# The Soap Opera That Is Australian Politics, 2015 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 4, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793 "2015-02-04T10:10:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![lynne-42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lynne-42/32/3138_2.png) [@lynne-42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynne-42)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/41 "2015-02-08T09:07:54Z")
Such interesting insights on this thread. Thanks to the OP. Anyone have ideas on what Labor should do now? Change leaders as well? Stay tight and hope that he finds a voice? Turnbull would be a much tougher opponent. And what about Hockey, Pyne and Robb? Are they all safe? What do you predict? I think that the whole team should go. They are now all tarnished. Only Bishop could survive. She is wily! Shorten? I don’t know what to think, but I have been disappointed so far. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/42 "2015-02-08T11:42:20Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > I feel for poor old Malcolm, having had to sell that as a great idea for the last two years. I still remember your story on these boards (it was yours, wasn’t it?) about emailing him late at night as a lowly law student and getting such a cheerful reply back. That and the fact that he got turfed out of the leadership over actually taking climate change seriously, make him the only current member of cabinet I actually have some positive feelings for. Not my story, but I will take a look for it because it sounds worth reading 🙂 ETA: It was [Gleena](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15983513&postcount=56) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/43 "2015-02-08T13:04:00Z")
Yes! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/44 "2015-02-08T22:24:16Z")
Abbott moved the meeting forward to today: the spill motion has failed, 61 -39. Abbott is still our PM. However, before the meeting, Chris Uhlmann (ABC political editor) said the PM’s office had a count of 16 for the motion–39 is considerably higher, so there’s no way this goes away now. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/45 "2015-02-08T22:40:33Z")
Yeah, now he gets to be “the PM a third of his own party doesn’t want”. Bet that’ll be fun for him. A lot has been made this week of Abbott supporters saying he should get another chance because they don’t want to look chaotic and dysfunctional like Labor (supposedly - I never bought it) did. Well… Too late now. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/46 "2015-02-08T22:44:53Z")
The result the ALP wanted. ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/47 "2015-02-08T22:49:22Z")
[Tweet from Hack’s political reporter](https://twitter.com/workmanalice/status/564551499334688768): “Bill Shorten, Tanya Plibersek, Penny Wong and Stephen Conroy walk past media pack with coffees and big smiles” ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/48 "2015-02-08T23:03:52Z")
Saw one person sum it up as: Temporary Tony - 61 No opponent - 39. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/49 "2015-02-09T01:45:51Z")
Ha! Abbott’s a master of quotes that come back to bite him. [Quote=(I saw someone post it on Facebook)] When Gillard won the 71-31 leadership ballot against Rudd in 2012, the first Question without Notice was from Abbott: Mr ABBOTT (Warringah—Leader of the Opposition) (14:00): My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that one-third of her parliamentary colleagues and a quarter of her cabinet colleagues have today expressed their lack of confidence in her, how can she claim to have a mandate to continue as Prime Minister?" [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/50 "2015-02-09T04:32:13Z")
And for the hat trick, three posts in a row: > [@](#): > > Bill Shorten used his first question for the year in Parliament, to ask the Prime Minister: “Given that nearly half of his parliamentary colleagues, including two-thirds of his Liberal backbenchers, have today expressed a lack of confidence in the Prime Minister, how can the Prime Minister claim to have a mandate for this country?” > > Mr Abbott responded that he and his Government “did win an election and that is the mandate that we are carrying out”. Zing! Comedy is alive and well in this country. Clearly, having slashed the ABC’s budget, our leaders have taken it upon themselves to put on a good show we can all laugh at. ---
**Author:** ![Onyerbike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onyerbike/32/5402_2.png) [@Onyerbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onyerbike)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2015, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/51 "2015-02-09T09:13:18Z")
I just figured they all moonlighted as comedians in case they ever found themselves out of a career in politics. The transition is easy; large groups of people still laugh at you for money. “Phwoah - good crowd tonight. Every time I opened my mouth, they laughed for hours. Less bottles thrown than usual, too. Good times!” ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/52 "2015-09-14T07:07:57Z")
… and [we are on again](http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/liberal-leadership-malcolm-turnbull-to-challenge-tony-abbott-20150914-gjm74c.html)! I reckon that the Tonester is toast. Party meeting tomorrow morning will roll him. He has two cards to play, one is not call a party meeting the second call a snap election. He has more chance winning the latter than the former and neither are attracting any smart money. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/53 "2015-09-14T07:33:24Z")
Turnbull says its all about lack of economic leadership. I suppose he’s just saying that because it plays well with the money behind the liberals. Everyone knows it’s all about Tones being an unlikable boofhead with the political instincts of an antique housebrick. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/54 "2015-09-14T07:45:23Z")
Better to use the [ABC’s coverage](http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-14/malcolm-turnbull-julie-bishop-liberal-leadership-ballot-blog/6774546), I think, given the harm Abbott’s vendetta against them has done to that organisation. For those who don’t remember, the ABC dared to report that Australian forces were alleged to have abused asylum seekers at sea. For that horrible, unpatriotic crime, the ABC’s budget was cut by $254 million over five years. The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) is the Aussie equivalent of the BBC, and models itself quite consciously as far as editorial policy goes. Strictly factual, nothing even vaguely partisan or sponsoring of…anything. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/55 "2015-09-14T07:59:42Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Turnbull says its all about lack of economic leadership. I suppose he’s just saying that because it plays well with the money behind the liberals. Everyone knows it’s all about Tones being an unlikable boofhead with the political instincts of an antique housebrick. I must admit that from outside Australia, Tony Abbot comes across as a nasty piece of work. However like any Prime Minister he isn’t a dictator and the extraordinary steps taken by the Liberal government to muzzle doctors and nurses working with refugees plus the ABC cuts has to lie at the feet of Cabinet. They did some other restrictive stuff too - can’t remember? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/56 "2015-09-14T08:06:53Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Turnbull says its all about lack of economic leadership. I suppose he’s just saying that because it plays well with the money behind the liberals. Everyone knows it’s all about Tones being an unlikable boofhead with the political instincts of an antique housebrick. Actually having now read the whole of Turnbull’s speech, the above is inaccurate. He also said this: > [@](#): > > There must be an end to policy on the run and captain’s calls. We need to be truly consultative with colleagues, members of Parliament, senators and the wider public. Translation: “Tones has the political instincts of an antique housebrick”. Turnbull wouldn’t be so against “captain’s calls” if it wasn’t for the fact they have inevitably been complete clangers. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/57 "2015-09-14T08:12:50Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > However like any Prime Minister he isn’t a dictator and the extraordinary steps taken by the Liberal government to muzzle doctors and nurses working with refugees plus the ABC cuts has to lie at the feet of Cabinet. True enough although the problem the more moderate of his cabinet have had is that the Libs tried hard to preserve cabinet solidarity. Which means that when Abbott has followed his despotic tendency and wanted to ram dumbass policy through cabinet his more moderate ministers have had to face the choice of knuckling under or openly rebelling, neither an attractive prospect. You can see the effect this has had; see my quote above in which Turnbull has listed Abbott’s despotic style as one of the reasons for his challenge. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/58 "2015-09-14T08:42:54Z")
Ugh. Not again! I’d welcome this if the alternatives weren’t so tedious. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/59 "2015-09-14T08:55:44Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > True enough although the problem the more moderate of his cabinet have had is that the Libs tried hard to preserve cabinet solidarity. Which means that when Abbott has followed his despotic tendency and wanted to ram dumbass policy through cabinet his more moderate ministers have had to face the choice of knuckling under or openly rebelling, neither an attractive prospect. You can see the effect this has had; see my quote above in which Turnbull has listed Abbott’s despotic style as one of the reasons for his challenge. Exactly. Really, Abbott has been holding the party hostage, positioning it as a hard-right bastion of ultra-conservatism, and a good deal of the members are forced to go along with it whether they like it or not… until an opportunity like this comes around. Abbott’s (and Hockey’s, let’s be honest) biggest failure has been an inability to put policies into a larger narrative. Abbott is totally lacking in imagination, and that’s fine in opposition, but as a Prime Minister you need a little bit more. But that’s what you get from the hard-right: reactionary policies based on fear. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793/60 "2015-09-14T09:29:21Z")
Well, Bill Shorten’s worst nightmare may be about to happen: not facing Tony Abbott at the next election. He was going to beat Abbott, but I don’t think he can beat Turnbull. On the other hand, Turnbull’s problem will be finding enough Liberal colleagues that he can trust to form the next Cabinet. For a start, by supporting Abbott, I suspect that Joe Hockey will be out of the Cabinet for a while (and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-soap-opera-that-is-australian-politics-2015/711793.md?page=4)