Eating Onions: Breaking Down The Layers Of Australian Politics

In our season premiere, Nick Xenophon announces he's quitting federal politics to run for South Australian State Parliament. Michael Danby used tax payer dollars to run two attack ads against the ABC. Tony Abbott opened his mouth again, and Malcolm Turnbull attempts to keep messaging on point on energy policy.

SHOW NOTES:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-says-climate-change-could-be-beneficial-because-more-people-die-20171009-gyxi9y.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/once-bitten-twice-shy-why-malcolm-turnbull-is-cornered-on-climate-change-20171009-gyxbd1.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/well-climate-change-is-real-josh-frydenberg-reminds-tony-abbott-he-signed-paris-deal-20171010-gyyfx8.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/liberal-statesman-tells-malcolm-turnbull-to-stand-and-fight-tony-abbott-on-climate-20171011-gyypm7.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/its-time-labor-mp-michael-danby-under-pressure-after-abc-attack-backfires-20171005-gyuvj7.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/every-federal-election-risks-becoming-a-genealogical-witch-hunt-high-court-warned-20171011-gyyivg.html

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/nick-xenophons-gamble-does-state-power-trumps-federal-influence-20171010-gyyd1v.html

In our Season Finale, we discuss Tony Abbott's threats to cross the floor to block Turnbull's energy policy. Also, what's the larger play here for Abbott, and how much does it cost to keep a coal plant operational? And...Rocket Man.

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-criticises-government-on-energy-policy-samesex-marriage-plebiscite-20170919-gykrys.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/barnaby-joyce-warns-tony-abbott-over-threat-to-cross-turnbull-government-over-energy-20170920-gyl502.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-says-north-korea-will-be-wiped-out-if-regime-attacks-us-20170919-gykvcb.html

Marriage Equality is at the heart of today's discussion. Tony Abbott wrote an article for The Sydney Morning Herald, and George Brandis calls for emergency vilification laws. Also, we simplify and demystify the first commercials from both sides of the campaign.

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/emergency-laws-to-ban-vilification-intimidation-and-threats-in-samesex-marriage-campaign-20170912-gyfpkh.html

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/tony-abbott-on-why-same-sex-marriage-would-fundamentally-change-society-20170912-gyfi4f.html

https://gayandchristian.blog/2017/09/12/being-gay-during-the-ssm-plebiscite/

In the first of our three-part series of "How The Media Covers Politics", we talk to Media Advisor to Mike Baird and Barry O'Farrell, Cameron Hamilton.

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/exclusive-how-the-news-is-dropped-in-nsw-20170830-gy73aj.html

http://www.smh.com.au/comment/when-it-comes-to-exposure-in-politics-less-can-be-more-20170427-gvu7e9.html

Pauline Hanson wore a burqa into parliament last week, and Attorney-General George Brandis slapped her down, which saw a standing ovation from The Greens and The Labor Party. Sarah Hanson-Young had some things to say to Pauline Hanson on Channel 7's Sunrise, including blaming Pauline for potentially threatening the national security of the country. And the Same Sex Marriage debate is still dominating media coverage, we give our latest thoughts.

EDIT: There was an audio clip that was left over from the previous episode that has now been removed :-)

In the news this week, it was revealed that Barnaby Joyce is a New Zealand citizen by descent. He has referred himself to the High Court for a ruling on whether or not he is eligible to continue to sit in parliament. Julie Bishop subsequently has accused Bill Shorten and the Labor Party of conspiring with the New Zealand Labor Party against the Australian government. George Brandis accused Penny Wong and her staff of the dirty work.

Also on this episode, Annabel Crabb interviewed John Howard and Bob Hawke about the lack of outstanding leaders in democratic systems today, and how today's politicians are ruining the profession.

RELATED LINKS

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/transcript-julie-bishops-extraordinary-new-zealand-citizenship-press-conference-20170816-gxxa1d.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julie-bishop-says-she-could-not-trust-a-new-zealand-labour-government-after-barnaby-fiasco-20170815-gxwfj9.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bernardi-calls-for-parliament-to-be-suspended-as-citizenship-scandal-deepens-20170816-gxy0ae.html

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/no-outstanding-leader-in-the-free-world-says-bob-hawke-at-event-with-john-howard-20170816-gxxw8i.html

Penny Wong delivered an emotional speech in parliament during the week, and Tony Abbott began his campaign in support of the "No" vote.

SHOW NOTES:

P. Wong Speech:

• divided & leaderless Gov. Passing the buck to the people because they cant make a decision in the party room.
• An effort to overturn a clear decision made by the senate last year.
• "An expensive stunt" $122m
• Re-emphasises Non-binding nature of the plebiscite Abbott, Bernadi, Abetz aren't going to change their minds
• The country has moved on from the SSM debate
• MP's are elected to do their jobs (to come to Parliament and votemake decisions)
• Government wants the public to make their voices heard on this issue but not on a raft of other policies.
• Cormann's "Unifying" moment - Australian Christian Lobby called children of LGBT community the new stolen Generation and Sen. Wong railed against the PM and other snr. Liberal figures for not calling them out on this discriminatory rubbish.
• Finished by calling upon senate crossbench to stay the course

RELATED LINKS:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/rules-against-malicious-campaign-material-will-not-apply-to-samesex-marriage-postal-vote-20170809-gxskoj.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/a-hurt-michael-kirby-implores-his-old-friend-malcolm-turnbull-to-show-leadership-on-gay-marriage-20170809-gxsfcf.html

The Eating Onions team look into the long and storied history of the Australian Labor Party.

RELATED LINKS:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Labor_Party

http://laborhistory.org.au

www.alp.org.au

Malcolm Roberts and Matt Canavan are dragged into the dual citizenship fiasco this week, and Pauline Hanson's sister, Judy Smith, may be set to join the Senate. Also, it has been revealed that Barnaby Joyce used RAAF "special purpose" aircraft for private travel in May last year. Lastly, what kind of people follow and comment on Australian politics? Spoilers...nasty people.

RELATED LINKS:

Pauline Hanson's sister, Judy Smith, could replace Malcolm Roberts in the Senate

Labor demands Matt Canavan documents while its MPs refuse to provide proof

The dissenting argument from a former governor-general that could save Matt Canavan's skin

Barnaby Joyce Billed Taxpayers Almost $9,000 For "Special Purpose" Flights, On The Same Day He Went To The Footy

Malcolm Turnbull takes the axe to the most notorious political perk of all

Welcome back to the season premiere of Eating Onions! On this episode, we discuss the citizenship bungle from Scott Ludlam and Larissa Waters, and why did Malcolm Turnbull create a new Home Affairs security portfolio?

Show Notes:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/greens-senator-scott-ludlam-resigns-from-parliament-after-discovering-he-was-ineligible-to-stand-20170714-gxbb76.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-dutton-vows-manus-island-will-close-in-october-despite-donald-trump-refugee-intake-20170719-gxes83.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-says-he-was-advised-against-creation-of-home-affairs-superministry-20170719-gxeq2m.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/greens-senator-resignations-overseas-born-mps-insist-they-clear-to-sit-in-parliament-20170719-gxej8z.html

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/greens-senator-larissa-waters-resignation-triggers-wave-of-mps-declaring-australian-allegiance-20170718-gxdhzv.html

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/greens-deputy-leader-larissa-waters-to-resign-over-citizenship-issue-days-after-scott-ludlam/news-story/719db0c92d7b4be003228d5649a0742f