“The Prime Minister … clearly besting his opponent on dealing with an increasingly uncertain international environment.” – Laura Tingle @ ABC Leaders Debate
VOTERS WOULD be more informed of the political direction of the 48th parliament if the ABC had included the Greens Adam Bandt in the leaders debate. The government holds five seats in Qld, and the Greens hold three.
House of Representatives seats in Qld
Australian Labor Party 27.42%
Liberal National Party 39.64%
Green Party 12.94%
The government has 25 seats, and the Greens have 11 seats in the Federal Senate. In Brisbane, the Greens dominate the inner city seats, and in the 2025 election, may win another from the government, that being the seat of Moreton. The Greens won the ‘balance of power’ in the 44th federal parliament. However, at the state level, the Greens lost the seat of South Brisbane.
It is clear that a lot of labor voters are swinging back and forth between the Greens and the ALP because of the lacklustre performance by prime minister and foreign minister. Albanese failed to deliver on his promise for an Aboriginal voice in the parliament. Richard Marles signed up to the AUKUS agreement and Penny Wong refused to recognize Palestinian statehood. These failings have been brought to a head because of the election of Donald Trump to the presidency in the United States.
The amount of ass licking required by Trump must be a terrible embarrassment to the man himself, Kevin Rudd, who gave up his beloved China in order to win the ambassadorial post in Washington.
Finally, if Labor is to win the 2025 election, it is likely to be because of support from the Greens and independents. In Queensland, the LNP holds all the seats outside of Brisbane with the one exception of Kennedy, which is held by Bob Katter.
Concerning Laura Tingles statement, there is no real difference between LNP and Labor on international affairs.
Both major parties support the American alliance even though our major trading partner is China. Both parties support Israel. Neither party is prepared to recognise the state of Palestine. Both parties are complicit in the genocide in Gaza. Both parties support the supply of weapons directly to Israel. Both parties support the American spy base at Pine Gap. Both parties support the purchase of AUKUS submarines.
Domestically, there is little difference between the two parties . Both support negative gearing, which has caused an increase in house prices . Neither party has done anything to close the gap between first nation’s people and the rest of the population. Both parties support placing the CFMEU into administration, thereby depriving the construction industry of a viable union. The list is endless. Neither of the two major parties have done anything to tax Australia’s richest people. Rich people do not pay income tax in Australia.
The government has a tight grip on the union movement. The peak body of the unions in Queensland, the QCU supported the appointment of an administrator for the CFMEU. The Electrical Trades Union has refused a request from Justice for Palestine Magan-djin to join the ETU contingent after the QCU ordered police to attack the group at last year’s May Day. The QCU has demanded that JFP sign a code of conduct before allowing it to participate in the 2025 May Day celebrations. There is a precedent set by the BWIU when the Trades and Labour Council has refused entry into the May Day celebrations in the past. The bwi-u allowed a Palestinian contention to a Palestinian group to join its contingent in the 1970s.
People in the union and environment movements who saw the leaders debate must be thinking about putting both Dutton and Albo last in the 3 May 2025 federal election.
Ian Curr, 16 April 2025.
Dear readers, I have taken these comments from John Tracey’s Facebook page. I have chosen the context, yes, but because his claims relate to this article.
Ian Curr Here is a SPORTSDESK crystal ball prediction for you. I don’t understand why it has not happened already, probably a matter of political timing. There will be a Zionist attack campaign against Remah very soon, like the present anti-semitism action against Bandt in Melbourn. Remah won’t be able to brush it off as easily as Bandt, not just because she is Palestinian but because this is Queensland. My guess is the attack will be a reaction to next weeks march in Sunnybank. This will undo all the nice white Max/Larissa/small business/barbeque branding that half of Remah’s campaign has worked so hard to build.
If you are referring to the Zionist action in VCAT against Adam Bandt, it is pathetic to equate religious tolerance with Zionism which has never been tolerant of religion and emerged as a secular movement albeit right wing.
I don’t know what Adam Bandt said in reply but I would simply say that the greatest critics of Zionism are Jewish. Many of whom have spoken at Justice for Palestine rallies here in Brisbane Magan-djin. Both Adam Bandt and Max Chandler-Mather have spoken at JFP rallies and events during the genocide.
Are you seriously claiming that Greens and Teals voters are not opposed to the genocide, really? Wouldn’t you think that it be quite a big topic of conversation at BBQs?
You have failed to consider that Teals won in seats off the LNP where a significant minority of the voters were Jewish eg Goldstein, Wentworth and Mackellar.
The member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel, was a signatory to the Teals letter calling for funding to be restored to UNRWA, the Palestinian relief agency, after Netanyahu said it was funding HAMAS. Ten percent 10% of Zoe’s electorate are Jewish.