tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post6252750927210130109..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: Something to talk aboutAndrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-56033732458863824362011-12-09T11:47:35.576+11:002011-12-09T11:47:35.576+11:00The absence of coverage of the Coalition's aud...The absence of coverage of the Coalition's audit scandal is a disgrace.<br /><br />I thought my opinion of the pro-Coalition bias of the Australian media had hit rock bottom years ago, but I'm still shocked by this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-14980518091617594422011-12-09T09:04:07.822+11:002011-12-09T09:04:07.822+11:00Anon, the whole idea was to find out where she was...Anon, the whole idea was to find out where she was going, surely?<br /><br />Michael, you might be right on the first three but I take issue with the last. The press gallery usually report either pro-Abbott stories or else pox-on-both-houses. If the Coalition financial ineptitude had come out during Parliament it would have been reported as just more argy-bargy rather than any sort of examination of the issues.<br /><br />PJF, I agree that dental health should have got a run. Labor people should have made it a priority.<br /><br />The gay/lesbian activists who got their issue up did everything you are supposed to do: assiduous lobbying, creating a groundwell of opinion, tying their cause to higher notions of freedom and equality. In a democracy it's hard to fault people for playing by the rules.<br /><br />The whole idea of the conference was supposed to be a clear idea as to what those priorities are. The fact that we'll have to wait and see is an indictment of the conference and the regard with which the Labor government holds it.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-84707167165144549842011-12-08T23:28:37.543+11:002011-12-08T23:28:37.543+11:00Andrew,
You're usually on the money, so I expe...Andrew,<br />You're usually on the money, so I expect that you are here also; however, the nature of a Party conference surely involves what they're gunna do. If your misgivings/criticisms are about the items which dominated proceedings, I'm closer to agreeing with you. I consider same sex marriage a 10th order priority, compared say to something like the issue of dental health which got a deserved airing in the media to-day.<br /><br />However, I'm prepared to wait and see how particular issues are given priority in the New Year, as that may be a better clue than drawing inferences from conference proceedings. I'll be particularly interested in how the uranium to India is handled, and whether Labor can break the habits of recent years and provide a compelling explanation for what strikes me as a sensible intention.<br />PJFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-31885741535498765092011-12-08T22:22:38.991+11:002011-12-08T22:22:38.991+11:00It's a fair point. Gay marriage: there is no...It's a fair point. Gay marriage: there is no way it will pass the Lower House - even if Dr No allows a conscience vote the conservatives and Labor right will stop it. Which is a damned shame, but there's little downside that I can see for the ALP there.<br /><br />Asylum seekers: no victories here, just grubby defeats for everyone. The PM can try to paint the opposition as the blockers to an offshore solution. At least the continuation of on-shore and community-based processing will provide a rare example of a better outcome despite the idiocy and populism in parliament.<br /><br />Uranium to India. I'd say the ALP left doesn't have the clout to do much more than generate hot air on this one...but the cabinet can at least stake out a position of publicly defying the Greens and the left. For what it's worth, which probably isn't much either way. The only payoff is (hopefully) improved relations with an important neighbour and market.<br /><br />The biggest problem with the national conference is that it's given the media an excuse to ignore Tony's auditor troubles. Any journalist worth his salt should be on this story like sh*t on a blanket, but given that it would likely destroy any coalition claims to good economic sense it will be buried. Pity it didn't all flush out of the woodwork when parliament was sitting - the government could have had a field day with this as well as practically force the media to report it, at least indirectly as part of their continual fixation on theatre over substance.Michael Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14888283343086845853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-32353362311008738262011-12-08T20:11:34.804+11:002011-12-08T20:11:34.804+11:00It seems to me Gillard sets things up before execu...It seems to me Gillard sets things up before execution. I wouldn't be too quick to discount the weekend until we find out where she is going.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com