Beoz

Really. Unless I'm really really confused the blocked bill is for the re-instatement of the Australian Building and Construction Commission — an industry watchdog put in place to monitor and promote workplace relations in the building and construction industry, therefore making the purpose of the corrupt and bullying CFMEU dead and buried.

But I'm sure there's some Garry propaganda that you'll tell us that will suit your agenda with the greens or ALP or whoever it is you are in bed with.

GarryP

All the bill is is a way of getting the double D.

Turnbull really doesn't 'feel that he regretfully has to lay down and ultimatum' - it's pure game playing (turn)bull from someone who sees his poll number dropping, sees Abbott getting uppity, and wants a do or die way of controlling both house and senate so he can push through sufficiently far right (and dumb) legislation that he doesn't get knifed in the back by the lib loony far right.

If you think it's something else - well I've got a nice bridge I can sell you, only one careful owner ...

Beoz

You seriously don't think Turnbull wants to crush the dodgy union movement and the labour and green funding that goes along with it? Not even just a little bit .

Amazulu

Destroy the CFMEU
Sack a shitload of DIBR staff
Break socialism
Save Australia

It's a noble cause

Beoz

And add to that.

Pull CFMEU funding from the Labour and Green parties.
Regain control of the shambles that is the senate.
Get things done in government.

Its a risky game but should it work its a winner for everyone in Australia. Should it not work we will be will going back to the 80's - time to move back to the UK

Not sure why Garry is so upset about this. Progress is needed.

GarryP

Of course, that's why he's going for this excuse for a double D, rather than one of the others. Political gameplayingwise it's better for him.

Does he actually believe it's important? Nah, course not.

Senate seems to be doing it's job perfectly well. Whereas the house ....

Beoz

Really? This bill has been kicking around for too long. Needs to get sorted. The senate is not functioning and a basket case.

Everything is political point scoring in politics.

The double d is needed to get things done.

GarryP

Yeah, it needs to get sorted. The house need to revise and amend it so that it's acceptable. As has been said for all that time, it needs to be a federal ICAC able to look at ALL corruption - not a party-political witch-hunt and not an anti-democratic star chamber. The house is what's not working.

But as I pointed out, the important part is it's not important. It's an excuse, window dressing. The important part is Turnbull is game playing to try and secure himself another term and some legitimacy before his falling poll numbers and lack of any achievement (past promoting failed Abbott policies) catches up with him.

The interesting thing is how much of a rush this has been done in. It's obvious that he didn't involve Morrison in the decision (probably doesn't trust him) but it also seems to have been a 'captains call'. Maybe there were some terrible poll numbers, word of an Abbott coup attempt, or knowledge of bad economy numbers that would hit after 2 July? Something spooked him into this - 3.5 months is a long election campaign where much can happen (like his nbn record being bought to the fore). Gillard is considered to have screwed up by announcing the election too early - now Turnbull is playing his cards in a rush.

Well, we'll finally see if Labor has a game plan that they've been keeping dry, of they they are just waiting for Abbott to louse things up.

Beoz

Lot of maybe's .... maybe this maybe that .... it doesn't matter. What's important for Australia is this is brought to the fore and sorted. The public are sick of the senate, and we will find out if the public are sick of unionism. If it means the Libs lose an election then its meant to be. No point staying stagnate because of what might happen.

knockoff nige

I think get rid of the right for a government to call dissolution should be scrapped. It's just throwing the toys out of the pram when you hit a road block. Every elected offical reprints voters and their view counts as much as the prime ministers view does. But, it's not like this would have been called if he was 20 points down in the polls. He's using this as a way to show he can take a strong position against those who oppose him. Obviously the media stories of him being weak and trying to be everyone's friend have opened his eyes to his falling poll counts. He can call a DD and win more votes. The cross benchers aren't going to fold because their seat is in danger two months before it normally would be. They win more votes by showing strong too.

We're being played, FU style.

Amazulu

You're right that we may be being played (when have politicians not plated games!) but my understanding is that DD is there as a circuit breaker when legislation cannot be passed. If we didn't have DD, then another mechanism would have to be found

GarryP

Really?

Never heard anyone saying they were sick of the senate. Rather what you tended to hear was "thank god the senate are there to stop Abbott".

In fact, the only recent thing I've seen on this suggests that not only is Jackie Lambie likely to win her seat, she's possibly going to be able to bring along a running mate too.

Category: | The Mercury

Edit: it looks like Nick Xenophon could also go from 1 to 3 members, so that makes 5 cross-benchers, before we look at if others will get in.

http://www.news.com.au/national/poli...0f15f158cac728

It would be quite funny if the result of all this were MORE cross-bench senators. I certainly know I'll be putting some early preference to independents - about the only one's that have been pulling their weight.

Beoz

You see, your news.com article says it all. Either way its a win for the people. We don't pay the pollies to stall progress. No matter what the end result is, the current state of play is unsatisfactory.

knockoff nige

Progress is not defined by the PM getting what he wants. If bad legislation doesn't get past, we're not progressing but at least it's not two steps backwards.

GarryP

Well, stalling incompetent destruction (Abbott) goes alongside actually improving matters. However to improve things you'd actually need a plan and vision, and there's no sign of that. Turnbull has shown no sign of having a clue (and his foul up with the nbn hangs round his neck) and Shorten has a few good bits, but without and overarching strategic direction.

As we have said before, Australia needs to be a LOT smarter, and able to generate new idea/companies/business - but Turnbull's talk fizzled out to zero action. The economics of the mining collapse has gotten brushed under the carpet and the misdirection of investment into overpriced houses continues.

Well, at least that we can agree on...