Abbott Government is a disgrace to us all.

[Matilda]

Australia’s team at UN talks in Warsaw have been accused of lacking respect after delegates turned up to critical discussions wearing shorts and teeshirts.

The Australian delegation turned up in casual attire and “gorged on snacks” during negotiations on whether developed states should make reparations to vulnerable countries as the impacts of climate change become more severe, according to Saleemul Huq, an expert on loss and damage at the International Institute for Environment and Development.

Their behaviour caused over 130 developing nations to abandon discussions on the controversial issue of climate compensation at 4am last night.

Representatives from developed countries also appear less than impressed. EU negotiator Paul Watkinson tweeted: “It is one thing to be tired in a negotiation meeting, another to turn up in pyjamas – respect matters”.

http://www.rtcc.org/2013/11/20/developing-nations-blame-australia-for-loss-and-damage-talks-walkout/


Such is Abbott's contempt for the climate talks that he sent junior representatives to Warsaw. But however wet behind the ears, we are entitled to expect that they'd realise they're representing their country and behave accordingly. Unfortunately, their behaviour does represent the attitude of the Abbott government to all those who don't follow their party line - complete disdain.

They are an international embarrassment.


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[Matilda]

1. And let's not talk about the Speaker of the House.

Yes, let's talk about her. Bronwyn Bishop, self-styled expert on the Standing Orders, always bringing up points of order to other Speakers, is now in the Speaker's chair, and a more biased and partisan Speaker has yet to be seen.

In the Westminster system, the Speaker is supposed to be above party politics - in London, I have heard, the Speaker doesn't even sit with members of their own party in the dining-room. Not our Bronnie - she announced on day one that she would still be attending Liberal Party meetings, an absolute no-no, and it was a warning shot. Not once in the two sitting weeks to date has she granted a point of order to Labor, and she allows the government members to veer way off topic as they please, refusing all attempts by Labor to bring them back to the question. She also seems to have trouble hearing, often asking Labor MPs to repeat their questions, and quite often can't remember which constituency members are in - that includes the LNP as well.

Yesterday, with the introduction of the repeal of the carbon tax legislation, she referred to the government as "we", a blatant disregard of all the rules of non-partisanship. If she was disliked by the Left before, she is hated now. But, of course, the evil is that her open partisanship is allowing Abbott and his cohorts to do what they like, and she has effectively tied the hands of Labor MPs. It has been suggested on social media that the Opposition all walk out of the parliament, but that would serve little purpose. Perhaps calling for a no-confidence motion in the Speaker every sitting day, while doomed to fail on numbers, would make a point,

Of course, you won't read about it in the news, because the Murdoch press reports nothing that would put the government in a bad light. Not even Abbott all but declaring war on Indonesia - that's all the fault of the Communist ABC anyway.

2016 seems so far away ...

[Matilda]

2. Speaker of the House should not be a party's political pawn.

Also unfortunate is Bishop's decision to continue to attend Liberal party room meetings - it being notable that Anna Burke stopped attending Labor caucus after her appointment.

The office as it exists in Australia is a far cry from Britain, where a Speaker relinquishes ties to his or her party, does not sit as a member of his or her caucus, and is expected to be completely neutral in his or her treatment of MPs. One way for our Speaker to become truly independent - and thus more likely to get ministers to answer questions - would be to require a two-thirds majority of Parliament to elect or to dismiss a Speaker.


http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/speaker-of-the-house-should-not-be-a-partys-political-pawn-20131121-2xyjc.html


Bishop's partisanship has been so blatant that a petition is currently circulating calling for her removal - unfortunately, it's couched in very unparliamentary terms (referring to her "toadying sycophancy" for example), and it will never get any traction. But if somebody were to put up a petition couched in parliamentary terminology, with clear references to her constitutional responsibilities, I'd sign it, and I'm sure many others would also. It's in our interests, because she is instrumental in denying Labor and the Greens an effective voice in the parliament.

[Matilda]

3. And today - Gonski is gone.

Last edited Tue Nov 26, 2013, 12:47 AM - Edit history (1)

Christopher Pyne before the election said he was on the same page as the government and Gonski funding model was a "unity ticket".

After the election: "I believe the school funding model that was implemented by the Howard government is a good starting point for a school funding model".

So it's back to the Howard years when the government funded private schools to the detriment of state schools,

Then he ran from the press conference without taking questions.

I keep hoping something will cause his head to explode. At the very least, his pants should catch fire.


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[Matilda]

4. Abbott's got our backs.

Today, Gen. Angus Campbell announced that this baby boy, Erfan, has been transferred to Christmas Island detention centre.


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I hope all the rednecks can sleep safely now.

[Matilda]

5. Abbott - International Embarrassment

Abbott is now embarrassing us by refusing to order that Australia’s flags should be lowered to half-mast to honour Nelson Mandela. It’s good enough for the U.S. and the U.K., but once again, we are being made to look petty and small-minded.

Is it because in his heart Abbott believes that apartheid was really a Good Thing?

[Matilda]

6. Abbott's token gesture to public protest.

Abbott has now decreed that flags will be flown at half-mast on the day of the memorial service for Nelson Mandela - but only after angry letters to newspapers and posts on social media condemning his actions - or lack of action.

A PM with a good instinct for the right gesture, even if only for political motives, wouldn't need to wait for a public outcry. Too little, too late.

Another Abbott stumble.

[mackerel]

7. What was his reasoning before the change?

[Matilda]

8. We can't read his mind,

but at the time Mandela was arrested, he said publicly that Mandela was a terrorist and should be kept in jail for life. He never recanted that statement, even after Mandela was freed.

I can only assume that he found it hard to back away from that statement and admit that he was wrong, but public pressure ultimately forced him to change his stand.