Governor general has 'demeaned his office'

[Super Nova]

What going on?

Is this a storm in a tea cup or a real issue?
is this a trigger for an early election?
Where is Whitlam (dead I think)

Governor general has 'demeaned his office' with parliament recall, says Labor

Labor frontbencher Stephen Conroy has criticised the governor general for his role in agreeing to recall parliament, saying he has demeaned his office with a tawdry political stunt.

Parliament was recalled on Monday in order for the government to pass two controversial pieces of industrial relations legislation.

“I have on the advice of my ministers recalled you so that these bills can be considered again and their fate decided without further delay,” the governor general, Sir Peter Cosgrove, said during the joint sitting. “My government regards these measures as essential for the rule of law in our workplaces. My government also regards these measures as crucial to its economic plan for promoting jobs and growth.”


Cosgrove did not see Plibersek offer her hand, and as procedure dictated that he only needed to shake the hand of the Senate president, prime minister and leader of the opposition, he did not stop to address her. He did, however, shake the hand of the deputy PM, Barnaby Joyce, which could have led Plibersek to believe he would also greet her.

The action prompted those on the Labor benches to yell out “know your place”, as Plibersek was the only woman to request a handshake and be denied.

The governor general has called Plibersek to apologise for the unintentional slight.

Stephen Conroy resumes debate on the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill in the Senate.© AAP Image/Mick Tsikas Stephen Conroy resumes debate on the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill in the Senate. Conroy, the shadow defence minister, said Cosgrove’s role harked back to the constitutional crisis that saw former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam dismissed.

“What we’ve had today is the ghost of 1975 revisited upon us; the long, dead arm of Sir John Kerr crawl out of his grave to participate in a travesty of democracy in this country,” Conroy told the Senate. “What we saw is a blight on our democracy today. We’ve seen a democratically elected decision overturned by the Queen’s representative.”

“We’ve seen today a governor general overturn the will of this chamber, a democratically elected chamber. That’s what we have seen, a tawdry political stunt and the governor general has demeaned his office,” he said. “Never has the need for a republic been more evident than today.”

The president of the Senate, Stephen Parry, warned Conroy that his comments were against the rules because they brought the office of the governor general – and by extension, the Queen – into disrepute.

“This is the last bastion of standing orders that we must defend,” Parry said.

Conroy’s comments raised the ire of those on the Coalition benches, one of whom called the senator a “grub”.

“Gough Whitlam would be rolling in his grave,” the attorney general, George Brandis, said.

Brandis told the chamber to pass both the registered organisations bill, and the bill to reestablish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

“The time has come for the Senate to delay no longer, to procrastinate no longer ... and pass these bills,” he said.

The leader of the Greens, Richard Di Natale, said the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, took the step of recalling the house as a way of protecting the Coalition’s electoral interests.

“It highlights that there is nothing conservative about this government,” he told the chamber. “This is a radical measure by an extreme government.”

“Nothing brings the Coalition together like some good, old-fashioned union bashing,” Di Natale said. “Their number-one priority is their own survival.”

In March, Turnbull took the extraordinary step of proroguing parliament, that is, to end the existing session of parliament without dissolving the houses in order to clear the formal schedule.

He recalled both houses specifically to pass both industrial relations bills, saying if they did not, a 2 July double dissolution would be a certainty.

An early poll is looking increasingly likely as Labor, the Greens and the majority of the crossbench dig in to oppose the bills.

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia ... spartandhp

[skippy]

I don't think the GG had an option. If the PM requests this the GG just accepts the advice.
I think the PM is using a piece of bullshit legislation to force a DD it could well backfire on him given Newspoll today has Labor ahead again for the second month in a row on 51/49tpp.
The government is a mess and I think the sooner we have an election the better.

[mantra]

If there is a DD - it's going to be close. Turnbull should have sat tight for a while longer, put up with the Senate's opposition and taken it to a normal election at the end of this year. He's taking a gamble because there hasn't been any good news about the government since Abbott took office. The debt Labor left has doubled in half the time yet there are so many cuts to services on the table and no positive policies to soften the blow. Howard sat out a hostile senate for 3 terms before he got his mandate. Turnbull wants too much too soon and has done nothing to earn it.

[Rorschach]

1. Conroy is a fcuking idiot always has been always will be.
2. The LW controlled mainstream media is beating up the Plibersek crap as per usual.
3. The laws are clear and legitimate, suck it up Skippy.

[Chardok]

You call yourselves a sovereign nation, yet you have a "Governor General". As long as you have that you'll never be a free people. You've a few good large bays down there, what's your thoughts on tea, eh?

[Rorschach]

You call yourselves a sovereign nation, yet you have a "Governor General". As long as you have that you'll never be a free people. You've a few good large bays down there, what's your thoughts on tea, eh?

You don't know much do you....

[Neferti]

Well, there was little on Foxtel to watch and I hadn't anything worthwhile recorded so I flicked across to APAC (Australian Public Affairs Channel). While Parliament is sitting you can watch the full proceedings there. Interesting. Very normal and no shouting abuse or much else. MPs getting up and stating their bit, thanking people (ANZAC Day approaching) ... no opposition hysterics.

Then Question Time began and ALL of our elected pollies carried on like a bunch of school children. Several got sent out ... Mr Speaker doesn't take crap.

It's all about SHOW PONIES ........ not one of them cares about "we, the people". MT actually sounds better in Parliament (gift of the gab) than he does when there is a mike poked into his face .... he won't get my vote though.

Andrew Leigh (ALP) my local MP is a twerp ... he has the voice you imagine a Jockey has, i.e. a prepubescent screech.

That was several hours of my Life that I lost.

Does anybody else waste time watching this stuff? At least you get to see the actual version and not what "their" ABC or other MSN want us to hear.

[skippy]

1. Conroy is a fcuking idiot always has been always will be.
2. The LW controlled mainstream media is beating up the Plibersek crap as per usual.
3. The laws are clear and legitimate, suck it up Skippy.

The Murdoch press that runs most of the print in this country are just so right wing hey? Not to mention Foxtel channels nine ten and seven or the rabid shock jocks of AM Radio that rule the airwaves
You really are fucking delusional.

[Rorschach]

Fairfax skippy did that slip your mind.... the ABC radio and TV.... the list goes on and on and on
The Guardian.
And any number of independent LW prog online blogs and rags.

[Rorschach]

Oh and Skippy.... you be fcuking delusional and dead WRONG!!!!!