Does the Senate have a plumbing problem — with a back-up of 41 bills blocked by the Coalition last year — or is it the Government responsible for an outpouring of effluence by accusing the Opposition of obstructionism just because it can’t get its own way on every issue?
Certainly, this is one of the most stubborn Senates in history, and having to negotiate with the likes of Nick Xenophon and Steve Fielding on every single divisive issue is an understandable frustration for the party, but as Bernard Keane reported (subscriber only) in yesterday’s Crikey Daily Mail, the ALP itself was the cause of constipation in the upper house on more than one occasion whilst in opposition:
For two years the Government’s PBS reforms are stalled, at substantial cost to the Budget, until Mark Latham belatedly realises he needs to find some savings for his health policy in the lead-up to the election, and decides they should be allowed through the Senate.
Tony Abbott has finally agreed not to block the government’s paid parental plans, but does the Mad Monk and his congregation need to stop taking a dump on every little piece of legislation the government tries to push through? Or is it time for Rudd to shit — and call a double dissolution election — or get off the pot?
Here’s how the pundits are calling it this morning:
The Australian
Editorial: Stop bleating about the Senate and start talking
The Rudd government seems more interested in taking the easy road of blaming an obstructionist Senate than walking the hard yards of negotiation with their opponents.
Sarah Hanson-Young: Labor must negotiate with Liberal and Greens
It may be awkward for the government that their weak proposal doesn’t match up to other available options, but that’s no excuse for not working to achieve the best public policy outcome.
Dennis Shanahan: Labor locks in on negative message
It’s political rhetoric, hypocritical and empty cant, aimed at damaging Tony Abbott and continuing attempts to reinforce negative and hostile images of the Liberal leader.
Sydney Morning Herald
Editorial: Red leather fetishists
Our senators have grown too self-important … They should realise that they belong to a house of review, not a house of opportunistic obstruction.
Jessica Irvine: To stop this hogwash, pull the trigger
… he power to change the situation rests not in Abbott’s hands, but with the government. The only way to end this madness is to have an election in which, hopefully, one party emerges in control of the Senate…
ABC
Fran Kelly: All roads lead to the Senate
KEvin Rudd has to enter the fray … the Government, led by the Prime Minister, needs to get over its frustrations and try harder.
Elsewhere…
Mumble, Peter Brent: Senate obstructionism? Notes on Senate election
… for anything to pass it has to be supported by the Greens and Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon. Is there much these three would agree on?
I still laugh hard when I hear Stephen Conroy complain about having to negotiate with Steve Fielding. Remember Conroy, Fielding is ALL YOUR FAULT. Next time perhaps you won’t be so allergic to preferencing The Greens over a religious imbecile.
It is ridiculous for the coalition to suggest that they have a mandate from previous elections they won when their mandate was trounced at the last election.
I’m all for the Senate doing its job and refining and improving legislation but the complete blocking of every bit of legislation has had a monetary cost to we rge people in terms of lack of service delivery and lack of revenue raised to offset the stimulus package.
This is unforgivable and the coalition needs to be destroyed so that we can have a genuine Liberal Party without conservatives replace them.
The coalition has become so un-australian in their actions.
It’s refreshing to see at least one article with a balanced opinion, albeit the opinions of other commentators not connected with Crikey. It took me only a few weeks to realise this website is so obviously pro-Labour and anti-Liberal, that one can only conclude it is funded by the Labour party. How about some more articles like this in future, instead of the usual one-sided drivel that prevails across the rest of this publication on a daily basis? Which this article highlights very well.
@Martin R – it is interesting you say that. This website is indeed funded by the ALP and the Unions (see ad top right corner). Perhaps every article concerning Labor or the Coalition should come with a disclaimer that it is being funded from the pockets of the unions – but I won’t hold my breath.
Hi JBG, thanks for clarifying that point. Now it all makes perfect sense. Bernard Keane must be getting kickbacks for the stuff he writes. From now on I will take what I read here with half a grain of salt.
As they say, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck………