tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post4892624067106380471..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Failures in process imperil Abbott GovernmentJim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-77758640319220410652015-08-19T09:49:18.026+10:002015-08-19T09:49:18.026+10:00This lot remind me of the dying days of the Bjelke...This lot remind me of the dying days of the Bjelke-Petersen regime. And I'm still surprised at how bad they are at the politics. To the degree that they seem to have given up on it - either doing nothing or just doing what they want with no consideration of the electorate.<br /><br />I agree with Scott too.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-23826672323179980212015-08-18T21:12:46.910+10:002015-08-18T21:12:46.910+10:00You know, kvd, I'm inclined to agree with Scot...You know, kvd, I'm inclined to agree with Scott's second comment. It is difficult to wind some things back. The breaches of previous protocols and customs that have occurred over time create new customs.<br />Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-19659079192540424652015-08-18T20:46:26.190+10:002015-08-18T20:46:26.190+10:00Jim, unfortunately I have to agree with you. It is...Jim, unfortunately I have to agree with you. It is amazing that the prime minister's colleagues in the cabinet room are willing to continue to be led by a person who has shown such poor judgement.Winton Bateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383561940886657594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-50636532210398173222015-08-18T17:44:00.007+10:002015-08-18T17:44:00.007+10:00kvd - the problem is that future governments tend ...kvd - the problem is that future governments tend not to wind back the expanded powers, whether it's Canberra vs states or Cabinet vs Parliament or PM vs Cabinet. And so we are left with creeping fascism by default.Scott Hastingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-62200514147933770282015-08-18T15:38:58.059+10:002015-08-18T15:38:58.059+10:00You guys are like the cricket commentators complai...You guys are like the cricket commentators complaining about 'bodyline'. Abbott is from the 'whatever it takes' school of responsible government. He will live and die by that, and, as such, is just a minor passing phase.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-17995302410671304162015-08-18T15:32:11.628+10:002015-08-18T15:32:11.628+10:00Abbott is authoritarian not out of distrust in ins...Abbott is authoritarian not out of distrust in institutions, but for its own sake. People like to suggest that politicians get drunk on power, usually without basis... but Abbott really is hungry for power for its own sake. His passage of the higher fuel levy and other measures against the express will of the elected Senate shows a deeply anti-democratic character, an instinct that simply doesn't care about rule or precedent. When they are competent, such men are very dangerous. Thankfully we're off the hook there.Scott Hastingsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-87750754271726601672015-08-18T12:13:24.156+10:002015-08-18T12:13:24.156+10:00The Cabinet Submission system is a formulaic way o...The Cabinet Submission system is a formulaic way of decision making. Public servants are forced to make crisp concise submissions, with only enough room for the strongest arguments. Other Ministries who might not agree also have the opportunity to say so. There is no opportunity to bury unwilling and busy Ministers in detail so as to avoid spelling out the whole fiscal and revenue implications, which must appear on the front page.<br /><br />If The Guardian's report is true, I'm not sure that it spells the end of democracy as we know it but it certainly is odd. There is always a Ministry (or seven!) clawing to get their burning issue up to the Cabinet and being fended off by Cabinet Secretariat either due to flaws in the Submission or an overloaded agenda.2 tannersnoreply@blogger.com