Australia General Discussion

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Remind me how the balloting works again?

Weighted vote of 40% for caucus, 40% for members, 20% for the unions.

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So how long until there's a spill?

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Hockey's dumped the promise of a budget surplus.

Someone in the ALP offices will be trawling youtube for something as clear cut as this from Tony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5pzSvSCUZo

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Wouldn't be shocked if the ALP holds on in SA.

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Nielsen polling out with some expected and outright whacky results.

State Governments

VIC - ALP 53-47, this is pretty much where most people think this race is.

But ... NSW - ALP 51-49, that's a massive and inexplicable swing to the ALP. While I don't buy that the O'Farrell Government is in THAT much trouble, I do wonder what kind of impact Abbott et al is having on these state level numbers.

Considering the SA/TAS dynamics, they're not the best indicators at the moment.

I don't think the O'Farrell government has done anything controversial lately, but then again, given the corruption enquiries into 3 of the Central Coast state members...

That's the thing, even taking my partisan hat off... I can't really point to anything the O'Farrell Government has actually done? They've been the ultimate small-target Government, they sacked a lot of people, found a billion dollars.... what else?

Exactly though. After the walking disaster that was the last few years of NSW Labour, why would voters already be ready to give them another chance? Surely a first time O'Farrell government's task is to just hold themselves together and make themselves look even half competent compared to the last government.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9PnBnb6ASQ

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How long until a spill?

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Is this the first time a government has received such bad international press?

Honestly... it would be close.

Bush league.

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Labor needs to sort this out and pronto.

Would one of the Australians explain us what happened?

Basically the former Premier was recorded having a justified but impolitic spray at the social conservatives in his party and those who removed a decent sitting Minister from her seat.

No one was exactly sure where these tapes came from etc etc... but it appears the Opposition at the very least had heard these tapes or as they're being called, 'recordings' but it's not known if they were the ones who leaked or facilitated the leak etc etc.

There are a lot of unanswered questions about their role in the affair. 

Didn't a similar thing torpedo federal Labor in 2010?

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Any sign of a spill against Newman in QLD? His numbers are shocking.

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Bishop?

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Bishop?

or Turnball, I assume they'll want to avoid a vote and get Tony to resign as leader if possible.

Well sh*t happens

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Apparently the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Bishop personally assured Abbott a few days ago that she won't be challenging.

In Australian politics, that means she's almost definitely gonna call for a spill, right? Or is that just the ALP?

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How are Labor gonna go at all this? Surely going for an attack of 'changing leaders won't change anything/unelected PM/no mandate' will be a bit've a joke from them.

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Interesting - ReachTEL are saying 55/45 Shorten, but also 51/49 Bishop and 54/46 Turnbull.

Hypotheticals, Kevin Rudd, etcetc. But these numbers should move some wavers against Tone.

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Why Abbott has become so unpopular?

He was never popular to begin with.

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http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australian-pm-tony-abbott-labelled-most-incompetent-western-leader-by-us-think-tank-10041683.html

Well this has happened.

Does someone who actually knows what they're on about mind telling me if it'd be fair to call Abbott the worst PM ever? Or at least his premiership so far...

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Why has no-one created a minor right-wing party that isn't an utter joke?

Because when you have a party who can elect Tony Abbott as their leader, there's not really much space left for other hilarious right-wing parties.

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The Greens are such a joke of a political party, I can't even with them.

Context? No?

Just in general, but recently it's been the taking credit for things they didn't achieve - ie. Sam Hibbins claiming the new 50 trams Labor ordered as being his achievement. I'm a hack so probs don't listen to me lol.

Nah. It's a fair enough thing to say. Most places where they have a track record, they're seen as a bit've a joke.