Events are moving quicker than my iPad typing speed. Phillip Coorey of the Sydney Morning Herald reports:
The Liberal MP, Peter Slipper, is likely to become the next Speaker of the House of Representatives after Labor’s Harry Jenkins resigned this morning, shocking the Parliament on its final sitting day for 2011. Labor MPs will be asked to approve Mr Slipper’s nomination at a special caucus meeting scheduled for 10am.
http://www.vexnews.com/2011/11/libs-kidding-themselves-about-craig-thomson-departure/
Vexnew’s take on Thomson
[Libs kidding themselves about Craig Thomson departure
By VEXNEWS ⋅ November 25, 2011
Liberal-friendly VEXNEWS investigators have been telling us all year that the former HSU national secretary Craig Thomson was about to be charged and would be quickly tried, fried and chewed out of Parliament.
We have expressed our view back to them that this is a complex question and that it may well be that he is not going to be charged for a long time, if at all.
We have studied these matters in some detail and don’t reach this conclusion lightly but when raising this view, there is much incredulity in response.]
More in the article
ozpeter,
Sounds like John Faulkner on Mal Colston.
John Hewson writes in a less rabid style than many others, but spins the yarn anyway.
http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/no_alition_needs_policy_gMgE2ZFGyTZUf452hb9WxI
[It’s easy to knock Abbott for always saying no, but what would you have done with such political gifts? And especially when politics has been reduced to a 24-hour media game, where substance and policy detail are ignored, so you could get away with it.]
“… where substance and policy detail are ignored…” – a nice Denmore there. Good use of the passive voice.
Ignored by WHOM Mr. Hewson?
The media?
The Opposition?
Or by a government that has passed 250 pieces of legislation, much of it reforming and ground-breaking while their opponents and the 4th Estate have rabbitted on about Ruddstoration, imminent elections every week, stupid stunts and Abbott’s “macho” image… that is when they’re not being bored and listless, exhibiting nihilistic ennui at every turn?
So, let us re-write Hewson’s paragraph for him.
[It’s easy to knock Abbott for always saying no, but what would you have done with such political gifts? And especially when YOU HAVE REDUCED politics
has been reducedto a 24-hour media game, where substance and policy detail are ignored BY YOU, so you could get away withityour own gambit and have everyone tell you you’re soooo clever for it.]Well, who’s clever now?
Abbott has lost the Independents, he’s lost Slipper (you might say not a big loss, but that’s only from one angle), he’s lost government, he’s lost every motion he’s put up and the “Noalition” word is starting to bite.
Better do something quick. As Albo put it, maybe Santa will bring Tony a policy for Christmas?
[With Abbott, the key question is whether he can sustain his negativity as a winning strategy. If the government keeps serving up free kicks, issue-by-issue, he may think he can.]
Which is why the government wants him to stay just where he is. The best opponent to have is one that is doing just well enough not to be replaced by the coach with a fresher player.
Every team has one: think Ponting. The Liberals have Abbott.
[We’d all like to think he has a plan B, and many on his backbench hope he has.]
“Plan B”, the one they’d “all like to think he has” would have to be something novel and exciting. Something a little more iminaginative than a pink lycra bicycle suit or a pair of budgie smugglers. They’re so “2010”. Hmmm… what could it be?
It’s amazing, bloody amazing, that Hewson hope Abbott might just have some policies up his sleeve… that p[olicy is Abbott’s “Plan B”.
Are these people serious? Policy is “Plan B”?
A supposed mature opposition, still with experienced ex-ministers ready to resume their erstwhile roles, an opposition that is a heartbeat (well, two heartbeats now) away from government only has, maybe, someday, we’re all hoping anyway, policy as its cunning strategy, waiting in the bottom drawer?
Hewson is being brave. He knows what happens when you produce policy.
[{Abbott} made a good start this week in his speech to the Sydney Institute setting the economic policy scene, although it was still short on detail. He should easily move on in education, health, communications, Afghanistan and a host of others. The door for real policy and political success is wide open.]
“Short on detail?” Careful John, Tony might catch that flu you got in 1993 if he goes into “detail” too enthusiastically.
What a joke these people are.
Abbott makes one “headland” speech at Hendo’s gig – a speech that was resoundingly ignored by all except PBers (and John Hewson). It was a bit “short on detail”, like where the money’s coming from, what the issues are, who’s going to carry it out, who’s affected and who’s not… and about a million other “details”.
Poor Hewson tentatively asks Abbott to produce “details” and “policy” as some sort of amazingly clever way to get into government.
Why didn’t they think of that before?
Policy!
Only problem is Abbott doesn’t do policy. Ring a bell, put his mouthguard in, show him the red corner, and tell him to go out swinging. Tony does that OK.
But a man who cannot stand tough questions without seeing them as some kind of mano-a-mano challenge, or an uppity bitch trying to emasculate him (in the case of lady journalists), and who walks away from every press conference now because Credlin has told him he must avoid spaz-outs a la Mark Riley at all costs, such a man cannot coherently discuss policy without melting down in the most embarrassing way.
The Liberals have tried everything else. Now they think perhaps policy might help.
God help them, and God help the rest of us if they every get back into power with the current leadership, with their wise “elder statesmen” like Hewson at the helm, whispering radical ideas like “Policy” in their ears.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/oakeshott-falls-just-short-of-the-big-chair-20111124-1nxbh.html
[Oakeshott falls just short of the big chair
Daniel Flitton
November 25, 2011
INDEPENDENT Rob Oakeshott came within a whisker of taking the Speaker’s chair – and walking away from his deal to back Julia Gillard – but could not be confident of the crucial support of his fellow crossbenchers.
Mr Oakeshott told The Age last night he never sought the position yesterday but confirmed he was heavily lobbied by the Coalition and fellow independent Tasmanian Andrew Wilkie.]
More in the article
Surely our humble servants in the media could not be accused of bias, could they? One has to wonder about this hatchet job done by the Abbott-loving Tony Wright, whose photo at the top left of this article looks like he’s wearing a fright wig:
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/the-best-entitlement-of-all–for-a-man-who-knows-the-system-20111124-1nwzm.html
The facts of the case are the same as they were yesterday, but this aspect of Speaker Slipper’s shall we say extravagant expenditure on the taxpayer’s bill was not considered newsworthy then, even though he was the Deputy Speaker. The only difference is that yesterday he was a Liberal MP, and now he is an Independent.
Bias? You be the judge …
I just email off t my family as with their busy lives they would not even heard of mr slipper and the saga with his own party,
Twitter should explain how it was that it came about, before any nasty talk is generated
joe Hockey denies that Abbott was on the phone yesterday trying to get Oakeshott or another indepdendent to nominate for the speakership. Tony Burke said that this is in fact the case. who is lying?
Listening to ABC News Radio, which I would expect to be the “straightest” of news delivery media, the reporting of the Speaker affair was wtte “Government under pressure to explain”…what rubbish. It was never particularly clear what was the source of this immense pressure. Really the only likely source I can imagine was the professional [sic] journalists themselves – to a person, missing this story!
Then introducing the finance report was wtte “after Glenn Stevens warning in a speech last night, new Italian PM Monti met for the first time with Merkel and Sarkozi, European markets….blah blah blah (fell of course)”. ABC News Radio was bizarrely linking Glenn Stevens in causation either (or possibly both) Monti meeting Merkel (“Monti under pressure from Glenn Stevens” perhaps) or falls in European markets (“European markes buckle to pressure from Glenn Stevens” maybe). Now I have a lot of time for Glenn Stevens but I suspect both are false – rather more a reflection of the incompetence of the ABC News Radio to be able to write with clear meaning, without false sensationalism, and without a confected or slanted narrative, what actually occured.
So ABC bias – probably not. ABC incompetence – almost certainly
Leroy go back a few pages
There is an artical that seems to say the opposite
We should never expect a headline. LIKE
Pm. Had good sence to offer the jilted mr slipper speakers position.
LEROY re u out and about with. Twitter on tis subject
victoria
That statement of Hartigan’s was a late, but strong contender, for the most absurd statement of the year award
Good morning all.
Well, what a day to remember was yesterday. The LOTO is now trying to portray himself as pure as the driven snow – someone who wouldn’t stoop to the sort of underhand, grubby behaviour the PM has shown to strengthen her numbers in the House. How many have forgotten his self-proclaimed words that he would do and say anything (except sell his arse maybe) to get the keys to the Lodge? Have many forgotten already the dirty tactics employed by the LOTO to trash the Parliament, the economy and the nation?
Bushfire,
I hope Bob is feeling better this morning and will soon be back to his old self. As for La Grattan, someone should send her a Xmas present of a packet of sweet lollies to suck in lieu of her lemons. When I hear/read her opinion pieces I can’t help but give thanks that my own advancing age is not coloured by bitterness and jealousy. She is to be pitied as she wallows in the agony of knowing she has lost the expertise that once earned her some respect in her profession.
Victoria
[joe Hockey denies that Abbott was on the phone yesterday trying to get Oakeshott or another indepdendent to nominate for the speakership. Tony Burke said that this is in fact the case. who is lying?]
Age also reports Oakeshott:
[Mr Oakeshott spoke to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott during a frantic morning when he was mostly in the chamber and was assured of Coalition backing in a contest with rogue Liberal Peter Slipper.]
http://www.theage.com.au/national/oakeshott-falls-just-short-of-the-big-chair-20111124-1nxbh.html#ixzz1eezy3BvI
Well maybe JoHo means it wasn’t on the phone
[Abbott makes one “headland” speech at Hendo’s gig – a speech that was resoundingly ignored by all except PBers (and John Hewson).]
Wait a minute, Bill. You should know that Their ABC will not (may not) ignore it.
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3686034.html
Incidentally, it was at Henderson’s Sydney Institute, some years ago, that Their ABC announced to the world its then-new policy of “balance”.
Socrates at 7:34 am
The first question someone should ask the Liberals about Peter Slipper is, if he is so bad, why did they keep pre-selecting him for a safe seat for over a decade? Is he their best?
Exactly.
Excellent analysis of Hewson’s article (& Abbott) this morning, BB – don’t mind if I send that around do you?
I remember when Hewson used to crucify Abbott on Sky programs but lately it’s been a different story.
Danny,
My stepson is an adult, but he has severe Downs Syndrome. I am told that nearly all with Downs gets Alzheimer’s, and some go on to dementia. He has deteriorated muchly since his dad passed away.
Yes I will still be there today.
From Laura Tingle’s article
[Abbott was apparently powerless to stop this and as a result, his authority over his party room, already a little more stressed in recent weeks, has suffered a body blow. It has been the spectre of government so near to being grasped that has kept his troops disciplined.]
http://afr.com/p/opinion/now_the_slipper_on_the_other_foot_IkOgroReDTOn4J32xFCaPO
My say, will be on twitter more later today. Others seem to be on the case though.
I cannot wait for the first parliamentary session, where Peter Sleeper falls asleep while being the speaker of the house, it would be funny
On a lighter note, of one thing, in the events of the last 24 hours, I am fairly certain: Anna Burke knew nothing when she got up in the morning. That outfit….
Albanese should send her a nice bunch of flowers to apologise for not giving some warning.
Bob Watch
Bob spent a comfortable night last night asleep next to me on the sofa.
He’s now in his basket, but I think the pain is starting to take hold.
The task ahead is to work out a way to get him to eat some food, which will be laced with pain killer.
I’m thinking the best way is to just put the mixture mixed with warm milk into a syringe, gently shove it between his sore gums and squirt. This has worked before to kick off other medications I have had to use on him over the years. He loses a bit, by coughing it out, but enough gets into his system to make him more interested in life.
After that, I mix it with food as normal. He ate several pieces of fresh mince last night, so he does have an appetite, even if not a gargantuan one. Bob’s never benn too interested in food. He likes to keep to “fighting weight” just in case a dog gets into the back yard and he’s needed for “attack dog” duty.
Any PBers have an alternative method (liquid Metacam and a quarter of a crushed pill)?
*****************************
Puff,
I’m so sad to hear you had a bad night last night. There’s nothing more I can say except to tell you we’re all with you, and feeling your anguish. I know I certainly am.
Best to you,
BB.
This is getting even more hilarious. fool Gilbert is interviewing Abetz on the issue of Slipper becoming speaker! Wtf is wrong with this picture
Erica Betz on Agenda trying his best to spin the Speaker saga.
[I cannot wait for the first parliamentary session, where Peter Sleeper falls asleep while being the speaker of the house, it would be funny]
He’ll be so busy throwing out LNP members there’ll be no time for a nap.
I can’t wait for the day when Slipper throws Abbott out… it will be funny.
Well may Tony Jones and Toxic Tony and his merry band of tossers keep on barking about Craig Thomson.
Craig Thomson has not been charged with anything at all as yet and perhaps someone should remind them, that if he is ever charged with anything at all, he has the perfect defence.
That is he was suffering from depression at the time and was always experiencing panic attacks which caused his behaviour to be unusual.
BK
I am stunned that Abetz of Godwin Gretch fame is the coalition mouthpiece today. What a hypocrite. Do they not have any shame?
Dovif,
Anagram of Peter Slipper is Sleep Tripper.
Careful what you wish for!
[Possum Comitatus
@Pollytics
Abbott made pairing agreement for Speaker, then tore it up when he thought it was inconvenient. Now gets shafted by it. Too funny]
Tom Hawkins..
[ I cannot wait for the first parliamentary session, where Peter Sleeper falls asleep while being the speaker of the house, it would be funny
He’ll be so busy throwing out LNP members there’ll be no time for a nap.]
Liked it!
Good morning, Bludgers.
Cold, grey ,damp – 3 inches (75mm) yesterday (over 5 at the bottom of the Big Hill – after a mainly dry month) our drought-bushfire jitters now have to contend with our flood & hail jitters. Dry meant the house and its timber frame etc finally dried out.
MegaGeorge has joined the Qld bashers (though not without good cause) Rats prepared to ditch their parties to survive
[EVERY party – big or small, deceased or ticking – has a Queensland rat to curse.
Vince Gair abandoned the DLP, Mal Colston the ALP, Cheryl Kernot the Australian Democrats, and now Peter Slipper has quit the LNP.
What links the three male rats, by circumstance and statehood, is former Queensland premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen. This is not to suggest Gair or Colston or Slipper are as bad as Joh. But they are his political heirs because they were prepared to change election results for political gain. Slipper was the closest to the former premier because he ran on the Joh-for-Canberra ticket in 1987.
But the others were also touched by Joh’s double-dealing hand
Vince Gair, of course, ratted twice; from the ALP to the DLP when he was ordered, by the Executive, to give Q workers the then standard 4 wks annual leave (they had only 2) – Frank Nicklin (Country Party) won the election promising 4 wks, which he delivered (at the cost of rail electrification).
Like Gair, Slipper had already swapped from Nationals to Liberals – reversing the trend of defection which gave Joh BP government in his own right in 1993.
BTW: Peter Slipper is not only an Anglican Priest of the Traditional Anglican Communion; the Anglican Catholics currently looking for union with the Roman Catholics (if you’re a bit of an English Poetry buff, this is the sub-sect to which English poets like Tennyson, Clough, Hallam and some, like TS Eliot, who joined the RCs belonged). Slipper is also its current Chancellor, having succeeded SA’s Michael Atkinson; until retirement in 2010, Rann’s Attorney General.
And Abbott had the stupidity to blame ALP’s Sussex St mob. He’s not only a lying weather-vane, he doesn’t understand Liberal machinations north of the Border.
BK
Gee Fool Gilbert was tough on Abetz. talk about a wet lettuce. Why did I bother watching this program. the msm are still cheerleading for the coalition
BB
On Bob, a friend of mine when his dog was ill, made chicken stock as the medium (rather than milk), having bit wider nutritional value…fwiw
Gaffy,
Check out Landeryou’s story on Thomson psted by Leroy at 1151. It’s the most common sense I’ve seen written on the topic.
Laura Tingle on Harry Jenkins
http://www.afr.com/p/national/bowing_out_with_bang_the_inside_m3QeuMxN4kVA0Iymcp1VhL
Signing off now for a day on the flatlands leading up to the PollBludger SA Chapter meeting with scorps.
Enjoy!
BK
Enjoy the day
Glad to hear you will still be coming along, Puff.
I have one friend with a son (now in his late teens/early twenties) who has Down Syndrome, and another friends whose DS son is now in his late twenties. Both have been fantastic parents and have raised great young men. Whilst both men have already had a series of health challenges in their lives, they are doing okay as far as I am aware (haven’t caught up with either for a few years). In the DS spectrum, for want of a better term, they are both pretty high functioning and I know that both friends have been very aware of their good luck in that respect.
BB: I have obviously missed a bit of Bob drama. Any chance you can give a bried recap?
Laocoon @ 1158
[So ABC bias – probably not. ABC incompetence – almost certainly]
It is both, by active commission and passive omission.
The incompetence and ineptitude of ABC News and Current Affairs only serves to reinforce the pre-existing bias engendered by Mark Scott’s race to the tabloid bottom in pursuit of illusory ratings, and his total disregard of the ABC Charter through the subornment of ABC senior and middle management.
I dont think I will watch am Agenda again. Peter Reith was given free reign to throw his spittle re the speakership. As far as he is concerned, Jenkins was knifed and this is all going to come back and bite the govt, and Abbott is going to spend all summer long making the point. FFS this mob is delusional.
[That is he was suffering from depression at the time and was always experiencing panic attacks which caused his behaviour to be unusual.]
Gaffhook – unfortunately that’s a perfectly legitimate defence in light of the Fisher decision
BB, sorry to hear about Bob (& fellow feeling after bad extraction Tuesday). If he’ll let you use them, try ice-packs – we use some old packs of frozen peas. I spent Tues arvo & most of Wed cuddled up to them; so I can tell you they really work.
Puff, sending the best of good vibrations to you, too. As usual, the Bard was right when he wrote When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions. My song of the last year has been:
[Oh no, not I
I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I’ve got all my life to live
I’ve got all my love to give
and I’ll survive
I will survive
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
Now I hold my head up high]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tth-8wA3PdY
Reith said that Julia Gillard is going to get further backlash from the electorate for doing this.
honestly, Reith got shafted by Abbott himself. What is wrong with this mob. First they have Abetz of Godwin Grech making his pathetic statements, and then Reith. I am so over this mob. They literally sicken me.
DL
BB’s dog Bob, had a terrible infection in his mouth and had to have countless teeth removed.
It’s time for Grattan to retire, and for Radio National Breakfast to recruit a new political commentator, because Michelle is little more than a Liberal Party mouthpiece these days.
And yes, of course predictably THE DAILY TERROR is sinking the boot into Slipper – they are after all Tony Abbott’s favourite newspaper.
Michelle Grattan = Helen Thomas. Been there way too long.
Victoria,
They will say anything and do anything, confident in the knowledge that their media partners are not likely to flay them with anything more rigid than a limp lettuce leaf.
Julia’s real crime is actually governing … that is what upsets them … BER! money isn’t supposed to be used on education Howard never did, it is tax cuts for big corps … infrastructure blah … Health just a silly Labor thing if they are really sick they’ll have private health cover or better yet fly overseas for really good treatment … MRRT isn’t that a tax on companies we are supposed to be having less of them we have been promising them ‘trickle down’ for about 30 years and the morons haven’t noticed it doesn’t trickle down yet … plain packaging on ciggies boo … pokies booo
I think they’d like Tony to be slightly smarter, much less lazy and not sound like an idiot most of the time but most of them share his ‘nos’. She is doing the wrong things entirely and they don’t like it
BB: Wishing Bob a speedy recovery, I’m sure he’ll be getting lots of love from you and your family.
Bushfire,
[Any PBers have an alternative method (liquid Metacam and a quarter of a crushed pill)?]
The syringe is, I think, the best way. It is best to insert the syringe so that the mixture ends up on the back of Bob’s tongue so a nice slim syringe is in order. In the past, I have added a soft piece of tubing to the heel of the syringe (about 1″ long) which means there is less pressure placed on the sore gums and it is easier then to “inject” the mixture slowly and the animal won’t cough and splutter. Hope this helps.