Australian Politics (3 Viewers)

[Funky Monk]

I haven't been following the Smith ADFA Kafer caper too closely, but reading a few opinion pieces and whatnot there's a sentiment abouts that Smith has blown it vis a vis becoming PM.

I dunno if that's an accurate assessment, but slaggin' the Army is kinda like pissing on a sacred cow as far as Aussies are concerned.

 

[Lentern]

I haven't been following the Smith ADFA Kafer caper too closely, but reading a few opinion pieces and whatnot there's a sentiment abouts that Smith has blown it vis a vis becoming PM.

I dunno if that's an accurate assessment, but slaggin' the Army is kinda like pissing on a sacred cow as far as Aussies are concerned.

It's frowned upon but I also don't think it's a vote turner. I also think beneath the bluster of the hard right Smith's actions have played out ok, the whole sticking up for a vulnerable young woman thing.

 

[Funky Monk]

What do *you* think of his behaviour on the matter m8?

 

[Lentern]

What do *you* think of his behaviour on the matter m8?

I think the Defence chiefs have been riding roughshod over the Ministry of Defense for donkeys years and are long overdue for a shakeup basically. I think Smith's conduct has been fine.

 

[Lolsmith]

yeah but don't you get hard over his haircut or somethin

 

[soloooooo]

Smith is a decent minister.

 

[Lentern]

yeah but don't you get hard over his haircut or somethin

I was asked for my personal opinion.

 

[delian]

It's frowned upon but I also don't think it's a vote turner. I also think beneath the bluster of the hard right Smith's actions have played out ok, the whole sticking up for a vulnerable young woman thing.

True to some degree, but it's not good to piss off the military top brass.

 

[Lolsmith]

True to some degree, but it's not good to piss off the military top brass.

I don't think that's entirely the case in this country. I'm not of the opinion that the Australian military exercises that much of an influence on federal (or any lower abstraction) politics, especially given the fact that they had billions of dollars cut from their budget last year. Our military isn't as integrated into politics as much as America's is and provided that our actual military is of a pretty low magnitude in comparison to a lot of other developed countries, their sway is minimal and more at the behest of the Parliament, as opposed to the opposite.

 

[Lentern]

I don't think that's entirely the case in this country. I'm not of the opinion that the Australian military exercises that much of an influence on federal (or any lower abstraction) politics, especially given the fact that they had billions of dollars cut from their budget last year. Our military isn't as integrated into politics as much as America's is and provided that our actual military is of a pretty low magnitude in comparison to a lot of other developed countries, their sway is minimal and more at the behest of the Parliament, as opposed to the opposite.

There is a ridiculously high turnover of ministers in that department, with the exception of Robert Hill no defense minister has served a full term in the post Keating era. I agree they ultimately have nowhere near as much clout as the US but compared to other public servants the Defence Chiefs get a lot go there way.

 

[Aerath]

Queensland elections today.

 

[mirakon]

Bligh government will get smashed imo.

And like nsw the new state govrrnment will have no obligations to do anything for the ppl except sit on their bums and not do anything shit

 

[Aerath]

Reckon Campbell Newman will win Ashgrove?

 

[mirakon]

Reckon Campbell Newman will win Ashgrove?

he'll probably manage the 7% swing or so.

Massive lolz if he doesn't though

 

[Lolsmith]

Bligh government will get smashed imo.

And like nsw the new state govrrnment will have no obligations to do anything for the ppl except sit on their bums and not do anything shit

so in the last what? 6 months? of O'Farrel's government, I've been more aware they've been doing things than the last entire term of Labor

 

[Lolsmith]

hey guys we have a new leader

we won't shoot them we promise because they're a girl this time

 

[Rafy]

There's little doubt he will now.

There's been a massive late surge across the state and in Ashgrove to the LNP and Newman (See latest Galaxy and Newspoll).

The wheels really fell off the ALP campaign with the CMC announcement and Bligh's admission she had no evidence for the claims against Newman.

I'm predicting a 60/40 2PP result with 15 seats to Labor. Decimation. Going to be a difficult few years for them and they don't have an upper house to shore up those numbers.

 

[soloooooo]

LNP will win. Katters party will get a handful of seats also. Newman will probably win Ashgrove.

The Liberals under Barry O'Farrel have been in power in NSW now for just over a year. In that time they have done shit all and are no better than Labor with Keneally was. Robyn Parker is an idiot and should have lost her ministry. O'Farrel himself is a likeable guy, although he is too cautious after having been in opposition for so long. Most of his ministry are also incompetent (as was most of the Labor ministry also).

Both sides of NSW politics are a bunch of incompetents by and large.

 

[mirakon]

so in the last what? 6 months? of O'Farrel's government, I've been more aware they've been doing things than the last entire term of Labor

Doing more than the last entire term of the labor government?

Not really saying much.

My point is that people don't expect the o'farrel government to do much, merely to provide the stability the previous government lacked. They've so far delivered on this.

 

[funkshen]

i remember when barrel o'farrel was fat.

those were the days.