Tony Abbott on 60 Minutes
Tony Abbott has spoken to 60 Minutes about his views on controversial issues including gay marriage and abortion.
In his discussion with interviewer Liz Hayes tonight, Abbott explained his now infamous on air confession in 2010 that he was ‘a bit threatened’ by gay people.
The Opposition Leader admitted that he had “certainly said some things which I wouldn’t say now,” but that during his 2010 interview, he was privately coming to terms with his sister’s decision to end her marriage of 19 years because she fell in love with another woman.
LIZ HAYES: You said to me during that interview…
TONY ABBOTT: That famous interview.
LIZ HAYES: That you were a bit threatened.
TONY ABBOTT: Uh huh.
LIZ HAYES: She said she was disappointed you said that.
TONY ABBOTT: Sure. When I reviewed the thing was a bit disappointed as well. What flashed through my mind, as you were questioning me, was what was going on in my own family at the time, Liz.
Now I couldn’t talk about that then because it was deeply personal and deeply private. But certainly, they were very tough times for our family, hence my comment, because the cohesion of our family was threatened at that time. But I’m pleased to say that we’re all in a better space now than we were then.
60 Minutes also spoke to Tony Abbott’s sister, who is a supporter of gay marriage – something the Coalition party room remain firmly against. And while Abbott explained that he and his sister had had robust debates about the issue, he didn’t indicate that his party’s position on the issue, or his own, were likely to change in the near future.
Tony Abbott also used the 60 Minutes interview to clarify his position on abortion. This is the first time Abbott has spoken substantively about his views on a woman’s right to choose, since taking the Liberal leadership three years ago. It is a critical step in his campaign to improve his standing amongst women voters.
LIZ HAYES: I think it’s because you’ve been so outspoken in some of the sensitive areas that makes women distrust whether or not you will invoke your own religious beliefs when it comes to policy-making. Can you guarantee us that that won’t happen?
TONY ABBOTT: Yes, I can, Liz. Faith is important to me. It’s important to millions of Australians. It helps to shape who I am. It helps to shape my values. But it must never, never dictate my politics. Judge me by what the considered view today is, not by throwaway lines and offhand comments 35 years ago.
LIZ HAYES: Well, how offhand was your line about abortion when you said it was the easy way out?
TONY ABBOTT: Liz, I don’t want to minimise from time to time the errors that I’ve made.
LIZ HAYES: Was that an error?
TONY ABBOTT: Well, I didn’t express it as well as I could have or should have. And I absolutely accept that for any woman facing an unexpected pregnancy, the choices are tough.
Were you watching 60 Minutes? Did Tony Abbott’s comments make you more likely to vote for him?
Comments
290 Comments so far
Nope …
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Oh, the lie as reappeared
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Best be careful ‘Interesting find’ about so called obscure past histories from 35 years ago.
In the words of Anon below, if you wanna go tit-for-tat as far as Gillard goes, you’ll find a very, very long list of dubious idealogies, associations, quotes, investigations and liaisons….
I’m ready to go if Mama Mia wants to roll around in the dirt…….
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Well I hope he’s made a MIGHTY BIG change from his uni days!! Hard to believe a man that ‘was’ like this is even trying to run a country full of all different types of people with differing backgrounds and views on life. Scary thought.
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What tripe. Trying to link TA with the KKK and then throwing in a homosexual catholic at the end to make sure all bases are covered. Have you met the man recently ? Peoples prospectives and attitudes change over time – did you hear that there is a black president of the USA ?
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A black president?! Gee, we’d better be careful, before you know it they’ll want to let gays marry! All I can say Mark is I hope he genuinely has changed. It’s obvious that he held some very strong views. The thought of Tony Abbott talking the talk for politics sake is fearful. Here’s the end of the post, I myself found it interesting. I didn’t know how strong his views were on these issues in the past & yes I believe people’s opinions can change but I also believe actions speak louder than words. I would be more inclined to believe Tony Abbott had changed his view (in the sense that he saw gay people as ‘equal’ and deserving of the same rights as everybody else) if he’d allowed his party to have a conscience vote on gay marriage. I don’t want to turn this into a marriage debate, I’m happily married and believe everybody should be entitled to that regardless of their gender or sexual preference. I do not however think that you can claim one thing, ‘to be a changed man’, and show another. I think the fact that he is denying his very own sister equal rights paints him in an even more unappealing light on the issue. For me it just raises the question, has he really changed? And if he has has he changed enough?
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Do you really want to tit for tat? Do you really? Think carefully before you answer.
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Can someone from the MM team please explain to us why the like button is always removed on Tony Abbott articles.
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Hi, thanks for the heads up. This seems to be a problem on a few of our stories at the moment (not just the Tony Abbott one). We are looking into it. Freya xx
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This is what concerns women? Gay marriage and abortion? Not in my world.
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It makes me so angry when people talk about “the concerns of women voters” as if we are all one collective group with the same opinions and interests. You never hear of all “male voters” being spoken about as one single-minded cohort.
I am a woman and I am far more pro-life than Tony Abbott. I’m so sick of the media deeming me to be automatically pro-abortion simply because of my gender.
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I’ve been searching for those words all day! Thank you.
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But you don’t have to be pro-abortion to believe that women should have the right to make that decision themselves. Or would you rather women just not have the right at all. What about when a woman is raped? Should she be forced to just suffer through a pregnancy whether she likes it or not?
I am not certain I would ever go through with an abortion myself, but I certainly would not choose to deny other women that right. Most women would not want our country led by a Prime Minister who does, even if you do.
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Lucinda, even if Abbott did want to outlaw abortion, which he doesn’t, Julia has made sure he’ll be kept busy for the next 20 years cleaning up the mess she’s made. He won’t have time to take over your reproductive organs. Try not to fret.
How in heavens name they are ever going to pay back 300 billion dollars is beyond me.
The first thing I’d do if I were him is announce that the 300 billion is the responsibility of the Labor Party and that it will be there with accrued interest when they’re re-elected.
Why should the plans and ideas of the Coalition always be stymied by the financial vandalism of the ALP?
What happened to the ‘like’ option?
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Just as a note I believe the deficit is at about 40billion (that was the most recent figure I read which was only a month or two ago), not 300 billion which is quite a difference….
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You’re confusing the deficit with government debt. You see, every time the budget goes over, money has to be borrowed to pay for it.
The *interest alone* on the debt accrued by the Rudd/Gillard wastefest is 6 billion a year.
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There are a lot of women who would want a PM who stands up for the rights of the unborn (not that I believe Tony Abbott will do this), in fact the majority of the pro-life movement is made up of women.
The point is that it’s not a women versus men issue as there are mixed opinions on both sides, and I find it offensive when the phrase “women voters” is used to describe opinion on an issue without any qualification. Being a woman is not enough of a common quality to lead to unanimous opinion on anything.
Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech was another example where the media described “all women” rejoicing, while many found it appalling and hypocritical.
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I prefer the term Pro-Choice as opposed to Pro-Abortion thank you (no-one is out there saying ‘have an abortion it’s great’), I’m sure you prefer the term Pro-Life as opposed to Anti-Choice, except you probably are out there promoting one option only.
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I’m happy to use any term you choose, the effect is the same. The “choice” you are advocating for is abortion, and if that makes you so uncomfortable then perhaps you should re-think your stance.
Yes, you’re right, I would promote life above all other choices. But can you tell me that in your advocacy for abortion rights you are also providing women with information about adoption options and the significantly increased rates of depression and suicide from which most post-abortive women suffer? Didn’t think so.
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And what do you think the affect the rates of suicide and depression would be if women were FORCED to go through with an unwanted pregnancy, particularly if they were raped? Come on, think outside your own narrow minded box.
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Unfortunately MM wouldn’t let me reply to your comment directly.
Can you provide any evidence that the rates of depression and suicide would be higher for women who go through with an unwanted pregnancy as opposed to those who abort? If so, I’d be happy to think outside my “narrow-minded box”.
The rape scenario that you continuously refer to applies to a tiny number of the 100,000 abortions that take place in this country every year.
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I think if you are to enter into a debate on this issue you should at the very least have a true understanding of what the other side actually stands for. The choice that pro-choice individuals are advocating for is not abortion. We advocate that this should be an available option.
Presumably as someone who is pro-life, you advocate that a woman should have the choice to keep her baby, put it up for adoption etc. Someone who is pro-choice advocates that a woman should have all of these same *choices*, as well as the option of abortion.
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Nobody of a healthy mind is “pro-abortion”. “Pro-choice” is the term you are looking for. To use the term pro-abortion is:
1. Incorrect and demonstrative of a misunderstanding of the view point of those who are pro-choice. Those who are pro-choice are not advocating that every woman who experiences an unwanted pregnancy should have an abortion (as your pro-abortion term implies); they are advocating that abortion should be available as a *choice* to these women (as the correct, pro-choice term implies).
2. An underhanded attempt to both add emotion to what could be a rational debate, and to paint pro-choice as the “bad” side, by misrepresenting the true nature of this view point.
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I don’t believe that the “pro-choice” movement does anything to promote other choices or to increase awareness of the negative effects of abortion. In fact many “pro-choicers” aggressively seek to silence women who have had negative abortion experiences. The group “Real Choices” for example provides a forum for women to share their experiences with abortion and to seek help for resulting mental health issues. They do nothing more than this. “Pro-choice” groups, particularly the one led by Leslie Cannold, have been on a tireless mission to have this group shut down and have made various misrepresentations about its nature and purpose in order to do so. I’m sure you’ve also heard of the campaign to ban a pro-life group established at Sydney University.
Surely pro-choicers do not earn their name when they seek to silence all opposition?
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I will never vote for Tony Abbott. I disbelieve he could possibly change his mind on issues which are deeply entrenched in his faith and cultural values so suddenly. And I can’t see how he can possibly keep those beliefs separate to the politics.
Demonise Julia Gillard all you like, but she has not done anything worse than any previous leader. Keating was picked apart, Howard was picked apart, Rudd was picked apart… and boy will Abbott get picked apart if the NLP are elected. I don’t agree with everything the Labor party does, but I would rather them than a party lead by someone who has on multiple occasions demonstrated bigotry, ignorance and closed-mindedness. I won’t be surprised if he is our next Prime Minister, but I cringe at the thought.
I don’t even know how anyone can believe he will be able to lead this country forward – I’ve yet to be dazzled with any superior policy proposals from the opposition, so I don’t understand what people are waiting for. Unless you are racist, homophobic or sexist, there isn’t much to look forward to.
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Agreed whole heartedly !!
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Well, luckily I’m racist, homophobic and sexist! Sucks to be you.
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totally agree!
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Lucinda, it’s time you googled the ALP and Catholics.
Obama was re-elected on the back of the catholic vote. Unfortunately for the ALP, the continuous Catholic bashing of Abbott has eroded a voting base that has supported Labor for generations.
The latte set has claimed Labor as their own. They’ve ridiculed the religious beliefs of millions of Australians, thrown around insults in an attempt to shut down debate and ripped the fabric of the ALP assunder.
The ALP brand bares no resemblance to the ALP my grandfather represented. It is gone, irrevocably changed. The light on the hill has gone out, blown out by lies, spite and hate by those who set themselves superior to their fellow Australians.
I want no part of the ALP. You’re welcome to it.
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The catholics always up a minority of the vote for Labor. Most catholic and christian people I meet are conservative and do not have values that would have ever fit into the ALP anyway. This is not about Catholic bashing anyway, it is about the views Abbott has that are quite often associated with that faith. I respect other views and religious beliefs always, but when those beliefs are going to impact the decisions that our potential future Prime Minister will make, I will stand up and say I don’t like it.
You are right the Labor party is different to the one your grandfather represented…. but I would be worried if it wasn’t. A government is not supposed to stagnate or go backwards. The Labor party is a minority government have made some decisions that aren’t as typically left leaning as you would expect. Hell, some of them have not been good at all.
But my point remains. What is it, that Abbott is going to do that will suddenly make things all better?
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A man who has the power to grant his sister equality but chooses not to. He’s either heartless, gutless or homophobic. Either way they’re not qualities I want in the person running my country.
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He doesn’t have the power, Jay. Australia is not a dictatorship. It is a democracy.
If Albanese’s brother felt discriminated against as a Buddist, should he be able to outlaw the killing of insects and animals?
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And yet the man going for the highest position in the land doesn’t allow his party a conscience vote on the issue… doesn’t sound very democratic to me. Nice parallel, insects and animals vs. equality of humans.
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Or maybe he is someone who has genuine, well thought-out reasons as to why marriage should not be re-defined and doesn’t feel that his beliefs should suddenly change because a member of his family happens to be homosexual. He would be extremely hypocritical if he adapted his views only for members of his family but not for the general public. And let’s not forget that loving and supporting family members does not necessitate agreeing with everything they do.
Simply crying “homophobe!” whenever someone disagrees with gay marriage doesn’t help the debate at all. Not everyone who opposes gay marriage has an inherent fear of gay people.
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When people disagreed with inter-racial marriages and were labeled as ‘racist’ and justly so, I don’t see why that doesn’t apply to using ‘homophobe’. Also it’s not ‘gay’ marriage, it’s ‘marriage equality’; people don’t get up in the morning and have a ‘gay’ coffee or go to their ‘gay’ job. Changing the use of our language for starters would be a step in the right direction.
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Just to add I’m sure those who opposed inter-racial marriages at the time considered their reasons to be genuine and well thought out too.
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It must be terrible for all of those opposed to ‘gay marriage’. How do you cope with being called a homophobe. I can’t imagine anything worse than the thought of other people being granted the right to marry the person they love. Anybody would think you’re all going to be dragged along to every same sex wedding in the country kicking and screaming. Allowing gay people to marry is not going to re-define the union you have with your husband or wife. It is not going to stop straight people from marrying the people they love. There are no well thought out arguments against equal rights that are plausible. That is why so many people for equality are so passionate. We get sick and tired of the biblical references, the ‘tradition’ argument, the ‘think of the children’, the ‘just because’. Equality is not going to change your life in any way shape or form, but it will change the lives of gay people. You get worked up over being called a ‘homophobe’, have you spared a thought for what the gay people may have been called. You don’t want to talk to your kids about men being able to marry men or women being able to marry women? Awkward conversation? How awkward do you think it is for a same sex couple to explain to their children that they’re not given the same rights as everybody else because of who they love? I didn’t care too much for equality until recently, I was neither for or against. What difference would it make to me? That’s until my sister came out as gay and I’ve seen exactly how unfair it is to deny a group of people rights based on their sexuality . If Abbott’s own sister can’t help him warm to the issue of equality I dare say we’re screwed.
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Hit the nail on the head. I’ve not yet heard a plausible argument against same sex marriage. I think people just aren’t used to it and that’s why they’re against it. A bit like they weren’t used to sitting next to black people on buses.
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Ok, I’m listening. He has talked the talk. Lets see him walk the walk between now and September. I remain undecided. Although my seat is SO safe Labor that last election my local member (a cabinet minister) spent the entire campaign in other states trying to sure up other seats. Never even saw a leaflet in my letterbox from him, let alone the man himself in person.
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If the WA election results are any indication there are NO safe labor seats anymore.
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I am in WA. And my state seat sees the ALP incumbent staying on for another term (albeit the margin took a hammering.)
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I’m in WA. My state seat has been retained by the ALP incumbent, albeit by a reduced margin!
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I will vote for Tony Abbott.
He has Faith and values – a much better person than the superficial, untrustworthy union hack Julia Gillard.
More importantly I trust that the team he is leading is competent and full of talents for good policies.
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I think you will find that the Greens are far more consistently idealogical (that is: “faith and values”) than Liberal has ever been. Abbott has shown to be, above all else, ambitious. Of course he would tone down the ‘faith and values’ if the PM’s job was in the offing – anything to get the job done.
The Greens *are* true to their word, even if you don’t like them. If you are really are an idealogically based voter perhaps you should look to other parties?
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Yes and the ideology of the Greens is that plant and animal life should be preserved more vigorously than human life (by campaigning against deforestation at all costs while advocating aggressively for abortion and euthanasia). Their ideology is nothing short of terrifying, which is why I am so glad they will never be in power.
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It’s not quite 6.10 PM on September 14, and even though we have to wait three hours for the votes to come in from W.A., if the comments and the “thumbs up” (prior to doing an Elvis on us)….that bloke from the ABC will be looking at his computer program and declaring for Abbott.
The ALP might get a little sugar rush from presenting a new leader, but it will still be the sweetest victory to the LNP.
I was going to say hit the “thumbs up” if you agree.
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He’s Jesuit educated. They’re left through and through. I want a right wing government led by a rightwing leader.
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I will never vote for Tony Abbott as I think him extremely untrustworthy, a compulsive liar and definitely in it for the power and prestige and not for the good of this country. In fact I believe the deals he has cut with Reinhardt and Murdoch will set this country back about 60 years.
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Deals with Murdoch and Reinhart?
What are you insinuating, Catherine?
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Abbott a compulsive liar. Oh my, now that is hilarious given Julia’s record.
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Oh well….the votes that Abbott loses on the roundabout he’ll pick up, times 5 on the hurdy-gurdy.
That’s life !
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Totally agree!
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Firstly, I am not in his electorate so wont actually be voting for him, but that aside; I really don’t think that the puff piece on Abbott will change many people’s opinions of him, but I don’t think that he’s the anti-female, anti-gay, right-wing catholic that people think he is. His comments on abortion (some 10 years ago) were part of a long piece that (from memory) spoke about the fact that it was a tough choice for women and he wished there was less of them. I don’t know of many people that would disagree with that – it is a tough choice and like Abbott, I do wish that there wasn’t many of them. He never said a woman shouldn’t do it/would rot in hell/it should be illegal etc. Secondly on the issue of homosexuality – there are still a lot of people that are unsettled by it. Or they are fine with it as long as it’s not their daughter/son/parent etc. I think that they are complete idiots, but it’s not the rarity that the media would have you believe.
Also, I really don’t have a problem with him being religious. I am not religious myself and think that there are lot of problems with organised religion (of any type) but religion can and does do some good in the world. He may be guided by his faith, but then I think Gillard has policies written by the unions – am not sure which is worse. At least the unions block vote.
Finally, I am not a particular fan of either Abbott or Gillard, but I don’t have an intense hatred for them either. To be honest, there’s pros and cons with both leaders and their parties and not a lot to really seperate them actually.
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I think that at times Tony Abbott has suffered “foot in mouth” and has not articulated his views correctly but like anybody I think time has taught him to think before he speaks. He is an extremely intelligent man and I believe he will come into his own as PM.
What’s the saying “behind every great man is a better woman” and his 60 minutes interview showed he has a team of strong, opinionated, educated woman on his team… Go forth and conquer Tony!!!
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I will vote for the person who will best represent my area, not the PM as we do not vote directly for the PM. Therefore I will not vote for Ms Gillard or Mr Abbott as we do not vote for either of them anyway (unless you live in their respective electorates of course). Mammmia this question is inane and very irresponsible of you. A better question would “Who would prefer as Prime Minister?”
In saying that, if we did have a system where the PM was directly elected by the voters, then I would not vote for a person who appears to want to cut health and education funding even further (look to NSW and Qld to see what can happen under a Federal Liberal Government), who appears to control the media through rich and powerful ‘friends’ (I’m looking at you News Ltd), who wishes to cease one of our greatest public technological infrastructure improvements without offering a viable alternative and has little regard for the environment by attempting to remove the Carbon Tax (which has caused no harm to the average person and the uncertainty of Mr Abbott’s proposal is causing more market harm than the actual tax itself) and would also like to damn and area where water resources are scarce as it is.
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You have all the rhetoric but little facts. Unless you vote for an independent you will eventually be voting for Labor or Liberal ( Gillard or Abbott). The greens will preference to Labor and the Nationals will send theirs to the Libs.
Look to the states to see what “could” happen or look to the current government to see what “has” happened. Money spend on stupid schemes that haven’t benefited the schools at all. Control the media ? What about the Age, SMH, ABC etc. You don’t think they have any bias. The carbon tax is rubbish and most people know it. It isn’t cutting CO2 emissions as the government has them increasing over the years. The international markets for carbon credits have collapsed yet we are locked into a price for it that is four times what the rest of the world is looking at. No market certainty there.” Damn an area where water is scarce “- Have you been living under a rock ? The idea is to build dams to capture the water that falls. There is plenty of this and the records tell us where it falls and when it falls. have the water available and the land will open up for farmers and infrastructure.
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This interview won’t change my mind. A friend of the family who is a long time political advisor said both sides were all about getting re elected and to just decide which policies I liked most. With that in mind, I generally aim to the left, but I’ve started looking at the policies of different parties. I’m just not sure atm. Alli know is that I’m sick of the bl*^dy polls.!
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I find it hard to believe that people can change their views on such issues. Abortion and gay rights, to me, are pretty much things people have clear cut views on. And they dont tend to sincerely change them overnight.
Call me a synic, however I think he has claimed to have changed his views because obviously he loves his sister but also because he needs to be seen to be supportive of these issues so as not to alienate himself from a large chunk of the voting public.
I’m not convinced.
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The Prime Minister doesn’t support Gay Rights so what is your point.
My husband was a homophobe about 15 years ago. He has now changed his point of view. One of our son’s best friends came out last year and my husband has been nothing but supportive and caring.
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The PM allowed a conscience vote on the issue. Abbott didn’t.
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And the Labor party didn’t support it.
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At least Labor don’t have any members homophobic enough to spout off disgraceful and offensive rubbish about how they would never want a gay person to teach their children. On this issue, Labor have got way more chance of creating change.
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Neither does the Liberal Party. Bernard Gaynor used to belong to Katter’s Australian Party.
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I will NEVER vote for that man.
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It sounds like Julia Gillard’s talking.
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I’m an ex labor voter. I’m happy with Abbott. He’s s decent man.
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Personally, no. I think he plays dirty politics, the man not the ball, and is inconsistent. Even though I don’t like Julia as pm, I’d like Tony less.
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Firstly, I wouldn’t watch 60 Minutes but I have read the news. Why would anyone change their vote on the basis of one interview of that ilk unless they are not very bright.
Wouldn’t it be nice if people made an effort to make their decisions based on, oh I don’t know, say ..policy or actual research?
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In Mungo Maccallum (staunch leftie) own words on recent events:
‘…….But for much of the week, he tailed Gillard around the west, and ended up by declaring the territory won: not only was it no longer Labor heartland, it was well on the way to becoming the new Liberal heartland. Absurdly, he was the one who looked relaxed and comfortable while the Prime Minister looked as if she couldn’t wait to get back to the haven of Kirribilli House. When you’re hot, you’re hot. And when you’re not, you’re Julia Gillard…..’
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No, still wouldn’t vote for him. He’s somewhere between the village idiot and a puppet. Seriously, he was the type of guy the jocks would beat up at school and now he’s going to be our PM?? Not that I think Julia’s any better. Isn’t there someone else who can come in? I’d vote for them rather than either of those 2 clowns.
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Hardly. He was a boxer, among other things and a Rhodes Scholar.
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Where’s the thumbs up button gone on the Tony Abbott article??????? Please bring it back. PLEASE!!!!!!
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A majority of the comments are supporting Abbott and the coalition.
Hence the “thumbs up” agreeing with sentiments expressed simply goes walkabout.
Had the comments been anti Abbott, the “thumbs up” would still be there.
I believe that they call it a technical issue.
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I wanted to ‘like’ your comment but I couldn’t!
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The thumbs up *always* disappears on Tony Abbott articles.
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Conspiracy theory? Must be
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With all respect to Liz Hayes, I’d like to see Tony Abbott agree to be interviewed by Leigh Sales, Chris Uhlman, Tony Jones or Emma Alberici. Then I might consider how much of a changed man he is.
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And I’d like to see Julia Gillard interviewed by Andrew Bolt and finally get to see the “real Julia”.
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The ‘real’ Julia was too busy grooming mummy bloggers to speak to war veterans and hid from the people of western Sydney.
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Or should I say, you don’t want to see Abbott interviewed by anyone who is not a known supporter of the leftist side of politics ?
I honestly don’t know where Liz Hayes sits, I just find her style of interviewing anyone a major turn off.
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Totally agree. He refuses to do any serious interviews.
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I wish Liz Hayes had asked if he would wind up the Royal Commission into child abuse. Abbott meets privately with Cardinal Pell. I am afraid the two of them will agree to gut the Commission and to wind it up early before the job is done.
It’s not just Abbott’s doctrinaire Catholic views that will be in Cabinet. There’s also Christopher Pyne, Joe Hockey and Malcolm Turnbull. Backed up by loony fringe Protestants like Cory Bernardi and Scott Morrison. The Cabinet will represent views that are much more extremely conservative than the general community. I am pretty socially conservative but I can’t go there. I wish the Liberal Party would move closer to the centre.
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The Royal Commission was given bipartisan support; I have no doubt that this is in jeopardy.
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is not*
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A royal commission CANNOT be just “wound up” once it is set in motion…
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Tony supports the RC and in fact wants it expanded.
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Don’t forget that a lot of Labor MPs are also catholics who voted against gay marriage.
The feminist and the atheist Julia Gillard is also against gay marriage. It just shows she has no conviction and her own value.
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With respect to Mr Abbott, this interview doesn’t influence my vote.
60 Minutes, Look How I’ve Changed interviews are part and parcel of a man desperate for the “female” and “gay” vote, creating a sympathetic character belying history. Reviewing the comments below and the article above, Abbott supporters and some swing voters are arguing people evolve. While that’s true, people do evolve, he hasn’t disconnected from his Catholicism or conservative ideologue. This interview is at best faux-sheepish, the first instance of any apology or acknowledgement of his actions and sentences. Words are a weapon. When you’re a public figure, you are made accountable for a very long time, as Prime Minister Gillard quickly found out after the ‘No Carbon Tax” snafu.
And Abbott has a lot to be accountable for.
His evolution is one of convenience; nothing more, nothing less. If he elected to exhibit this change through his policy making, public language or campaign angle, I would be more inclined to give him some sort of credit.
For the record (as I predict a cacophony of Liberal supporters parroting labor related rhetoric), I am a swinging voter from a Liberally biased family. Some things I’ll be based my vote on:
• The Treatment of Refugees.
• Mental Health
• Paternity/Maternity Leave
• Women’s Issues
• Men’s Issues
• International Policy
I’m sure we all disagree on a lot of things. I’m certain we might agree on a couple unexpected kernels of policy. What grates me is the superiority factor of some of the more vocal proponents of either side. It’s childish and bullish, as if you need to talk down to the opposite side to get your point across. A different perspective doesn’t invalidate your politics, but it might help to round them into a more holistic picture.
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I agree with some of the sentiments below that it’s like having to decide on which is the least worst party; however I am looking forward to being able to vote this year since taking my citizenship last year
That said LNP won’t be getting my vote.
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How about this. After seeing the Abbott interview on 60 Minutes, I am less likely to vote for a Labor Party lead by any former leader or current member of the front bench.
We do have to consider that Ms Gillard may not be around come the date of the election.
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Word is that the election will be in May. A leadership change is imminent but it won’t be Rudd. I’ll give you a hint … GET MY f#%^#^% PIE, WOMAN, OR I’LL HAVE YOUR SHOP SHUT DOWN …I know, the depth of talent is breathtaking.
I’m intrigued to know how the feminist media will react to their Julia being knifed!
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I have long suspected that Bill Shorten isn’t entirely worried about Labor losing the coming election. I suspect he was waiting in the wings hoping for a different result in the last election, and is waiting for Julia Gillard’s demise now. I see him in several interviews – he’s very charming, very agreeable, doesn’t really stridently support Labor policy or defend its errors. He always comes out looking like the guy who gossips about the boss to his colleagues but defends her when she’s in the room.
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Whilst I agree that Bill Shorten is the best chance that labor has in the future and that he does interview well, he is incredibly close to the unions (more so than the PM) and gives them incredible concessions. Whilst I am ok with that per se as I do feel that their is a place for unions in politics, I just dont think that they should be making policies. If you’re worried about Abbott being influenced by the Catholics, I would be more concerned with Shorten and his unions. They have A LOT more influence in policy than religion in this country
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Looking at the swing that is needed to oust Julia Gillard from the seat of Lalor, it is not likely, but no impossible for this to happen.
In 1998 when Julia first became a member of parliament it was a victory to the ALP of 69.82% to NLP 30.18%
In 2001 she lost a bit of ground but the blame had to sit on the shoulders of Kim Beasley as he was not a great alternative to John Howard back then. The results were still in favour of the ALP 65.63% to the NLP 34.37%
The 2004 election saw the seat of Lalor have its worst result with Julia getting only 58.79% of the vote to NLP 41.21% but this was when Mark Latham was the leader and whilst he’s an intelligent man, he is not a political leader.
In 2007 on the back of the Rudd-slide that happened all around the country, Julia picked up some votes but was still behind her level from the 2001 election with only 65.53% of the votes going her way and 34.47% going to the NLP.
The most amazing thing happen though in 2010. With a 2.58% swing against the Labor Party happening in the popular vote around the country, Julia, despite all the backlash, the negative campaigning from the Liberals (and their cohorts at 2GB), the ALP increased the margin with a 6.62% swing in favour of Julia.
Yes that’s right. A whopping 72.15% of the voters in Lalor (or almost 3 out of every 4 people) wanted Julia as the leader of this country and only 27.15% didn’t.
74,452 people put their faith in Julia in her electorate whilst only 28,736 people did not.
If you look at the figures when John Howard was ousted from not only Government, but from his own seat, the seat of Bennelong is much closer and always has been. The best the Liberals have seen is in 2001 when Kim Beasley lost the top job to John Howard and 57.70% of Mr Howard’s electorate sided with him, but even at the last election where the Labor celebrity lost to the Liberal celebrity, the votes for the Liberal party were the lowest since the 1993 elections and have never been that low before or after.
I’m not a political analyst, but I think it might have to be the greatest swing in history for Julia to lose her seat.
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Nope, no change. I always vote Labor and will continue to do so.
Seriously though, does anyone else find Tony Abbott repelling? There’s just something about him that makes me feel quite ill when I look at him, and even more so when he talks and the way he licks his lips.
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Yes!!!!! I find him creepy and dodgy and slimy…yuk. No way I will vote for him, he doesn’t sit well with me at all. Now Malcolm on the other hand would make me change my vote….what a dapper charming man he is! And one with sound intelligent principles it would appear. Please tony go away. Labor is rotten but I can’t vote for someone like you!!!
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I find Julie Gillard repellant. Makes my skin crawl … and she’s incompetent too.
It doesn’t mater what your view on Abbott, he has to be better than Gillard
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Word is that the election will be in May. A leadership change is imminent but it won’t be Rudd. I’ll give you a hint … GET MY f#%^#^% PIE, WOMAN, OR I’LL HAVE YOUR SHOP SHUT DOWN …I know, the depth of talent is breathtaking.
I’m intrigued to know how the feminist media will react to their Julia being knifed!
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How you feel about Abbott is how I feel about Gillard. She makes my skin crawl and my ears bleed. I loathe her with a passion, in fact, I loathe her entire government and can’t look at any of them.
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All I can say, at this point, is that I’ve never wished for a legitimately serious third option as much as I am for this upcoming election. Neither party, nor their leaders, inspire much faith in me.
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You could look into the National Liberty Party.
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Vote for the Liberal Democratic Party.
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Still NO. All political propaganda for him. He makes me feel ill
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Yes. Abbott is being the proper gander while Gillard makes a proper goose of herself.
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Not bad, Bradley. Not bad at all.
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Nope, because I was always going to vote LNP anyway.
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Nope, because I was always going to vote Labor anyway.
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A lot of people comment on Tony’s “traditional” and “conservative” views and honestly? I don’t think being either traditional or conservative is a bad thing in today’s society.
I think the wider community could benefit a lot from going back to more traditional and conservative thinking.
People make it too personal when debating our two leaders – it’s not about their personal views, what they do in their spare time, what they do or don’t believe – it should be about how they lead their party.
You’ve got one whose party is strong, having been led from a weak position to one of strength and then you’ve got one who seems to battling to keep her job every week or quashing rumours that the sharks are circling to take her job.
While there is still so much unrest and internal bickering in the Labor party, their ability to win the election is going to be significantly reduced.
They can barely organise and manage their own party, why would anyone vote for them to take care of the country?
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Could you explain why it is you think we can benefit from going back to ‘more traditional and conservative thinking’? I really don’t think backwards is the direction any society should be going in!
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i am sure that europeans in 1939, as well as countless other examples over time, would disagree with you. we dont always get it right while moving forward.
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So instead you would advocate going back to more traditional and conservative views on what exactly?
-Women’s issues?
-Mental health?
-Marriage equality?
-Refugees?
-Environment?
At best our policies have a long way to go, the last thing I’d like to see is them go backwards.
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Returning to policies of earlier times doesn’t always mean going “backwards” in the negative sense you imply.
Comparing the success of the current refugee policy to that of the Howard government is a classic example.
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While I agree the success of current policies surrounding refugees is appalling, I would never advocate using Howards policies. How quickly you forget the ‘children overboard’ scandal and how much he tried to malign refugees coming to this country not to mention his attitude towards Indigenous people refusing to acknowledge the stolen generation and how he handled the NT intervention.
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Well Guys Australia has done really well under Labor, yes we have debt but with the Global Financial Crisis it could have been so much worse. Carbon Tax I havnt seen a big increase in my power bill. But my childrens kids hopefully will appreciate that Australia is trying to do something about our planet. Maybe you want a Liberal government Like Queensland their solution to debt is sell everything put government empoyees out of work increase the number of people looking for work. All governments promise not to do something then do it anyway. Also hope if Liberals get in they dont bring back work choices just under a different name. So yeah you may think Labor has done a bad job but look out if the Liberals get in. I know I may not work for the government soon just because the Liberals got in Queensland. I am actually quite happy with what Labor has done I have low interest rates, I know the economy is better than a lot of other countries. They care about the planet. As for the interview with Abbott just sounds like he is trying to soften his approach to reel you all in. I for one think everyone should have the same rights. Agree with Pink it should just be Marriage not Gay Marriage, People not Straight or Gay we are all people. And for the record I have been married for 25 years to a man and I am a woman but we are both people just like any others.
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My opinion of Tony Abbott only matters in the context of how I vote at this coming election, how he leads his party and how he measures up against Julia Gillard and other party leaders.
I think Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are both probably decent people away from the media. I don’t agree with a lot of what they each say – I believe in equal marriage rights, I believe in doing whatever we can for refugees. I also believe in being nice, kind, and respectful – something which both leaders have lost sight of over the last few years.
As an individual, I think he’s very traditional and skews towards having a conservative religious belief system. I love that he’s active and fit, that shows me that he’s willing to work at something and stick to it. But aside from these insights we have into his personality, I don’t really care what he’s like. I just want him to lead.
I think Tony has the benefit of a mostly unified party at the federal level – or at least the appearance of it. I think that makes his job easier, but in the end I am voting for a member of a party, so that comes into play as well. I think Julia has had an uphill battle, partly of her own making, in maintaining leadership. But I would argue that she has lost focus, and forgotten to show some leadership. She has made too many compromises to get in and stay in power, and now I have no idea who she is as a leader or what her party’s vision is.
If I were voting on the leader, it would inevitably come down to leadership skills, and while Tony Abbott has lead a party from the ashes, Julia Gillard’s party is in tatters. So Abbott would get my vote.
I will be voting on the party, and since neither party are willing to bring valid social policy to the table, I have two options left – the economy and the party themselves. Any pride the ALP can take in the current state of the economy is at least in part due to the economic management of the Howard government before them. Wayne Swan’s ‘budgeting skills’ and inability to forecast accurately lead me to believe they won’t be able to maintain any gains they may have made in the economy. From my perspective, these have been slim anyway – they have been wasteful and implemented policy so poorly that we are leaking funds from every possible avenue.
So what do I have left – the party itself? Well, with a new scandal every few months, the tie to the unions, multiple factions within factions…I don’t know how I could conceivably vote for the ALP.
Even if I don’t back Tony 100%, the LNP will get my vote.
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Hats off to you.
Love your intelligent flow of logic!
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You could always vote for someone else. There are more than two parties!
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Is there? Not for long if the WA election is anything to go by. I will so miss the charisma of Christine and the adorable way Hanson-Young rolls her eyes like a china doll before crying for the poor suicidal asylum seekers who have torched another detention centre. Never a tear for the suiciding farmers though. Strange that. Oh, and Lee Rhiannon spreading her anti-Semetism outside people’s businesses.
Oh, the demise of the Greens will just break my heart.
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Say Meri, that so witty. Do stick around.
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Yes you could. But I trust the Greens even less than I trust Labor. I’m not likely to give my vote to single issue candidates from the Shooter’s Party, the Fishing Party or the Sex Party.
Family First and Katter’s Australian Party are far too conservative for my liking and the local Communist Party of Australia candidate is a bit too far to the left.
I wouldn’t support an independant candidate as I believe that it is a waste of my vote. I mean to say, there is such a thing as the protest vote but I want my protest to actually count for something.
So, at the end of the day I am left with Liberal and Labor. I’ll be going with the lesser of the two evils. If Peter Garrett can tell me that he doesn’t hold the same views that he held twenty years ago, then I can believe the same when Tony Abbott says so.
We all evolve.
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But see – you’re reaching your decision by actually looking at the other candidates, rather than bemoaning that there are only two parties to vote for!
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I didn’t want to write an essay by comparing multiple party leaders, but I did reference that in my first paragraph.
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Nah, I learned not to do that the last election. I am very disappointed in how the greens used their “power” after the last election. A vote for any other party is basically a wasted vote. As others have said though, it’s a shame that the two main parties seem to be so far from center. Some moderation, sense and balance would be great.
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No, it’s not a wasted vote. You just didn’t like the way the Greens operated. That’s quite different.
I’m just pointing out that you are the one who decides how to vote and the order you put them in. I’ve never seen a ballot paper with only Liberal and Labor.
If you don’t want to vote for the big two, don’t.
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I have seen that many times in my state electorate. If memory serves me correct, only in the last two elections has there been a Melbourne Cup field of candidates in my electorate. And then, the majority of the votes stayed with the Libs and Labor with the Liberal candidate getting the most massive swing ever seen in the area.
The long serving Labor member held the seat for years with something like a 75% majority. Even with some support falling for the LIbs at state level, I believe that Labor won’t get the seat back for at least nine years or three elections. That’s quite a long time.
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I would generally term myself a logical and relatively rational person. Though I do make major life choices based on what feels right, versus any pros and cons list.
For me, whilst I know that in order to demonstrate outwardly how educated I am on politics in Australia, I would be swotting up on policy and what each party stands for etc.
However my reality is that I can not get past how I feel instinctively about each leader of the two main parties.
I really am repulsed (yes that strong a word) by both.
I agree with the comments that these are the two most unpopular leaders since Keating & Hewson.
For me, as a swinging voter, it will be who I perceive as the lesser of two evils. And Tony Abbot is just ahead. And that is not saying much.
I know I ‘should’ be focusing on what each party stands for, but the fact that Labour supported what happened to Kevin Rudd at Julia’s hands still leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth & speaks of their values (their leadership history is pretty turbulent).
I don’t judge Tony for his views back in his University Days, as people do evolve over time, I know I have. I feel a better formed person today, than I was in my early and mid 20′s. I also respect his acknowledgement of that and am prepared to take it at face value.
Tony does make my skin crawl similar to how I feel about Tom Cruise, it’s that coldness, almost robotic persona. I don’t see him as ‘macho’ at all (Liz Hayes description). Rather cold, clinical and calculating – like Tom Cruise.
But hey, I don’t think Julia would light any fires in a cold room either.
And seeing him with his family and his wife speaking up, and his sister supporting him, his daughters present – whilst obviously staged – still for me seemed like there was genuine goodwill amongst family members, which did warm up his persona for me – a little.
Better than seeing Julia with this new addition of glasses, in a room of strangers/bloggers trying to get them onside. So false, fake and poorly executed.
Overall though, frankly I don’t trust either of them.
So it is Hobson’s choice for me.
I appreciate my views may not be shared, may even be vilified, as they most certainly are not based on logic and rational reasoning on policy etc as they ‘should’ be – but hey is that an oxymoron, given how impassioned people do feel one way or another?
So I may well be put into the category of an uneducated, ill informed voter.
And I will always defer to what feels right (or least wrong in this instance).
And overall, I am one of the seeming few who do think this country is in good shape as we have not experienced the recession anything like they have in the US & Europe (I do a lot of business with people in the US) and I don’t think either party will screw this country into the ground as neither are that extreme, it’s about ‘nuances’ that you either are in favour of, profoundly against, or on the fence.
Interestingly (to me anyway), is that if it were different leaders representing both parties, I would be focusing more on policies etc, as I am that much of a swinging voter.
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You seem pretty educated and informed to me – especially about the Tom Cruise thing, I totally get that feeling from him too!
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I totally agree with the Tom Cruise thing, so much so I can not even bring myself to watch any movie with him in it. I’m so glad there is others like me out there
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Somehow, the moment that I saw the ad for this segment on 60 Minutes during the week, I knew that this would be MM’s lead story this morning.
A more interesting headline might have been, “Polls Indicate Labor Thrashing….60 Minutes Interview Changes Nothing”. The party faithful will stick to their guns, that is a given. The swinging voters have telegraphed their intentions in line with the PM’s declaration of a nine month long election campaign. For the government life has ceased, now it must bury the corpse of the dearly departed before it really starts to pong.
I personally found Liz Hayes style of asking questions patronising and condescending. Mind you, an interview conducted by Liz Hayes generally is. It has been her hallmark for over three decades.
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Oh Bradley, I do so anticipate your responses to these articles! You and wounded bull can come to my dinner party any time!
Spot on about Liz Hayes.
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Do you want me to bring red, white, champers or a six pack ?
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excellent, i will bring the beef, and my countless beefs as conversation fodder.
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Oh God, someone pass me a bucket.
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Dinner party rules anon, especially when discussing a dinner party.
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Why ? Don’t you have indoor plumbing ?
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I hate to point out to Liz Hayes and the doyens of the femosphere, but they do not hold dominance over the country. No matter how much they wish it, they are not the rulers, they are not in command and they’re not so sh*t hot that the majority of women are desperate to follow their every utterance!
Hayes made a fool of herself. She is emblematic of the media’s disintegration.
Both the media and Labor need to realise that there is more to Australia than the self-appointed ruling class of intelligensia, celebrities, feminists and twitterati Athiests. They are the most strident and the loudest but they do not speak for me.
Gay marriage and the fallacious accusations of misogyny are not even in the top twenty things I want to discuss with Abbott.
In all honesty, I’m embarrassed by the level of immaturity and shallowness being displayed by women in the media and in government.
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Well said!!
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At last another intelligent alien. What ‘Jen’ said.
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I do think faith defines who we are and what we believe. I have a strong faith and it is an intrinsic part of me. However, if I were to go into politics I would be crazy to to attempt to create policies based on my faith alone. Being intelligent and a good leader means that you govern wisely. I think we need to be very careful here to look at the whole man, not just these particular issues. While Mr Abbott may not be my cup of tea in terms of his personality I feel that he will do a good job on the whole. I trust him more than I do Julia Gillard.
Another thing we need to remember is that a party is not just the leader. The liberals seem to have several excellent party members who, in effect, lead with Tony. Leadership is not a one man/woman show. There are many people of integrity in the liberal party.
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Liar liar pants on fire!!! The man is INEPT as stated by the great Peter Costello. INEPT.
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sarcasm/ Yeah because Peter hasn’t got any sour grapes over never becoming leader himself has he? No! /sarcasm
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Looks like a lot of women supporting Tony on this blog. Considering the nature of mama mia, well done all.
That would agree with what I generally hear from women at work, socially or in between. I guess that has been reflected in polls for some time now
I agree with Mia, and I’ve been saying this all along, women will decide who wins the next election – and Tony has them.
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What about our most trusted treasure, the dear ‘ol Peter Costello, who called TA inept? When someone from your own party is calling you that, me thinks there’s some issues there. Costello, while boring, was a very astute man.
What TA has in his chief of staff is a very, very good media adviser.
I, for one, am not falling for it.
And just for the record I’m not a Labor fan either…..
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I don’t think Peter Costello is too happy with several of his ex-colleagues – mainly those in the ‘Howard camp’ that kept Howard as party leader.
Astute as a treasurer he may be, I take with grain of salt anything he says about his ex-colleagues.
What is agreed by most of his colleagues is that Tony as always handled his portfolios well.
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That last line makes me feel a bit ill – just for the record, he doesn’t “have” any of my female friends.
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Tony Abbott for the win!! Not even to do with this article, Australia needs the Liberal party back in charge. Julia Gillard’s Labor team have ruined Australia with some of the worst acts this country has ever seen. Agriculture is at a huge low and if the Liberal party does not get back in favour, all farms will be obliterated soon and we will be importing cheap food from China, further ruining Australia’s chances at coming back as a strong country. Australia is in dire need of a new political leader before it’s too late.
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I agree with you that the agricultural sector is in major strife but is that Labors fault? The ongoing drought, pressure from supermarkets & state governments re-zoning much farming land has also played a big part in the downturn.
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See, this is what I don’t like at all in Australia at the moment. This type of hyperbole is so over-the-top.
Australia is not ruined. We face some challenges,as does every other country in the world at the moment whether they are led by conservative governments or otherwise.
Australia is ruined in the same way that Whyalla has been wiped off the map.
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Where?
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To all the people commenting against Tony’s evolution of views, particularly the young that can’t relate to how societies views evolve over time, can I play devils advocate for a moment.
Lets say polygamy evolves to being socially accepted in 25 years time. Lets also assume that most of you currently do not support marriage to multiple partners currently, as it is not the social norm today, yet a campaign over many years changes your views, and we all come to see polygamy as not effecting anyone else and totally acceptable. This cause in 2043 will also be supported more by the young, as they find the adjustment to new society standards easier, however gradually everyone is coming on board.
Let’s assume in 2043 that you too have slowly come around to the idea of polygamy rights. Would you want your prior views for ever more held against you. Would you like people to assume that your views cannot also evolve, just as the broader communities has?
I think it is unfair to not recognise that the entire societies views on issues like gay rights have evolved over decades. Why also can’t Tony’s?
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Hold on Wounded Bull – you are saying some people are against polygamy?! Surely only the polygamphobs, racists, sexists and anti-christs?! The same group who also oppose my right to take heroin.
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Hey WB, for me it comes down to the line I commented on below:
““certainly said some things which I wouldn’t say now,” ”
Just because someone is not saying things, doesn’t mean they’ve changed their beliefs. It just means they’re not saying some things.
I think it’s pretty clear that I’m never going to vote LNP though anyway.
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I certainly hope that homophobia won’t be dusted over in a few decades.
My grandfather spent the first 40 years of his life as an extremely racist man. In his later life he did a total 180 on most of his views, but he always made the point that becoming a decent, compassionate human being wasn’t something that should be commended, because it’s the least we should expect from people. He did talks where he discussed his past, and was always crestfallen when people brushed that time off with a “I guess that’s just how things were then”. No. We should judge those who sat back and did nothing while people’s rights were abused. There have always been good, progressive people who had the courage to ignore exclusionary societal standards, but sadly there are always more cowards who fear change, even when that change has nothing to do with them.
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Did liz hayes ask him about the comment he made that
“a woman’s greatest gift is her vriginity?”
I found that comment deeply insulting on so many levels.
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Sometimes, that “gift” can be to one’s own self. Consider.
Perhaps Abbott was saying don’t give the part of you that can only be given away once to just anyone. Keep it for the one who is not merely looking for a bit of stray sex. Keep it for the person that you know wants to build a life with you.
Perhaps Abbott was saying don’t let anyone take advantage of you sexually.
Sorry. I got it wrong. Abbott was actually saying that promiscuity is wrong for females but quite ok for males ? Was he ?
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What you’re referring to is what Tony Abbott reportedly advised his daughters when talking to them about sex, so I’m not sure why you’re offended as it wasn’t directed at you. And he didn’t say it was a woman’s “greatest gift”. He simply said that it was a gift which shouldn’t be given away lightly.
Seriously, what else would you expect any decent father to tell their daughters?
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As far as PR stunts go next to Gillards West Sydney visit it pales in comparison.
Is he a Liar? maybe but that is conjecture.
Is Julia (there will be no carbon tax) Gillard a Liar? yes she is!
Swinging voters will decide this election and they are smart enough to see through left and right hardliners rants.I think most swinging voters have made up their mind about Gillard and the ALP/Greens and like it or not unless Abbott shoots himself in the foot he will be the next PM and I don’t think he shot himself in the foot last night.
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Tony Windsor claims that in 2010 Tony Abbott had declared that he would “do anything” but “sell my arse” to secure the keys to The Lodge.
So it’s not any surprise that he would lie and claim to be a changed man now just to secure the top job.
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And Gillard had no interest in the role – it was thrust upon her!!
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Needshelp, you need help. You seem to have a severe case of tunnel vision. The article didn’t mention Julia once. Katie didn’t mention Julia once. For all you know Katie could be a hardcore Lib that just doesn’t like Tony which is perfectly fair and valid.
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Well, your first comment is no doubt correct, and I also have a lot of issues with Tony Abbott and would prefer we were talking about Malcolm T V Penny W BUT given this is a discussion about poltics, and the fight for the lodge, I would have thought it is balanced to identify when a criticism of one contender is so clearly equally true of the other?
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Needshelp … that is the most absurd statement. Gillard always wanted the job and she got there on the back of her support from the unions.
It was always planned that Rudd win the 2007 election then the 25 members of Cabinet with union connections move in and replace him with their union stooge, Julia Gillard.
To suggest she never wanted the job is total rubbish
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Windsor has a history of ‘misinformation.’ I don’t believe a word he says.
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Julia Gillard also doesn’t support gay marriage. Just saying….
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If faith shapes who we are as people – and our values, how can it NOT affect our politics? That statement makes me distrust TA even more than I did before.
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Ah yes, Catholics and straight white males, the only groups in Australia we are free to abuse and belittle. and Tony is lucky to be both.
Any other minority or belief system in Australia, lets all bend over to foster respect and understanding. Catholic white males, meet you at the town square for public stoning at noon.
Tony really is damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t, as Kate’s comment clearly demonstrates.
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Yes, those poor downtrodden white men. If only they could rise up above the oppression they suffer on a daily basis.
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I am talking of the right to abuse and belittle, nothing else.
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so Jayne, according to your definition, anyone deemeed by you as ‘not oppressed’ is open slather for abuse and ridicule? Is that the way it works?
Oh, and I bet there are millions of these so called lucky white hetro men that would dispute your assessment of them sitting on top of the food chain. I am betting a great deal of them would happily swap places with many of the well educated, eastern suburbs female contributers on here.
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Anonymous, I admire people who say what they believe and stick to it, not renege as soon as it looks like they’ll lose votes. I would much prefer Tony (or anyone else) went to the polls saying what they believe, not what they think we’d like to hear. I don’t even mind when far right wingers come out and say they don’t approve of gay teachers or want refugees registered when they move into a neighbourhood. To me their opinions are abhorrent but at least they’re our there and I can vote accordingly. Too much spin in politics, too many polls, not enough honesty.
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You refer to too much spin, and point the finger at LNP. lol.
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It’s called compromise Kate, sometimes, despite our personal view, we need to consider others position and make decisions based on the broader view. Surely you are not suggesting that no catholic is fit to be Prime Minister? Unfortunately, when you read the vast majority of blog responses, you can see that most people are incapable of thinking outside of their personal paradigms – be they left or right. If God, him or herself, appeared and declared that Abbott was his/her son, there are plenty of people who would still not support him.
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Hi needshelp, Tony is not your average modern Catholic – most Catholics I know struggle with a lot of church doctrine. He trained to be a priest and is on record as having very conservative views on some issues. He’s also known as a very ambitious man. I am all for people changing their minds and admitting they’ve been wrong but that’s not what’s happened here. TA is saying he can put his faith to one side when it comes to governing. If his faith is as deep as he says, I just can’t see how that’s possible.
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Well I couldn’t see how JG swore that there would never be a carbon tax under a Government led by her and low and behold, we have a carbon tax!!
Weird things can and do happen all the time Kate.
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Anonymous, perhaps you mistake me for someone who favours the ALP. You couldn’t be more wrong. I’m the ultimate swinging voter – much to the consternation of my family, some of whom have worked for and in Liberal governments. I am tired of all politicians who change policies with the polls – of which I believe there are far too many. That said, I believe that it’s a bigger deal put your faith to one side than change your mind on a tax.
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I think there is ample evidence that Tony has actually moderated his views and beliefs, rather than just saying it for the votes. Having his sister leave her marriage for a lesbian relationship would tend to force self reflection on these matters. His actions speak louder than his words. He is tolerant, accepting, loving towards his sister.
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A bit off topic, but just wanted to point out that these “modern Catholics” you refer to are not really Catholics at all.
Saying you’re a Catholic and not following the doctrine is like saying you’re a vegetarian while eating a steak.
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Do you have faith in Julia (there will be no carbon tax and I will return us to surplus) Gillard?
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He did let his faith interfere when he was health minister over the morning after pill. To me that event totally defined why I could never vote for him.
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I used morning after pill at times under Abbotts Health Dept.
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Is it possible his objection to the morning after pill was not faith based? Is the only objection possible to abortion based on religion?
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redqueen, I think that argument has well and truly been put to bed. He didn’t block the morning after pill. He simply refused to repeal the TGA’s right to rule on the matter. In my opinion, it is appropriate for the Health Minister to submit to the TGA, (which governs the availability of pharmaceuticals), regardless of the nature of the type of medication.
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I still don’t buy anything he says regardless. I will never forget his interview on the 7.30 report after he lost his power of veto over RU468, he went on a rant describing all scientists as Frankensteins who just want to experiment on embryos. A leopard never changes its spots.
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No they don’t. But he’s a human not a leopard. And human beings do evolve.
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RU486 is not the morning after pill. The morning after pill doesn’t produce abortions. It prevents conception. RU486 is a pill that you take after you’ve become pregnant to expel the embryo.
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