



Clive Palmer crucial for government in Senate


George Williams




















  • While the reality of a double-dissolution may be terrible, the fact that the mechanism exists forces the Government to make a decision - to either negotiate, or seek a fresh election.

    The risk is that by removing some legislation from the review of the Senate, Governments will simply put more into the appropriation acts and then avoid any negotiation.

    Date and time
    June 19, 2014, 1:19AM
    • I agree....and also there are many who feel comfortable with their lot in the upper echelon of Auss, and who appear to be completely oblivious to what is happening in the middle to lower earners.

      Many I know have had enough of Auss.

      This gov is doing great damage to Auss Psyche, and many young ones I know are planning to move overseas, there's no future here for them they say.

      So with the push from the upper echelons to flood auss with 457s because they don't want to employ young Auss-born aussies, and the many rules that allow immigrants to apply for residency through job employment and student visas, and even allow overseasers access to the first home grant, many young ones feel is no longer a place that Aussie borns can live and survive they say to me.

      The message is clear they say, they are not welcome in their own country.

      They have been cut off from the dole, they are being told they have to pay huge fees for any education, and have been told by certain pollies they are lazy and want a 'free' lunch.

      So this has become a country that now prefers overseas born to themselves they feel, and because there are many wealthy overseasers that have the ability to come here, even for the lower paid jobs, I feel this is probably true.

      This gov I feel is probably going to change the ethic face of auss, even in politics, so like the group of young ones that had to deal with the world wars, the young ones today appear to be facing another kind of war, where they are not wanted here by the upper echelons.

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 7:00AM
    • FIGHT ON, Tony ! FIGHT ON ! 'Never give a sucker an even break'. The Liberal Party will last forever, or at least the memory of it will keep us on the straight and narrow, avoiding apathy at all times.

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 7:13AM
    • 92% of SMH readers want a DD (yesterday)

      Hearing that, Hacka?

      And you reckon my political judgement is crook.

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 7:43AM
    • the Government to make a decision..... it would be better to say
      the political parties to make a decision
      well in a mafiacracy the families to make a decision
      hardly any difference..... what has happened to the will of the people?
      Did we sign a blank cheque to the mob?

      I thought that "democracy" means power to the people but it is power by the few.

      Are we a democracy or are we an oligarchy by stealth ?

      By the way where in the ballot paper I can read that I have surrender all my democratic rights to the mob or sign a blank cheque?

      Please explain.

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 8:08AM
    • Axis, what a surprise!! 92% of Fairfax readers generally vote Labor/Green as well.

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 9:23AM
    • Does anyone doubt that Abbott would have forced a DD in the last term if he had the numbers - Man up Shorten and take him on with a DD if you get the chance

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 10:05AM
    • Vin - you're absolutely right. Both major parties have opened up Australia to competition from China and Asia in the hope we can compete - there is no way we can unless we drop our standard of living to the level of theirs. They have signed trade treaties which benefit farmers and miners to the detriment of working-class Australians. They listen to business lobbyists about 457 visas so business doesn't have to train Australians. They listen to them about reducing our wages and conditions. They allow the wealthy to move their factories offshore so their goods can be brought back made by cheap labour. We have to compete with overseas millionaires in our housing market - what hope do our young people have of buying a house. They want to reduce the minimum wage - have they tried to pay rent and live on the minimum wage. They have flooded us with immigration so our roads have become a carpark, our hospitals overcrowded, our public transport a joke - all their infrastructure improvements are no way near enough for the 200,000 population increase each year. The Liberals want to maintain a 2-tier system where the wealthy retain their lifestyle and the sacrifices are made by the middle-class and poor. They want to sell our country and resources to the highest bidder and don't care about our future or the environment. Labor's union ideology has been left behind and needs to change.
      Our governments have trashed our country and society and it's a long way back - we can't continue this way it's not working! Australia is a lucky country but it needs everyone working together for the improvement of all.

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 11:20AM
    • A number of years ago a motion was put in the Senate that budget supply bills would not be blocked. Only Labor and the Australian Democrats voted for the motion - neither the Coalition nor the Greens would agree to never block supply bills.

      Date and time
      June 19, 2014, 11:21PM
  • The majority of the electorate is counting on you to remain true to your word, Mr Palmer. PUP must block the gratuitously spiteful elements of Abbott's appalling budget. The dignity and well-being of students, the young unemployed, pensioners, the sick, and disabled Australians is in your hands. No deals and no capitulation to Abbott. Ever. Don't let them down.

    Date and time
    June 19, 2014, 6:21AM

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