Comment on If Albanese’s lost his bottle, he should retire
Tenderizer@aussie.zone 3 weeks agoI wouldn’t call the senate “extremely” friendly. I wouldn’t even call it “friendly” after the HAFF.
As for the rest, I think recognizing Palestine took up far more political capital than you think. The Americans OWN us, and have a history of couping Labor leaders that step out of line even for minor transgressions.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 3 weeks ago
The HAFF happened in the previous Senate, so it’s not directly relevant. But it…got passed? In fact, it got passed after being greatly improved. That’s a good thing. And that’s exactly what I mean by saying that the Senate is friendly if Labor is trying to be progressive. If Labor is trying to pass the exact kinds of lazy milquetoast bs this article is talking about, then yes, the Senate will be less friendly.
I don’t. The average person has been strongly on Palestine’s side for a long time now, regardless of what the media might say.
Speaking of being ambitious and progressive though…recognising Palestine is great, but it’s a largely symbolic move. What we actually need to do is (1) stop the arms trade with them, and (2) put the same kinds of sanctions on them that we have for Russia. At least as long as there are Ministers in their Government who have loudly and proudly stated genocidal intentions, they should be treated as a total pariah state.
Tenderizer@aussie.zone 3 weeks ago
The HAFF was passed unamended, after being delayed for 6 months and the actual housing it was supposed to build was delayed further by the uncertainty. The Greens blocked it with ridiculous demands like increasing the funding to address housing stress instead of the homelessness it was supposed to, an unconstitutional national rent-freeze, or reforms to capital gains and negative gearing that lost Labor two elections before they promised not to change it.
The Greens see Labor’s pragmatism as evil. They see Labor as fundamentally evil just like the LNP.
As for Palestine. Yes it was popular and yes it was just symbolic, but it has the potential to piss off the Americans and doing that consumes a lot of domestic political capital (because of American influence in Australia). Australia is more subordinate to America than most thanks to the LNP being willing and eager to sell out our sovereignty, we can’t really break rank alone on Israel, never mind how many time’s Labor has had to publicly condemn Hamas making cutting off military aid to Israel a domestic political nightmare.
Once Ireland stops arms trade with Israel, then Australia could plausibly consider doing it. Until then it would 100% get Labor couped.
Zagorath@aussie.zone 3 weeks ago
Oh ok, so we’re just making up lies now? Geez, I get that you’re a Labor fanboy, but this is getting ridiculous. Sometimes, Labor just objectively did the wrong thing. And their slow reaction to the Greens’ quite sensible improvements to the HAFF is one of those times.
Tenderizer@aussie.zone 3 weeks ago
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You’re technically correct. I assumed this one amendment was passed in February and was to correct a typo, but looking closer it was in September. Still, this amendment was to basically move forward a report on the outcomes. I wouldn’t call that greatly improved, hell I’d say it makes it worse since it will turn the HAFF into a political football when the report shows barely any improvements due to the delays caused by the Greens (6 months + uncertainty) and the long-term nature of the HAFF.