5&5 TONY BURKE LABOR

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Tony Burke via sendgrid.info 

5:11 PM (3 minutes ago)

to me
.
Neville –
At our Caucus Meeting on Tuesday Bill made it clear Labor is gearing up for a fight and will be ready for the next election – because millions of Australians are counting on us.  It doesn’t matter who’s in the top job, Liberal MPs share the same values; they support $100,000 degrees, a tax on going to the doctor and cuts to pensions. Join The Fight to make this Liberal-National Government a one term government.

BEST:

  1. On Wednesday Bill asked the question many Australians are pondering: “Is Tony Abbott the worst Prime Minister Australia has ever seen?” Childcare, healthcare, education, family payments, pensions… no matter where you look this Government is hitting families who can afford it the least. Watch the full speech here.
  2. Senate estimates is when senators question ministers and high-level public servants about the running of the Government. I know it’s not the House of Reps, but this was great to watch. Have a look at Penny questioning the Treasury chief about this Government’s overblown rhetoric, it’s brilliant.
  3. Eric Abetz. I bet you never thought he’d make the best list. He started boasting about how good Tony Abbott had been since the leadership ballot.  Penny Wong asked for an example. Abetz paused, looked a bit lost and said “I’ll take that on notice.” Here’s the footage.
  4. After a spill motion with the Liberal leadership under attack and just a few months after a cabinet reshuffle, Small Business Minister, Bruce Bilson, attacked Labor pointing to us and saying: “While they were changing leaders and changing ministers.” I think Bruce might come to regret saying that; sooner rather than later.
  5. In what some Journalists are describing as the “best press release ever,” Anthony Albanese on Thursday released a statement responding to the news Sydney Airport CEO and former Howard Government public service chief, Max “The Axe” Moore-Wilton, planned to retire; it simply read: “Good”.

WORST:

  1. Let’s face it, the Human Rights Commission report in to children in detention has strong messages for both sides of politics. Shadow Immigration Minister, Richard Marles, acknowledged this as soon as it was released. Tony Abbott’s approach has been to shoot the messenger. This week we’ve seen a disgraceful and unprecedented attack on one of the nation’s most senior independent office holders, Human Rights Commission President, Gillian Triggs.
  2. On Tuesday Prof Triggs faced an aggressive and bullying attack by Liberal Senators. Senator Ian MacDonald, admitted he hasn’t even read the report in to children in detention; and Senator Barry O’Sullivan, during questioning said: “I thought you might like to hear a man’s voice”.
  3. By Tuesday night, Shadow Attorney General, Mark Dreyfus, had asked the Australian Federal Police to investigate “A possible contravention of the Criminal Code” in relation to evidence given during the marathon senate estimates session.
  4. On Wednesday Mark Dreyfus asked Julie Bishop, who represents the Attorney General in the House of Representatives: “What was the alternative role the government wanted Professor Triggs to take?” Her reply: “No such offer was made.” By Thursday Julie Bishop’s tune had changed and when asked what role was raised said: “A role was raised that related to international affairs.” Needless to say, this issue is far from over.
  5. On a different note, on Tuesday Employment Minister, Eric Abetz, ruled out changes to penalty rates; good news! By Thursday however he was once again not ruling out changes to penalty rates. They can’t hide from who they are.

When someone makes a comment that is considered unparliamentary they are often asked to withdraw the comment. Labor Shadow Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has one of the loudest voices in the Parliament and is easily heard throughout the House of Reps. Yesterday Christopher Pyne claimed Mark Dreyfus had called out a comment which was unparliamentary and needed to be withdrawn. As it happened I was sitting right next to Mark and pointed out that he hadn’t made a sound. In fact I added this was one of the few times ever Mark Dreyfus had been quiet. Bronwyn Bishop still asked him to withdraw. So he withdrew his silence which I guess means he’ll never be quiet again.

’til next week,
Tony

PS: The #5and5 song of the week is for Tony Abbott. Here’s Billy Joel’s “Angry Young Man”. And after starting the year with Taylor Swift and Billy Joel, I’m trying to find a way of using a song from Pearl Jam or Metallica next week.

Australian Labor Party
Authorised by G. Wright, Australian Labor, 5/9 Sydney Avenue, Barton 2600 ACT

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