moneypenny20

It's ok for me to judge him and his behaviour. He was very public in his judgement of LGBTI folk for months. Constantly telling them that their behaviour was wrong and they weren't allowed to marry.

I don't care if he fell out of love with his wife - happens a lot. Howver he was very big on family values and whilst he admitted he and his wife had separated there was no mention of his bit on the side.

As far as I'm concerned he can **** who he likes but as soon as he's found to be lying to the electorate whilst verbally abusing them all bets are off.

I also could not give a damn what his politics are. I would feel the same if he were Deputy of Labor or any other party, makes no difference.

Had he kept his mouth shut and not given his girlfriend a job he would not be in the position he is now. Had he not put himself forward after being removed from office because of the birth certificate, no one would have given a shit about bis private life. Other than his family obviously.

I do care about Shorten et al however this thread is about Joyce. I don't give a shit how much money people have and I'm not a left winger.

Tom Sawyer

His position was untenable......not because of the affair, but more his hypocrisy and denial around it, and that is before you get to the potential nepotism of getting her another job and the possible expenses for "business" trips that are still to be looked into. He appears to want to blame everyone else for the fall out rather than himself. Maybe if he'd been more contrite and acknowledge his failings against his own professed standards, he could have survived. It fails the pub test.

It all just feeds in the public's view of politicians. The conservative wing of the Liberals are hamstringing Turnbull and driving them further to the right. I think they set MT up with the "shagging ban" (quite how they are going to police that???) as it is the kind of thing Tony and his crew would say they'd support and then watch the ridicule as Malcolm carried it out. And then you get fools like "Big Gun George C from QLD" obviously with no common sense or decency.

Labor are beholden to the Unions with Shorten waiting for his next dictate to be provided and keep them economically un-electable in the view of most people. Their policy on negative gearing, I think, is their only economically effective policy that could have some merit and do something to bring house prices more into the land of affordability. But as for anything else....I'd struggle to list another policy that is progressive and effective instead of being based on dogma of us and them.

So......I'm left in the middle, looking left and right thinking which bunch of fools are going to be the least damaging overall instead of providing some genuine inspiration and capability for managing the country.

the troubadour

You know who the losers really are, being fully signed up members to the destruction of Australia brigade, Which is fine in itself, but you lot want to take the rest of us down with you in your idiotic ideological garbage which sprouts on every front. Not even a ALP fan for the most part, by the way....

the troubadour

Clearly finding politicians accountable let alone transparent doesn't find favour with you. Nothing about freedoms but all about hypocrisy. No wonder why large segments of population find no connection with politics. A very dangerous development in itself. No don't use minorities as a scape goat, politicians already do that (not just the left, get over your constant bias and look at the big picture, it is predictable and not a little boring)


One thing politics is not today is hunky dory.

Beoz

No one ever admits they vote ALP. That's the really sad part for future of the ALP. ....thank goodness.

the troubadour

It is increasingly hard for progressive thinkers in this age of deceit and unaccountability, a biased media, largely curtailing debate on matters of national importance. An ABC that has had its wings increasingly clipped and ever more conforming. An ever narrow agenda at play that suits a small minority of the population. I agree ALP policy on NG is one of the few policies worth supporting, but on the whole nothing to look at there.


Worth having a look at the Sustainable Australia Party though to at least voice dissent at the policy being conducted and supported by all other parties.

the troubadour

I have voted ALP and happily admit it. I have voted Conservatives happily admit it. Neither side deserve much consideration as things stand. But the so called Libs least of all....Both are set to sell as down the drain but ALP win out due to tax reductions to Big Business which will further set the country in decline...

Beoz

The way the 2 sided political system lends itself for a soap opera. The Libs are not very good at soap opera.

What the Libs are way better at is economic management for all. Always have been. The ALP are terrible.

I don't agree with NG. Bad investments should never been sponsored by the taxpayer. But its there and many industries make a living from it. Hundreds of thousands of tradies for a start. You do realise the ALP target NG because they claim the wealthy predominantly use NG? This is false and designed to get you into one of your rants.

Wealthy people don't need NG. Wealthy people know its far better financially to positive gear. Negative gearing helps Mr and Mrs Middle, those who aren't necessarily in a position to positively gear.

GarryP

Actually, giving the voting system in Australia it's a bit of a wrong viewpoint. If you have any sense you'll order your votes - and generally you wouldn't be putting either Labor or the coalition top of your list. You are better off picking smaller parties, without the same corrupt taskmasters, who might actually listen and act in the best interests of Australia.

In general the gruesome twosome would be towards middle/bottom of the list - above the outright raving loonies, but below the candidates that actually want to represent your views.

As for what actually happens, here are the first preferences from the last election :
which suggests that

1. too many people vote dumbly
2. it's about the same percentage level of dumb first preferences between Labor and the coalition
3. if the Greens and Labor could come to an accord, they could lock the coalition out.

Actually, thinking about it, it mightn't be a bad move to ensure all votes are 'below the line' by saying that if you have gone to the trouble of ranking each candidate, you have paid more attention than most, and therefore should have your vote counted twice.

Beoz

Its a point, perhaps we need a fresh face, a fresh party. I am not sure a greens / labor coalition could do that, certainly with their current leaders in place. A dissection of the LNP might be more likely to pull many traditional labor voters over.

BadgeIsBack

Have to agree. I gave a real problem with Shorten
who I think is really quite a risk. He will straightface anything to get elected..I am amazed the average battler would support him. This whole Qld mine and inner city greens seat a case in point. Labour has a problem as a blue collar worker party on one hand and a sort of 'leftish' promotion us style Democratic liberalism on the other.At least the Liberals support tradies, small business and large business: if you are productive you are supported (what's not to like?)

Relationship breakups amd meeting people at work happens. But there is a need for boundaries somewhere; generally around appointments and cash.

Beoz

Labor really have no chance while the scumbag is in power. They really need to swap him out for Plibersek now.

I was watching that 60 minutes thing on the NZ PM. Is she a marketing machine or what?

I was thinking though, if Julie Bishop got pregnant, Shorten and his team of clowns would be all over her. "Unfit to be an MP" would be the cry. That's the type of scum tactics Shorten uses. He's got nothing else in the arsenal.

bcworld

I don't see the attraction in Shorten either...but this statement makes no sense. At the last election he took 14 seats off a first term coalition government and 49.5%+ of the 2PP. And the polls have only improved for Labor since. As it stands he's very much on track to win power.

Beoz

Shorten's polling as preferred leader is still very low and that shouldn't be the case when you can sit back and do nothing. We don't vote for the leader now do we ......... or do we? As I said, for Labor to really do any damage they need a new leader. Might be time for Plibersek to take control.

I do remember the US election. Where was Hillary before election day? Brexit, how was that polling?

bcworld

Hillary was leading the popular vote by about 3%. In the end she won the popular vote by about 2%. The outcome of Brexit is in line with many of the polls...they were a 50/50 toss up as to which side was in front.