Labor preselection farce damaged affirmative action, and the party

Understandably I don’t think Mick Gentleman will be taking advice from a Liberal supporter. And nor should he judging by your previous posts and the continuing turmoil we see from the Canberra Liberals!

Despite your disdainful words both Taimus Werner-Gibbings and Louise Crossman have enormous support within the Labor Party. Both are highly regarded by party members. Ms Crossman was previously a small business consultant and occasional media contributor. She was a past party president popularly elected to the position in a branch member election. Ms Crossman held the party president position during two election wins. As party president, Ms Crossman provided strong leadership and represented Labor and chaired major party meetings and committees. She has been active in the community and instrumental in Labor party reforms which have included implementing strategies to increase women’s participation. She also oversaw record membership growth in the party during her presidency.

The Canberra Liberals lost their only senator and federal representative at the last election. The party also voted an empty chair for president at their most recent AGM rather than elect a woman.

I am proud that Labor leads nationally on party reform and women’s participation!

Dear Colin Jory, how do you define a ‘hard-left feminist’? Or, indeed, a mere ‘feminist’, such as your grandmothers, wife, sister, five daughters, two granddaughters, and great-granddaughter are, according to you, not? At its mildest, and most anodyne, feminism is surely the belief in full social, economic, and political equality for women. I’m not sure that I would be boasting, if I were you, that those are things that your grandmothers, wife, sister, five daughters, two granddaughters, and great-granddaughter would not espouse as worthy or non-beneficial to them. If your grandmothers, wife, sister, five daughters, two granddaughters, and great-granddaughter prefer to live without access to social, economic, and political equality, I hope they choose not to take advantage of universal suffrage and/or economic assistance in the form of child benefits etc. Also that, if by any chance, they fall foul of some man’s physical, sexual, verbal or financial violence (not unheard of, you know) they won’t seek the assistance of the law or counselling services because why would they? As non-feminists they probably don’t think they need such assistance because, well, of course, they are fine as they are. Get real. There’s nothing wrong with feminism – it’s done a hell of a lot of women a hell of a lot of good. I daresay that your grandmothers, wife, sister, five daughters, two granddaughters, and great-granddaughter are among its benficiaries, whether they want to admit or acknowledge it or not.

Well said Jordania. I imagine these women have taken advantage of going to school; owning property and having a legal status of not being a chattel of their father or husband (all thanks to feminism). But I suspect many of the females is Colin’s world probably are feminists – he just doesn’t recognise it if they don’t walk around with “I am a feminist” label printed on all their clothes.

Women Colin Jory have been intimidated, harmed, locked up and removed from their families and children for campaigning for equal and political rights for centuries. The fight for equal rights continues today!

All of this abuse has been encouraged and perpetrated by men. The hardships and indignities many of these women endured are still raw and continue to be felt today. Maybe your grandmothers did not support, participate or benefit from the many achievements of these courageous women but your wife, sister, five daughters, two granddaughters and great granddaughters will!

Firstly, Colin, it is the Labor Party. Secondly, what I call sicko is your unwavering support of the Catholic church! The women in your family appear to have been labeled already by you and, I suspect, other more knowledgeable males, so aren’t allowed to identify themselves. They have been told.

100%

And how talentless are the Canberra Liberals’ women! Name one accomplishment any of these women have ever achieved? Elizabeth Kikkert, the most ineffective and right-wing of them all is rarely at work or overseas. She has just recently lost all of her portfolio responsibilities for her behind the scenes skullduggery. Nicole Lawder should have retired at the last election. Leanne Castley was elected deputy because there was no-one else interested or suitable for the role. Elizabeth Lee is a Trojan horse for the far right to get in.

How long do you think Ms Lee would last in the leadership role in the unlucky event the Canberra Liberals were elected?

On the weekends, Jack is lead singer of local punk band Die Liberals Die.

So are you concerned our Chief Minister Andrew Barr is also rarely at home and often overseas too (and on government funded jollies).

No I don’t have any concerns Tom McLuckie. Most of Andrew Barr’s overseas trips have been leading missions throughout Europe and Asia with the goal of presenting the ACT as a desirable location for trade, investment and tourism. These missions have all been positively, and well reported in the media. ACT business leaders as well as ex-Liberal leader and now Commissioner for International Engagement Brendan Smyth accompanied Mr Barr on these trips.

The most recent was in September 2023 that I am aware of in which Mr Barr led an 8-day mission to the US. I understand this mission was highly successful and well reported in the media!!

Sorry nobody I am not really into punk. Never listen to it actually.

I am however a die hard fan of Van Morrison. I am also a great fan of Australian artists Dan Sultan and Nick Cave. I have just recently discovered American band Kings of Leon who are also exceptionally good!

And those successes for Canberra can be seen in what investment? $1M dollars of travel in 6 years for what returns? Cheaper loans losing our triple A credit rating where every household in Canberra contribute over 3k a year to interest alone? What a painted on believer you really are Jack D.

The ACT has much to offer in trade, investment, tourism and education Tom McLuckie! As one would expect our Chief Minister as Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment has been very active meeting leaders and developing opportunities overseas to expand these industries into the ACT, particularly as we emerge from Covid. These missions have received positive feedback from business leaders and the media. The benefits of these trips to the ACT far outweigh their costs and it would be only the most miserable who would complain!

The opposition has been silent and has no vision or policies for trade and investment in our city. I challenge you to name the opposition’s shadow minister without looking it up!

Benefits include the ACT government partnering with the Canberra Airport and other businesses to maximise trade and direct international flights to our city. We have direct services to Nadi in Fiji giving the ACT access to the North American market creating opportunities for our local businesses and exporters. Between November 2022 and 2023 the ACT’s tourism increased by 17.5%. The USA, NZ and China being the largest contributors to this increase. The ACT has over 8,000 international students and offer a number of initiatives for those wishing to study in our city. There are continuing discussions to bring more international hotel chains to the territory. These are just some of the economic benefits to the ACT and all thanks to the government’s efforts.

The ACT’s AA+ credit rating was on an equal footing with NSW, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia as one would expect coming out of Covid. Victoria has a AA rating!

@Jack D.
“I challenge you to name the opposition’s shadow minister without looking it up!”

Other than you, Jack, I doubt anyone on here would have known Barr was the Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment.

Maybe you should pay a bit more attention then JS!

No I’m good thanks, Jack – but thanks for the insomnia cure recommendation

So because everyone else is doing terribly at their responsibilities for fiscal responsibility that is good for us too? Andrew Barr has promised we would be in the black on our budget, on record, 10 times and we are still waiting. Great, we have flights to Fiji. What international investment can you tell us about due to his successes? Keep the red and green flag flying Jacky boy.

“These missions have all been positively, and well reported in the media………”

Links please, Jack D.

Jack, I can’t tell if you’re a misogynist or a hypocrite. On another comment, you’re overjoyed about Labor’s affirmative action plan and then, here, you take down four females as lacking talent and accomplishments.
Every single person has talent at something and have accomplished things in life. Even you, I’m sure.
If Alicia Payne was right of centre, would you still be a fan? If Elizabeth Lee was left of centre, would you all of a sudden find her full of talent?

I pointed out a number of facts Gregg Heldon! You can agree or disagree and call me a hypocrite and misogynist if you like! “Merit” in the Liberal party is a term used as an excuse to keep women in their place!

The Liberal party’s “women problem” was clearly on display at their most recent AGM. If the party wants to win government, they will have to do much better than what they have done so far and put forward more women of talent and substance. There are a small number of mediocre female candidates who have put their hands up for this coming election. Elizabeth Lee is leading a party dominated by the right. She will not last five minutes in the unlikely event the party is elected at this year’s election. The party has just replaced Jeremy Hanson as deputy leader with Leanne Castley who is even more unsuitable and to the right. Elizabeth Kikkert has been invisible and done nothing whilst in parliament. She has now been stripped of all portfolio responsibilities and moved to the backbench due to her destabilisation and behind the scenes shenanigansm, undermining the party and its leader. Some of their current and past MLA’s have links to right-wing fringe and religious groups including Right to Life and Advance Australia.

A robust opposition drives good policy! Canberrans expect better and this is reflected in the party’s increasingly abysmal losses in the past six elections!

It is why the party will lose this year’s election!!

The hard on labor supporter being overtly sexist?

Hi Jack D.
With all of the quotas, diversity and gender requirements of the ALP, that saw the non-aligned Taimus W-G initially removed as a candidate, I’m not sure it’s wise to talk down the way the Canberra Liberals select their candidates.

A robust Opposition is an Opposition that holds the Government to account. The leaning, gender, the diversity,