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Cormann Says Shorten Is An Economic Girlie Man

Oct 18, 2014

The Minister for Finance, Senator Mathias Cormann, today described Opposition Leader Bill Shorten as an “economic girlie man”.

Cormann

Interviewed on the Sky News Agenda program, Cormann was asked about comments by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten that a budget surplus was more likely under a Labor government “than this current mob”.

Cormann said: “He’s dreaming. I mean the Labor Party has not delivered a surplus in Australia for 25 years. The problem that the Labor Party has today is that Bill Shorten is an economic girlie man. He doesn’t have what it takes to repair the Budget mess that they have left behind.”

Husic

ALP Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Treasurer, Ed Husic, also appeared on the program. He said Cormann should stop the “juvenile name-calling” and deal with the Budget. “The Terminator should become the Deodoriser and get the stink out of his budget,” Husic said.

Cormann’s remarks set off a Saturday media flurry. Allegations of sexism were aired on social media.

Cormann’s Belgian accent is often compared to that of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s film character The Terminator.

  • Listen to Cormann (14m – transcript below)

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  • Listen to Husic (10m)

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Transcript of Finance Minister Senator Mathias Cormann’s interview with David Lipson on Sky News Agenda.

DAVID LIPSON: G’day, welcome to the program, I am David Lipson. It is six months since the Budget was handed down and there are still more than $28 billion in savings being held up in the Senate. And though the House of Representatives returns next week, the crucial Senate has only three sitting weeks left before the summer break. The Government insists it hasn’t given up the fight but each day that passes equates to savings lost. And Labor which along with the cross bench is blocking the savings even claimed this week, rather flippantly; it could deliver a surplus sooner than the Coalition. Here is Bill Shorten with David Speers earlier this week: [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Abbott, Audio Tagged With: , , , , ,

Shorten Gives ALP Support To Iraq Commitment; Greens Opposed

Oct 03, 2014

The ALP has given support to the Abbott government’s commitment of fighter aircraft to the strikes against ISIL in Iraq, whilst the Greens have opposed the decision.

Shorten

The government announced today that Australia will provide up to eight Australian F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft to participate in the international coalition supporting Iraq. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Iraq-Afghanistan, Terrorism Tagged With: , , , , ,

Julie Bishop And Bill Shorten Speak At AFL Grand Final Breakfast

Sep 27, 2014

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten have joked their way through brief speeches to the AFL Grand Final Breakfast in Melbourne.

Bishop

Bishop joked that the last time she was in Melbourne she had been given a warm welcome by students at Melbourne University. She said Cabinet had considered who should attend the breakfast: “Tony Abbott thought it was the ARL, and Malcolm Turnbull thought it was the URL. So we decided to choose between the women… oh… um, look, moving right along…” She then took a swipe at Shorten, likening him to a football selector choosing ALP leaders. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Abbott, Audio, Sport Tagged With: , , ,

Truss And Shorten Address Parliament On Shooting Of Melbourne Teenager

Sep 24, 2014

The Acting Prime Minister, Warren Truss, and the Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, have addressed Parliament on the shooting of a Melbourne teenager last night.

The 18-year-old, Numan Haider, was shot dead outside the Endeavour Hills police station. He had used a knife to attack an Australian Federal Police officer and a Victoria Police officer.

Media reports today say that Haider was also carrying a bigger knife and an Islamic State flag. The reports say police suspect Haider intended to behead a police officer and post the images online.

  • Listen to Truss (5m)

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  • Listen to Shorten (5m)

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  • Watch Truss & Shorten (11m)

Hansard transcript of statements by Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

Mr TRUSS: Madam Speaker, it is appropriate that I should make a statement to the House regarding the incident at Endeavour Hills police station yesterday. At approximately 7.45 pm last night, one Australian Federal Police officer and one Victorian police officer were subject to an unprovoked attack from an 18-year-old man armed with a knife. The two officers were wounded in the attack; one received multiple wounds and was seriously injured. During the conflict, one officer fired upon the attacker and killed him. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Abbott, Audio, Iraq-Afghanistan, Terrorism, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Shorten Maintains Support For Abbott Government On Iraq; Also Outlines Conditions

Sep 22, 2014

The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, has reiterated the ALP’s support for the Abbott government’s “humanitarian” mission in Iraq, whilst setting out conditions for continuing support.

Shorten

Shorten responded in the House of Representatives to a Statement on National Security by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

He said: “Labor fully supports Australia’s contribution to the international humanitarian mission to Iraq. We do not offer this lightly. Sending Australians into harm’s way is the most serious of decisions. Our support for the government on this issue is not a matter of jingoism or nationalism; it is a calculation of conscience and national interest.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Audio, Iraq-Afghanistan, Terrorism, Video Tagged With: , , , ,
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