...theirloveissoegalitarian!
I now know what it's like to see something on TV that makes me want to run to LJ.
Labor has the majority of seats in the ACT legislative Assembly, something which they've been using to do good while the Liberals have been busily stamping their feet. If their government keeps going the way it is, then the city and its inhabitants are the only things that'll stop me from wanting to be there.
Let's take a bit of a walk down amnesia lane first. In 2003, the ACT government passed legislation to the effect that abortions are treated exactly like other medical procedures, helping to protect reproductive rights. In 2004, the ACT government passed legislation to the effect that same-sex couples are allowed to adopt children, exactly like any other couple. So, what does Stanhope's subset of Labor want to try this year?
ABC News reports that they're working on legal recognition of same-sex relationships, with all the rights of a married couple. The sound bite they picked for him was a very thinly veiled snark at the federal government and their unwillingness to do anything. For bonus points, it almost seemed like he was looking for a way to nick the 'M' word itself*.
What's even better about it is that the Catholic church is supporting these suggested reforms, provided that they aren't called marriage.
And now, the budget reply. I don't think I've ever before sat there saying "hear, hear" to my TV. For that matter, I can't remember the last time I saw a speech in Australian parliament get cheers from both sides of the house.
Basically everything in the speech sounded economically sound, and is very faithful to recommendations from the RBA and the OECD. What's more, the comments about the effect on monetary policy (read: interest rates) are perfectly valid. Furthermore, it's good to hear a Labor government take its time to lay out exactly how the Howard government's 'strong economic performance' is all based on Keating's† reforms in the 80s and early 90s.
In fact, the OECD report literally said that the government was asleep at the wheel.
As a final comment, here's what Beazley had to say about the tax act that's gained an extra 3000 pages over the last 10 years.
You don't paginate the Tax Act anymore; you weigh it.
*For the international audience, the division of powers in the Australian constitution deems marriage to be a Commonwealth, rather than state, power. Fortunately, the states get the responsibility for overseeing the benefits and responsibilities of marriage.
†Paul Keating is arguably the best Treasurer that Australia's ever seen, and was responsible for major economic reforms like floating the exchange rate. The Liberals like to pick on high interest rates under the Keating as treasurer then later PM that fixed the high interest rates and got inflation into its 2-3% range rather than 10-11%. Labor was also responsible for giving autonomy to the Reserve Bank, which has a flawless record over more than a decade.
I now know what it's like to see something on TV that makes me want to run to LJ.
Labor has the majority of seats in the ACT legislative Assembly, something which they've been using to do good while the Liberals have been busily stamping their feet. If their government keeps going the way it is, then the city and its inhabitants are the only things that'll stop me from wanting to be there.
Let's take a bit of a walk down amnesia lane first. In 2003, the ACT government passed legislation to the effect that abortions are treated exactly like other medical procedures, helping to protect reproductive rights. In 2004, the ACT government passed legislation to the effect that same-sex couples are allowed to adopt children, exactly like any other couple. So, what does Stanhope's subset of Labor want to try this year?
ABC News reports that they're working on legal recognition of same-sex relationships, with all the rights of a married couple. The sound bite they picked for him was a very thinly veiled snark at the federal government and their unwillingness to do anything. For bonus points, it almost seemed like he was looking for a way to nick the 'M' word itself*.
What's even better about it is that the Catholic church is supporting these suggested reforms, provided that they aren't called marriage.
And now, the budget reply. I don't think I've ever before sat there saying "hear, hear" to my TV. For that matter, I can't remember the last time I saw a speech in Australian parliament get cheers from both sides of the house.
Basically everything in the speech sounded economically sound, and is very faithful to recommendations from the RBA and the OECD. What's more, the comments about the effect on monetary policy (read: interest rates) are perfectly valid. Furthermore, it's good to hear a Labor government take its time to lay out exactly how the Howard government's 'strong economic performance' is all based on Keating's† reforms in the 80s and early 90s.
In fact, the OECD report literally said that the government was asleep at the wheel.
As a final comment, here's what Beazley had to say about the tax act that's gained an extra 3000 pages over the last 10 years.
You don't paginate the Tax Act anymore; you weigh it.
*For the international audience, the division of powers in the Australian constitution deems marriage to be a Commonwealth, rather than state, power. Fortunately, the states get the responsibility for overseeing the benefits and responsibilities of marriage.
†Paul Keating is arguably the best Treasurer that Australia's ever seen, and was responsible for major economic reforms like floating the exchange rate. The Liberals like to pick on high interest rates under the Keating as treasurer then later PM that fixed the high interest rates and got inflation into its 2-3% range rather than 10-11%. Labor was also responsible for giving autonomy to the Reserve Bank, which has a flawless record over more than a decade.
