30 July 2010, 12:01pm
This should be a great concern for the 'clever' country!
stephenbsander on Science literacy at risk of extinction via Twitter
29 July 2010, 16:08pm
Challenge the media at every opportunity, they must be made to return to their code of ethics, yep they have them, reporting the facts is now just reporting the gossip from their sources, most likley from the pub...
Patricia de Heer on Critics slam 'irresponsible' Walkley sponsorship via Facebook
29 July 2010, 9:01am
It is past time we looked away from party politics and scrutinised our local candidates based on their beliefs and policy directives. I feel we have a better chance with independent candidates who do not have to blindly follow party policy.
Mark Aldridge on Andrew Robb's assertion that recent leaks show the Government is in chaos via Facebook
29 July 2010, 9:04am
Both major parties have more leaks than the Titanic.
Andy Gough on Andrew Robb's assertion that recent leaks show the Government is in chaos via Facebook
29 July 2010, 8:03am
Mental health within our community has been highlighted over and over again, yet now there is an election, we hear promises to win people's votes. This Government could have implemented additional funding to care facilities and crisis hotlines, and started to develop community programs whilst in power, but they have done nothing!
Claire H on Labor's mental health plan via email
29 July 2010, 7:41am
It seems the unions only have one theme and that is "WorkChoices". They are trying to perform the same tricks they used at the last election. Do they really believe that this scare campaign will work twice? I have my doubts unless the majority of people are moronic.
Ian via email
28 July 2010, 19:53pm
The fact that she may or may not have argued against the issues in Cabinet is not relevent - the leaking and disunity is! The question is; how much more of it is there?
Lionel on The hangover after Gillard's Labor party via story comment
28 July 2010, 11:40am
Why is Bob Brown protesting against the media questioning of the PM on her fashion style and personal relationship? Doesn't he know she is featured in Women's Weekly? If she plays that game then she should know she has opened herself to this sort of scrutiny!
cass via email
28 July 2010, 11:53am
Embarrassing but true. In respect of the aged, it is deplorable that so many Australians, who have contributed so much to this country during their working lives, should be so ill-treated by all governments. I can't see Tony Abbott or Julia Gillard having much sympathy for our aged or our carers.
Wilton Troop on Race for the middle ignores the most vulnerable via story comment
28 July 2010, 11:02am
I want to see our politicians engage in issues that present moral dilemmas. If we have an aging population then why are we not addressing their needs? Why are pensioners having to eat pet food and go without essentials such as heating in winter and cooling in summer?
Patrick Maher via email
28 July 2010, 10:50am
Julia Gillard is a wolf in sheep's clothing. This confirms it. You don't know what you'll get under Labor. More lies, more confusion, more incompetence and ultimately more pain and taxes. Save yourself the trouble and vote Liberal!
John McDonald on claims Julia Gillard initially opposed Labor's paid parental leave scheme via Facebook
28 July 2010, 7:25am
As a person who deals day-to-day with chronic depression I believe Julia Gillard's mental health plan is well targeted. The Opposition's generalised thrusting of money at the issue doesn't hit at the kernel of mental health, only the consequences.
John S on Gillard's mental health plan via email
28 July 2010, 7:47am
A fiasco is defined as a complete and ignominious failure. Does this really describe the Government's insulation program? Are there not tens of hundreds, or perhaps hundreds of thousands contented with well-insulated homes, saving money in energy costs? Are there not hundreds of workers who would not have had work during the worst of the financial crisis?
Bing Kinsey via email
27 July 2010, 15:51pm
Let's hope 'filter logic' doesn't get applied to this as well.
rikka_s on Conroy flags review of ABC Charter via Twitter
27 July 2010, 11:10am
That our Government can be so readily shaped by journalists in these sorts of circumstances can hardly be good for the country regardless of your political views.
SM the front-page focus that led to Rudd's demise via story comment
27 July 2010, 10:52am
I think that it should be irrelevant whether a father or mother takes leave - can't it be paid at an established set rate? Isn't it all aout looking after the children?
I despair that people with their own agendas are hijacking this issue, and it really says a lot about themselves.
Stumpy on Tony Abbott's paid parental leave plan via story comment
27 July 2010, 8:47am
It would indeed be a shame to alter the language used in Enid Blyton's stories. It is all part of the imagery that children are well capable of understanding and in fact enjoy. I loved everything about those stories as a young child, as do my children today. I love the idea of a glossary. Please don't change the work of Enid Blyton or that of any of the classic writers of bygone times.
Leanne on re-editing Enid Blyton's books via story comment
30 July 2010, 11:54am
You can enrol to vote when you're 17, you are only entitled to vote after you're 18. So really there is plenty of time for people to enrol before they can cast their vote.
Sven on Rubbing out the youth vote via story comment
29 July 2010, 9:09am
The leaks do matter as they show the level of disunity in the Labor Party, this particular leak shows how Gillard is only after votes and won't support pensioners "because they don't vote Labor" same for the family allowance.
The smiling assassin is being shown up for what she really is.
I hope the electorate will deal with her as she dealt with Kevin Rudd and would deal with you if it suited her needs.
Trump on the importance of the Labor leaks story via story comment
29 July 2010, 10:42am
Good on Julia for questioning whether the govt could afford it. Any cabinet member worth their salt would do the same. Pity she wasn't so rigorous re home insulation and BER.
Don the Labor leak that Gillard questioned the paid parental scheme and pension increases. via story comment
29 July 2010, 9:02am
When Swan said leaks happen all the time he was making a general reference to all past governments. Andrew Robb is a spin doctor.
Rob Crasti on Andrew Robb's assertion that recent leaks show the Government is in chaos via Facebook
29 July 2010, 7:54am
I would be strongly against the proposed children's play room near poker machines. ... There is every risk the children of the problem gambler will gamble vicariously - take an interest in the play to see whether mummy is winning or losing, and hoping she will win so she will be happy and buy them treats.
Tim Falkiner on a proposed playroom at a pokie venue via email
29 July 2010, 7:40am
If the Senate wants to cut the deficit the first thing they should do is cut 25 to 50 per cent of their salary, staff and perks. All of us are hurting but not them. I plan to vote against all the lifers.
Charles F via email
28 July 2010, 21:08pm
How will they settle their differences now?
CRY0G3N on Spain's Catalonia bans bullfighting via Twitter
28 July 2010, 14:25pm
And so the pantomime of imminent war goes on, like it no doubt will for another generation, if North Korea doesn't implode first.
Si on Pyongyang's pissing match via story comment
28 July 2010, 11:08am
The issue I want to see given a run in this election is the acknowledgment of the rising numbers of single people in this country, who live in households alone and face constantly rising rent pressures. Single people do not get any support from the Australian Government across the entire party political spectrum. It is time we aligned our social constructs to reflect the 21st century, instead of the outdated and outmoded versions of society reflected from the 1900s.
Lynda Wylie via email
28 July 2010, 11:04am
I think I would rather have a prime minister living in the Lodge in Canberra whatever their personal circumstances, rather than the taxpayer bearing the cost of relocating executive government to another city.
Sue Agnew via email
28 July 2010, 10:48am
So suddenly everyone is supposed to come to Cabinet and agree on everything with no meaningful discussion and debate. What's the drama?
You go to ANY meeting and viewpoints are aired and a consensus reached, then you all work with that decision.
It sounds like kiddie tattletale stuff. Why is the media grabbing hold of this crap and if it was some 'unknown' journalist banging on about it all would this get any airwaves?
It seems that making simplistic accusations are only made to reach those at the bottom of the gene pool who react to bright lights and loud noises! I'm sick of hearing this as the lead 'story' on the ABC news.
Karen Hitchen on claims Julia Gillard initially opposed Labor's paid parental leave scheme via Facebook
28 July 2010, 7:29am
Paid parental leave would be a real positive for seriously career-focused young mothers, facilitating breast feeding and bonding. The employers of qualified, competent staff in areas of high demand will view them as worth this cost.
Brigitte via email
28 July 2010, 7:44am
I would be grateful if you would clear up this misinformation that is being spouted by the ALP. First, that the proposed company tax cut to 29 per cent is of great benefit to small business and secondly that the Government is funding the increase in compulsory super from 9 per cent to 12 per cent.
Andrew Baggio via email
27 July 2010, 18:28pm
Bob Brown is saying that we should act on rational knowledge and not through a frame of ideology. We need emotional and moral knowledge in our dealings with others. Rationality and free-will is what Brown is offering - not highs and emotional fixes.
crassus on Greens' population policy no better than the others via story comment
27 July 2010, 13:02pm
This is nothing new. I have been listening to a dialect of Klingon on the PA system at various trains stations for years in Sydney.
John Perkins on cave tours offered in Klingon via Facebook
27 July 2010, 14:48pm
Paying one mother who is already extremely wealthy $150K per annum from the public purse and another mother $5K from the public purse is discrimination, pure and simple. You are paying them to do the same thing, so pay them the same rate and means test it with a cut out point.
Budovski on the Coalition's parental leave scheme plans via story comment
27 July 2010, 9:12am
How can we believe Gillard and Roxon when, at the same time as announcing "historic" increases in hospital funding, they are reducing the services provided at Bellingen and other northern regional hospitals? No wonder us locals are up in arms.
Patrick Silsbey via email
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30 July 2010, 11:34am
Airplanes should be kept as a mobile phone free zone and a temporary rehab area for mobile phone junkies, so that all can enjoy a bit of peace in an athor wise turbulent stressful environment.
Wombat on mobile phones on planes via story comment