Author Topic: New PM  (Read 1228 times)

pat

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New PM
« on: May 24, 2022, 03:57:23 AM »
I'd be interested to know what you Aussies think of your new prime minister.

Morbius

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Re: New PM
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2022, 07:21:08 AM »
He's not a smooth talker and not particularly charismatic, but I think he's principled and authentic (the exact opposite of how the previous PM was perceived).  He's what Labor Party supporters call a 'true believer'.  He comes from a very humble background and has a strong social conscience.  I think his government will be very different from the last one.

whisky

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Re: New PM
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2022, 08:22:44 AM »
There will be those who sit on either side of the fence.
So whatever is said will upset about half the audience.
C'est la vie.

From personal experience:
I previously ran a transport related business.
I wrote to the then-Minister for Transport ( Albanese ).

His answer was brief, glib and whilst sounding warm and fuzzy, was totally inappropriate.
After several tries, we decided that the then Government were not at all interested in green initiatives, except to make nice sounding headlines.

In summary, I have a very low level of respect, and I have not seen anything to alter my perception.

Apologies if I upset anybody.

Michael
« Last Edit: May 24, 2022, 01:46:16 PM by whisky »

Greynomad

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Re: New PM
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2022, 10:21:24 AM »
While not my preferred party and prime minister to lead our country, I do wish him well, and hope that they are able to make the country a bit better for all, and perhaps reunite to some extent.

The previous government and prime minister did not excite me much either, as I feel unfortunately, like much of the world, the conservative parties have moved too far to the right for many supporters. No one party is the holder of all good ideas to make their country or world a better place.

I just hope that the pressure of actually needing to lead, rather than criticise from opposition, is not a step too far for Albanese and his party. Unfortunately, I just saw a few cracks appearing during press conferences, where he ignored questions, didn’t seem to know simple important facts when asked, and several times avoided or walked out on the press group.

We will soon see, hopefully not to our peril!

ridethetalk

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Re: New PM
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2022, 10:46:49 AM »
While I didn't give my first preference vote to Labor (isn't our preferential voting system excellent!), I am now more hopeful that we can do our bit (and hopefully a lot more) to address the climate crisis.

I live in Melbourne and so have largely been insulated from the bushfires and floods that are the outward manifestations of climate change coming home to roost. Having said that, I suffer from exercise asthma (I suffer when I over-exert myself physically but the level at which this kicks in is higher the fitter I am so keeping fitness up is important) and, during the bushfires in 2019-2020, even though I was several hundred miles from the fire front, I found myself coughing my lungs out while sitting in my lounge!

I have for many years found it quite perplexing that Australia, with its incredible renewable energy resources, is so wedded to digging up coal and burning it, especially as the health effects of doing so robs the people in places like the Latrobe Valley here in Victoria of years off their lives.

I'm also looking to this government to address the Uluru statement from the heart; women's safety and equality and integrity in politics. We've lost faith in the political process over the last ten years and hopefully we can regain some in the next few years.
The greenest watt ever produced is the one you never use. Playing as jk1956 & John is my name.
When we come out of the Covid-19 crisis, we need to make sure recovery efforts address the Climate Crisis (which can't be solved using social distancing!)

pat

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Re: New PM
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2022, 04:50:15 PM »
While I didn't give my first preference vote to Labor (isn't our preferential voting system excellent!)

Quite the opposite from ours, then. We have a ridiculous first past the post in each constituency system which, in the last general election, resulted in us being saddled with a Conservative government with a massive 80 seat majority even though less than 50% of the electorate actually voted for that party. And boy, aren't we suffering as a result.
« Last Edit: May 24, 2022, 04:55:51 PM by pat »

yelnats

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Re: New PM
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2022, 08:24:45 PM »
Quote
We have a ridiculous first past the post in each constituency system which, in the last general election, resulted in us being saddled with a Conservative government with a massive 80 seat majority even though less than 50% of the electorate actually voted for that party.

We would have had a very different result if we had a first past the post system with the left wing vote split between Labor and the Greens, whereas the right wing vote is only split between the Liberal/Country Party and extreme right wing parties who get a few % each.

I'm also amazed that the French needed a run-off presidential election.  Can't they write 1, 2, 3, 4 in order of preference?

But then they have 60-10, 4-20, 4-20-10 instead of 70, 80, 90 which the Swiss-French do.
« Last Edit: May 24, 2022, 11:43:46 PM by yelnats »

Ozzyjack

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Re: New PM
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2022, 11:56:26 AM »
From personal experience:
I previously ran a transport related business. I wrote to the then-Minister for Transport ( Albanese ).

His answer was brief, glib and whilst sounding warm and fuzzy, was totally inappropriate. After several tries, we decided that the then Government were not at all interested in green initiatives, except to make nice sounding headlines.

In summary, I have a very low level of respect, and I have not seen anything to alter my perception. Apologies if I upset anybody.

I am not upset, Michael.  But I should point out that it is quite likely that Albo never saw your letter.

I am not familiar with the subject of your correspondence or the Transport portfolio.  However, I am familiar with the handling of Ministerial correspondence by the Minister's Offices of both persuasions.  Only a small percentage of the incoming correspondence goes into the minister's in-tray - personal letters and matters of high policy.   The rest gets shuffled out to the relevant department for a reply drafted by a mid to lower level clerk. The draft is vetted by a Section and Branch head for accuracy and tone and sent to the Minister's Office.  One of his private Secretaries will vet it for political correctness and the Minister's signature is put on the reply electronically and dispatched.

People unfamiliar with parliamentary offices that watch Yes, Minister laugh and think it couldn't really be like that.  It is.
Regards, Jack

Ozzyjack

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Re: New PM
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2022, 12:38:00 PM »
He's not a smooth talker and not particularly charismatic, but I think he's principled and authentic (the exact opposite of how the previous PM was perceived).  He's what Labor Party supporters call a 'true believer'.  He comes from a very humble background and has a strong social conscience.  I think his government will be very different from the last one.

I totally agree with all of that but I would add a few more things.  Snake oil salesmen make great campaigners but they are often lacking in the implementation department.   You not only have to be a salesman as PM you need to be a good leader and have a good team to lead. There are few in the new opposition who can match up to Penny Wong, Tania Plibersek, Katy Gallagher, Tony Bourke, Chris Bowen, Jim Chalmers, Jason Clare, and Richard Marles to name a few that come immediately to mind.  When you see these people with Albo it is unmistakable from their body language that they like and respect him.

Grace Tame, former Australian of the year said "Autism blesses those of us who have it with the ability to spot fakes from a mile off"



I think Albo and his team will do alright.




Regards, Jack

Ozzyjack

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Re: New PM
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2022, 09:28:10 PM »


Regards, Jack

whisky

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Re: New PM
« Reply #10 on: May 26, 2022, 08:04:01 AM »
However, I am familiar with the handling of Ministerial correspondence by the Minister's Offices of both persuasions.  Only a small percentage of the incoming correspondence goes into the minister's in-tray - personal letters and matters of high policy.   The rest gets shuffled out to the relevant department for a reply drafted by a mid to lower level clerk. The draft is vetted by a Section and Branch head for accuracy and tone and sent to the Minister's Office.  One of his private Secretaries will vet it for political correctness and the Minister's signature is put on the reply electronically and dispatched.

People unfamiliar with parliamentary offices that watch Yes, Minister laugh and think it couldn't really be like that.  It is.

Yes, I understand.
There was a series of polite, brief and precise letters ( from me ).
There was a series of dismissive and impolite ( if not downright rude ) replies.

Notwithstanding the mechanisms of large organisations ( public and private ), can you imagine the outcry if a serious letter about a serious matter was sent to the CEO of a large organisation, and was 'trashed' by lower level staff.
When called to account, if a CEO responded with, 'our processes meant I didn't even get to see it" he/she would be hounded and quite properly so.

Should our government departments be held to a lower, similar or higher standard than ( large ) private organisations like say a bank ??
I would hope that we expect our government to be towards the highest standards.
If not, they properly should be shamed ( regardless of their political leanings ).

Cheers
Michael

Ozzyjack

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Re: New PM
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2022, 03:19:16 PM »
There was a series of polite, brief and precise letters ( from me ).
There was a series of dismissive and impolite ( if not downright rude ) replies.

Michael,

That would be most unusual.  One of the Minister's secretary's responsibilities in ok-ing the reply is to ensure that the reply does not lose a vote.  Politicians take the view that every vote counts.

The British are very accomplished at this art.  This somewhat dated example is illustrative.



Regards, Jack

whisky

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Re: New PM
« Reply #12 on: May 27, 2022, 07:25:05 AM »


That would be most unusual.  One of the Minister's secretary's responsibilities in ok-ing the reply is to ensure that the reply does not lose a vote.  Politicians take the view that every vote counts.



Indeed that is a sad but accurate observation.

My post was in response to 'what do we think of our new PM ?'
My info is sadly my true thoughts.

It gets worse, if you want to delve deeper.

Briefly, a Federal Department of Transport meeting was held to ( in part ) discuss the topic of interest.
As a commercial stakeholder I was neither allowed to participate, nor make a written submission.
Only Feds and State seconded staff were permitted.

I was able through FOI to obtain the minutes of the meeting.
Outright falsehoods were presented.

I subsequently challenged the Chair of the meeting, in writing, as to whether he was happy for minutes of a meeting he chaired to include falsehoods.

His stunning response was 'the minutes truly reflect what was said, whether or not what was said is accurate is none of his business'.
Furthermore, submissions from external stakeholders ( commercial businesses ) were of no concern.

All this in the name of the then-Minister.
So my opinion remains what it is.

Again I ask, what would be said if the CEO of a large organisation ( say a bank ) acted in such a manner ( whether personally, or simply on his watch ) ?

Michael

Ozzyjack

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Re: New PM
« Reply #13 on: May 27, 2022, 04:16:46 PM »
Hi Michael,

You have tweaked my interest although I never had any dealings with the Department of infrastructure and Transport.  They were only a small department of about a thousand staff.

Can you remember what area of the Department you were dealing with?  It also looks like the meeting you were talking about was some sort of COAG subcommittee.  Would that be right?




I find it a bit strange after the findings of the 2017 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry that you would pick on the CEOs of banks as a standard to live up to. ;)
« Last Edit: May 29, 2022, 04:38:33 PM by Ozzyjack »
Regards, Jack

whisky

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Re: New PM
« Reply #14 on: May 27, 2022, 04:55:18 PM »
Hi Jack

I am happy to dig out the paperwork.

My outgoing stuff is easily located on my computer system ( even though it nearing 20 years ago ).
Incoming stuff was never scanned, but remained as hard copy, so it is a bit harder for me to find.

My point with banks was:

1
The CEO ultimately bears responsibility for both his own actions, and for the actions of the team under him.
A CEO should rightfully be held to ( appropriate ) account for shortcomings in either sphere.
I guess that very few would argue with that.
"The buck stops here" analogy.

2
How do those principles compare to a government department.
A similarly large organisation.
Most would argue ( I do ) that similar principles ( perhaps even to to higher standards ) should apply.