Has Joe Republic put a banana in Tony's tailpipe?

dungfungus said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

You use the analogy of a “colossal train wreck” in relating to Abbott’s alleged mistakes yet you cannot name even one mistake let alone one that has caused death and injury as train wrecks invariably do.
Your response (silence) is the same as I got from another question I asked on another thread as to why the person posting hated Abbott.
I think you have become mesmerised by the Fairfax Media Machine who attack Abbott relentlessly on issues of little relevance to the problems he is trying to solve for the good of Australia and that includes you.

Dungers, to be fair, any silence is more likely due to being dumbfounded at your inability to see this mob of knuckleheads for what they are. You don’t have to be a leftie to see that they literally have no understanding or even an idea about representing the whole of their constituency. It is a fatal flaw that will ensure that they are yet another one term Liberal government.

And that is a shame because there are good people in the government and in opposition and they all need strong non-partisan leadership. What the current leadership of the Government have done to the conservative side of government is an absolute disgrace and the biggest shame is that they have been able to get away with it through the support of the media, not the reporting.

Well, you see what you want to see.
What I see is well intentioned lower house government being sabotaged by the union controlled Labor party, the self-interest Greens and a rabble of independents who represent nobody all in the Senate.
Re the media, they are reporting only the downside and they embellish it with opinion pieces from the left.

What I see is a group of Lifters lifting everything that isn’t nailed down and passing it out the window to their mates.

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

You use the analogy of a “colossal train wreck” in relating to Abbott’s alleged mistakes yet you cannot name even one mistake let alone one that has caused death and injury as train wrecks invariably do.
Your response (silence) is the same as I got from another question I asked on another thread as to why the person posting hated Abbott.
I think you have become mesmerised by the Fairfax Media Machine who attack Abbott relentlessly on issues of little relevance to the problems he is trying to solve for the good of Australia and that includes you.

Dungers, to be fair, any silence is more likely due to being dumbfounded at your inability to see this mob of knuckleheads for what they are. You don’t have to be a leftie to see that they literally have no understanding or even an idea about representing the whole of their constituency. It is a fatal flaw that will ensure that they are yet another one term Liberal government.

And that is a shame because there are good people in the government and in opposition and they all need strong non-partisan leadership. What the current leadership of the Government have done to the conservative side of government is an absolute disgrace and the biggest shame is that they have been able to get away with it through the support of the media, not the reporting.

Well, you see what you want to see.
What I see is well intentioned lower house government being sabotaged by the union controlled Labor party, the self-interest Greens and a rabble of independents who represent nobody all in the Senate.
Re the media, they are reporting only the downside and they embellish it with opinion pieces from the left.

smilesr said :

“representing the whole of their constituency”

is an increasingly impossible task nowadays with the increasing polarity in our society. There doesn’t seem to be a centre anymore.

The trouble is that governments are elected to represent everybody, not just those that voted for them. It shouldn’t matter whether they are left or right wing, although the major parties are pretty much both right wing now.

Who does one vote for if they want a government that is economic conservative, environmentally responsible, socially moderate and morally accountable? I’m just not seeing it.

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

You use the analogy of a “colossal train wreck” in relating to Abbott’s alleged mistakes yet you cannot name even one mistake let alone one that has caused death and injury as train wrecks invariably do.
Your response (silence) is the same as I got from another question I asked on another thread as to why the person posting hated Abbott.
I think you have become mesmerised by the Fairfax Media Machine who attack Abbott relentlessly on issues of little relevance to the problems he is trying to solve for the good of Australia and that includes you.

Dungers, to be fair, any silence is more likely due to being dumbfounded at your inability to see this mob of knuckleheads for what they are. You don’t have to be a leftie to see that they literally have no understanding or even an idea about representing the whole of their constituency. It is a fatal flaw that will ensure that they are yet another one term Liberal government.

And that is a shame because there are good people in the government and in opposition and they all need strong non-partisan leadership. What the current leadership of the Government have done to the conservative side of government is an absolute disgrace and the biggest shame is that they have been able to get away with it through the support of the media, not the reporting.

My ‘silence’ was actually because I was busy doing other things. But in any case, I feel no need to justify my opinions to someone who insults my intelligence by suggesting that I’m simply gullible.

I have formed my political opinions from having worked as a political and media adviser to state and federal politicians for a decade and a half. I agree with you that there are good people in the government. There are members of both the major parties I have enormous respect for, and some that I don’t.

I don’t think Tony Abbott is a bad politician (or person), I just don’t think he’s a very good leader. Nor do I think the current government is a good one. To be fair, the current leadership of the ALP doesn’t exactly inspire confidence either. But my opinions aside, and as I said before, history and an election will be the ultimate judge of this government’s performance.

“representing the whole of their constituency”

is an increasingly impossible task nowadays with the increasing polarity in our society. There doesn’t seem to be a centre anymore.

dungfungus said :

You use the analogy of a “colossal train wreck” in relating to Abbott’s alleged mistakes yet you cannot name even one mistake let alone one that has caused death and injury as train wrecks invariably do.
Your response (silence) is the same as I got from another question I asked on another thread as to why the person posting hated Abbott.
I think you have become mesmerised by the Fairfax Media Machine who attack Abbott relentlessly on issues of little relevance to the problems he is trying to solve for the good of Australia and that includes you.

Dungers, to be fair, any silence is more likely due to being dumbfounded at your inability to see this mob of knuckleheads for what they are. You don’t have to be a leftie to see that they literally have no understanding or even an idea about representing the whole of their constituency. It is a fatal flaw that will ensure that they are yet another one term Liberal government.

And that is a shame because there are good people in the government and in opposition and they all need strong non-partisan leadership. What the current leadership of the Government have done to the conservative side of government is an absolute disgrace and the biggest shame is that they have been able to get away with it through the support of the media, not the reporting.

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Perhaps you can put forward some examples of these unprecedented mistakes?

Oh Dungers, are you really that one-eyed? I keep thinking of those people who paint their faces at sporting matches. If I see a bloke with a sky-blue face during the next election we will know it’s you.

You use the analogy of a “colossal train wreck” in relating to Abbott’s alleged mistakes yet you cannot name even one mistake let alone one that has caused death and injury as train wrecks invariably do.
Your response (silence) is the same as I got from another question I asked on another thread as to why the person posting hated Abbott.
I think you have become mesmerised by the Fairfax Media Machine who attack Abbott relentlessly on issues of little relevance to the problems he is trying to solve for the good of Australia and that includes you.

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Perhaps you can put forward some examples of these unprecedented mistakes?

Oh Dungers, are you really that one-eyed? I keep thinking of those people who paint their faces at sporting matches. If I see a bloke with a sky-blue face during the next election we will know it’s you.

Evilomlap said :

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Perhaps you can put forward some examples of these unprecedented mistakes?

I don’t need to. But thinking about it, why dwell in the past anyway? Just open the paper tomorrow.

Do you always believe what you read in the papers?

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Perhaps you can put forward some examples of these unprecedented mistakes?

I don’t need to. But thinking about it, why dwell in the past anyway? Just open the paper tomorrow.

dungfungus said :

Evilomlap said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Perhaps you can put forward some examples of these unprecedented mistakes?

Ah a classic dungfungus move.

After you.

Evilomlap said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Perhaps you can put forward some examples of these unprecedented mistakes?

Evilomlap said :

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Actually it DOES seem that Rupert Says is yanking Abbott’s chain.

Abbott must have been showing signs of independent thought, or simply unthinkingly humped Rupert’s leg beyond the requisite sign of deference.

Or Rupert is simply being grumpy again and Abbott unfortunately caught his eye.

rosscoact said :

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

The notion that the PM is some poor bloke being put-upon by an evil media determined to destroy him is very odd to me. Why do the media fixate on his mistakes? Because he keeps making such spectacular ones. Colossal train wrecks are always going to make the evening news.

Evilomlap said :

rubaiyat said :

Evilomlap said :

rubaiyat said :

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

Not that I’m defending him (I think his track record in the Treasury portfolio screams ‘out of his depth’) but in answer to your question (and only because I like you), he practiced as a finance and banking lawyer before entering politics, he was also senior advisor to NSW treasurer back in the day, when he first entered Federal politics in the mid to late nineties or thereabouts he was Minister for Financial Services.

Then in 2001 he became Minister for Small Business (I think, I’d have to double check). He was manager of opposition business (when the Libs were in opposition obviously), so that gave him a fairly broad understanding of all portfolios (as a necessity of holding that position). So…in a nutshell that’s part of the reason he landed the Treasury gig. What he’s done with it…history, and an election, will decide, I guess.

What’s disturbing is how much info I was able to pull on this guy from the top of my head…I think I need a drink.

So he has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law? And 5-6 years of being a lawyer and a political advisor before entering Parliament?

I still so no sign of any financial training or knowledge. None.

In fact most of his statements and apparent conclusions are embarrassing.

How many options has he taken to “Dial the wife” on important matters:

“Quick dear, they’re coming into the room… what’s fiscal drag?”

I was explaining why he got the Treasury gig, not suggesting he is a financial genius.

If MPs got gigs based on merit we’d probably have a vastly superior government than we currently do.

I was not suggesting otherwise, just being rhetorical.

A good Treasurer is probably one anyway who can listen to and understand the usually sound advice of his /her department and not force mad ideological theories on them. We have had examples of that from both sides of politics, unfortunately we have one right now.

dungfungus said :

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

With respect, the story was entirely of Abbotts making.

astrojax said :

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Yeah, let’s not facts get in the way of a good story (for the left).

rubaiyat said :

Evilomlap said :

rubaiyat said :

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

Not that I’m defending him (I think his track record in the Treasury portfolio screams ‘out of his depth’) but in answer to your question (and only because I like you), he practiced as a finance and banking lawyer before entering politics, he was also senior advisor to NSW treasurer back in the day, when he first entered Federal politics in the mid to late nineties or thereabouts he was Minister for Financial Services.

Then in 2001 he became Minister for Small Business (I think, I’d have to double check). He was manager of opposition business (when the Libs were in opposition obviously), so that gave him a fairly broad understanding of all portfolios (as a necessity of holding that position). So…in a nutshell that’s part of the reason he landed the Treasury gig. What he’s done with it…history, and an election, will decide, I guess.

What’s disturbing is how much info I was able to pull on this guy from the top of my head…I think I need a drink.

So he has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law? And 5-6 years of being a lawyer and a political advisor before entering Parliament?

I still so no sign of any financial training or knowledge. None.

In fact most of his statements and apparent conclusions are embarrassing.

How many options has he taken to “Dial the wife” on important matters:

“Quick dear, they’re coming into the room… what’s fiscal drag?”

I was explaining why he got the Treasury gig, not suggesting he is a financial genius.

If MPs got gigs based on merit we’d probably have a vastly superior government than we currently do.

dungfungus said :

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.

oh dear. straw. clutching. much.

in common parlance, abbott knighted phil the greek – he may not have wielded the sword, but ask the man in the street if they understand the op’s description, pedant. and what does being the gg’s daughter have to do with republican views. your beloved pm’s sister is gay and wants to marry.

do try to keep up, uh?

Evilomlap said :

rubaiyat said :

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

Not that I’m defending him (I think his track record in the Treasury portfolio screams ‘out of his depth’) but in answer to your question (and only because I like you), he practiced as a finance and banking lawyer before entering politics, he was also senior advisor to NSW treasurer back in the day, when he first entered Federal politics in the mid to late nineties or thereabouts he was Minister for Financial Services.

Then in 2001 he became Minister for Small Business (I think, I’d have to double check). He was manager of opposition business (when the Libs were in opposition obviously), so that gave him a fairly broad understanding of all portfolios (as a necessity of holding that position). So…in a nutshell that’s part of the reason he landed the Treasury gig. What he’s done with it…history, and an election, will decide, I guess.

What’s disturbing is how much info I was able to pull on this guy from the top of my head…I think I need a drink.

So he has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Law? And 5-6 years of being a lawyer and a political advisor before entering Parliament?

I still so no sign of any financial training or knowledge. None.

In fact most of his statements and apparent conclusions are embarrassing.

How many options has he taken to “Dial the wife” on important matters:

“Quick dear, they’re coming into the room… what’s fiscal drag?”

rubaiyat said :

Disregarding the sideshows.

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

HE doesn’t even look like he believes what he says.

And I don’t blame him.

rubaiyat said :

Disregarding the sideshows.

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

HE doesn’t even look like he believes what he says.

And I don’t blame him.

rubaiyat said :

Disregarding the sideshows.

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

HE doesn’t even look like he believes what he says.

And I don’t blame him.

It doesn’t matter what his qualifications are if his government can’t get their legislation through both houses.
You should instead be asking what Bill Shorten’s qualifications are to be opposition leader because if he doesn’t get real about where Australia is and where it is going we will never masters of our own destiny any more.
It’s probably too late already.

Joe might be thinking of his legacy, or perhaps he has taken Jack Waterford’s recent column to heart.

Whatever the case, after today’s Welcome to Slaka effort from Border Force, he’ll have to resort to streaking if he wants to regain the spotlight.

rubaiyat said :

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

Not that I’m defending him (I think his track record in the Treasury portfolio screams ‘out of his depth’) but in answer to your question (and only because I like you), he practiced as a finance and banking lawyer before entering politics, he was also senior advisor to NSW treasurer back in the day, when he first entered Federal politics in the mid to late nineties or thereabouts he was Minister for Financial Services.

Then in 2001 he became Minister for Small Business (I think, I’d have to double check). He was manager of opposition business (when the Libs were in opposition obviously), so that gave him a fairly broad understanding of all portfolios (as a necessity of holding that position). So…in a nutshell that’s part of the reason he landed the Treasury gig. What he’s done with it…history, and an election, will decide, I guess.

What’s disturbing is how much info I was able to pull on this guy from the top of my head…I think I need a drink.

John Moulis said :

Strange how two weeks ago Abbott and Hockey poured scorn on gay marriage calling it a distraction and that they would be focussing on the main game – jobs, the economy and national security. A few days later Abbott goes MIA in the Torres Strait putting flowers on Eddie Mabo’s grave and Hockey starts championing a republic. What was that about irrelevant side issues pulling focus away from the main game?

Yeah that scene of Abbott putting flowers on Eddie Mabo’s grave was soooooo creepy!

Strange how two weeks ago Abbott and Hockey poured scorn on gay marriage calling it a distraction and that they would be focussing on the main game – jobs, the economy and national security. A few days later Abbott goes MIA in the Torres Strait putting flowers on Eddie Mabo’s grave and Hockey starts championing a republic. What was that about irrelevant side issues pulling focus away from the main game?

Disregarding the sideshows.

What is Joe Hockey’s qualifications to be Treasurer?

HE doesn’t even look like he believes what he says.

And I don’t blame him.

This government manufactures distractions at every opportunity. They need the distractions to prevent as many people as possible from actually thinking about how totally directionless they are. Joe has already had the Republic and tax cuts this week.

Look over there!!!!

Tony Abbott did not knight the Duke of Edinburgh; The Queen is the only person who formally knights someone. Abbott awarded knighthood to The Duke.
And, so what?
Bill Shorten married the daughter of the Queen’s representative in Australia didn’t he?
Who really cares about whether we have a republic anyhow? I doubt if there will be a civil war over it.