IS THIS JULIA’S LAST STAND?
Is seven weeks long enough to obliterate the memory of one of the most unedifying days in Australian political history?
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young breaks down during debate on Oakeshott’s border protection bill in the Senate June 28. Photograph via Fairfax.
No, not really.
Federal parliament resumes tomorrow after the winter break and the deadlocked asylum seeker issue will be firmly at the forefront of the agenda. Lurking just behind will be the State-Federal power war, NBN rollout plans, the disability scheme, education in the wake of the Gonski report, and the tenacious bad smell of the ALP leadership issue.
Australians desperately wanted – and had every right to expect – a solution to the people smuggling disaster back in June and the parliament failed to deliver.
By lunchtime today former defence chief Angus Houston will release the findings of the expert panel appointed to find that solution, but whether the Prime Minister will be able to act on the recommendations is another matter.
Tony Abbott has already said he won’t be paying attention. (“We have a policy and we don’t need anyone to tell us what our policy is.”) He still favours re-opening Nauru and the Greens won’t countenance any offshore processing solutions.
Perhaps our PM needs a large hat… and a rabbit.
As for the leadership issue, Julia Gillard might be feeling buoyed by the latest five point hike in the (still dismal) Newspoll figures and the fact that the sky hasn’t yet fallen in after the introduction of the carbon tax, but can she turn the Titanic of her popularity problem around? How long will caucus give her to do it now she has a little traction?
There’s no doubt that for the PM, it’s “code red”. Only nine sitting weeks until Christmas and then we are into an election year.
She believes that the worst is behind her and that Tony Abbott’s continuing “war with the facts and the experts” will wear thin. This may be wishful thinking.
What would turn around her leadership for you?
Recently The Hoopla asked you what you give a shit about, and you said (among many, many enlightening things) asylum seeker policy, education, the plunder of our oceans by super trawlers, the plight of indigenous Australians, and youth suicide.
Now, as we enter the spring session, we want you to tell us which of the salient political issues are make or break for you and for Julia Gillard in that increasingly disappointing place we call parliament.
Meanwhile, you can be sure that tomorrow the house will be unified on one thing: solemn remembrance for Sergeant Blaine Diddams. The 40-year-old father of two was killed on July 2 in Afghanistan.
That place from which so many are trying to flee.
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Tony’s got a woman problem by Tracey Spicer
Tony’s dug a big, bad black hole by Anne Summers
*Homepage photograph via WA Today.
44 Responses to this article
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Caroline August 13, 2012
Given what happened to me during John Howard’s WorkChoices, as long has Julia Gillard does not support the reintroduction of any of the former Government’s labour laws, and a number of other issues (including education policies), Labor will still have my support.
That stated, I still think that same-sex marriage should be accessible within Australia, and if any church or cult within Australia’s borders run a business that makes a profit, then it should be taxed accordingly.
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Di Pearton August 13, 2012
Agreed. If religious organisations paid tax, the government could increase infrastructure, education and health spending, resulting in less need for religious charities.
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Mez August 13, 2012
Another boat, another policy failure.
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Di Pearton August 13, 2012
Please explain?
Whose policy failure, John Howard’s for making Iraq non-habitable?
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Kristy August 13, 2012
Julia Gillard has my support. She’ll do. As a smart, strong and intelligent woman she is the closest thing I will ever have to actual representation in my government. So she’ll do.
The media is losing my support tho – the discourse of Gillard Failure’s is boring and predictable. It’s lazy journalism in a country crying out for quality discourse. Why hasn’t Hoopla challenged Tony Abbott’s statements about women and women’s rights issues?
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Kristy August 13, 2012
Great! x
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Charly August 13, 2012
All Julia Gillard has to do to maintain my support is stay the course, I am terrified at the prospect of an Abbott government. Oh my lordy let it never be.
I would like to see her shift the tone from defensive to positive, selling the successes, making tough but effective policy decisions, calling the media and opposition on their colluding BS.-
Wendy Green August 14, 2012
Well said Charly, I couldn’t agree more!
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Trisha August 13, 2012
Julia Gillard has my support already, she is a strong determined woman. I don’t know many people who could put their head up each day to continue to try to make a difference, a very respectable number of significant policies have been put in place – a true achievement in a minority government. The asylum seeker problem is not just one for the ALP to solve, it will need the support from the whole parliament and the Greens and the Liberals have refused to negotiate a compromise.
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Norelle August 13, 2012
Well how do you do everyone! Nice to meet you I thought I was the only one who wanted to challenge the ‘tenacious bad smell of ALP leadership’ statement here. The most harmful person in Australia is still Tony Abbott – he is talking down the economy and everything so badly that no-one dare buy anything, employ anyone or lift their spirits to say ‘hey we’re doing okay’. So yes, in the absence of anyone better in her own party and in the presence of current Opposition leader I say she’s still doing pretty good.
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Jane August 13, 2012
The prospect of life under Rabbit at PM is too depressing to even contemplate – I think I’ll be getting on a boat. PM Julia Gillard has been so amazing in many ways – tough job – a big reform agenda – I take my proverbial ‘hat off’ to her. Just focus on all the great things this government has done.
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Tracey August 13, 2012
I think PM Julia Gillard is doing a good, increasingly better, job in tough circumstances – but think she needs to keep up her profile on TV and radio and fight to stay on the front foot – especially by not being overly reasonable. Who was the last PM that sounded so consistently reasonable in press interviews, think she does need to bring a bit more mongrel into the game.
Also, think those labour wimps sharpening their knives in the background should put them down, step up to the plate and start talking like Statespeople and not whingey, sooky losers. Start sounding like you run the country and not always getting defensive about whatever ‘noooooo’ the Oppn has got into the headlines.
Finally, if Kevin Rudd is quietly doing the dirty on the PM (I’m not saying he is, but if he is) – then those pathetic, brainless enablers around him should be called out on it by their colleagues.
Thank you Hoopla for bringing in some daily politics into our lives – please keep it up. Also, read this happy making article on the weekend – I recommend it to you – victoriarollison.com/2012/08/12/gillard-will-win/
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Susan August 13, 2012
Julia Guillard has had the unenviable task of a hung parliament which she has handled with exceptional professionalism. She is not a dictator. She is a negotiator and only she could have handled it this well. Neither Tony Abbott nor for that matter Kevin Rudd would have coped as well as she has. This parliament,through the voices of the independents actually being heard gives me heart. It shows the callibre of the people we have elected on all sides. Who’d have thought we could have such considered and professional approaches to many of the policies that have been passed with a bit of tweeking here and there. Julia has allowed the considerable talents of her front bench to shine and actually has been a true leader guiding her team and working with them. Take two steps back and reconsider the options we could have had under this parliamentary situation-she has done a great job and has my vote. I am one of those voters who changed colours recently. Intelligent women unite and celebrate what her leadership has achieved and heaven help us what the alternative would have been.
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Bev August 13, 2012
I agree with more and more people who are admiring PMGillard. She is a shining example to women in how to knuckle down and work through much adversity, e.g media blasts, internal leadership destablising and a rabidly negative Opposition.
To keep my vote she only has to carry on doing what she is now – putting good policy through and smiling through adversity.
Along the way I’d like policy which stops people putting their lives at risk on leaky boats. Nauru does not do that and neither does the Greens policy. Let’s hope with Houston’s report and the MultiParty Committee members can work with the Govt. to achieve a sensible approach to the issue. -
Heather August 13, 2012
I’m supporting PM Julia Gillard all the way. As our first female PM, she is doing the hard yards that no other female will ever have to do again. Great kudos to her. And I really admire the independents (not Katter) for their principled behaviour throughout.
Not admiring the Greens stance on asylum seekers. They need to compromise. -
peter brown August 13, 2012
So, a government has legislated to limit air pollution, ensure some of mining’s superprofits benefit the many rather than the few, set up a 21st century cutting egde communications system that promises to revolutionise productivity, forced cigarette companies to limit the appeal of their lethal product, made it harder to sell alcohol to children,lifted pensions by a record amount, lifted salaries for the lowest paid workers, rewarded the nation’s carers, kept the economy out of recession where most of the world’s administrations have failed miserably, helped Queensland rebuild after devastating floods, ditto Victoria after their horrendous bushfires, provided a new focus on education at all levels – preschool, primary, secondary and tertiary – made significant progress on health, the Murray-Darling and improved relations with our Asian and Pacific Nations. I think perhaps its in the national interest to give that government and its Prime Minister another three years to continue the quite amazing achievements under the most adverse circumstances of minority government, intransigent opposition, and a whingeing, mendacious media with shameless broadcasters such as Jones, Hadley, Price and co., Bolt, Ackerman and their ilk spreading lies and misinformation to a gullible public that doesn’t have the time or inclination to check the facts. Lets give Julia Gillard the respect and admiration she deserves for her steadfast determination to get on with the job. If these significant egalitarian changes are undone or wound back by Abbott we will all pay the price for years to come.
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helenbea August 13, 2012
Peter…couldn’t have said it better myself. Let’s hope that the masses ‘out there’ start developing some critical thinking skills and recognise the actualities rather than the illusions being floated by the media spin doctors!
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Susan August 13, 2012
Here, here Peter….Here Here!!!!!
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Sara August 15, 2012
thanks Peter, spot on.
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Rachael August 13, 2012
Julia Gillard already has my support. I think she is doing a fantastic job in the most putrid, toxic, negative and sexist environment. The prospect of an Abbott government – with all his disgraceful, narrow-minded, wedging, disingenous, negative, nay-saying team of potential ministers is so frightening, I will do almost anything to support Gillard.
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Benison O'Reilly August 13, 2012
Well clearly The Hoopla readers are not representative of the general population! Gillard has disappointed me in some respects, but the Abbott alternative is genuinely scary.
I am so sick of (usually conservative) commentators going on about how unpopular the carbon tax is, as if its unpopularity (fanned by Abbott & Co.) is reason enough to jettison it! Hang the future of the planet, according to these guys. Since when did good policy have to be popular? We need more courage in our political leaders.
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Kate August 13, 2012
I’ve always been on her side. Nothing’s changed. Even in Beasley’s time I hoped she’d be PM one day. I too admire her tenacity. The bad smell of the Labour leadership “situation” is in the press and the minds of Liberal pollies. Not in the general population. They have bigger things to worry about. You also forget to mention, when talking about her dismal poll ratings that Abbott’s are every bit as bad. I’ll be voting for her again. Australia under Abbott is an untenable proposition.
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JoanneH August 13, 2012
I think it’s amazing that Julia Gillard has managed to hold together an unlikely group of Independents, as well as her own nervous backbench, and pass so much significant and diverse legislation; despite continuous hostile and negative treatment from the Coalition and the media.
It may just be wishful thinking, but I feel things could be looking up for her and Labor, especially since the introduction of the Carbon Tax has not produced all the doom and gloom Tony Abbott was deceitfully predicting. He is now relying on his other scare campaign “stop the boats,” so I hope a solution can be found that sidelines his policy and it’s disgusting “Turn back the boats” solution.
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Natalie August 13, 2012
Julia has my support and will be safe from my vote going to the other side as long as Tony Abbott is its uninspiring leader. However, the Greens still have the power to sway my gaze. (Mr Rudd, giving up foreign leader – where your admirable talents lie – was a mistake; please stay gone from future leadership quests).
Also, I can’t believe a national dental scheme is not more prominently on the agenda.
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anne August 13, 2012
I
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anne August 13, 2012
Julia Gillard has also had a significant effect in repairing the damage caused to society by John Howard’s government. We had really let ourselves down.
She really deserves much more respect than she has been given. I truly hope that there is time for the majority of Australian voters to recognise the enormous benefit of keeping her in this role for at least another term.
Agree with above comments. -
Mez August 13, 2012
Wendy, I have to ask why you and the other ‘Mummy Bloggers’ insist on defending Ms Gillard. As a woman of the same age as her I find her an absolute shambles and an embarrassment. At best, she’s incapable of making one sound judgement and at worst she’s a puppet for the faceless men and willing to subjugate all dignity to their whims. You cannot possibly live in a bubble thick enough to prevent her latest debacle hitting your eardrums. Surely. The unions, and Ms Gillard is a product of the unions, are under increasing scrutiny and the stories that are now seeing the light of day are a bloody disgrace. How far does the dirty work of the unions go? We’re about to find out and it won’t matter how many links you delete, you won’t be able to keep your small band of Gillard supports insulated for much longer. Not that it will make any difference, probably. If you’re so blind and bigoted that you’d support a woman just because she’s a woman and deride Abbott for absolutely no other reason than that Emily’s List tells you to, then I hold out little hope of you changing your minds now..
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Kris August 13, 2012
Frankly, I am very definately in a “pox on both their houses” frame of mind when it comes to politicians these days.
Having said that, I support Julia Gillard – though honestly, its more because she isn’t Tony Abbott than because I think she’s a good PM. I think her main problem is that she just can’t get the good points across – whether this is due to her or her speech-writers I’m not sure. Maybe it’s just that “Kath & Kim” type voice she has??
Tony Abbott always reminds me of that kid in school who plays the “if you like her, then I’m not your friend anymore” game. He may well have some good policies – who’d know?? All he does is hang around complaining about how bad things are & how it’s all “her” fault. He really does come across as a nasty peice of work at times.
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Rosie August 13, 2012
Oh Mez – you are sooooo predictable. Not one fact of any kind! Also – how do you suggest Wendy Harmer falls into the category of “Mummy Blogger”?
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Kate August 13, 2012
@Mez. The bigotry is all yours.
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Sandra August 13, 2012
Mez, you are just so wrong about Julia being the product of the unions.
In my working years, I was always voting on the conservative side up until I moved from being self employed back to working for The Big Boss. I found myself questioning what was then happening to employers – things had gone too far where the employee really had very little rights in the workplace.
I joined the ASU in Queensland, became a union delegate, became a swinging voter and started to really get involved in what was really good for this country instead of just complaining about everything.
Some of the unions do have some very hard leftist viewpoints, but the majority really work very hard to give the workplace a say in that workplace and in doing so, keeping the workforce and management talking to one another to get the best outcomes for each other.
In other words, we all had to compromise!!!! This is something that Julia is very good at to achieve the good results that will benefit this beautiful county of ours.
For goodness folks, let us start being positive in the messages and conversations we are going to be having with our fellow citizens over the next year and support the red head. She really is in our corner.-
Mez August 14, 2012
Sandra, Gillard is up to her eyeballs in the unions. She’s protecting them and they’re protecting her. As a ‘young and naive’ lawyer in her mid 30′s she was ‘allegedly’ terminated from Slater and Gordon where she handled work for Bruce Wilson, disgraced and in-hiding former head of the AWU. Rudd was removed because the unions couldn’t control him. Workchoices was targeted because it removed power from the unions and Gillard set up Fair Work. When will Craig Thomson be asked the tough questions?
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To say that Gillard is not UnionLabor is to know nothing of her hard left past.
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Jane Caro August 13, 2012
If Gillard and her govt give us Gonski, I might just vote for her again.
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Di Pearton August 13, 2012
Do you think Gonski goes far enough in redressing disparities of opportunity for private v public school students?
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Stella Burnell August 13, 2012
I already support her, and I have no reason to stop doing so. I still admire her, and hope she continues to serve us. Tony Abbott scares me !
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JoanneH August 13, 2012
To those planning to vote for Tony Abbott have a look at what ‘can-do’ Campbell Newman and his accomplices are doing in Queensland. Tony will be even worse, especially when he brings back ‘Work Choices’ – under a different name of course. He seems to have reservations about the Gonski Report; thinks there could be a threat to Private Schools, and means testing introduced. I trust Julia to do more for all levels of education than he would.
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RobynMarie August 13, 2012
Mez, why do you subscribe to The Hoopla? I was so happy reading everyone’s intelligent responses and thinking ‘wow, isn’t this great, I’m proud to be a woman when we are all supporting our great female PM and there you are Mez, with your Emily’s List claptrap. You have the power to unsubscribe so why don’t you?
Everyone else Bravo! -
Rhoda August 13, 2012
I’m concerned about a lot of things but first and foremost is the way that health, education and housing is delivered to our indigneous people – or isn’t. I’d like to see some outrage so I know someone cares. Anyone?
A dental health scheme that works.
A mental health scheme that works.More money and better governance for hospitals.
More money and heip delivered to the diability sector including carers and service providers.
More resources for the protection of children.
Nursing home reform.
Something done about the deplorable state of our education system. Don’t get me started.
And I’d like every politician in this country to show some respect for their constituents and lead from the front. Any glimmer of intelligence would be the icing on the cake.
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royce August 14, 2012
An amazing negotiator and achiever, Julia Gillard has won me over.
I don’t agree with everything that she stands for but look at the way she has managed to handle the incredibly difficult ‘hung’ parliament and negotiate outcomes. Wow!
Even if you don’t like her all that much. … look at the alternative…. shudder…..
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Sara August 15, 2012
I want to put my hand up in support fro Julia Gillard as well – everything has already been said, I think. She is worthy of our respect, and I really don’t know how she gets up every morning, puts that brave face on and keeps going . I know I wouldn’t if I had to work every day in that toxic situation with everyone putting s*** on me all day! Can I just add that calling Wendy Harmer a ‘mummy blogger’, while not an insult, is highly inaccurate.
