By Julian Bajkowski Opposition leader Tony Abbott very publicly told the head of the public service, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Dr Ian Watt AO, that he expects to have legislation to scrap the price on carbon and an emissions trading scheme pre-written and ready to table should the Coalition win government. The […]
6 August, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski Canberra may well be celebrating its Centenary this year, but locals are weighing the prospect of the public service designer city being partly depopulated. As the election looms, the threat of bulk federal redundancies under a Coalition government has again increased in value as prime political currency among voters there. Senator for […]
30 July, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski and Paul Hemsley Australia’s 565 councils and shires have been handed their third federal minister for Local Government in as many months on the back of an inevitable reshuffle following the second incarnation of Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister. Member for Ballarat, Catherine King has been elevated into Cabinet under a simplified […]
2 July, 2013
By Paul Hemsley The Western Australian government has unleashed an ambitious plan to help councils stop dogs from barking. At least barking so much that they make a nuisance of themselves in populated areas. A newly proposed provision by Minister for Local Government Tony Simpson under the Dog Amendment Bill 2013 will provide councils with […]
28 June, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The final report of the Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Local Government has recommended that a referendum be put to electors at the 14th September 2013 federal election despite the relatively short lead-time, but support within the Coalition could be fracturing along Liberal and National party lines. After previously reserving […]
7 March, 2013
By Julian Bajkowski The already bitter war of words over the progress of the rollout of the National Broadband Network has intensified after federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy pounced on a dissenting report from a Coalition members of a Parliamentary Committee delving into the project to rekindle accusations that the Opposition is plotting to “demolish” […]
28 February, 2013
By Professor Patrick Troy* In the darkest depths of World War II, the Commonwealth chose to review the social security system in Australia. It was a remarkable commitment, especially when the outcome of the war was unknown, to review the effects of the ravages of the Great Depression. Following the failure of the speculative developments […]
3 January, 2013
By Paul Hemsley and Julian Bajkowski The president of the Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA), Troy Pickard, tipped a bucket on both the State Government and Opposition over environmentally harmful waste management policies being touted in vote grabs ahead of the March election. The accusations from the peak body revolve around proposals from both […]
18 December, 2012
By Paul Hemsley The head of NSW Shires Association, Ray Donald, has warned that state and federal governments need keep partisan bickering out of local government participation in the carbon tax. His warning follows a fresh policy brawl that erupted after federal Climate Change Parliamentary Secretary, Mark Dreyfus, accused state Liberal Party members of incorrectly […]
13 September, 2012
By Julian Bajkowski Canberra is best known as the home of federal government, however the Australian Capital Territory’s own looming election has thrown up a distinctly local policy issue that transcends partisan brands: rubbish bins. In a curious turn of ideology, Canberra’s Liberal Party opposition has pledged to stage a market intervention in the local […]
28 August, 2012
By Kevin Noonan The announced public sector staffing cuts will also hurt IT, both in terms of reduced IT staff numbers and in reduced IT demand. With the government exempting teachers, nurses, police, and funding for new initiatives, the axe must fall disproportionately on back room staff and administrative work that tends to […]
13 June, 2012
By Angela Dorizas Tony Abbott has been elected Opposition Leader after winning the Liberal leadership spill by one vote. Mr Abbott defeated Malcolm Turnbull in a final ballot by 42 to 41. Joe Hockey was eliminated in the first ballot, with Mr Abbott polling 35 votes, Mr Turnbull 26 votes and Mr Hockey 23 votes. Victorian MP Fran […]
1 December, 2009
By Angela Dorizas The Liberal Party is in a state of turmoil following the resignation of five frontbenchers and two Senate whips. Liberal MP Tony Abbott quit shadow cabinet after failing to convince Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull to reconsider the party’s position on the emissions trading scheme (ETS). Mr Abbott and Senator Nick Minchin approached Mr […]
26 November, 2009
By Angela Dorizas Malcolm Turnbull has maintained the Liberal leadership following a failed motion to vacate the seat of the Opposition Leader. Mr Turnbull called a party meeting this afternoon to vote on a spill motion put by backbencher Wilson Tuckey. Howard government minister Kevin Andrews said he would challenge Mr Turnbull for leadership of […]
25 November, 2009End of content
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