It's not an educated guess as far as I'm concerned. I doubt that anyone with even an ounce of political acumen, let alone the PM, would take such a risk, but I'm not suggesting that the abortion issue wasn't discussed at all. As the article suggests, 'family friendly' tax breaks are much more likely (especially in light of recent taxation discussions within the Coalition party room).erawamai said:
Liberal control of the Senate (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter transcendent
- Start date
erawamai
Retired. Gone fishing.
I can go along with that assessment.Generator said:It's not an educated guess as far as I'm concerned. I doubt that anyone with even an ounce of political acumen, let alone the PM, would take such a risk, but I'm not suggesting that the abortion issue wasn't discussed at all. As the article suggests, 'family friendly' tax breaks are much more likely (especially in light of recent taxation discussions within the Coalition party room).
leetom
there's too many of them!
Whatever the assesment, that Fielding can make a surprise decision on VSU not on the merits of the VSU issue itself but on guarantees on external issues is enough of a rort. How terrible it is that, failing Barnaby, the Government can still work a senate majority through this weak-minded, easily-manipulated sponge.erawamai said:I can go along with that assessment.
waf: I don't have absolute confirmation, but I'm working off Fielding's "I can't recall" when asked whether RU486 was discussed. It's confirmation enough for me.
For some reason I have spent the past few days spiting venom at various people on this forum. Internet forum or not, I really should apologise for the way in which I just dismissed your suggestion. Sorry, iamaware.erawamai said:I can go along with that assessment.
Just to elaborate, i consider it to be a risk because the abortion debate is one that few people want to reopen and because some Liberal backbenchers have been pushing for the introduction of this pill for some time. I just cannot see Howard or the cabinet at large (bar a few of the more militant social conservatives) willing to open more than one can of worms just to ram through what is in effect a sideshow bill when it was likely to be passed, if not in its original form, early next year.
Note: sideshow bill = vsu (just in case it wasn't clear).
*bump*
Opposition angry over Senate AWB gag
An interesting development, and one more suited to this thread than it is the one specificly discussing the AWB affair.
Labor angry at Govt move to block AWB questionsOpposition angered by AWB gag order
Reporter: Michael Brissenden
KERRY O'BRIEN: Today for the first time in memory, the Senate committee system felt the full force of the Government with a Senate majority prepared to defy tradition. Opposition senators expecting to have a crack at senior public servants who might shed further light on possible Government links to the AWB scandal were outraged when the Government's Senate leader Nick Minchin gagged public officials from answering any questions on it. The PM told Parliament Cabinet took the gag decision last Monday on the basis that the issue was before the Cole inquiry, and he again deflected Labor's insistent questioning on corruption in the UN's oil-for-food contracts. The Opposition says it's a cover-up. John Howard maintains his Government has nothing to hide. Political Editor Michael Brissenden reports.
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Opposition angry over Senate AWB gag
An interesting development, and one more suited to this thread than it is the one specificly discussing the AWB affair.