Historically, political scientists called their various iterations the "anti-Labor" parties. But the Liberals have been around for 80 years, and the permanent coalition something like 40. The "National" name is a leftover from when Bjelke-Petersen thought he could seriously challenge the Libs - they would have been better to stick with Country IM)
Smaller national vote than the Greens, something we ritually hide by aggregating the Coalition primary vote. Another eg of th sleight of hand I'm talking about.
Well written TD, Australia deserves a far, far better quality of government than what is served up by the duopoly and reinforced by the pathetically inept and manifestly biased MSM. Following this election, may the Liberal fade into obscurity to be quickly quickly followed the Labor Party and may then the playing field be levelled for all participants - independents & small parties.
An aside: I find that the name John W Howard: 'The Liberal Party is falling apart and has been since John Howard lost his seat in 2007.' triggers a sudden rise in blood-pressure.
So much of the problems of the hear & now can be sheeted home to JWH - housing affordibility (capital gains/-ve gearing), gas debacle - doesn't his government have major complicity in a rotten export deal to China? The lack of a sovereign wealth fund like Norway's - Howard chose to buy voters instead. He was the epitome of rank self interest and had absolutely no concept of the 'good of the nation', only the good of himself & the Liberals.
Into thin air: Why is Australia facing a gas crisis?
At a media conference 20 years ago, former prime minister John Howard announced what he said was the biggest single export deal in Australia’s history, a 25-year contract to supply China with up to $25 billion worth of liquefied natural gas from the North West Shelf.
Howard was excited. It was, he declared, “a gold-medal performance”.
Trouble was, the contract locked in Australian gas sales to China at a historically low price. As the world price of LNG began to climb, it quickly became apparent just how rotten the deal was (at least from Australia’s perspective).
As one industry figure who was part of the original negotiations told the Australian Financial Review in 2015: “It is regarded as the worst deal ever done.”
I might have mentioned this previously but the ‘Wets ’ of the Liberal Party have been slowly squeezed out of the Libs over the past 30 years. The broad church is now a rented hall for a community of Prosperity Gospel acolytes and neoliberal pundits who think the Australian Financial Review is a left wing rag. The only reason they are competitive is because of the support of the Murdoch Media (TV and print) Empire propping them up. And a voting population who are by nature conservative. Though that voting block of over 50s is slowly dying off.
I have a soft spot for the ABC. They have been beaten into submission through a combination of the right of centre political parties and the Murdoch Press over the past 30 years to the point they’d ABC is afraid of its own shadow and has twisted itself into knots so as not to appear to have a left wing bias.
Very true, but maybe a reason, not an excuse? The stacking of management and board with people with absolutely no commitment to public broadcasting is what needs to be addressed. Their whole reason for being has been undermined and the intellectual case for it is barely made anymore.
I think they can, Gary, but it doesn't always translate into a fair result. We do better than most countries, but the Libs still get a free ride from a system of which they have been a major architect.
Wow ~ Britton insisting that the right faction of the Liberal Party is looking to unseat Peter Dutton as leader! Is PD part of that faction or is there someone or a gaggle further right of him? Who else is recognisable enough in that party to be leader?
I wonder how things would have played out if Julie Bishop had been elected leader of the Libs. She was a political animal but would she have maintained some principles (at least not being sworn in to multiple ministries) or had more nous, such as not choosing Katherine Deves to run in the last election.
In Victoria, the selection of whoever is available to run for the Libs is definitely on show. Moira Deeming's controversial views weren't an issue until they were. Perhaps in the past, MPs were obliged/obligated to listen to the advice of a party leader. The Libs really need to check the credentials of potential candidates or have some sort of prenup in place. And how many Liberal MPs (few of the species in Victoria) really believe in 'free speech'. The above person is entitled to her views but as a representative of a major political party, do they hurt transgender people in our society?
Interesting to refer back to your earlier piece, Tim. Started me thinking about different changes that have occurred like Morrison lauding tradies and how possibly trades training and increased income has influenced this employment sector to be more responsive to the Libs (or not?!)
The fact that Bishop was never, never, a serious contender within the party tells us a lot of what we need to know about their dysfunction. Being a boys' club in the way they are, from the top down to the branches, is as good an indicator of their problems as any other single factor.
You're right about the changing base of the self-employed, what I have called elsewhere, the rise of the ABN class.
I find the Julie Bishop point a really salient one.
It does speak so loudly to the blokey power structure that they could find Scott Morrison or Peter Dutton a more appealing electoral prospect than Julie Bishop. Talk about cut off your nose to spite your own face.
Regardless of what I may think of her, she's a smooth operator, and seemed a reliable conduit to a large proportion of her constituents. Neither of the men in leadership could touch her for popularity, and credibility (to Liberal voters I must stress, not to all:)).
This exactly. Their treatment of her speaks to precisely their failure to function as a modern party. Labor at least adopted quotas, though the fates of Gillard and now Plibersek suggest some miles still to travel.
Historically, political scientists called their various iterations the "anti-Labor" parties. But the Liberals have been around for 80 years, and the permanent coalition something like 40. The "National" name is a leftover from when Bjelke-Petersen thought he could seriously challenge the Libs - they would have been better to stick with Country IM)
"I'm a Country Member"
"I remember"
Ah, Gough...
Smaller national vote than the Greens, something we ritually hide by aggregating the Coalition primary vote. Another eg of th sleight of hand I'm talking about.
Well written TD, Australia deserves a far, far better quality of government than what is served up by the duopoly and reinforced by the pathetically inept and manifestly biased MSM. Following this election, may the Liberal fade into obscurity to be quickly quickly followed the Labor Party and may then the playing field be levelled for all participants - independents & small parties.
An aside: I find that the name John W Howard: 'The Liberal Party is falling apart and has been since John Howard lost his seat in 2007.' triggers a sudden rise in blood-pressure.
So much of the problems of the hear & now can be sheeted home to JWH - housing affordibility (capital gains/-ve gearing), gas debacle - doesn't his government have major complicity in a rotten export deal to China? The lack of a sovereign wealth fund like Norway's - Howard chose to buy voters instead. He was the epitome of rank self interest and had absolutely no concept of the 'good of the nation', only the good of himself & the Liberals.
Into thin air: Why is Australia facing a gas crisis?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/into-thin-air-why-is-australia-facing-a-gas-crisis-20220721-p5b3gi.html
Josh Gordon
ByJosh Gordon
July 24, 2022 — 1.40pm
At a media conference 20 years ago, former prime minister John Howard announced what he said was the biggest single export deal in Australia’s history, a 25-year contract to supply China with up to $25 billion worth of liquefied natural gas from the North West Shelf.
Howard was excited. It was, he declared, “a gold-medal performance”.
Trouble was, the contract locked in Australian gas sales to China at a historically low price. As the world price of LNG began to climb, it quickly became apparent just how rotten the deal was (at least from Australia’s perspective).
As one industry figure who was part of the original negotiations told the Australian Financial Review in 2015: “It is regarded as the worst deal ever done.”
Agree Don't think history will treat Howard well. We barely mention the fact that he lost his own seat!
I know! That's the MSM for you
I might have mentioned this previously but the ‘Wets ’ of the Liberal Party have been slowly squeezed out of the Libs over the past 30 years. The broad church is now a rented hall for a community of Prosperity Gospel acolytes and neoliberal pundits who think the Australian Financial Review is a left wing rag. The only reason they are competitive is because of the support of the Murdoch Media (TV and print) Empire propping them up. And a voting population who are by nature conservative. Though that voting block of over 50s is slowly dying off.
Just love all of that: broad church/rented hall/Prosperity Gospel/AFR L wing rag. lolololol.
In Con the Fruitier's best voice, hand raised with thumb & forefinger joined: Just beautiful!
This, exactly!
uurgh..and don't forget the ABC..in nearly all the news broadcasts today, it was Dutton who was quoted or highlighted..
I have a soft spot for the ABC. They have been beaten into submission through a combination of the right of centre political parties and the Murdoch Press over the past 30 years to the point they’d ABC is afraid of its own shadow and has twisted itself into knots so as not to appear to have a left wing bias.
They still haven't recovered from when Alston was the Minister. He spent his entire time in the job monstering them.
Trouble is that their board is stacked with members of the IPA, and their funding has been cut back so much they are mostly unable to recover.😒
Very true, but maybe a reason, not an excuse? The stacking of management and board with people with absolutely no commitment to public broadcasting is what needs to be addressed. Their whole reason for being has been undermined and the intellectual case for it is barely made anymore.
Lets hope the concerned voters of our Country can see through this coalition of boofheads
I think they can, Gary, but it doesn't always translate into a fair result. We do better than most countries, but the Libs still get a free ride from a system of which they have been a major architect.
Further points about North West Shelf Gas from the Conservation Council of WA
https://www.ccwa.org.au/north_west_shelf_gas_project
Wow ~ Britton insisting that the right faction of the Liberal Party is looking to unseat Peter Dutton as leader! Is PD part of that faction or is there someone or a gaggle further right of him? Who else is recognisable enough in that party to be leader?
I wonder how things would have played out if Julie Bishop had been elected leader of the Libs. She was a political animal but would she have maintained some principles (at least not being sworn in to multiple ministries) or had more nous, such as not choosing Katherine Deves to run in the last election.
In Victoria, the selection of whoever is available to run for the Libs is definitely on show. Moira Deeming's controversial views weren't an issue until they were. Perhaps in the past, MPs were obliged/obligated to listen to the advice of a party leader. The Libs really need to check the credentials of potential candidates or have some sort of prenup in place. And how many Liberal MPs (few of the species in Victoria) really believe in 'free speech'. The above person is entitled to her views but as a representative of a major political party, do they hurt transgender people in our society?
Interesting to refer back to your earlier piece, Tim. Started me thinking about different changes that have occurred like Morrison lauding tradies and how possibly trades training and increased income has influenced this employment sector to be more responsive to the Libs (or not?!)
The fact that Bishop was never, never, a serious contender within the party tells us a lot of what we need to know about their dysfunction. Being a boys' club in the way they are, from the top down to the branches, is as good an indicator of their problems as any other single factor.
You're right about the changing base of the self-employed, what I have called elsewhere, the rise of the ABN class.
" … the Liberal Party … shouldn’t be let anywhere near the Treasury benches … "
I have believed this since about 1965. I still haven't forgiven them for Vietnam and conscription.
I find the Julie Bishop point a really salient one.
It does speak so loudly to the blokey power structure that they could find Scott Morrison or Peter Dutton a more appealing electoral prospect than Julie Bishop. Talk about cut off your nose to spite your own face.
Regardless of what I may think of her, she's a smooth operator, and seemed a reliable conduit to a large proportion of her constituents. Neither of the men in leadership could touch her for popularity, and credibility (to Liberal voters I must stress, not to all:)).
This exactly. Their treatment of her speaks to precisely their failure to function as a modern party. Labor at least adopted quotas, though the fates of Gillard and now Plibersek suggest some miles still to travel.
Gday Tim
Sometimes i find it difficult to connect often a old user issue
Anyhow with all that is happening with our old mate USA I have just listened to a couple of hours of music to take myself from the negativity
And you know what it works
So on a brighter note he arw the following for your and our friends listening pleasure
All my friends are getting married(maybe are getting old)
On a clear day you can see a very long day
This is just a little verse i love
Love to live so pleasantly( great word)
Life this life of luxury
In the Summertime
The Seasons Go Round n Round
Havanna
Dream Lover
California Dreaming
What is going on when a musical nation looses the plot
Thanks for listening
Rollo
Ha, great stuff. These guys get me through a lot lately, fyi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdsv6o9RVqg
Interesting piece Tim. Thanks as always.