The Down Under Lounge

[jaz'a]

Very good speech by Palaszczuk. It was very inclusive about building a government for the people, listening to the people. It is exactly what Queensland wants to hear right now.

That and that the assets won't be sold.

I'm on such a high... I dared to dream, but I didn't think it would actually happen. Not so soon.

I am glad we do still have a strong opposition. I think that is especially important in a state like Queensland where we don't have an upper house to balance the power out.


Since I'm sure you're all sitting on the edge of your seat with my browser issues... uninstalled and reinstalled opera. Seems to have fixed it.

 

[Botany Bay]

That and that the assets won't be sold.

All eyes on NSW, where the Liberals are planning to privatise electricity delivery. I thought Mike Baird was an unbackable favourite till about three hours ago

I'm on such a high... I dared to dream, but I didn't think it would actually happen. Not so soon.

It's just extraordinary. I still can't believe it. The ALP were paying $8 at one stage I looked! Nobody could see this coming, except, to your credit, a few of you guys on here were confident.

I am glad we do still have a strong opposition. I think that is especially important in a state like Queensland where we don't have an upper house to balance the power out.

Really gracious.

Since I'm sure you're all sitting on the edge of your seat with my browser issues... uninstalled and reinstalled opera. Seems to have fixed it.

Nice

 

[Australis]

So what is everyone using for a browser these days?

I've used opera for about a year now and it's been great. For some reason it's started running really slow the last week. I can't work out why. I've checked out everything I can think of. Nothing has changed. It's driving me crazy. I really like how they do their bookmarks and their main start page. I'm rather bummed.

I'm using IE now as my only other installed browser and it's running at the speed I've come to expect from opera.

Firefox. Much prefer it, the tabs, the booksmarks the autofill, a bunch of stuff. It's not perfect, but it's my default. Some people down in TNZ mentioned a new one called Pale Moon. It's very similar to FF, maybe runs a little faster, a little clunkier in the interface but not enough to make a difference. I an recommend either. There's also Chrome, and it's really fast, but I don't find it much fun to use.

ETA: glad you got it sorted.

 

[jaz'a]

^ Thanks anyway.

That and that the assets won't be sold.

All eyes on NSW, where the Liberals are planning to privatise electricity delivery. I thought Mike Baird was an unbackable favourite till about three hours ago

Is NSW due for election this year?

I'm shocking with keeping track of other states.

I am glad we do still have a strong opposition. I think that is especially important in a state like Queensland where we don't have an upper house to balance the power out.

Really gracious.

Not trying to be a good winner. Too estatic for that. The last three years shows what can happen with a huge majority. The government gets too confident and stops listening to the people.

I'd prefer an upper house but that isn't going to happen.

I'd also prefer a stronger majority. A strong opposition is good, but a little more leeway would be nice.

 

[Botany Bay]

NSW votes on March 28th. We have fixed four year terms, which I'd like to see go.

Current NSW betting :
COALITION 1.03
ALP 12.00

To win, the ALP will have to pull off a QLD style miracle without a hated incumbent premier, but as we saw on Saturday, miracles can happen in modern Aussie politics.

The most interesting betting move is for the federal election. These prices have now really moved after the events in QLD :
COALITION 1.87
ALP 1.87

Some changes in the betting for next Liberal leader, too, with Mal Brough joining the contenders...

Bishop 2.50
Turnbull 3.25
Brough 3.75
Morrison 7.00

 

[Marc]

NSW votes on March 28th. We have fixed four year terms, which I'd like to see go.

Current NSW betting :
COALITION 1.03
ALP 12.00

To win, the ALP will have to pull off a QLD style miracle without a hated incumbent premier, but as we saw on Saturday, miracles can happen in modern Aussie politics.

I don't think Labor in N.S.W would get the sort of swing they need. It was almost a planetary alignement event that saw Labor win in Queensland.

You had an very nasty and unpopular premier, leading a government that would have been giving the voters flashbacks to the corruption to the Joh era combined with the toxicity of the abbott government.

In New South Wales, they don't have the very unpopular leader and by the time the election roles around, Abbott might not be P.M.

Oh and some-one might have made a chunk of money - the bookies had Labor at 6 to 1 so any large bets would have paid out nicely.

 

[Botany Bay]

In New South Wales, they don't have the very unpopular leader and by the time the election roles around, Abbott might not be P.M.

It's hard to see him making it.

I wouldn't rule out a resignation, perhaps, as soon as tomorrow.

Abbott is a fundamentally decent person, and, if he decides he's the problem, I am sure he will step down in the national interest.

 

[Marc]

In New South Wales, they don't have the very unpopular leader and by the time the election roles around, Abbott might not be P.M.

It's hard to see him making it.

I wouldn't rule out a resignation, perhaps, as soon as tomorrow.

Abbott is a fundamentally decent person, and, if he decides he's the problem, I am sure he will step down in the national interest.

Abbott has ruled out a resignation.

 

[jaz'a]

I don't think we're going to see a resignation. If we have a change of PM it will be due to pressure by the back benchers. The cabinet are standing behind Abbott and I don't think they'll moved unless they've given an ultimatum. I think that ultimatum is unavoidable now, it's just a question of how quickly they can make it happen. A lot of interesting phone calls will be happening today and in the next week.

Abbott seems to have the same attitude to me that Newman had. He thinks he is right and it doesn't matter what the people think. He knows better and he will do everything in his power to see that it happens while he can. He won't be giving that power up. Not willingly.

 

[Marc]

Of course the cabinet is standing behind abbott.

He loses the leadership and most off the will probably be heading for the backbench.

Though given the way the government is going in the polls,supporting abbott could see the heading out the door.

 

[jaz'a]

I don't think it is a given the cabinet will change a lot if there is a leadership change. Joe Hockey will go but if Julia Bishop becomes leader I can see her keeping things fairly stable. It's Abbott and Hockey people don't like. If Turnbull becomes leader, then we would probably see a big shake up.

I do find the comparisons to the Labor leadership changes interesting. I see a big and obvious difference. Labor got rid of a leader that was loved. The Liberals would be getting rid of a leader that is hated. The latter would be seen as listening to the people, the former definitely wasn't.

Labor also doesn't have the teeth the Liberals have and they don't generally have the media on side. The media will not hound the Liberals into the grave if they change leaders the way they used it against Labor.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Loved?

 

[Australis]

By different people at different times, for both of them, I guess.

I say... let him stay. By the time the Govt's term is up, the public will be so sick of the pack of them they'll all be gone. Especially if he bites the bullet and refuses to go. Or let Turnbull in and hopefully he'll have the with to untangle the NBN and do it as it should have been one, he knows, but been told not to.

 

[jaz'a]

^Yeah, I kind of feel the same way. He's not doing as much damage as he'd like because he doesn't have the numbers. If he stays, the Liberals will get a hounding next election.

For opposing reasons, I'm not sure I really want Turnbull. He is more centre and I think he has the best chance of turning the public back in favour of the Liberals. He will be a lot harder for Labor to beat. I don't want a PM that Labor can't beat. But I do want a PM that isn't out to turn our nation into a right wing paradise, so that is in his favour.

There's talk about Mal Brough been approached. I don't like the man. I don't like what happened to Slipper and his part in it. I'm not pulling up much thought about where he actually stands on the political spectrum however so not much of an opinion on that yet.

Loved?

Not everyone liked Rudd but as a PM he was still quite popular with the masses when they got rid of him (initially said the first time, but he only got ousted once). He was always popular with the masses in Queensland.

His party is a different story.

 

[Marc]

By different people at different times, for both of them, I guess.

I say... let him stay. By the time the Govt's term is up, the public will be so sick of the pack of them they'll all be gone. Especially if he bites the bullet and refuses to go. Or let Turnbull in and hopefully he'll have the with to untangle the NBN and do it as it should have been one, he knows, but been told not to.

The frequent comment is the only people who like Kevin Rudd are those who've never met him.

The problem is that the by the time abbott and his mongrels are kicked out off office they may have entrenched there sorry excuse for the a NBN in to far to be able to reverse (such as signing the contracts and buying the crapped out joke that Telstra calls a copper network.)..

As an aside, the FCC in the U.S had just redefined broadband for the modern age (well the U.S at least) to be a minimum of 25Mbps, Given what the abbott government is planning barely will barely do 16Mbps for the majority of people billions will spent and people will still be behind the curve.

^Yeah, I kind of feel the same way. He's not doing as much damage as he'd like because he doesn't have the numbers. If he stays, the Liberals will get a hounding next election.

For opposing reasons, I'm not sure I really want Turnbull. He is more centre and I think he has the best chance of turning the public back in favour of the Liberals. He will be a lot harder for Labor to beat. I don't want a PM that Labor can't beat. But I do want a PM that isn't out to turn our nation into a right wing paradise, so that is in his favour.

There's talk about Mal Brough been approached. I don't like the man. I don't like what happened to Slipper and his part in it. I'm not pulling up much thought about where he actually stands on the political spectrum however so not much of an opinion on that yet.

[/QUOTE]

The situation with Slipper has to be one of the dirtiest in recent Austrlaian poltiics.

Abbott and his ministers have dodgy claims and they get to pay them back to Slipper is prosecuted?

Brough wants to get back into politics so they decide slipper is an easy target becasue of past?

Still a lot of questions there that will probably be never answered but I bet Slipper now regrets voting for Abbott in the leadership ballot.

Rumours have been around for a while now that Abbott and his wife are together for appearance sake only. Seems they are now going further and the implication is that Abbott has been having an affair with Peta Credlin.

It's also showing a double standard. Gillard's person life was the frequent target of comments and attacks from the coalition and the media yet somehow Abbott's is forbidden territory.

 

[eyeresist]

So what is everyone using for a browser these days?

I use Chrome. I actually prefer IE 8 but it has issues with Windows 7 (keeps freezing up from memory leaks).

Newman : "My political career is over". Concedes defeat in Ashgrove, but not the election in a short, gracious speech. The guy looked pretty happy to be leaving the public eye to be honest.

Hilarious to watch his wife nodding in the background while he said this.

Wanted: One politician's wife. Must have own trust fund, be able to nod.

Regarding Turnbull as an alternative to Abbott, it's important to remember that while he's more personable, he's economically very conservative. I'm sure he'll be very happy to privatise everything and punish the unemployed, perhaps even more than Tony.

 

[Australis]

I would have thought he'd think a bit broader than that, but meh, I do want the Conservatives out. Their lack of compassion is ugly.

If that Credlin thing is true, I really want to see it out there to show how hypocritical Abbot is, but I'm willing to bet a lot of powerful people wouldn't want that, because people might look at their proclivities and private behaviour.

Now Baird...

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I use firefox and chrome.

I want Abbott to stay as PM ... so next election I can vote that idiot out. Read that most of the senior liberals are behind the PM.

 

[Botany Bay]

Apparently at least one MP is going to go on the record and call for Abbott's resignation tonight.

 

[Botany Bay]

So we've had one MP (Jensen) call for Abbott's resignation, claiming he's not up to it, another (Entsch), calling for a ballot and the rumoured stalking horse (Brough) saying the PM doesn't have his full support, urging the Medicare co-payment be dropped.

It's inconceivable there won't be a ballot in the next week. Will Abbott be a candidate? Word is he has lost the support of the party room.

What a mess.