Just run this past me again …. what exactly was Steve Fielding’s primary vote? Who precisely does he represent when he walks into the Senate to do the bidding of the private health insurers? Apart from God of course. That’s it, just under 2% of Victorians. Well done Stephen Conroy, one of the best deals you ever did.
Steve Fielding and the illusion of democracy
Copyright © 2008 Private Media Pty Ltd, Publishers of Crikey.com.au. All Rights Reserved.
Independent news, blogs and commentary on politics, media and business.
Editor: Jonathan Green.
Publishers: Eric Beecher, Diana Gribble.
Level 7, 22 William St, Melbourne, 3000. Ph: 1800 985 502 Fax: (03) 8623 9975
11 Comments
Well said Jonathan Green! The Australian Labor Party DESERVE all that they are going to receive from Senator Fielding! After all Fielding is a Labor Party creation, just like he is a Creationist! Sadly, thousands of Australians are waiting to gain an improvement in their rights and Senator Fielding will do everything to stop that! Right-wing Christians are all about rights for some and not for others. Christians have been above the law since the foundation of this country. We KNOW whose democracy they represent, dont we?
There was some logic in the effort to save SDA union hackette Jacinta Collins’ bacon at the 2004 Senate Election by doing a preference deal with a tiny cult. She is, after all, a xtian fundie herself, but of the Church of Rome persuasion.
I am amazed that we haven’t seen “Adim from Canberra” posting a spirited defence of Conroy’s cunning plan. He has one in his cut ‘n’ paste folder.
He is quite an admirer, albeit unrequieted, of Jacie herself if the lovingly photoshopped digital image which placed on Wikipedia to replace a less than flattering one a while back is anything to go by. Indeed he broke his vow of posting chastity on there to do so.
On the topic of Adam I just took the trouble to have a gander at his “Web Empire”. It now includes a lovingly crafted if design values free tour of Nazi era buildings in Berlin. Is Adam Paddy McG incarnate? I think we should be told.
albertross, the very thought of Senator Fielding AND Dr Adam is too much to endure!
You guys are in a league of your own.
Surely god can dopplegang anyone he/she/it likes, no need for a zombie to do his will.
Albert Ross, suggesting that I have Nazi sympathies is seriously defamatory. I post here under my own name, I have a public reputation to defend, and I know some very good lawyers. If you persist with this totally false and offensive insinuation I will take the matter further. I hope I make myself clear.
Mr Green and Crikey please take note.
Can’t see any such suggestion Adam.
Well I can, and it’s not the first time.
Also, for your information, the Fielding preference deal was cut by Eric Locke, then state secretary (from the left), not by Conroy.
Preference deals are just part of elections. Parties cut election deals in the hopes of improving their numbers in parliament, not out of charity to other parties. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. I’d imagine if the ALP had done better during the 2004 election campaign Fielding wouldn’t be there.
That being said, Senator Feilding is clearly out of his depth in the Senate and should think about resigning and being replaced by someone from his party who is better able to handle the balance of power in the Senate. I’m sure there must be someone in the party, or perhaps they could draft someone high profile enough to enhance their chances at the next election.
Well at least Adam you acknowledge the deal and defend it. John Brown (of peeing koala fame) was on the wireless this morning denigrating the deal and implying with the help of Kerry Chikarovski that his election was all the fault of minor party chicanery.