How easy of a ride will Labour get in the Senate? Getting the support of the Greens and David Pocock for socially liberal legislation seems very achievable, but the latter doesn’t seem to have talked much about his economic views (though it’s not like Labor have a markedly left wing agenda). Jacqui Lambie seems kinda left wing (or at least ‘populist’), would she be a reasonably reliable person to negotiate with?
He talked a lot about housing avaliability (and his only tweet about the new Cabinet was expressing satisfaction that Housing is now a Cabinet position).
He also talked about childcare & ensuring that corporations don't avoid paying their fair share of taxes, too, IIRC. Really, his whole pitch was basically that he wasn't born in Canberra, but he lives there, genuinely loves it, & wants to be better representing its interests than his predecessor, Zed Seselja's god-awful job of doing so, & so would see his primary duty in-office as representing the ACT & its interests to the best of his ability. The ACT is rather progressive as a whole, & he's certainly no Marx, but he's solidly socially progressive & economically in-line with the majority of the new Parliament, with a large focus on supporting local business & engaging with locals on their matters, & not being just another politician.
Lambie has a few differences with Labor & the Greens, but it's not a bad mix. Except for votes against renewables, she's a heterodox centrist populist who's basically a well-meaning person from the Tas Country without a pure, Xenophonian ego.
And with Albo announcing his Ministry, I think we can officially declare the election season over.
Among the appointments is Matt Thistlethwaite, who has been made Assistant Minister for the Republic!
What is the Assistant Minister for the Republic? Why does Australia even have a position like that, it isn't even a republic.
His mission in the new post is to restart the national discussion with the public about moving towards becoming a republic & having an Australian head of state, but they've already conceded that ditching the Monarchy isn't a 1st-term priority like the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is. Serious moves toward a republic aren't really expected 'til you-know-what happens.
even then is even a certain to happen? ((popularity wise I expect that charles will be like Edward VII))
