A quick glance at recent headlines reminded me of a question I put to fellow whisperer ‘Catching up’ recently.
“Has Wilkie done a deal with Abbott?
Just asking the question seemed a little out of place at the time, but now, I’m far from sure about the answer.
Whether ‘deal’ is the right word or not, something has changed over the last few days, just as Mr. Wilkie’s statements changed.
ANDREW Wilkie has warned Labor will pay a high price for its pokies reform betrayal, vowing to pursue “warmer” relations with the Coalition, to vote against key budget measures and even to bring down the government if it acts improperly.
.
The government now views the other elements of its September 2010 power agreement with Mr Wilkie as void, and Ms Gillard will no longer meet regularly with him and will deny him access to Finance and Treasury briefings. But the government’s $340 million commitment to Royal Hobart Hospital will be honoured.
That makes sense.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/37069309/The-Hon-Julia-Gillard-and-Andrew-Wilkie-the-Parties-agreement
Mr. Wilkie has dealt himself a Joker for the time being at least as the government is still intent on progressing the pokies reform and has released documents which show it will pay clubs at least $37 million to trial poker machine restrictions in the Australian Capital Territory.
The Government has now released the offer it sent to Clubs ACT on Friday, promising to compensate for and fund the changes to all pokies.
It promises to pay clubs a monthly compensation fee totalling $36 million for the year, and is also offering a total of more than $1 million for training, specialist workers and business planning.
A committee will then review whether more payments are needed during the trial.
New pokies plan
- Original deadline abandoned.
- Pre-commitment built-in to new machines from 2013.
- 12-month trial of mandatory pre-commitment in 2013.
- Trial to end early 2014 and be reviewed.
- Poker machines to display electronic warnings.
- $250 limit on ATM withdrawls.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-22/pokies-fallout-deepens-as-trial-cost-revealed/3786972
The real road-block in Wilkie’s way is the powerful cashed-up lobbyists, and if he thinks for a minute that an Abbott-led Coalition government would upset it’s powerful corporate friends he’s a fool.
An Abbott government might put forward some sort of legislation in an effort to please Wilkie and to wedge the Labor party, but it would not be intended to harm the Clubs and pubs and their pokies profits.
For the Coalition this is about bringing down the government, not the pokies industry.
Another point to consider is the Coalition’s desire to see this man out of Parliament….
A potholed pokies path.
Craig Thomson
- From: The Daily Telegraph
- January 23, 2012
THERE is little doubt that Australia has a gambling problem and in particular, a poker machine gambling problem.
The worst of the problem exists in NSW and there is a side to this story receiving very little attention.
The Wyong Shire local government area in my electorate on the Central Coast has the fourth highest number of poker machines in the state.
In 2010, $80 million was lost by Wyong residents on pokies.
We are talking about an area where the average income in 2009 was $39,694.
Nearly a third of the area’s wage and salary earners are paid less than $20,800 per annum. This is incredibly disproportionate and clearly something needs to be done.
After reporting these comments from Mr. Thomson in The Daily Telegraph,
The Prime Minister’s decision at the weekend was a victory for common sense.
It was timely and important.
The PM provided judgment and skill to course a path that is sensible and logical.
It is something that I and many NSW Labor MPs have been calling for – a comprehensive trial so that ultimately any legislation that comes before parliament is backed by scientific research.
Given the lack of evidence for a “silver bullet” for this issue, this is a commonsense approach. To do otherwise would have flown in the face of proper policy making.
It would have put the horse a mile in front of the cart, hoping the cart kept up.
This way we can be sure what works and what doesn’t.
Mr. Thomson makes the point that less than 2 per cent of the poker machine takings go back to the community.
news.com twisted the above words into something quite opposite….no surprise in that.
This is what came out of the propaganda machine:-
Craig Thomson undermines Julia Gillard’s reason for breaking her pokie promise, as her plan was improper policy making
There is another factor at play here and that is the role of some States.
Law shift is pokies jackpot for clubs:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/law-shift-is-pokies-jackpot-for-clubs-20120122-1qc94.html
ONE of Sydney’s premier leagues clubs stands to reap a financial benefit from a state government decision to make it easier for registered clubs to gain approval for up to 150 poker machines in new areas of the state.
The move significantly lowers the bar for the approval of poker machines in clubs established next to new housing estates or new development areas.
When Opposition Leader Tony Abbott offered one billion dollars for the Royal Hobart Hospital Mr. Wilkie rejected the offer.
Mr Wilkie described Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s offer of $340 million to redevelop the Royal Hobart Hospital as the only credible offer, despite the $1 billion put on the table by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
”I couldn’t even have confidence that they would find that $1 billion, particularly on Thursday after the black hole appeared in their costings,” Mr Wilkie told The Age yesterday.
So, Mr. Wilkie has been around the block….firstly, as a member of the Liberal party, twice as a Greens candidate, then as an Independent candidate in a Tasmanian state election, and finally winning as an Independent and until a few days ago, being a player in the federal Minority government.
Currently, he is ”warming” to the Coalition.
A backward step?
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shaneinqld
Kevin Rennie
patriciawa
lunalava
Catching up
wixxy
Pip, I notice that within a few minutes of you posting this there have already been four ‘shares’ posted on Facebook. Well done, young lady. You command an audience.
Congratulations Pip, a well researched and thoughtful approach to the topic.
Thank You Miglo and Min….
Migs has a way with words doesn’t he Min
A special thank you to Min for her help and patience with the block quotes
Only with pretty lasses, Pip.
Further to my reference to Craig Thomson MP, the Coalition and news hounds have wasted no time moving their campaign to the next chapter ie., Slipper and Thomson.
Radio National interview with Manager of Opposition Business
Christopher Pyne
SUBJECTS: Andrew Wilkie, Fair Work Australia investigation of Craig Thomson
http://www.pyneonline.com.au/media/transcripts/radio-national-breakfast
Christopher Pyne trained as a lawyer and entered Parliament at the age of 26, but he has enough knowledge in his skull to presume the guilt of Craig Thomson who is under investigation by Fair Work Australia.
At the request of Liberal Senator George Brandis two separate Police inquiires are now underway.
Not only that but he seems to be implying that personnel at Fair Work Australia are open to government interference in the investigation of Craig Thomson, because that investigation has also taken too long,
The object of the exercise is to have Thomson expelled from the Parliament.
This is very relevent for an Opposition which is desperate to have an election.
Aww
Pip, good post, so Wilkie says currently he is warming to the coalition, but Tony Abbott would have resinded the policy Labor put through if it was along the lines of Wilkies plan
“Mr Abbott this week said the Coalition would seek to rescind Labor’s poker machine reform if it won the next election.
Speaking at a clubs community event on Tuesday night, Mr Abbott said: “If this legislation is passed by the parliament, and if we then subsequently form a government, I predict that we will rescind it””.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/christian-lobby-attacks-tony-abbott-over-poker-machine-reform/story-fn59niix-1226178467280
so is Wilkie trying to blackmail Gillard into changing her mind by threatening to swap camps.
Pip @9.43pm..Migs certainly does.
Pip, I believe that it’s now only the Victorian police. The NSW police could not find sufficient evidence to warrant pressing charges.
Hi Augustus, it doesn’t make any sense to me either !
Min, do you think that will stop the Coalition bleating about it …
Pip, the only thing that actually makes sense to me and please forgive my conspiracy theorist mind is that xenophon has been spending a lot of time in the background, and wilkie is naive, that is how I have been seeing things, why I cannot answer it, what I do know was that Gillard’s plan wasn’t a shock to wilkie he even stated that he had to compromise to get his policy up and then all of a sudden no deal, go figure huh!
Well Mr. Abbott has been enclosed in secret talks in Sydney for the last two days.
A long time for the man to be in one place.
Does anyone believe that he is not working hard plotting the PM’s downfall.
One thing that annoys me is Mr. Pyne once again saying that a hung government, is not functional.
This minority government has functioned extremely well. Some might not like what it is producing, but it is functional..
What is even more scary is that Mr. Wilkie with his overblown sense of self importance is being led on by Mr. Abbott.
Who was it that convinced Mr. Wilkie that there are votes for his plan in the Opposition. Can one imagine any Coalition crossing the floor at this stage to vote with him.
Yes, Mr.Wilkie I am afraid is going to learn very quickly what real treachery is.
I have the feeling that we may also learn at the same time what as truly non functioning government is.
Maybe that needs to happen to bring some reality back into our political system.
Pip, it makes perfect sense – Mr Wilke has just realised he now has zero bargaining power left. The only way he can exercise any power now is to threaten to side with Mr Abbott. I don’t really believe he ever would, but the threat is all he has left…
Augustus, I debated whether to mention Xenophon in the post, and decided to wait and see whether anyone else had similar thoughts….
Stunt man Xenophon was all over the media this week, and as the week progressed Wilkie’s comments became more antsy.
Any connection, who knows ?
Cu, “Will You Walk Into My Parlour? Said the spider….”
Bacchus with a person like Mr. Wilkie, one never knows.
He feels badly done by. If he took two seconds to look at what has occurred, the PM gave him ample time to compromise. He never took the opportunity.
He immediately start rushing around the country, but not finding any support.
He has put his faith in Coalition members crossing the floor.
It was Mr. Wilkie’s bill and he should have been working for months to get the numbers. No, Mr. Wilkie expected the PM to do what was his responsibility.
Christopher Pyne takes the cake with his attack on Gillard: “what many regard as the most ruthless political act since Richard III disposed of his nephews in the Tower of London”.
If Mr. Wilkie is correct, he can move an amendent and prove the PM wrong.
Kevin, shame on you for listening to Christopher Pyne.
That’ll be five bucks and two Hail Mary’s.
Hi Kevin, I’m glad you turned up , thank you for this Link on Facebook
Windsor comes to PM’s defence on pokies
http://www.smh.com.au/national/windsor-comes-to-pms-defence-on-pokies-20120123-1qe1j.html
Kevin that was a classic interview was it not.
Talk about indignation..
Pip, a deal with Abbott just seems too obvious, sounds like Wilkie has been “advised” to attempt blackmail, which if is the case will blow up in his face.
Kevin @ 10.37pm, methinks Christopher is a little prone to histrionics !
I’m sure Mr Wilke has been working very hard to get his bill up CU – he was chairperson of the pokies reform committee. In the end, he doesn’t have the numbers, but I still say Ms Gillard has made a blunder in how she’s handled the politics of this – it will cost her votes. There were much better ways of handling this to achieve the same outcome, without losing the skin she has…
Wilkie has been threatening to withdraw his support for the government ever since he started to get publicity for this issue. I sort of understood this at the time, Wilkie wanted it publicised and to make threats he may have seen as a way of achieving this.
However with zero to be achieved by siding with Abbott, one really does have to wonder about Wilkie. When Wilkie sided with Labor he inferred that Abbott was tarred with Howard’s brush.
Min, there’s also the old matter of Wilkie in his whistle-blowing days, being referred to by Alexander Downer as just “a staffer’.
And not to forget when Wilkie won the seat of Denison and it looked like a hung Parliament Abbott was on the phone to Wilkie apologising for the treatment he received from the Liberal party when he became a whistle blower.
Good post, Pip. I do think Mr. X has been around Wilkie too much of late. But surely even Xenophon would advise Wilkie against dealing with Abbott? Mind you, I guess Wilkie’s judgement could be seen to be questionable from the start. Making his support of the government depend entirely on the passage of pokies’ reform legislation in a hung parliament where crucial independent MPs would be unlikely to support it was rather naive, as many in the MSM pointed out at the time.
Now those same media commentators are joining in the chorus of accusations about Julia Gillard’s treachery! What hypocrisy! Why aren’t they pointing out that the only reason there will be no reform achieved is not because the government has not prepared the legislation ready for presentation but because it just can’t get the numbers up to prevent its defeat by Tony Abbott’s Coalition.
So, as you rightly point out, what credible deal could Tony Abbott offer to Wilkie that will buy his vote and give government to the Coaltion?
Bacchus, I don’t think it matters how the PM handles this. Whatever she does is going to be twisted and distorted by Murdoch’s media hacks into a pro-Coalition story, just as Craig Thomson’s article was.
There’s an interesting take on the media’s handling of the pokies issues at
http://thepoliticsproject.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/gillards-credibility-goes-down-the-pokies-along-with-media-integrity/.
If I or anyone else has already linked to it, forgive me. It’s very hot here and it’s been a long day!
Hi patricia, and thank you.
Xenophon left his SA electorate to enter Federal politics without any noticeable improvement in his pokies reforms that I can think of.
I agree with you about the media, it doesn’t matter what this government does, it is portrayed as a disaster, it’s just a matter of working our whether they are simply reporting Liberal media releases. or vice versa.
They have their own ‘facts’.
Thanks for the link, it neatly sums up the state of play .
Wilkie was only given relevance when Gillard signed his agreement. Gillard never had any interest in so called “problem gambling”. Gillard needed a vote and Wilkie complied. Gillard’s latest “poker marsheen refooorm”thought bubble is merely a tidy up of the agreement train wreck with Wilkie.
Pip, MPC has been shuffled off to the never never by Gillard. As an issue it is dead in the water. It died because it never had the support of Labor backbenchers.
The coalition doesn’t need to deal with Wilkie. At the next election, at best, Wilkie might retain his seat but regardless of his electoral outcome Wilkie will be impotent and irrelevant. (as he should be)
The ClubsAustralia campaign, waged on behalf of the millions of members who own their clubs, has been been just too hard for Gillard. Pip it was always roing to unfold this way.
Geoff, I think Wilkie was given prominence as soon as it was known that the election result would be very close.
Geoff, I agree..the issue of poker machines has never been a priority for any federal government as it has always been seen as a States’ issue. They are the ones who hand out the permits.
“Gillard never had any interest in so called “problem gambling”. ”
Where is the evidence for this statement?
I suggest the only evidence shows that Labor was concerned with problem gambling long before the deal with Mr. Wilkie.
It was the Labor government that undertook the Productivity Commission investigating the extent of the problem and ways of dealing with it.
We can always ignore a few facts, for the throw away line that until the Wilkie deal, Labor did not care.
It is true that the PM did not accept that a $1 cap was feasible and went down the path of pre-commitment. Mr. Wilkie agreed to this.
It was always unreasonable of Mr. Wilkie to threaten the government with reprisals it there was no success.
Mr. Wilkie’s promise for this was in place, regardless of what the PM did. If the PM went ahead and it was voted down, Mr. Wilkie would have still walked.
Mr. Wilkie’s threats are no less threatening than that coming from Clubs Australia and their cohorts.
One fact that we do know, is that the Coalition has no interest in the matter except to say they would rescind any legislation, regardless of where it came from.
In spite of what the media might say, the PM is proposing strong action in assisting the addicts. It, if public support is kept up, has a big chance of success.
Mr. Wilkie and the Greens still have the opportunity to amend the propose legislation, that is if they have the support
My preferred option to get rid of the high intensity machines. Losing $120 per hour should satisfy all players.
This ignores the fact that as much damage to be done to those with less wealth or income by the lower intensity machines.
The PM appears to be acknowledging this by her extension of the programme to all machines.
It is a big industry, that also involves the states. Some of the anger should be also aimed at them.
It is true that because of the independence of the states on the gambling dollar, many suspect Labor and I also suggest the Liberals desire to do anything.
That does not mean that the PM intended to do nothing. They would not have instigated the Productivity Commission investigations if this was so.
Mr. Wilkie should have spent his time doing more to get the votes. The ability to get his proposals up, rested on his shoulders more than on the PM.
Mr. Wilkie is taking no responsibility for the present situation. That is not fair or realistic on his part.
Politics is still and always will be the art of the possible.
It is not fair to demand that this PM performs miracles.
No Geoff, it is not true that Labor did not care or were not going to do anything.
It is true that the Coalition does not care, will do nothing. It goes further for them, they will rescind anything that is done.
Wilkie’s threat of withdrawing support for the government if the government was unable to get the legislation through precisely and in the exact form that he was demanding always reminded me of the child who wants a pony for Christmas. And if I don’t get it, then I’m going to cancel Christmas!
Geoff, I think you’ll find that as usual, you’re wrong about the Gillard government’s interest in pokie reform. It was on the agenda well before the last election.
The government is following the Productivity Commission report on gambling which it commisioned, but don’t let a few inconvenient facts get in the way of your dissemination of Liars Party and msm lies, distortions, obfuscations and misrepresentations.
Clubs Australia is populated by a bunch of hypocrites who are actively seeking to insert more and more pokies into low income areas with absolutely NO concern about the appalling consequences for the real victims of pokie addiction; their families, friends, employers and fellow employees.
All cheered on by Liealot and his supporters.
In SA some time ago, we saw to what lengths a gambling addict will go when an employee of Alan Scott embezzled $20+ million to feed his addiction.
Luckily, the company didn’t go broke, but even you should be able to see the implications for collateral damage (to borrow a term)-businesses could go under and people could lose their jobs.
Likewise, families of pokie addicts could find themselves in financial ruin as a result of this pernicious addiction, a situation which leaves Liealot and the Liars Party completely unmoved, apparently.
As usual, Liealot’s sympathies lie only with the big end of town; sod the victims!
My mother told me a story of a family who lived in their street when she was a child during the depression. The father was an alcoholic and a problem gambler. My grandmother asked his long suffering wife which addiction was worse.
“Gambling,” she replied. “It doesn’t take much money for him to get drunk and pass out, but he can lose money indefinitely when he’s gambling!” Tell me, who suffered most because of the husband’s behaviour? It sure wasn’t him.
A thought has just occurred. Is there any info on who is most likely to become addicted to the pokies, or is it evenly spread over both sexes?
Jane, is that the same Alan Scott who said the Power would never win a premiership under Mark Williams?
He was wrong.
Driving the pussycat to the vet’s this morning to have her stitches out, I was listening to our local ABC announcer egging on a financial commentator as he rubbished the government & Wayne Swan in particular for pursuing the promise to return to surplus. Yes folks, it seems that the numbers required to fulfil this promise simply aren’t there, with the best will in the world it can’t be done & consequently there’s no point at all in trying. They should, in fact, walk away from it. I’m sure the media will understand.
This is straight out of of the old Mad magazine game of “Switcheroo” where a number of different storylines can be got from the one idea.
Oh dear Miglo, the time is drawing closer to when we agree to disagree
Go Crows
Stuff the bloody Crows. What a mob of . . . Dare I say it . . . Pansies.
BSA Bob, it gets more annoying listening to the ABC egging on the naysayers!
I’m not too fussed in running with a deficit a bit longer. I believe the desire to return to a surplus is driven by the flopposition. If we achieve it, good. Well done to Swan. If we don’t, listen to the screams from the Abbott zoo.
Jane, just from memory..it’s about 65-35 male to female. The theory being that it’s women who have to balance the family budget and put food on the table and so are therefore more likely to consider money in these terms rather than as just entertainment.
PANSIES!! Game on Miglo
Migs @12.52pm, certainly is. A nasty piece of work by all accounts.
Thanks, Min. I had a sneaking suspicion that may be the case. It also might be because men are more likely to indulge in risky behaviours. Whatever the reason, pokie addiction causes a lot of heartache for the families, friends, co-workers and employers.
Gee whiz, Dennis Shanahan has a news flash – Abbott is planning and plotting
Should we tell him, most of us here had already worked this out for ourselves!
Craig Thomson key to Tony Abbott’s plotting
by: Dennis Shanahan, Political editor
From: The Australian January 24, 2012
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/craig-thomson-key-to-tony-abbotts-plotting/story-e6frgd0x-1226251717527
WITHIN 48 hours of Andrew Wilkie withdrawing crucial support from the Gillard government, Tony Abbott has started building the argument to move a no-confidence motion against Labor on the grounds of maladministration and integrity.
The Opposition Leader is not going to rush to move a motion of no-confidence in the Gillard government when the parliament resumes the week after next, but the campaign to build the conditions for a successful no-confidence motion and early election has begun.
Login to read the rest of this article
Or not….
Not.
Yes, Pip, the Crows are a bunch of pansies and I’m sure I’ll have jane’s support on that observation.
Jane will be nodding her head the moment she reads this.
Miglo this is serious….
Calling all Crow supporters ….
Vigorously, Migs.
And their supporters are pansies too. Feral ones.
Pip, Liealot will be comprehensively f*cked if Craig Thomson is found to have no case to answer, particularly if his pet boa constrictor Slagabella is found to have a case to answer. How delicious.
Perhaps there could then be a conversation about honesty and integrity.
If that were to be the case and Slagabella was removed, Liealot would still be in shitter’s ditch. And I doubt that under those circumstances Wilkie could bring himself to support the Liars.
Well, I think we have to give Pip the benefit of the doubt, Migs. She must have squillions of brownie points for brilliantly baiting several undesirables and for the links she digs up.
Time for Happy Hour! Clink* I think I have a spot of Veuve lurking in the bowels of my fridge. Gargle, anyone?
I wouldn’t mind a drink tonight, Jane. In about an hour’s time I’ll be hearing the cork pop.
It’s a damn shame I have to drink the bottle by myself. But I’ll deal with it.
Jane,
If Craig Thomson is found to be innocent, be assured that this fact will be shoved under the covers somewhere.
What are the charges again. Have charges even to be laid or is this still a police enquiry. That’s right, it ‘s the latter.
BTW, Collingwood supporters are almost as feral as Crow’s supporters. Some of them can be quite nasty.
Very noble of you to make the sacrifice, Migs.
Antony, yes, still a police enquiry despite all the pressure from Brandis and the Liars Party. NSW plod have said they can find nothing which leaves the VicPol still to complete their inquiries.
I’m sure Mr Baillieu is doing all he can to pressure the cops into saying there’s a case to answer, but I imagine he’s well and truly blotted his copybook, so they won’t respond too well to any crap from him.
Fingers crossed that Slagabella gets hers. She would have to be the nastiest pond life in Parliament, imo. Although I’m sure there is plenty of competition for her spot.
“Slagabella”. Thanks jane.
Currently wiping monitor down so the white wine doesn’t stick.
Not into name calling but that one works.
Yep, there’s a lot of liars around so you just have to take what they say with a good pinch of salt.
Wilkie an ex Green support Abbott. Wilkie has stuffed it and he knows it.
Am about to walk up to the bar and order that bottle.
I love this one. Thank you to my cousin Dave for reminding me of the parties where all the (deaf) Jenkins and Bonner families sang these ones around the piano.
An additional note regarding the extreme storms which we on the north coast NSW and SE Qld are currently going through. This is again courtesy of my cousin Dave who has been a rock for me in recent times:
The wisdom of Dave (who I hope we’ll see again on this blog..hint, hint..)
Quote: Just mother nature doing her thing, don’t worry mother nature is a grand old girl what she takes away she’ll give back again.
Min, that reminds me of a little Mitchell blue coat I wore many moons ago
I must admit I’m in favour of the limits being set on ATM withdrawals in clubs. The umpteen people I argued with last weekend – those people who didn’t want the government telling them how much they can gamble – feel the same about the ATMs.
Between us, isn’t that much of the same thing?
Could John Howard have been right about Andrew Wilkie?
I prefer to think Andrew Wilkie was right about John Howard.
Min @9.32pm 25/1, we in SE SA won’t object if you send some of that rainy weather on down here. Haven’t had a drop in months. Your cousin Dave was a wise man, btw.
If Neil of Sydney were about he’d be suggesting that today’s drama was all stage managed by the Government in order to remove Wilkie from the front pages.
Jane, with pleasure. I’ll ship some straight down to you..I’ve got plenty.
I think it dumped itself on Canberra. The rain, that is.
I mean, whoever would want to dump on Canberra.
Mr, Pyne reckons after Mr. Albanese gaffe, he won’t be able to sling (could not hear word) across the chamber.
Wishful thinking I believe on Mr. Pynes part.
If what the pictures show is true, the police are probably right not to lay charges, except maybe one on their own side.
I do not believe the PM was in any danger, except from her own security men.
Thanks, Min, from the bottom of my tanks.
No t’anks needed Jane
Ha ha.
I’m glad Andrew Bolt is on holidays. Can you imagine the spin?
Miglo, sadly Andrew has been back from holidays for about a week. Yes he has already started the spin, but mostly on Albanese.
No, someone has souvenir the shoe.