Just seen this in a LIB release... Today, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Carbon Tax. This was an important vote for Australian families because the repeal of the Carbon Tax will create a stronger economy with more jobs and will save families $550 a year on average. It is now up to the Senate to respect the will of the people and vote to scrap this job-destroying tax. GREAT WORK, now for the jackasses in the senate to do the right thing too...
How is it going to save families that much when the average family only ended up spending a little over $100 more a year? The $550 figure, the one Abbott keeps going on about, was the original projected figure that turned out to be wrong. But congrats for falling for more of Abbott's bull(*)(*)(*)(*). Shows what a critical thinker you really are. Plus the Senate's job isn't to do what the House of Reps wants. They're a house of review who represent the states.
With the embarrassment Abbott has turned into they'd probably welcome it. Notice how Abbott has stopped talking about a DD when it's all he could practically talk about just before the election?
Looks like someone still hasn't worked out that the alp and greens got the ass kicking of a lifetime.....the alp vote was the lowest since federation and the greens lost more than a 1/4 of their vote.... A DD election would be the last thing they want on top of that.
That happens when you increase spending. Yeah, the low spending Liberals, which efjay was bragging were going to instantly bring the budget back into surplus through cutting spending, have outspent the ALP in just a couple of months.
Abbott might just be smart enough to take this to a double dissolution, and wipe the ALP and Greens completely out. I think the people are looking for a strong leader who with stand and fight for them and their country; not a pretend man, who acts like a fairy with a wand.
Abbott has a lot to lose by holding a dd. He'd be better off just waiting until the new Senate next year, and negotiating something with Clive and the others.
The Howard government were the highest spending government by light years, but were left with little as a consequence from the largest purple patch in world wide economic terms the world has seen. Honest john said they are a low spending government, so they must be
hip hip.... and yes we fall another 10 years behind. As if someone honestly believe that we save $550 on our power bills.... regards
I was thinking along the same lines as to next years Senate, but there would have be some formal deal already done for him to wait. Otherwise, it would be idiotic to wait, considering the people elected him on reforming the carbon tax. He has the ALP/Greens by the throat, and it would be a massive mistake not to announce a DD if no deal has been done. Surely he is not as stupid as Rudd. LOL
Before he can announce a DD he must improve in the polls, or at least be convinced that he can improve his popularity. Otherwise it would be the shortest government for a long time.
The GG can call a DD if the GG believes that Abbott has lost the support of the houses. I believe the constitution calls for a DD to be called if the same bill fails to pass twice.
The GG will only act on the recommendation of the prime minister. Abbott will never lose a vote in the lower house. His majority is far too big. There does not have to be a DD if bills are rejected twice by the upper house.
Actually that is not exactly true. If the opposition can demonstrate they will block every piece of legislation put to the house then the Opposition can request that the GG disbands parliament in favour of a new election. This was done by Fraser against Whitlam when the Coalition blocked supply, which is what it is actually called. By preventing the government from acting they forced the issue. BUT the GG has no power to act on their own; they cannot decide to dissolve government or anything if they believe they have lost support of the house. After all they are not there for the house they are there for the people and even IF the GG decides the government has lost support of the people, the opposition representatives have to put a case and request for a new election. However, should a bill not pass twice in the house, the government can decide to put it to the house a third time, at which clear demonstration of intent of the house would be decided. Should the bill be rejected a Third time it will automatically force a DD as it is considered blocking supply. The Government is forced to represent to the GG that the opposition refuses to allow passing of bills and the people of Australia are needed to break the dead lock. Considering the fact opposition to the governments wishes it is a group of minorities aligning to stop the house from functioning the Coalition has the ability to create an interesting election with several changes that do not normally appear in any election. I believe the democratic party of Australia was almost ousted from the house previously over these considerations. I do not recall any time previous these elective powers were used but remain in place.
Corrections 1. The GG does not have to listen to the opposition. 2. No Senate has blocked supply since 1975. Yet many times the Government has not had a majority in the Senate since then. So blocking supply is unlikely to happen. 3. DD are never automatic. It is up to the PM to ask for one. There are often options. For example early in the calendar year the PM could ask for a half Senate election (with or without a lower house election). Then come July he might have more members in the upper house. 4. There is no such party as the democratic party of Australia.
In practice the GG only acts on the recommendation of the PM. There is a big difference between what the constitution says and what happens in practice in so many areas.
Precisely that is why the opposition needs to make a good case which is exactly what happened in 1975. The GG does not have to listen but also cannot act on their own. As the position of Governor General is mainly ceremonial. That is correct, in fact I do not recall a point in Australian history other than 1975 when supply was blocked to the point of dissolving government. However, this does not mean it will never happen again. Well now maybe that should be the Australian democrats but let us not get carried away with this.
Yes that is the one exception. I do not think a GG would do that again. Not after what happened to Kerr.
