Bentleigh Public Meeting

Vic  Labor ldr. Daniel Andrews MP, held a public meeting in Bentleigh today. An interesting event.

Link:
(1) https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP

Bill Shorten elected ALP leader

It's happened;

Remember; Australians support the Carbon Tax!

just thought it ought to be emphasised;

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/most-want-to-keep-carbon-tax-poll-20130713-2px4d.html

http://www.politifact.com.au/truth-o-meter/statements/2013/sep/12/julie-bishop/referendum-carbon-tax-myths-mandates/

ALP's rotating team eroded voters' trust

Sitting in Labor HQ with four senior campaign staff, we were planning the announcement of the small business package.

One of the staff suggested: ''Let's get Brendan O'Connor to Tassie to do the announcement with the boss [the PM].'' Her bemused colleague asked ''Why would we get O'Connor there?'' ''Well, he is the small business minister …'' ''No he's not … he was the minister two ministers ago … we've had a few though.''

There were five ministers for small business in the last term of government. For the record, I wasn't much help - I couldn't name many of them.

The effect the leadership battle had on the Labor brand has been well canvassed. Less explored but almost as important was the effect the frequent cabinet and ministerial reshuffles - caused by the challenges (and non-challenges) - had on the public perception of the Rudd and Gillard governments.

We all know that stability at the top is important, but if Labor hopes to restore public confidence in the competency and capacity of its team then it needs to figure out how it can rebuild the trust the swapping, chopping, changing and replacing of ministers eroded.

Trust was the most important issue of the federal election campaign, as it is in almost every election campaign.

Dr Jackie Dickenson, an academic from Melbourne University, recently published Trust Me, a history of trust in Australian politics. She identifies four components of trust: competence, openness, honesty and reliability. To restore the electorate's trust, Labor needs to address all four.

Well said

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/alps-rotating-team-eroded-voters-trust-20131006-2v27z.html#ixzz2hOORy0hJ

Netanyahu Lobbies Obama

""WASHINGTON – The brief press conference that followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s White House meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama Monday mainly showed that both leaders have grown up.

The two men have a long history of well-publicized spats, derogatory briefings and mutual smears. But in recent months, ever since Obama visited Israel in March, a truce has prevailed. So when the journalists were allowed into the Oval Office after a talk that lasted almost 90 minutes, both men behaved accordingly: no barbs, no criticism, plenty of smiles and mutual praise. At the end, Obama asked Netanyahu, “Are you hungry? I am. Let’s go eat.”

An abyss yawns between Netanyahu’s view of the Iranian issue and Obama’s. For the Israeli premier, Iran is Amalek, the Biblical nation described as the Jews’ bitterest enemy. In addition, he views stopping Iran’s race toward nuclear arms as just a means toward the greater goal of preserving Israel’s status as the Mideast’s only regional power. He has little faith, therefore in dialogue with Iran, preferring sanctions and military force."(1)

Hopefully they're just words. But yes, managed to get Obama to say 'all' options are on the table."

Hopefully they're just words. But yes, managed to get Obama to say 'all' options are on the table.

Note:
(1) http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.549814

Conservatives protest to UN over 'bedroom tax' report

"Conservative chairman Grant Shapps has condemned as an "absolute disgrace" a UN official's critical comments on the government's housing benefit changes.

Mr Shapps said he would be writing to the UN secretary general to protest.

He claimed the UN official Raquel Rolnik failed to meet any ministers or officials, was biased and had wrongly called the "spare room subsidy" policy "the bedroom tax"."

Either the criticism was correct or incorrect. Speaking ot UK ministers deoesn't change that.

Source:
(1)  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24046094

Coalition won 2013, but Hotham still ALP

The Coalition of the Liberal and National parties in Australia's federal election have won a majority in our lower federal house. But the Australian Labor Party (ALP) retains the seat of Hotham I live in.


Hopefully the Senate will be able to obstruct Abbot's likely cuts and wreckage of our country.

The ALP also "defied dire predictions and preserved its young talent, giving it a more solid foundation than most pundits predicted as it heads into opposition.

Young frontbenchers of the new generation whose seats were considered in danger, such as Chris Bowen, Kate Ellis and Jason Clare, will be returned to the next parliament."(1)

Note:

(1): http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/labor-preserves-young-talent-despite-loss-20130907-2tcty.html#ixzz2eHEAWUcl