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11 years ago
Friday, September 4, 2009
I Read The News Today Oh Boy ... The Shooters Single Issue Fanaticism
Let the news keep up the pressure on Labor for its stupidity and for its dubious deals with The Shooters Party. The Daily Telegraph has the honesty to publish an item profiling the Shooters Party as a one-eyed party. It has also published another article that states the obvious: The Shooters are metaphorically holding a gun to the collective head of Labor in the Legislative Council. Nuff said!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Turn the Heat Up on Shooters Party
A great honest post from the North Coast about the ugly politics of The Shooters Party.
Somebody Save Us From The Shooters Party (Please)
The deadlock in the Legislative Council remains as The Shooters Party are playing hard-ball politics: support our demands for firearms amendments or no support for any Labor bills. It appears akin to holding someone for ransom. Labor only has one of its own ministers to blame for ending up in these political cul-de-sac. They let Mr Hatzistergos broker a deal with The Greens to pass a merger bill in June 2009 and in return The Greens forced Labor to withdraw support for the Shooters bill on National Parks. That deal tipped the scales over for The Shooters Party so they withdrew all support last June.
If Labor loathes the situation it is in it needs to come down like a ton of bricks on Hatzistergos' head. Was that extreme lobbying over a merger really essential? What political gain was there to be had from the merger? Now the whole state grinds to a halt because Labor is lacking enough numbers to pass its Bills. Stalemate, stagnation, and stupidity! Time to close the game down. Call an election so the people can get rid of dead-wood parties and to spare NSW from the embalming odor of a Labor Party that lost its usefulness years ago.
If Labor loathes the situation it is in it needs to come down like a ton of bricks on Hatzistergos' head. Was that extreme lobbying over a merger really essential? What political gain was there to be had from the merger? Now the whole state grinds to a halt because Labor is lacking enough numbers to pass its Bills. Stalemate, stagnation, and stupidity! Time to close the game down. Call an election so the people can get rid of dead-wood parties and to spare NSW from the embalming odor of a Labor Party that lost its usefulness years ago.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Labor-Shooters Deals/Counter-Deals
How low can Labor stoop in NSW? Maybe so low that the pollies can play up-ball against the kerbside.
Last June John Hatzistergos' lobbying over the merger of two government agencies lead to a deal with The Greens. The Greens gave support to vote on the NSW Trustee Guardian Act in exchange for killing off the Shooters' bill on national parks.
As the Legislative Council resumes its business today, what will happen? How can Labor govern without at least 3 extra non-Labor votes? It seems that the de facto Premier of NSW Graeme Wedderburn has been working hard to offer The Shooters a consolation prize. All in a day's work, no doubt. It remains to be seen if The Shooters will take the token gesture up. However, it is troubling that sheer pragmatism is the name of the game and principles matter not one bit. If Labor is really earnest it would not renege on its stance against shooting animals in national parks. It would not be seen as doing anything "foul or fair" to get its way. If Labor prostitutes itself with The Shooters on this deal, then the citizens have every right to say "shove off".
How dare Hatzistergos broker a deal with The Greens just to get his way, and then for the same party to do a somersault. That merger deal last June is what got Labor into this mess. Now you guys made your bed so live in it and suffer the consequences!
Last June John Hatzistergos' lobbying over the merger of two government agencies lead to a deal with The Greens. The Greens gave support to vote on the NSW Trustee Guardian Act in exchange for killing off the Shooters' bill on national parks.
As the Legislative Council resumes its business today, what will happen? How can Labor govern without at least 3 extra non-Labor votes? It seems that the de facto Premier of NSW Graeme Wedderburn has been working hard to offer The Shooters a consolation prize. All in a day's work, no doubt. It remains to be seen if The Shooters will take the token gesture up. However, it is troubling that sheer pragmatism is the name of the game and principles matter not one bit. If Labor is really earnest it would not renege on its stance against shooting animals in national parks. It would not be seen as doing anything "foul or fair" to get its way. If Labor prostitutes itself with The Shooters on this deal, then the citizens have every right to say "shove off".
How dare Hatzistergos broker a deal with The Greens just to get his way, and then for the same party to do a somersault. That merger deal last June is what got Labor into this mess. Now you guys made your bed so live in it and suffer the consequences!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Parliamentary Deadlock
Last night ABC-TV's NSW edition of Stateline looked at the efforts of the Shooters Party in typecasting themselves as "conservationists". I nearly chocked to death in strangled laughter at that!
The reporter Nick Grimm posed this question to Robert Brown of The Shooters Party:
You yourself say though, that the Shooters' Party does not believe in
preventing the government of the day from governing, but aren't you going to do
that? ROBERT BROWN: No, I said subject to them continuing to support the
interests of our constituents. The minute they turn on our constituents, we turn
off our support. It's as simple as that.
Ummm, sorry Mr Brown but your maiden speech about The Shooters Party's attitude toward Government support read this way:
"Generally, it has been the Shooters Party's practice to allow the government of the day to govern—that sounds somewhat presumptuous—except where the government's agenda clearly is not in the best interests of our broad constituency or where that agenda is in clear conflict with the principles of sensible management of economic or social issues."
You may claim you have a broad constituency but it is arguably much smaller given the % points needed for your minority party to gain an upper house seat.
But what really matters is that The Shooters and The Greens (like oil and water) don't mix well together in politics. Neither party is "on-side" with Labor in NSW.
In Stateline's transcript we read these remarks from journalist Nick Grimm:
NICK GRIMM: Certainly the Shooters Party is copping flak at the moment, even from the government which until recently was a good friend to the minority party, in return of course for its support to get the legislation through the Upper House. That all came unstuck when the Premier declared he wouldn't support the Shooters Party legislation. Even so, there was widespread wariness at this meeting that the State's two Shooters Party MPs could pull off a deal with the government .... When the Rees Government first lost the support of the Shooters Party back in June, their unprecedented scenes at Parliament when Labor contrived to have the Upper House shut down early. The doors will be unlocked again when the winter break comes to an end next week.Without the Shooters' the Government won't be able to get legislation passed unless it has the support of the Greens or the Coalition. Treasurer Eric Roozendaal's plan to privatise NSW Lotteries is just one key policy facing an uncertain future, with the Shooters' Party confirming to Stateline this week it won't water down its legislation. It is all or nothing.
Pity that Nick Grimm did not join-the-dots as to what prompted Labor to suddenly have a negative attitude towards The Shooters Party bill on national parks. Before the announcement of Labor's lack of sympathy for the Shooters' bill a deal had been struck between Labor and The Greens. The Attorney General John Hatzistergos went around seeking minority party support to ensure passage of the NSW Trustee and Guardian Bill. The Greens basically responded: they would only let that bill through in exchange for Labor undercutting the Shooters bill. All of that was fever-pitched stuff in Macquarie Street from Tuesday June 16 until Tuesday June 23. After the bill was passed the very next day the Legislative Council melted and no government business passed. All bets were off because The Shooters stopped voting Labor's way.
Next Tuesday on 1 September the winter break ends and Parliament resumes with the Legislative Council stuck. Who put Labor in this crappy spot? It was Mr Hatzistergos' lobbying that precipitated The Greens' counter-offer, and that's why The Shooters Party are refusing to play ball with Labor. Guns vs Greens -- that's part of the story; Hatzistergos' bill for NSW Trustee & Guardian is the missing piece in the puzzle.
The reporter Nick Grimm posed this question to Robert Brown of The Shooters Party:
You yourself say though, that the Shooters' Party does not believe in
preventing the government of the day from governing, but aren't you going to do
that? ROBERT BROWN: No, I said subject to them continuing to support the
interests of our constituents. The minute they turn on our constituents, we turn
off our support. It's as simple as that.
Ummm, sorry Mr Brown but your maiden speech about The Shooters Party's attitude toward Government support read this way:
"Generally, it has been the Shooters Party's practice to allow the government of the day to govern—that sounds somewhat presumptuous—except where the government's agenda clearly is not in the best interests of our broad constituency or where that agenda is in clear conflict with the principles of sensible management of economic or social issues."
You may claim you have a broad constituency but it is arguably much smaller given the % points needed for your minority party to gain an upper house seat.
But what really matters is that The Shooters and The Greens (like oil and water) don't mix well together in politics. Neither party is "on-side" with Labor in NSW.
In Stateline's transcript we read these remarks from journalist Nick Grimm:
NICK GRIMM: Certainly the Shooters Party is copping flak at the moment, even from the government which until recently was a good friend to the minority party, in return of course for its support to get the legislation through the Upper House. That all came unstuck when the Premier declared he wouldn't support the Shooters Party legislation. Even so, there was widespread wariness at this meeting that the State's two Shooters Party MPs could pull off a deal with the government .... When the Rees Government first lost the support of the Shooters Party back in June, their unprecedented scenes at Parliament when Labor contrived to have the Upper House shut down early. The doors will be unlocked again when the winter break comes to an end next week.Without the Shooters' the Government won't be able to get legislation passed unless it has the support of the Greens or the Coalition. Treasurer Eric Roozendaal's plan to privatise NSW Lotteries is just one key policy facing an uncertain future, with the Shooters' Party confirming to Stateline this week it won't water down its legislation. It is all or nothing.
Pity that Nick Grimm did not join-the-dots as to what prompted Labor to suddenly have a negative attitude towards The Shooters Party bill on national parks. Before the announcement of Labor's lack of sympathy for the Shooters' bill a deal had been struck between Labor and The Greens. The Attorney General John Hatzistergos went around seeking minority party support to ensure passage of the NSW Trustee and Guardian Bill. The Greens basically responded: they would only let that bill through in exchange for Labor undercutting the Shooters bill. All of that was fever-pitched stuff in Macquarie Street from Tuesday June 16 until Tuesday June 23. After the bill was passed the very next day the Legislative Council melted and no government business passed. All bets were off because The Shooters stopped voting Labor's way.
Next Tuesday on 1 September the winter break ends and Parliament resumes with the Legislative Council stuck. Who put Labor in this crappy spot? It was Mr Hatzistergos' lobbying that precipitated The Greens' counter-offer, and that's why The Shooters Party are refusing to play ball with Labor. Guns vs Greens -- that's part of the story; Hatzistergos' bill for NSW Trustee & Guardian is the missing piece in the puzzle.
Friday, August 28, 2009
John Hatzistergos' Disgraceful Behaviour
The former presenter of Media Watch Mr Richard Ackland has spoken decisively against the NSW Attorney General Mr John Hatzistergos. Ackland is commenting on Mr Hatzistergos' questionable war of words with Nicholas Cowdery of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Read Ackland's article.
After reading Ackland's article you'll agree with me that Mr Hatzistergos has behaved improperly in his capacity as Attorney General in his dispute with Nicholas Cowdery.
The Premier Nathan Rees, assuming he is still the Premier, ought to sack Mr Hatzistergos.
After reading Ackland's article you'll agree with me that Mr Hatzistergos has behaved improperly in his capacity as Attorney General in his dispute with Nicholas Cowdery.
The Premier Nathan Rees, assuming he is still the Premier, ought to sack Mr Hatzistergos.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
John Hatzistergos: Please Explain DPP Budget Cuts
I never know for sure if the current lot of elected Parliamentarians in Macquarie Street are basically out of their depth or if they are living in an artificial world divorced from reality.
ABC News reports on a budget fiasco at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Office is short on staff and short on cash to the tune of $3 million. The story is also found in the Daily Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald.
What gets me is that Cabinet Ministers all have offices in Governor Macquarie Tower where millions of dollars in rent are being shelled out just so they can spy Sydney Harbour. At the same time they talk piffle about making the public sector less cumbersome, more cost effective. So how come the DPP cannot prosecute cases? Why is Mr John Hatzistergos dodging the issue by waffling on about allocations from Treasury? The cuts have been decided by the Labor Government probably in congress with NSW Treasury.
Fewer people are employed and they are expected to work longer and out-of-hours and not expect any remuneration for services rendered. The public service is cracked in so many spots and it is only held together with the adhesive substance being chewing gum.
ABC News reports on a budget fiasco at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Office is short on staff and short on cash to the tune of $3 million. The story is also found in the Daily Telegraph and Sydney Morning Herald.
What gets me is that Cabinet Ministers all have offices in Governor Macquarie Tower where millions of dollars in rent are being shelled out just so they can spy Sydney Harbour. At the same time they talk piffle about making the public sector less cumbersome, more cost effective. So how come the DPP cannot prosecute cases? Why is Mr John Hatzistergos dodging the issue by waffling on about allocations from Treasury? The cuts have been decided by the Labor Government probably in congress with NSW Treasury.
Fewer people are employed and they are expected to work longer and out-of-hours and not expect any remuneration for services rendered. The public service is cracked in so many spots and it is only held together with the adhesive substance being chewing gum.
Shooters vs NSW Labor
I don't like The Shooters Party and its single-issue focus. I don't like the NSW Labor Government because it stinks to high heaven and is so boring and stupid.
Last June The Shooters stopped supporting Labor in the Legislative Council. Next week Parliament resumes. The Shooters are still off-side. What a mess!
How did this stalemate occur? Did Labor shoot itself in the foot?
I'll wager there was some stupid deal done by Labor and it backfired on them. Serves them right. Hopefully the NSW Governor can dissolve Parliament so we can vote the bastards out!
Last June The Shooters stopped supporting Labor in the Legislative Council. Next week Parliament resumes. The Shooters are still off-side. What a mess!
How did this stalemate occur? Did Labor shoot itself in the foot?
I'll wager there was some stupid deal done by Labor and it backfired on them. Serves them right. Hopefully the NSW Governor can dissolve Parliament so we can vote the bastards out!
Monday, August 24, 2009
From Magna Carta To Here
Hello! Thank you for passing by and reading. My blog is concerned about the exercise of democracy in Australia, and the social-political problems facing the state of New South Wales. Hope you find my thoughts worthwhile.
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