The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20150319024736/http://australianpolitics.com/tag/david-speers

Attorney-General George Brandis Stumbles In Metadata Interview

Aug 06, 2014

The Attorney-General, Senator George Brandis, has stumbled over the explanation of metadata in an interview on Sky News.

Brandis was responding to questions about the government’s intentions in new counter-terrorism legislation. Using the metaphor of metadata as akin to the address on an envelope, Brandis stumbled over the question of whether the legislation would provide access to a citizen’s web browsing history.

  • Listen to Brandis (8m)

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Filed Under: Abbott, Audio, Intelligence, Terrorism Tagged With: , , ,

Anthony Albanese Denies Undermining Bill Shorten’s Leadership Of The ALP

Jun 23, 2014

Anthony Albanese has denied allegations that he has been undermining Bill Shorten’s leadership of the ALP.

Albanese made a personal explanation after Question Time in the House of Representatives, in response to an article by Troy Bramston in The Australian today. Later, he was interviewed by David Speers on Sky News.

Bramston’s article was titled: With friends like Albo, Bill’s in bother. In it, he claimed: “During the past few months, Albanese has been unremitting critic of Shorten to anyone who will listen. Albanese has rubbished Shorten to MPs, party figures, union leaders, staff and even journalists.”

Bramston said that “Albanese has form”, a reference to Albanese’s role as a Rudd supporter in the leadership conflicts with Julia Gillard. Bramston wrote: “‘He was up to his neck in it,’ one of Rudd’s supporters told me. Yet Albanese escaped without the stain of betrayal.” [Read more…]

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

Paul Howes Quits AWU And Other Political Positions; Disavows Parliamentary Aspirations (For Now)

Mar 24, 2014

Paul Howes, the 32-year-old National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, has announced his resignation and indicated he will also relinquish his other political positions in the labour movement and the ALP.

Howes

Howes has been a paid official of the AWU since he was 17. After Bill Shorten left the union in 2007 to enter federal parliament, Howes assumed its leadership. He has been a significant political influence in the ALP, supporting the removal of former prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2010 but falling out with his Right faction colleagues by refusing to support the overthrow of Julia Gillard last year.

In what he said would be his final interview, Howes, who was 14 when he left school, told David Speers on Sky News that he wanted to undertake formal studies. He said it was time “to do something different” and that he would be withdrawing from political commentary.

Howes is also deputy chairman of AustralianSuper, a member of the ALP’s National Executive and vice-president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. It appears that he will relinquish these positions as well.

Howes denied that he was standing down to pursue a parliamentary career. Last year, the NSW Right faction passed him over for former Foreign Minister Bob Carr’s Senate position. Today, he left open the possibility of entering parliament at a later time.

Media reports say Howes is now free to advocate cutting the ALP’s formal links with trade unions.

  • Listen to David Speers interview Paul Howes on Sky News (27m)

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Resignation statement by Paul Howes, National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union.

This morning I advised the National Executive of my decision to step down as national secretary of our union in July.

It has been a tremendous privilege to serve in this role and I will be eternally grateful for the trust that has been placed in me. [Read more…]

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

Kevin Rudd And Tony Abbott National Press Club Debate

Aug 11, 2013

One month out from the federal election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott have met in a televised debate at the National Press Club.

The debate was moderated by David Speers from Sky News. The panel of journalists consisted of Lyndal Curtis (ABC), Peter Hartcher (Fairfax) and Simon Benson (News Corporation).

This page contains the full transcript, audio and video of the debate. There are 11 ABC videos of the debate, by question.

  • Listen to the full debate (59m)

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  • Opening Statements (7m)

    • [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2013 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Liberal Party, Rudd, Video Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Paul Keating Interview On Sky News

Dec 15, 2011

This is a rare one-on-one extended interview with former Prime Minister Paul Keating.

It was shown on Sky News The Nation on December 15, 2011.

Amongst other topics, Keating talks about the state of current politics, Aboriginal reconciliation, the Republic issue, and his relationship with Bob Hawke.

Filed Under: A.L.P., Economy, Gillard, Indigenous, Keating, Prime Minister, Republic, Video Tagged With: ,