Category: Politics

“When the Governor-General is travelling in foreign countries, of course from time to time, as appropriate, she will make statements that reflect government policy,” he told ABC TV’s Insiders program. “Australian government policy is that we want to make a substantial engagement with Africa. We see that as being very importantly in our economic and social and foreign policy interests and we reflect our commitment to multilateralism by running for the Security Council. And she will make that point appropriately when she meets with the African leadership.”

“Libya and Cuba and Iran are guiding the development of the agenda, which thus far names only Israel, alone among the nations of the world, as guilty of racism,”

“I was all ready to run but I was an hour late, so I’m not registered,” he said. “Zoo magazine were responsible for my application, because I’m working for them, and they said they would do it for me. “I’m a bit dirty at them.”

“If workers are going to band together to reduce the cost on employers, to keep the entire workforce in tact, providing it’s a stable business that’s got a future, then it’s mates helping mates to keep themselves in work,” Mr Key said on ABC radio.

“In four years, net debt will be $70 billion, around $3300 for every man, woman and child, and the Government has asked for the right … to borrow up to $200billion — $9500 for every man, woman and child in Australia.

LOCAL governments will see $500 million to “support large strategic projects” including “town halls, community centres and sport and recreation facilities”. Presumably this is so all the newly unemployed can meet and reminisce about the times when they used to have jobs.

When Rudd says, “This has failed for 30 years,” I mean, he’s not only condemning me and the Coalition government, he’s condemning Hawke-Keating, presumably, because they were part of the last 30 years. He’s presumably condemning Fraser. If you want to go back 30 years — and he says the last 30 years have been a failure — who do you end up with? Surprise! Surprise! Oh, it’s Gough Whitlam! It’s Gough Whitlam! Now, Mr Rudd says social democracy’s gotta rescue capitalism from itself. And I suppose we’re lucky that the world has Kevin Rudd to rescue the world capitalist system. Maybe after he’s rescued the world capitalist system, he could move on to solving the Middle East, which undoubtedly he will.

The former foreign minister has decided to step down after 9 1/2 years running a conflict-resolution non-government organisation based in Brussels, and will return to Melbourne.

Mr Evans is the second former senior politician to return to Australia from Europe recently, following former Democrats leader Cheryl Kernot’s decision to leave a position at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurs at Oxford University to become an associate professor at the Centre for Social Impact at the University of NSW.

More than 2.2 million owner-occupied homes will qualify for free ceiling insulation under the Prime Minister’s plan, an element of a multi-pronged economic stimulation package expected to be announced tomorrow. The Government will also double, from $500 to $1000, ceiling insulation subsidies for owners of 500,000 rental properties.

Second in line was Kevin Rudd, with 20 per cent of the vote.

Mr Howard is being honoured for his role in fighting terrorism and for standing by the US as an ally during his 11 years as prime minister. “Yes, I am honoured by it, more because of the compliment it pays to our country Australia,” Mr Howard said on ABC Radio.