Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Australian PM

26 replies

goldopals · 24/08/2018 11:21

I have to vent. Australia has got a new PM today after yet another government spill. It has been brewing for a while; Turnball has been ousted and Scott Morrison about to be sworn in. The only benefit is that Peter Dutton narrowly missed becoming our PM.

This is ridiculous. Australia has not had a prime minister sit a full term since John Howard.. I worry for the future as this constant change is leading to dissatisfaction in the government and apathy.

We are a laughing stock. My apologies for being unable to articulate the reasons behind my dissatisfaction.

OP posts:
SunshinePaddles · 24/08/2018 11:39

I completely agree, it's an absolute joke and embarrassment to our country how our government keeps ousting the sitting Prime Minister.

And for what? Because they don't like some of the policies he wanted to put in place? Because they had lost faith in his ability to lead?

I believe it really comes down to them just wanting the ability to continue to control the parliament by getting re-elected.

As a nation we did not vote for Morrison, we chose Turnbull as leader. He should have continued on as Prime Minister until it was time for re-election and then let the people decide based on policies who should be in government and the leader of our country.

This swapping and changing of Prime Ministers needs to stop, let the person we voted in as a nation to complete his/her term in office and then change if the people don't like it.

As I said before, it is an embarrassment to our country, I don't think we have had a Prime Minister sit an entire term in the last 10 years (I am happy to be corrected if this isn't the case).

MargaretDribble · 24/08/2018 11:51

DD and I were saying yesterday that the only Australian PM we could name was Julia Gillard. I could picture Kevin Rudd but had to look his name up.
We have friends in Australia and DD lived there for 6 months. We have visited three times so have a bit of an interest. We were wondering whether different PMs are more interested in making a big impression outside Australia than others. Julia Gillard certainly made herself known.
I don't think you should be embarrassed about PMs not lasting though. Look at the UK! Not that we are a great example.

AltheaorDonna · 24/08/2018 11:57

It’s an absolute joke! I comfort myself by muttering darkly to myself that it could be worse, I could still live in NI. they haven’t had a functioning government in over 18 months. But it is hopeless and embarrassing.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Politics
Phosphorus · 24/08/2018 12:02

I don't know that it's any comfort/contrast at all, but the situation in the UK is the polar opposite.

Nothing can touch the sitting PM. She just sits it out and weathers the storm. Because no one wants her job. It's a poisoned chalice.

We are being sold down the pan, because no one will take a stand.

Racecardriver · 24/08/2018 12:06

Again? Oh well, I suppose it's not as bad as it could but still. It's almost as if, now that it seems politically acceptable, is a free for all. I would reccomend any party running in the next election to promise not to switch leaders halfway through their term.

MaitlandGirl · 24/08/2018 12:08

We’ve been here since the end of 2009 - since then we’ve had

Kevin Rudd
Julia Gillard
Kevin Rudd
Tony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
and now Scott Morrison.

It’s absolutely ridiculous.

Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 12:15

SunshinePaddles

The last PM to serve for a reasonable term was Howard from 1996 to 2007! He was such a constant when I was growing up and then BAM it all went down.

Admittedly, Rudd did probably do some wonders for our country during the GFC. Things weren't brilliant but it didn't exactly go to hell in a hand basket. All tax payers were given $1000 to spend to stimulate the economy

OP posts:
Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 12:21

MargaretDribble

In all honesty, although I've knowledge of international travels of the PM I've no idea how they are perceived overseas or how they want to be perceived. Rudd did seem to want good relations with China.

OP posts:
Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 12:22

AltheaorDonna

I feel embarrassed and also that my vote is worth nothing. I feel that it is pointless to continue educating myself on policy to make an informed decision when my vote will come to nothing in the long run.

OP posts:
Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 12:26

Phosphorus

That is interesting albeit disturbing. I did not realised that that was an issue. The first time this happened I thought we were bloody luck to live in a country where we had the right to kick a PM out, but my opinion has been totally changed.

It is a revolving door. We are lucky that there is always someone to take over BUT we need a strong, inspiring leader who won't take any crap.

OP posts:
Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 12:30

MaitlandGirl

Two years too late for Howard then! It's a long list. But hey; at least we know how it's time to check the smoke alarm!

It'll be interesting to see what Morrison does. I'm not so sure about the be deputy, who seems to have something against my old state, SA especially rural areas. I've spent so many years living in regional or rural areas; we need three government to take us seriously

OP posts:
Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 12:32

*Racecardriver"

Making a promise that the leader will not switch is another potential broken promise! Turnbull backing down on climate change policies for example...

OP posts:
RedNed · 24/08/2018 12:33

I'm returning home to Aus in 2 weeks time and I've literally rolled my eyes to the back of my head thinking of this crap again Angry

We look like immature school kids who can't stick anything out. I too remember Howard as a constant growing up.

Koalablue · 24/08/2018 12:37

Its so embarrassing. As someone on face book said today "only three more PM,s till xmas"

Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 12:55

RedNed

We all rolled our eyes and groaned as well. The revolving door and Morrison. My circle is not a fan of him.

I hope an election will be called soon so we the voters can have a say. Knowing our luck, the same thing that happened during the last election will happen again

OP posts:
Original poster
goldopals · 24/08/2018 13:00

Koalablue

I've seen quite a few of those memes as well. I love my country but very much do not like the pollies at the moment. At last we don't have an electoral college?

OP posts:
MargaretDribble · 24/08/2018 13:09

It's on BBC news now.

MargaretDribble · 24/08/2018 13:13

Basically talking about how Australians aren't happy, as above. And saying that the 30th pm will have a challenge staying in office for 9months untill the next election.

ALittleBitofVitriol · 24/08/2018 13:23

I totally agree goldopals it's embarrassing. It feels very highschool, a popularity contest. As soon as those polls dip all the backbenchers get cold feet and want to change the leader! Ffs don't any of them have long term vision and goals to work together for?
Unfortunately I'm very jaded by the absolute political games both major parties (and probably the minors) play. Factional wars, buying appointments. Corrupt psychopaths. I have a friend in politics, haven't had a chance to get her perspective on this new pm of ours. I know that a lot of liberals were mightily pissed off about Turnbull, his appointment alienated a lot of the party's members z especially the more conservative factions, I think they may prefer Morrison but I'm pretty ignorant about our newest pm!

Starstruck2020 · 24/08/2018 14:32

This is my favourite one doing the rounds

Australian PM
RedNed · 24/08/2018 15:00

😂

worstmotherintheworld · 24/08/2018 15:03

Can you only become Australian PM by having double consonants in your surname?Grin

PurpleMoodyRazu · 24/08/2018 22:27

It is a joke, but you don't vote for a person, you vote for the party. It is the liberal party/national party who form the majority government, the Prime Minister is simply the the leader. The problem is the stability in the party, they are like a bunch of squabbling school children and are a national embarrassment.

I was commenting to some friends yesterday that it has been such a long time since there was any good government. An election won't change the current climate, there aren't any strong leaders.

Original poster
goldopals · 25/08/2018 00:11

worstmotherintheworld

Of course! Julie Bishipp had to remove a letter from her last name to be eligible

OP posts:
IvyFluids · 25/08/2018 00:20

It is absolutely bonkers what is happening in parliament. The fact that they had to suspend parliament for the first time ever because one group of people didn't like their boss is ridiculous.
Now we have a very right of centre PM who states openly that his main hobby is going to church, wants to stop refugees, fought hard against marriage equality, would happily support gay conversion therapy, wants to strip childcare benefits from same sex couples, is anti renewable energy and many more things that make me angry so I can't keep listing them. We also have a new deputy leader who is just as right wing.
Well maybe Julie will go and take her non boyfriend partner man friend who she doesn't have to declare yet takes on her all jaunts and goes back to the rock she came from with the potato Pete.

Swipe left for the next trending thread