But will your internet still have a Chinese firewall, that's the question?
No. The much feared Internet Filter has been shelved, NotLK notwithstanding.
MtD
(Who adores his pr0nz)
Female huh? That's great, but on the hand you're now as emasculated as the Kiwis, no?
Oh my bad, didn't know Helen had departed. Just shows you how much attention stuff like that gets on the news here. In fact, I've not heard nary a mention of Australia's news with the Stanley "Bud Light Lime" McChrystal frenzy here all day.
No. The much feared Internet Filter has been shelved, NotLK notwithstanding.
MtD
(Who adores his pr0nz)
It's only shelved because they didn't have the balls to bring the proposed legislation to parliament in the run up to the next election. They didn't want another negative story to impact on their support. My understanding is (at least prior to today's events) that the legislation is ready to go, they are just waiting for the right time.
And to call it 'much feared' is an overstatement. Unfortunately, only a small minority within the chattering classes seem to care. Whenever they conduct surveys, around 80-85% of the people seem to support the filter.
Personally, I think the real debate in this country should not be about ISP filtering itself, but about what we censor across the board. The proposed ISP filter only blocks material that is already censored (refused classification) in every other form in this country. The breadth of material that this country refuses its citizens access to is astonishing.
Her partner is a hairdresser, so go figure.
And, for the record, the PM of NZ is a man. (http://www.johnkey.co.nz/)
MtD
I followed this with interest. Its fascinating to see how the Commonwealth countries handle this differently, despite the shared parliamentary heritage. In Canada it would be unheard of for a leader 9let alone PM) to be dumped this way without a leadership convention, even losing an election doesn't mean the party leader will be dethroned.
The ruthless removal of parliamentary leaders is not uncommon down here. K-Rudd flew unbelievably high for two years, but in the last six months his polling crashed and, with a General Election later this year, the backbenchers got panicky.
Politics is, in its essence, a supremely unsenitmental business. Though we've never put the spear through a first term PM before.
Kevin's final press conference was heartbreaking to watch. He is shattered by his removal and broke down several times during the presser. He intends to remain in Parliament, which is good. Most former leaders depart the scene. To his credit he attended Question Time as a backbencher yesterday.
MtD
I hear Julia's fretting about Australia's 22 million population being too large. Hold me while I laugh riotously.
We have 40 million people along just a 200 mile stretch of I-95 here. Get it together, folks.
Yeah, and most of the Australian landmass is arid or desert. Bald heads would be badly sun burnt.
MtD
I realize it's dry, that's why I threw in southern California as a comparison. Same thing. Smaller land area, same amount of people, just as arid.
Otherwise I'm mostly just trolling Matty.
With an atheist as PM we are bound to suffer with more droughts and plagues and things
Well she's attempted to head off the worst of Jesus' Holy Wrath by underlining her opposition to gay marriage.
So that something at least. :)
MtD
An atheist who has it out for gays? Is that just her being political or does she just hate homos?
We should also mention that the ALP did amend something like 100 pieces of legislation to remove discrimination against same sex partners. Apart from not being able to legally marry, I'm not aware of any other area of govt law or policy where we are discriminated against.
The ruthless removal of parliamentary leaders is not uncommon down here. K-Rudd flew unbelievably high for two years, but in the last six months his polling crashed and, with a General Election later this year, the backbenchers got panicky...
MtD
Very ruthless indeed. Reminded me of Baroness Thatcher getting the boots from the Tories. Here even the hapless Stéphane Dion who led the Liberals (aka the Natural Governing Party) to their worst defeat, was allowed to leave on his own terms.
As noted, Commonwealth parliaments all have a slightly different take. Witness the handwringing before the last UK election over a possible minority government, when we've had several. Or our own odious Tory PM's disparagement of coalition governments even while trying to cozy up to David Cameron, proprietor of the same!
So what's the inside scoop from Oz? Is Lady Macbeth going to go down to defeat next week?
I have no idea what her opponent stands for but if he's on the Right he must be a rotter, though I do have a secret penchant for middle aged men in speedos:
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2010/01/25/1225823/345989-tony-abbott-in-his-039-budgie-smugglers-039-.jpg
Uh oh, by the "mad monk" moniker do I take it he's an Uber-Catholic? Oh well, I'm sure I could find some attractive left-leaning middle aged Aussie speedo wearers. ;)
I saw on BBC that Gillard had to bring Rudd back in for a photo-op to bolster the polls. They did not look like a happy couple!
already posted my vote in!
I live in hope that Abbott does not get into power, all hail our ranga overlord !! :-)
(when will it be polite to get a paintball gun, go election poster hunting??)
J
I'm reliably informed that acetone or nail polish remover loaded into a super soaker is best for dealing with election corflutes. :)
MtD
I have no idea what that would do, but it sounds scary...
I wonder if we could have Prime Ministerial wedding ..... Bob Brown could be one of Julia's bridesmaids (he was just on the morning today show)
J
No result tonight. We may end up with a hung parliament and minority govt. ie, they were both so pathetic we couldn't make up our mind.
"Big 3"?
Yeah. I had a chuckle too. Maybe the big 3 in the Commonwealth!
I think he meant the main three countries that have a Parliament-style government.
chopped liver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_India) I presume?
chopped liver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_India) I presume?
India is a republic, therefore doesn't fit the traditional Westminster mode.
But it is considered to be a Parliamentary system. The President being elected by the Parliament and is essentially (by convention) just acting as a figurehead like our Governor General.
It is the kind of model many Australian 'republicans' would like to see in place here.
And, Bangladesh has a parliament and is a much bigger country, in terms of population.
The "Big 3" all depends on your perspective.
Which will be the first to fall though - UK, Canada or Aus? I can't see how any of the permutations being discussed here at the moment being particularly stable for any length of time.
India is a republic, therefore doesn't fit the traditional Westminster mode.
Which will be the first to fall though - UK, Canada or Aus?I do hope it's the UK. But they seem to be getting along ok (mostly).