Tony Abbott with his sister, Christine Forster
Ask any gay, lesbian or bisexual person and they will tell you that no matter how accepting or supportive your friends and family are, coming out is difficult. Moreso if you’ve previously lived a heterosexual life.
But what if your brother is one of the most well known anti-gay marriage campaigners in the country? And he’s the Leader of the Opposition.
Christine Forster is the beloved sister of Federal Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott. Earlier this year, her decision to leave her husband for a woman received extensive coverage in the media (you can read about that here).
Christine is currently running for Sydney City Council and her famous brother has written to voters, urging them to support her.
His letter might surprise you:
From TONY ABBOTT….
Dear Residents,
My sister Chris is one of the bravest people I know. It takes real guts for a basically conservative person to admit she’s gay and to build a new life based on who she really is.
She’s managed to negotiate the inevitable hurt in a way that’s kept the love of her vast network of family and friends.
She’s running for Sydney City Council on her policies not on her sexuality but the way she’s handled this shows the character she’d bring to public life.
Chris and her partner Virginia live in Surry Hills and love our great city. They admired Clover Moore but think that, after 24 years in office, she’s run out of good ideas for a city that’s been standing still since the Olympics. Sydney has to be a good place to work and to start a business in as well as a great place to live. It’s has to be a city, not just a village.
I’m impressed by the clarity and common sense of what Chris and her team have in mind. They’ll stop adding to an already huge cash stockpile for over-rated green schemes and give everyone a 10 per cent rate cut. They’ll give everyone 15 minutes free parking in shopping zones. ‘
They’ll make new developments include one car space per dwelling. They’ll appoint 35 new rangers so streets will be safer and cleaner rather than add to the bloated city hall bureaucracy. And there will be no new separate bike lanes because they confuse pedestrians and motorists without making it easier for cyclists. I know because I’m one of them.
Chris and I don’t agree on everything but her courage has deepened my life as well as her own. I know that she can bring change for the better to Sydney as well.
Tony Abbott is the Federal Member for Warringah and the Leader of the Opposition.
Have you ever had a major disagreement with a family member that you’ve managed to overcome? Is there someone in your life whom you love but don’t agree with?
Commenting note: Here at Mamamia we welcome (in fact, we celebrate) robust political debate. Politics is not a taboo conversation topic at this particular dinner party. However, please make sure you keep the debate polite and respectful at all times. You are entitled to disagree and disagree strongly with an author or a politician’s position but any name calling, rudeness or personal slurs will be immediately deleted.
Comments
206 Comments so far
HAAAAAAAAA PR stunt much. He is still against gay marriage so this stunt makes him a massive hypocrite.
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He is representing his constituents which on a 2PP basis means about 55% of voting Australians compared to his idiotic droning counterpart who can but muster only 45%.
They are paid to represent. Well done Tony and keep up the good work. You will hear our voices in a bout 12 months……….
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Hey hey
Have a nice girl
By
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very good forum
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Has any one changed a political view after reading comments on MM? Just wondering?
I have the highest regard for some of the people swimming against the leftist tide here. It’s a realy hard job to engage with people over political views and all the harder when people have entrenched views and use words like ‘sexist pig.’
I voted Labor all my life until 2010. Actually I was not that interested in politics and happily allowed myself to be directed by the MSM.
Kevin Rudd turned me off Labor and Gillard has ensured that I will never go back.
None of the nasty Tony Abbott comments here have done a thing to entice me back to Labor.
I’ve also noted and noticed how wrong some of the comments about Tony Abbott are. I don’t have the energy to do anything about them. Hence my admiration for people like Stef who try (with dignity and information) to correct misinformation.
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Hi Piper, I like your name BTW! I was also a Labor voter but something didn’t feel right about Kevin Rudd. By then I had worked out that John Howard was more of a decent man than a baby killer so I was disappointed when Labor won. Now I’m shattered. The union corruption and the business with Bruce Wilson was enough for me.
So to answer you’re question, after reading some of the comments here and following the links supplied, my opinion of the ALP is such that I hope they are annihilated at the election. A total wipeout won’t be enough for me. I never fell for the Abbott hate. I think he’s a decent human being and far from the monster the media make him out to be.
Mia’s readership has increased, bringing with it some new voices. I’m generally reluctant to comment because of the lefty love-in but I’m so enjoying posters standing up and talking common sense for once.
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Sorry, meant to add that I had never heard of the Heiner Affair until someone mentioned it here. I’m afraid the corruption we can see is just the tip of a very large iceberg. I must admit that my inner researcher’s appetite has been whet and I intend to keep digging. I’d encourage others to do the same. The lie about Tony Abbott hating women is being used as a smoke screen. While we’re all busy hating him, the ALP is free to carry on as usual. Time for a Royal Commission.
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sigh… another comment in the spam filter….
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I hear your pain.
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I know this isn’t the topic here, but all I know is that since labor changed the private health insurance policy I’ve had to go back to the public system because private health is now too expensive. Surely driving more people into the public system isn’t the answer.
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And Labor promised that it wouldn’t change the health insurance rebate!!!!!!!
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Then you need to shop around. It also depends on where you prioritise health insurance in your bills and what you won’t give up. I have 2 kids, I currently am at home with no income and my husband is a 3rd year teacher (about 60k a year). We pay private health insurance for the whole family for about $850 a quarter. We have prioritised this above needing and wanting other things. We have also managed to pay for a wedding this year and buy a house. It all depends on what you are willing to sacrifice. Health insurance should be means tested.
Let’s all take a moment to feel lucky that we live in Australia and even receive a health insurance rebate.
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any chance of a post about leigh sales being called a cow by graham morris. i think he is the guy who suggested kicking our PM to death, or was that another one of the charming LNP dinosaurs???
and who said misogyny had died??
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A terrible episode all round, really. No creativity or cleverness on either side. Cow and dinosaur. A bit embarrassing.
If she’s terribly upset Billy Shorten can shout her a bridge to help her get over it. Oops, sorry, he can’t. He’s barely keeping the wolf from the door as it is. My heart just breaks for Labor’s elite.
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It’s Tony Abbott’s fault don’t you know!
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You just undermined any kind of eloquent and informed response you made below Stef. I want to vote Liberal and this is exactly why I won’t (don’t want to vote Labour either). No one should have to put up with comments like this on either side and they should never be defended.
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I’ve written a reply, B but there’s something in it that the spam filter doesn’t like. Go figure.
In essence, I said that the hypocricy of the lefties does my head in. While they’re free to abuse anyone they want, they scream when the shoe is on the other foot.
No, he shouldn’t have called Sales a cow. There are idiots on every team but the corruption, fiscal incompetence and clusterf*ck policies of the ALP make me sick.
Their connections are incestuous and spread like tentacles throughout the unions, politics, mining companies, lobbyists and the judiciary. There is an Underbally series there somewhere.
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Mamamia team, I know that gay marriage and feminism are passionate causes for you but I want to *plead* with you to take up another.
Ray Hadley, one of those terrible shock jocks, has a long running crusade against pedophiles and the sentences handed down to them. Father Chris Riley was interviewed and the statistics he quoted are horrifying. The sentences make you wonder what’s going on.
As Fr Riley said, Wilkie has campaigned for the 90000 poker machine addicts but no-one is interested in standing up for the millions of abused children and demanding these animals be locked away. The average sentence is three years. Three years for the destruction of innocence and often a life destroyed.
Fr Riley was invited to Rudd’s 20/20 Summit and no-one was interested in listening to him. Both he and Hadley have begged a politician to take up the cause but they just ignore it.
Yesterday there were stories that they want to weigh school children because of the obesity epidemic. Why aren’t they screaming about the one in four girls and one in seven boys who are sexually abused?
On Australia Day, every Senator in the country was asked to get to the bottom of the Heiner Affair and the Greens blocked it. Why?
As women, we should be shouting from the rooftops about this.
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Thanks for changing the intro, MM.
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Argh, please don’t spend hundreds of thousands of our tax dollars digging up cycle paths which were put in recently at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Don’t advocate such a blatant waste of resources like it is a good thing! If you tried to do that in business you would get fired!
Also, I cycle to work about once a week and there are 2 stretches of my trip that have cycle paths. Those 2 stretches are like a heavenly oasis after having to ride in the road lane with all the cars which is so stressful I have ended up in tears once or twice.
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Where in the letter does it say that their policy is to dig up cycle paths?
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It’s weird that he feels to discuss her sexuality (not a defining feature of her character or political viewpoint) in the opening statement. I’m interested in the development of sydney as a greener, more eco sustainable, pedestrian and cyclist friendly city, therefore nothing in this letter really spoke to me.
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Sophie, it’s a city. Unless someone has developed genetically modified concrete, there’s not much chance of it taking over Hyde Park or the Botanic Gardens. The only eco sustainable feature is the community veggie patches on the council strips where the drunks spew on your bok choy and the dogs crap on your coriander but you still think you’re contributing to the sustainability of the earth. Out my way, we call that a ‘wank.’ Its my city too and I’m not going to ride a tandem bike down the M2 towing my mother in a dog trailer because I can’t drive around Clover’s fiefdom.
Go Christine. It’s past time someone loosened Clover’s stranglehold … and her dog collar.
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And her dog collar? Nice.
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She’s wears a dog collar, B. it is her signature statement.
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Steph, he is defining her character in his letter. He speaks of the difficulties that a basically conservative woman faces when confronting her sexuality. Whether you like it or not, she is from a conservative family and holds conservative political views. You obviously have no idea how difficult it would have been for her to come to terms with her sexuality, and how difficult is would have been to come out to her family. He’s not discussing her sexuality at all, he’s talking about her integrity.
The fact that the Abbott family accepts her for who she is should tell you something about the compassion, understanding and integrity of the family.
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Sorry, got names mixed up.
I meant Sophie, not Steph.
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I am for gay marriage. I would love to see my sister and sister-in-law get married “officially”. Apart from that, one of the reasons I support gay marriage is because I don’t believe it would have an adverse effect on anyone’s life. Can anyone tell me what some of you are afraid of?
I think too that the comments about Abbott’s semi-support of his sister are right on. Good enough for public office but not good enough to be married … what poppycock. Indeed, he should work on some of their own policy platforms before helping others, so he has something else to say apart from “no” and “there are serious questions to ask about …”
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Jenn, what would you like him to say yes to?
Here are the Liberal Party policies.
http://www.liberal.org.au/Policies.aspx
All I had to do was google and there they were. Just because the love media tell you he hasn’t got any doesn’t mean that he hasn’t got any.
I can’t see any about mandatory chastity belts or the public stoning of working women.
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I appreciate that stef, thanks, and I guess I do let external influences, well … influence me! (as we all do) But I am so used to Abbott having nothing much to say apart from dissing everyone else’s ideas, I forgot to look behind the scenes. Negativity seems to be his MO – perhaps he needs to stop doing that and start spruiking his ideas instead of saying that he will announce them in due course or in time for the next election? Support for something would be a nice change.
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Remember jenn he doesn’t necessarily have nothing to say, just because the media tells you something or shows you a 5 second snapshot doesn’t mean that’s all that’s going on.
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MM – is there any way to make the posts say “Comment Deleted” when that has occurred? In a post like this, it gets very confusing following discussions and would be great to know when something has been removed.
On a side note, I hate it when I log in too late in the day and miss all the kerfuffle…
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I know this isn’t exactly on topic but I’ve read through a few of the comments and thought I’d throw in my two cents.
I’m not bothered by Tony Abbott or PM Julia Gillard in any way. I figure compared with what other countries have as pollies, ours are pretty good. Either / Or, we’ll end up with a PM who won’t end up doing anything too radical (that will be incredibly detrimental).
However, while I like that Mr Abbott has spoken out in support of his sister, it saddens me that he doesn’t support her enough to support gay marriage. She may very well choose not to be married, but surely she has the right to if that’s what she wanted?
I draw back on to how I feel towards my own friends (and sister), and think – there is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do to show them how much I believe in their right for equality.
It doesn’t effect us in any negative way, and there are so many positives to allowing them the same rights, so why not support it?
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I understand what you’re saying, DMK, but we can’t expect and don’t want politicians making policy on the basis of their loved one’s desires.
What if Baldrick Albanese’s brother is a nudist? Would we want him passing laws that allow people to catch trains in the nick? Or Garrett decided to outlaw cat ownership because his cousin is phobic?
There is a great divide in the generations over gay marriage. Where I’d never heard of gays as a child, my 9 year old knows all about .
It will happen eventually. Both leaders know that but they have to govern for the majority and despite what the GetUp gang would have us believe, the time hasn’t arrived yet.
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I suppose it will happen eventually.
It’s just do we really want to be that generation that people look back on and wonder at what all the kerfuffle was?
Someone needs to make the first move; Abbott, Gillard or otherwise.
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DMK, it’s too late to avoid humiliation. When Ruprect Oakshott’s seventeen minute soliloquy is being studied in 2090, they’ll know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we were morons.
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I am disappointed this was not written directly for MM. I got excited then realised it was a letter that was sent elsewhere. I know this not MM’s fault and they are working to engage the Liberal party.
Dear lowly Liberal staffer monitoring this post (I know someone probably will): I am a young swinging voter. I have voted Howard, Rudd and can’t remember (Julia? Tony? Mehdon’tknow).
I want to hear more from the Liberal party. I read newspapers too but they usually just print snippets of stuff politicians have said or their own interpretation. I want to hear directly from Liberal party people. I am a keen current affairs reader and have a poli sci degree and I still don’t really know what the Libs are all about these days Please engage in non-traditional forms of media more.
Thank you.
Oh and if any Labor staffers are reading this JG had pretty much lost me but when she went into bat for ‘hard done by’ private schools recently I choked on my breakfast and mourned the loss of the working man’s party and vowed to never, ever vote for her again.
Education was the jewel in JG’s intellectual crown, she readily admitted foreign policy wasn’t her thing, but education sure was. She has betrayed everything she seemingly stood for on education for many years, all for a little bit of political gain. Sick. I went to a private school, all for them, but they don’t need more bloody money.
Read Dave O’Neill’s article in Fairfax today for a better voice than mine on that issue.
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Swinger, I voted labor all my life because my father told me to. I was flat out raising babies and too busy to take much notice of politics. During the 2007 election campaign I noticed that the media were fawn-icating all over the Ruddster. He courted the young and impressionable on FM radio but wouldn’t front up to the big boys on the AM stations. I realised that something wasn’t right. I couldn’t work out how the media could keep supporting his lunatic policies and thought I was the only person in the country who could see him for what he is.
So one day I googled ‘Kevin Rudd is *self deleted*’ and a whole world of support and information opened up to me.
All the pieces of the puzzle were there and I could finally work out what was going on. If you want the indepth analysis and behind the scenes story go to the blogs. They are full of amazing people. Australians ranging in age from 30 to 80 who are so switched on, articulate and politically savy you won’t believe it.
The Labor staffers keep an eye on here because they think the mummy bloggers are an easy target but it’s the serious blogs that both parties analyse. If you want to learn and be heard then you need to hit the political journalist’s blogs.
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If you won’t vote for Julia because of that comment I sure hope you’re not planning to vote for Abbott!!! He’s quite supportive of private schools receiving more funding!
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But Tony Abbott actually said it was an ‘injustice’ private schools don’t receive more government funding compared to public schools. I certainly trust the ALP much more than the LNP to deliver on this issue.
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You’ve taken it out of context, Anonymous. He didn’t say that at all. You’ve grabbed a snippet of news and twistwd it. Google his speech or go to his website, find it and read it instead of going off half cocked.
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I believe that this might well be the first article posted on MM that has attracted more deletions than comments posted !
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Not even close.
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Would love to know Mia but I’m guessing you’ll never tell!
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I don’t, as a rule, like the policies of the Liberal party under Abbott. I’m fairly neutral on him, as a person – I think he’s much like most of the other politicians we have representing us right now. They’re probably much nicer at a personal level than we think but get caught up in the vitriol of our parliament if the day, behaving quite disgracefully. I’m sure that post-politics many of them may come to regret their childish name-calling and desperation for power that characterised so many of their actions and what they said as our elected representatives.
Having said that, the fact that he supports his gay sister, for me, is nothing that is really worthy of accolades. For me, it is an expectation. When my brother came out, it may have been a little hard at a personal level but there was never any question that any of us would not support him. I’d expect the same of anyone I associate with.
I’d be much more surprised if he didn’t support his sister after she revealed her sexuality. While this wouldn’t make me any more likely to vote for him (or his sister), I’d certainly not vote for him if he didn’t support his sister solely because of her sexual orientation.
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I’m wondering now whether I really live in a democracy. Its looking more like an elected oligarchy instead. A democratic process would have Christine standing on her own merit, not being propelled along by a power-possessor (who happens to be her brother). Sexual orientation is irrelevant here.
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If I lived in the CIty of Sydney LGA I would rather recieve the letter form Christine herself.
Chris is running for election not TA
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Agree. Letter looks like PR for Tony. But good to see his attitude is different from Bob Katter to his gay brother.
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I have to say this- why is Tony’s sister constantly acknowledged as his gay sister rather that by her name or just as his sister?? I don’t go around referring to my brother as my non gay brother!!
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Agreed, although in regards to this story specifically it is kind of relevant…
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I can’t stand Tony Abbott but think that is a lovely open and honest letter
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Then maybe it’s time to really think about why you can’t stand him. I could man-hate for Australia and I like him. I think he’s a nice man, husband and father. I used to be sucked into the Abbott hating then someone asked me why. I really had no idea. The more comments I read about how women hate him the more I realise that it’s nothing more than another bit of ALP and leftard media crap.
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Ce, you comment must be about the best thing I have ever read on Mamamia. Well said! Good on you! I could say much more but I just want your comment to sit out there for others to think about.
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I know exactly why I don’t like him. It’s got nothing to do with him being a man and me being a woman and everything to do with his overwhelming negativity and his position on asylum seekers. I can’t understand how he can reconcile his position with his Christian values.
I think it’s fairly condescending to think that because you are a woman and you like him, the media is making up the fact that other women don’t like him.
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Jen, he’s negative on most things because he’s the Leader of the Opposition. it’s his job to be negative, particularly when he’s specifically asked about ALP policies.
You may not like his position or LNP policy on Asylum seekers, but consider this, none of them ever died under a LNP Government.
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His climate change skepticism for a start. I think from memory the word used was ‘bullshit’.
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Ce – Let me give you a couple of ideas off the top of my head:
- Lying about the carbon tax.
- Lying about not raising the medicare safety net.
- Lying about abortion statistics.
- Pretending he knew better than doctors about RU486.
- Being unable to separate church and state during his time as health minister (a cornerstone of democracy).
- Saying on the 7.30 Report that a politicians promises aren’t worth anything unless they are guaranteed in writing – RIGHT ON TONY!
-Being a part of a government that thought workchoices was a great idea.
- Continually coming out with misogynistic statements.
- Saying that private education deserved more money last week.
And this is from someone who WANTS to vote Liberal at the next election but won’t while he is leading the Liberal party.
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In case Ce doesn’t get back to you, let me.
1. In what way did he lie about the carbon tax? The Howard government was looking at an ETS. That was before the inconvenient truth of the carbon hoax was discovered. The arse has fallen out of the ETS, worldwide. It’s nothing more than money laundering. Of course, the most vulnerable are the ones who suffer the most and there are now reports that poor farmers in South America are being murdered and their farms taken with the sanction of the UN. The new, single species farms, like palm oil plantations, are causing more ecological vandalism to the planet than good.
2. The Medicare safety net, I don’t know about but will try to find out.
3. When he quoted the figures he was unaware that miscarriage was included in the figures for abortion. I seriously doubt that he intended to be malicious to a group of women who have lost their babies. I really don’t.
4. I vividly remember the debate, concerns and controversy surrounding RU486. A woman had died and there were genuine questions about the drug. Remember that it was Abbott who fought for and fast-tracked the latest and best HIV drugs from overseas .. You know, for all those spawn of Satan homahsexual types?
5. Abbott is a very bad liar. He doesn’t like doing it. It doesn’t come naturally. Unlike some. And unlike Mr Peter Garrett who famously said – when we get in we’ll just change everything. How does he sleep when his pants are burning?
6. The only ones who had a problem with WorkChoices were the unions. It stripped them of their worker slaves, therefore their trough was emptying and we all know how expensive high class hookers are. The advertising scare campaign used actors and scripts, not real life people. No blonde, single mothers were actually sacked for not giving their boss his daily blow job. All workplace agreements were legal, scrutinised and open for prosecution if the boss took anyone’s first born.
7. Whatever. A quick perusal of Meg Mason’s article will prove the point that people will take offence if you say ‘bless you’ when they sneeze. He’s surrounded by strong, intelligent women and you insult his staff, wife, daughters and gay sister by making out that they’re so weak they whimper in the corner while he tells them to keep their mouths shut and clean up after him.
8. Despite what the public school advocates say, each child in a private school gets much less funding than a public school child. I can get the figures but don’t recall exactly so I don’t want to misquote. Private schools save the taxpayer millions. They are also *full* of children with learning difficulties and those on the autism spectrum who can’t get the help they need in the public system. And remember that Wayne’s World of class warfare isn’t real. In reality, private schools include the deaf and blind schools, the cerebral palsey schools and the hundreds of chockfull Catholic schools whose facilities and grounds are third world compared to the state schools. Personally, if the state schools want more money let them charge fees at schools where the parents use the money they’ve saved on education to travel overseas, buy rural retreats and drive BMWs.
Seriously, think about it. All his life he’s been involved in community service. He started the Pollie Pedal to raise funds for disabled and their carers. While Ms Gillard soaked up the sun on her holiday, Abbott was in an Aboriginal settlement, as he is every year, without fanfare or cameras. He’s a volunteer lifesaver and firefighter, a Rhodes Scholar, a mortgage holder and a man who survived three teenage daughters.
He’s simply not the boogie man the lefty media want us to believe.
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Steph is right- also the Medicare safetynet was raised by the current labor government in 2010. I know because it was in between having two children and I was seriously out of pocket for the second. The same government that is pushing people towards the very sick public health system by increasing the Medicare levy.
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Thankyou Mrs. Abbott.
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Good comeback, guest. What’s one more insult to the women in his life.
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Sorry Stef , it wasn’t intended as an insult …just thought you were giving TA so much pr about all the many wonderful things he does…you.’d have to be related…
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Thank you Mrs Gillard
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Stef, I don’t have time to give detailed replies because I’m too busy fulfilling my ‘physiological differences’ however:
1. Sorry, I should have said, LIED about how complex it was and that it’s going to destroy the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckcH0Wrmy74
2. Happy for you to get back to me. Specifically, he said he wouldn’t raise it before the election and then did afterwards anyway. Oops! Didn’t get it in writing did we?
3.Where exactly is my goddamn apology then?
4. This is barely even worth replying to. He is not a doctor. It’s been available in the UK for 15 years. Ask any doctor and they would prefer to keep surgical instruments away from your lady bits for a variety of reasons. Undergoing an abortion with general anesthetic has many more complications for a woman. Although I’ve never had an abortion, I was grateful to have access to RU486 last year during a miscarriage when it was used to partially open my cervix so there was less damage done to it so I could hopefully carry my next baby without any trouble. He has no idea and shouldn’t interfere.
5. It appears to be because he’s a very good liar; in other words, don’t believe anything I say unless you have it in writing. Why is Tony so up in arms if JG didn’t give her carbon tax guarantee in writing? And remember Stef, he said it, the Labour cronies didn’t have to make that one up!
6. No Stef. My mother-in-law is a died in the wool Liberal supporter, small-business owner, John Howard defender until the day she dies and even she didn’t like it. Neither did many, many Australians who voted against it – are you calling them all union cronies who swallowed a union line? My MIL hates unions too. It was bad policy and that’s why even TA came out against JH comments yesterday. It preys on the most desperate in our society and otherwise you end up like the US where people have to work 2 full-time jobs just to make ends meet.
7. No I don’t. There are plenty of times in Tony’s life where he has pointed out that the ‘big boys know better than the little women’. RU486. My ‘physiological differences’ (and just on this, no I’d rather be at work in the boardroom if I could afford good quality childcare for my kids). Reducing abortion to ‘a mother’s convenience’. His ‘housewives of Australia’ and the ironing comment. And quite frankly, if I want to withhold sex for my own reasons, whatever they may be, I will. Would you like me to go on?
Also glad those homeless people want to be homeless. Or those ‘illegal’ asylum seekers he loves talking about.
This man either has serious foot-in-mouth, or not enough info to really think about the issues. Smacks of Sarah Palin gaffs. Can you see Russia from here Tony?
8. PUH-LEASE! Why is it then that all private schools have fantastic buildings, pools etc when the textbooks in public schools are from the 70s, 80s and 90s and demountables are a common sight? Need another pool Kings?
And as for the fanfare without cameras? Why did I see him splashed all over the media then? Reading, writing and being ‘fantastic. down-to-earth, caring about Aboriginals’ Tony then? Give me a break. And JG was never a mortgage holder? And survived 3 teenage daughters? From what the majority of pollies say, they see so little of their kids because of their jobs. While I appreciate this sacrifice from all of them, it’s hardly him at home holding the fort. And if he’s a Rhodes scholar, then he should know that asylum seekers aren’t illegal – that’s taught in year 9. Disagree with how they arrive, disagree with how they are processed, whatever. But seeking asylum in Australia is not illegal.
Give me a progressive, informed Liberal ANY DAY.
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I have to get to work but I just need, for once and for all, to explain the situation of the most most privileged schools. I expect you’ll twist it to suit your own opinion but I’ll say it anyway.
Let’s take Kings as an example:
For over one hundred and sixty years it has been a boarding school for country students. Over that time it has been a second home to thousands of boys. Those boys, and their families, have donated millions of dollars as a way of giving back and providing facilities for future children. Some have died without families of their own and have left their entire estate to the school.
The question that should be asked is why don’t people donate to their old state school, not why do the private schools have such good facilities.
These schools haven’t robbed the tax payer of anything. The students of private schools get less funding per head than public school children.
Do you have any idea how many sons of ALP members go there?
After reading the comments on Meg Mason’s article, it’s painfully clear that women are pathologically defensive and capable of twisting the most innocuous comment into hate speech.
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Arrrghh! I just wrote a long response to Steph – please try to restore it MM! Spam filter maybe?
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Stef – from the Sydney Morning Herald:
“The spectacularly affluent Sydney Grammar will get even more public funding, despite being able to spend $39,348 on each of its students.
“The inner city elite institution currently receives more than $2,000 per student from the Gillard government and $1,000 from the state.
“That is more than four times the amount spent on many public school students.
“Increasing public subsidies to schools like Sydney Grammar will amplify educational inequality and squander scarce taxpayers’ dollars that could be effectively spent in the state’s public schools.”
Cry me a river.
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Stef, this is said far more eloquently than I could have put it, yet you’ve included everything I know and believe about Abbott and his stance. A great comment based on information not blind opinion. Top of the day to you!
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My husband is a vivid Abbott hater, not because he prefers Labour, and not because he’s particularly politically savvy, he just can’t handle the negativity and lack of constructive views.
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What does he think Abbott should say yes to?
If you google the Liberal Party website you’ll find plenty of policies. Though I think you’ll probably find they have to send the next 20 years digging us out of Wayne’s Wonderful Wizardy of Creative Accounting.
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So your husband thinks he should be positive about ALP policy? He wouldn’t be doing his job if he agreed with everything the ALP did.
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This should give you some idea:
“I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons”
And there’s plenty more where that came from if its not enough to sway you…
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Leah, he is right. Women are different to men on so many levels. Do you have the ability to match it with Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC? Do you seriously think you can run a multi-national company *and* be there to kiss better every sore knee or bad day at school? Yes, their father and grandparents and nanny can raise them but doesn’t your maternal instinct tell you you want to be with your babies rather than the boardroom.
YES, a great many women do but not in the numbers that will see women -
dominate or approach equal numbers – re-read that – dominate or approach equal numbers.
That means that he doubts that more than half the population of women are willing to sacrifice their time with their children to work the 60 – 80 hours a week that is required to reach the pinnacle of business success.
It does not mean that women are inferior, it means that we are different.
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Thank you Stef for the “real life” answer. I choose kids over career, I didnt want both, I never felt I could muster the required energy to do both jobs well.
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Why do people always have to argue that it is just ‘natural’ for women to not want a career, but to kiss knees and make school lunches? Yes, many women do choose to stay at home and care for their children, and that is a completely valid choice. What Abbott does here is invalidate women who would prefer to focus on a career than children, saying that they’re physiologically inferior and are somehow less apt to participate equally in areas which have been traditionally masculine. And I would argue that I am no less capable of running a multi-national company than a man, and any partner of mine will be more than capable of kissing knees. Being a woman doesn’t mean I have to do both. Men don’t.
Whilst Abbott may not say directly that women are inferior, the tone of this quote and many of the other horrible things he has said indicate otherwise
“What the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing is that if they get it done commercially it’s going to go up in price and their own power bills when they switch the iron on are going to go up, every year….”
” I think there does need to be give and take on both sides, and this idea that sex is kind of a woman’s right to absolutely withhold, just as the idea that sex is a man’s right to demand I think they are both they both need to be moderated, so to speak”.
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Because it is.
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The fact I don’t like him has nothing to do with him being a man and me being a woman, and everything to do with his overwhelming negativity and his demonisation of asylum seekers. I can’t see how he can reconcile his stance with his Christian ethics.
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Thanks Ce but I know exactly why I can’t stand him. It’s because he is overwhelmingly negative and his position on asylum seekers. I cán’t understand how he can reconcile it with his Christian ethics. The Labour party have nothing to do with it (can’t stand most of them either!)
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There’s one massive difference between Abbott and Gillard on same-sex marriage.
Gillard disagrees with it, but is letting the Labor MPs and Senators vote with their conscience.
Abbott is stopping the Liberal and National MPs and Senators from doing the same.
If he allowed a conscience vote then there is a high likelihood same-sex marriage would pass. But he won’t. He’s forcing Liberals and Nationals to vote according to his view.
I don’t agree with Gillard, but I at least acknowledge that she is letting her colleagues have a free vote.
I can’t imagine how his sister must feel about this, but it makes me sad for her and all of my wonderful friends who I think should have the same rights as me to get married.
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Lat time I looked, Abbott was the ‘leader’ of the opposition, not the dictator. If this is the party’s majority decision then so be it.
The ALP will blow with the votes. They have no integrity and no idea.
Why dont they push it through? They won’t because they don’t support it and neither do their massive Catholic support base.
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…. but he is acting like a “dictator” (Your word, not mine) by not allowing his colleagues a conscience vote. He is dictating that because he disagrees with same sex marriage, everyone in his party should too. However a number of his party MPs have publicly declared their support for same-sex marriage (these include Sue Boyce, Catherine Cusack and SImon Birmingham to name a few).
These MPs who disagree with Tony Abbott should have the ability to vote for the marriage equality bill without fear that they will be thrown out of their party.
I would also like to point out the Liberal State government in NSW did allow their party members a conscience vote so it shouldn’t be too difficult for the Federal branch to do it too.
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They do Hannah see my comment below.
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As I understand it, it is the ALP who is not allowing a conscience vote – and if any MPs cross the floor they lose ALP membership. Meanwhile, if Liberals cross the floor, everyone gets cross, but there is no sanction on them.
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Julia Gillard went to the election saying one thing about gay marriage and then changed Labor’s position. Tony Abbott went to the last election with the same position as Julia Gillard. The Coalition can’t just change its position cos there are votes in it.
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Alison this comment shows that you know nothing about the Liberal Party and listen to the misinformation spread by the media without doing your own research. In the Liberal Party every vote is a conscience vote – Liberal Party Members are allowed by their party rules to vote whichever way they wish. Labor party members on the other hand are required under the party membership rules to vote the way they are directed to – on this particular occasion JG has agree that all members can have a conscience vote.
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My maternal instinct tell me I ‘want to be with my babies not in the boardroom’? Um, no actually. Biology is not destiny.
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Alison, the Liberals, unlike the ALP, allow their members to vote according to conscience at any time regardless of what the party room decides. They don’t get treated like lepers after they do it either.
The ALP, on the other hand, expel those who vote against the decision of caucus from the party and thereafter they become “Labor Rats” and are treated with derision and hatred.
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WOW!! Im so glad I finished my work before I turned on MM, I would have achieved nothing today!!
FIrstly let me say, Thank You, a little balance is nice.
Secondly, so what if TA doesnt support gay marriage, neither does JG, his reasons are based on his religious beliefs, hers are legally based. Personally I think they are both wrong..
But this isnt about gay marriage its about a brother who loves his sister, regardless of her sexual orientation. There are things about my brothers choices & lifestyle that I dont agree with but I love him nevertheless.
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Thank you for trying to balance things up Mamamia team. It is noticed and appreciated.
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It’s really interesting to see the uproar when any criticism is aimed at Julia Gillard and yet here is a post on Tony Abbot and the mud slinging is hilarious and disturbing. The left are often called hypocrites, but to come out and hand the right such a loose display is kind of unsettling when Gillard takes the EXACT same stance as Abbot.
WHAT THE F(beep)
I learned long ago that everyone’s a hypocrite. Everybody has some primary belief where they think some ideology of their’s is so profound and brilliant that everybody else should be forced to live under their regime.
Whether it’s gay marriage, marijuana, wealth redistribution, abortion or prohibition, everybody wants their genius enforced by the state on people who don’t want to comply. The whole concept of fairness is misunderstood, but the perpetual loggerheads of all beliefs be they religious or political will always be simply a case of waiting until the next majority imposes their brand of fairness on the other group.
It’s fundamentally flawed.
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Guess what? Not everyone is forced to live under the regime of gay marriage! In fact, it doesn’t even affect you if you’re not gay!
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I think that we’d agree on that, but my broader point is that for every proponent of gay marriage, there is probably some freedom they would hypocritically withhold from others given the choice to propagate their wider beliefs. How about a law that protects us all from all beliefs and we can all respect everybody’s right to make their own choices and not to make them for me, being that I am an intelligent sentient being .
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Just settle down, all of you !
Some bloody interesting responses to YOUR comments are heading south when your original comment gets deleted for being too OTT.
Many of these responses have actually been more interesting than the original comment and have added something to the debate….something of value !
So just cool it !
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Maybe you should take your own advice and start ‘playing the ball instead of the man’.
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HERE BLOODY HERE
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Just FYI – it’s “hear, hear”
Pet hate of mine. Sorry.
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I think it was a sarcastic comment. sorry a pet hate of mine, people’s lack of understanding of sarcasm.
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What? The incorrect spelling was the sarcasm in the comment? Wow.
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What was sarcastic about it? I’m a bit lost…
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If only I knew which Anonymous to respond to ????
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So many Anonymice…
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we need a name! give us a name! what is the big deal . If you want to respond to the ‘anonymous’ people, you just press the reply button underneath.
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Anonymice – Well, played Cherries.
I award you 2 internets and I tilt my hat.
Perfect use of singular plurals.
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A bit off topic maybe, but I dont really understand the issue that people have with legislating to allow gay marriage.
If Tony Abbott or Julia Gillard were vegetarians and didnt “believe” in the killing of animals for food, would they legislate against the sale of meat?
Why doesnt Julia close down all religious institutes, or Abbott close down all the temples/mosques/non-catholic churches? Just because it is legal doesn’t mean you have to be actively involved or “believe” in it.
Allowing gay marriage is giving individuals the choice to express their own beliefs, just as I make choices every day that I am sure neither of the leaders agree or “believe” in, but still allow me to make.
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Exactly. Often it’s religious people who are the most opposed to legalising same sex marriage – but what’s it got to do with them? Church and State are separate – or at least should be. No one is forcing religions to perform or host gay marriage ceremonies. Their beliefs are their choice – but I cannot rationalise how they think they can force their choices and beliefs on others.
Don’t like gay marriage? Don’t get one.
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While I agree with your stance on gay marriage, its too simplistic to blame it on the religious types.
If i remember correctly, PM Gillard doesnt identify directly with religious motivations, and yet she is opposed. There are many who are just in the ‘if it aint broke, dont fix it’ camp, because to them, why change it?
The problem is bigotry, and that is not limited to any belief system or even education level.
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Hi Cait. I understand what you’re saying but I never said it was only religious types – just “often”.
It’s definitely bigotry.
I want everyone to have the same opportunities. Obviously not everyone feels the same, unfortunately.
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Alyssa,
There’s actually nothing in our constitution to guarantee separation of church and state. It happens by convention only.
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True, it’s more a neutrality.
But it is already possible to legally marry without religion. So religious organisations should just mind their own business when no one is asking them.
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Alyssa,
You’ll get no argument from me on that.
However, religious leaders are representing their members, so they do have a right to open their mouths when they want to. I’d like to gag them, but that doesn’t quite ring true within a democracy.
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I don’t love tony Abbott or Julia gillard but anything in this world that encourages people to overcome their fundamental differences and agree to disagree is a good thing. This is a humanizing story and maybe it shows you can have differing opinions and still get along!
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Mum of 2….the more I read your stuff, the more I love you !
As you say, there are always 2 sides to every argument. Accept that fact.
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Thanks Bradley, I’ve admired your comments in the past too!
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You two are so cute together …
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he should have added “My lack of courage has made her life immeasurably harder.”
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What lack if courage?? I don’t think you get it. Its not his lack of courage it is his beliefs why e doesn’t support gay marriage. Courage has nothing with it. Why can’t the man choose not to believe in it without being accused of having no back bone?? If Tony doesn’t want to believe in it then that’s that. He doesn’t have tkeep on justifying himself. IF he does then I suggest we all justify our own lives and explain why we think feel and live the way we choose to do. oh thats right. We don’t have to as long as we use the word courage in the justification.That covers everything and everybody.
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Kylie – you are not a politician whose decisions affect people’s lives. He is. A governing party and it’s leader is supposed to lead for ALL Australians – not follow his own beliefs.
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Katie, it is his courage that sets him apart. Whether you agree with him or not, what you see is what you get.
This is the fundamental difference between Abbott and Gillard.
He is real. An adult who knows who he is and what he believes in.
She is not.
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Really Merri? He’s himself? Not since he’s been reined in by his media adviser. Anyone who reads a little bit of politics and has paid attention over the last decade knows this.
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Ms Gillard has 1600 media advisors plus her own, very expensive Dr Higgins, who cost us a fortune but still can’t convince us that she isn’t saying one thing but meaning another.
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Thanks for selling in your sister Tony, however none of the policies you’ve mentioned actually make her sound appealing. Apart from her sexuality, she seems a lot like you – quite ignorant of the environment, which is something Clover is very considerate of. I’d imagine Christine would probably be better off if she didn’t promote who her brother is in this election…best you go spend some time thinking up some policies of your own, Tony?
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I really like this post. I think politicians are most interesting when they’re human and they show that there are shades of grey.
Tony Abbott doesn’t agree with marriage equality but he loves and supports his gay sister.
Of course I think it’s sad (I’m sure Christine does too) that he doesn’t believe her love to be worthy of the same rights as his love.
But it would have been easier for him politically NOT to write this letter and not to stick his neck out.
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Hi Mia. Instead of speaking on Christine’s behalf, you have the capacity to interview her and find out exactly what she feels about her brother’s personal opinion on same sex marriage.
It’s wrong to second guess anyone.
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Doesn’t he get to have his cake & eat it too with this letter? I call BS!
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You know, this is one of the worst things about this site for schoolgirls. Calling BS and troll shows a concerning immaturity.
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Mia this is why I am becoming addicted to this site. I asked for the other side of politics to be represented a few days ago and you found a way to deliver. Not every article needs to be balanced, but it doesn’t mean the site can’t be. Thank you.
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Thank you! We listen and we try. Xxx
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Agreed. Mia, how bout a video interview with Christine (without her brother around?)
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Oh please people. Why does every one verbally bash Tony Abbott? He ddoesbt believe in gay marriage . So what? He doesn’t have to and who said he has to. What about Julia Gillard being non religious and unmarried? Does that mean that if she goes to a family wedding in a church then that’s wrong?? No it doesn’tand the same goes for Tony Abbott. He may not believe in gay marriage but he wants to support his sister’s political campaign and good on him for doing that. Its what families do. Whether or not his sister has spoken to him about his anti gay marriage stance is also not the issue because like like Tony said in his letter above she is not running for politics because of her sexuality.
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They are both hypocrites it’s as simple as that. Abbott only supports his sister as far as it is convenient for him. Gillard is a hypocritcal if she supports the current definition of marriage on religious grounds.
You are the one using inflammatory language, disagreeing with Abbott is not ‘verbally bashing him’.
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You must really be hating this. A genuine “blood is thicker than water” moment.
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Huh? Sorry but don’t get what you mean here. Are you saying I ‘hate that Tony Abbott wrote a supportive letter’? All along I have said I find the hypocrisy of this situation appalling and that his ‘support’ for his sister only extends so far.
Not quite sure what you are getting at with the ‘blood is thicker than water’ comment?!?!?!
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Well try this, I don’t always agree with my sister and her opinions but I’ll support her all the way with whatever it is that she does.
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That’s great, I do not speak or associate with my brother because he is a homophobic individual who does not support me.
So does that give you the higher moral ground?
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” a genuine blood is thicker than water moment”. Really? Everything politicians do is calculated. this is no different.
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It depends on how passionate ur about the issue. I find some people a little but too intense on this issue. There are many many many issues in the world that need to be resolved, gay marriage is just one of them. As long as u r happy and safe and healthy and same for ur family and partner then that’s more than some people have. I know marriage is an important part of some relationships but it things could be worse than not having a certificate.
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Sorry my spell check froze. The last words meant to say piece of paper.
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“We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present.”
Thomas Edison.
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Riiggght…so he acknowledges it is ‘brave’ as a conservative to come out because clearly there is resistance to the idea of being gay. If you really respected that, wouldn’t you want to do something to change that resistance so people don’t have to be brave just to be who they are? ie treat gay people equally through policy?
Mr Abbott. This shows again your lack of logic.
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No, it shows how far people’s openness about homosexuality has come.
A person in their 50s grew up in an entirely different era than someone in their 20s.
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No offense but you do seem very intensely passionate about this topic. Almost to the point there you are taking every opinion on here personally. Just like what I said about Tony Abbott I too am entitled my opinions and if you like it good if not don’t be insulted. I mean no malice toward you or how u live ur life.
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The moderator should really have a good look at some of the comments below. They are vile. Looks like it’s only okay to love Julia Gillard and hate Tony Abbott. And don’t get me wrong. I don’t condone vile comments about Miss Gillard either.
Gosh but the Love Media has done a number on Tony Abbott and some of the dills (see below) are on the warpath.
Ladies and gentlemen of Mamamia, if you don’t want us to believe all the revolting things written about Julia Gillard why in the world would you write such revolting things about Tony Abbott?
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Jo Ella,
We have been applying the same moderating guidelines on this post as we do on Julia Gillard posts and all other posts.
We are deleting inappropriate comments as soon as we see them.
Remember you can always use the ‘alert moderator’ button.
We’re watching comments on 20 posts at once and there are only a few of us…..!
THanks
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his letter has actually made me less likely to support her.
sometimes it is better to keep your family ties secret! i’ll look into it but really is she is ANYTHING like him politically (same-sex marriage aside) then she doesn’t get my vote
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His letter and your comment have made me want to support his sister even more. In fact after reading your comment I’m going to show Tony Abbott’s letter to everyone I can. A landslide to his sister I hope. Great stuff Anonymous! Thanks for kick starting me.
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I almost wish that I lived in Sydney so that I could vote for Christine.
But you keep on hating, Anon. Much easier than trying to spread the love, eh ?
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Yeah Bradley, I’ve never seen anyone spread the love as much as you….
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What are you talking about Bradley? You are one of the people on this site who blankets articles with negative, passive aggressive comments. You are always rude and sarcastic.
There are readers who have stated they actively avoid reading most of the comments due to YOU.
It’s laughable you are advising someone to ‘spread the love’.
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Not a fan, eh ?
MJ, I admit that I am often sarcastic and sometimes bombastic. Looking back over some of my comments, they do border on being passive-agressive. But please don’t mistake a differing opinion as rudeness.
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I think you are rude Bradley.
I find it hard to believe that you don’t intend to be in some of your more aggressive comments.
If you yourself can recognize that some of them border on passive-aggressive, then surely you can’t be surprised that your comments are considered rude.. not just by me, but by a lot of readers.
It’s not your opinion that I have a problem with, it’s how you express it.
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To my way of thinking, borderline passive agressiveness and rudeness are totally different.
My comments upset some and please others. So who is right and who is wrong ?
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lol well that explains why you’re so rude then I guess.
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That must be it !
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I don’t find Bradley especially rude. Prolific, yes. But usually not rude.
I find the ‘ganging up’ style of argument here more irritating than anything Bradley has to say (‘not just by me, but by a lot of readers’ blah blah).
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CALM DOWN EVERYONE. Why does everyone hate Tony Abbott? He doesn’t believe in gay marriage. So what? He doesn’t have to. That is his choice. Just like you don’t like who u can or can’t be with likewise in telling him what he should or shouldn’t believe. If he cses to support his sister then good on him. That’s what family does.The man is human like u and me. Who are u people to sit there and tell him to change his opinion?? I thought we as Australian were encouraged to be free to think for ourselves.
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It is an example of hypocrisy in terms of what he is and is not willing to support with respect to his sister. And yes families are full of hypocrisy and acrimony and all sorts of other adjectives ending in ‘y’.
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Ian example of having a belief but not expecting everyone else to subscribe to it. It’s called democracy. You know, live and let live?
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Yes but Abbott and Gillard are not letting others ‘live and let live”. By continuing to discriminate against people like me I (and his sister if she wants to get married) am not able to ‘live’ my life like you are, I am denied the right to marry the person I love.
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And that is absolutely ridiculous I agree. But the letter on behalf of his sister shows he at least supports her if not her right to marriage. I think racism is stupid and it makes my blood boil. But I live in a country where it is my civil duty to celebrate someone’s right to say whatever they want. I don’t agree with them, and a racist doesnt agree with me, but we are equally encouraged to argue our side and let people decide for themselves
Most Australians agree with you by the way and I hope it is only a matter of time before anyone can marry whomever they want, ( except the American guy who married a roller coaster that was just weird)!
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Thanks ‘Mum’ I appreciate your words of support.
I never said he shouldn’t write a supportive letter, what I have done is pointed out the hypocrisy (of both sides of politics to be fair).
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The problem, Kylie, is that when I don’t like someone ‘just like Tony’ my opinion has no impact on the ability of the rest of Australia to make choices.
Tony is not just some guy with an opinion like so so what yeah? He is a decision maker for this country. He is limiting the choices of Australian’s because of his personal beliefs. That is a bit of a ‘so what’ yes?
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You have a valid point. But it doesn’t change the fact that its still his belief. And , as a leader for this country he decides to not allow it then we have to respect that. otherwise swinging voter maybe someone else must like to run this country. you perhaps?
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Two different parts to respect in this context.
1. Respect his right to hold an opinion.
2. Disrespect the actual opinion he holds.
I respect his right to hold an opinion, yay for free speech and democracy and all those fuzzies, I heartily disrespect his view.
Just because some is entitled to opinion doesn’t entitle the opinion itself to be respected. It is a bizarre recentish notion that all opinions are valid and equal. They are not.
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I keep hoping that she’s chipping away at him so his views on gay marriage ‘evolve’, much like President Obama. Delusional, I know.
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Yeah if you don’t count all the bad grammar and language expression…
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Yeah, i’m wiff you about your gramma
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I’m disappointed Mamamia would publish anything by Tony Abbott.
He is sexist and has constantly belittled women throughout his political career. Giving him a voice on Mamamia is wrong. He does not deserve it.
All women should watch this video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJTX0iWYX9A
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Yes, every time mm posts a labor friendly article there is a call for balance. Can’t win can you!
I think it’s a great post.
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That darn Tony Abbott, going to lock us women up in the kitchens like it was 1850 if he gets in!!
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Its your opinion that Tony Abbott is a sexist pig and you’re welcome to it because Mamamia’s dinner party rules don’t apply to him.
Other comments calling him a ‘soullless scumbag of a human’ and a Mad Monk are never deleted.
Now, watch this – Bill Shorten is a pig and a bully. He was a soulless scumbag of a husband and an abusive thug to the poor woman who didn’t heat his pie up quickly enough.
How long til this is deleted … 1. 2. 3
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Stef, can you imagine what would happen if Tony Abbott called Julia Gillard a ‘snivelling grub’ or ‘Jack the Ripper’? The MSM would have a meltdown. Julia Gillard has called Tony Abbott both these names and worse. The media takes its cue from her as do her mumamia fans.
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umm, not quite sure what point you are trying to make. That you can make offensive comments that are completely unecessary and unrelated to the current debate? I’m sorry but I don’t think it is necessary.
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……and don’t forget smiley little KRudd was a megalomanic leader who would scream and swear at everyone. Just to add some anti-labor balance to the anti-tony comments. And some people want Krudd back! Tony seems to be a more polite and grounded man than KR.
And yes, Bill Shorten is a thug and prick.
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I think we need balance. There are a lot of supporters of both sides that visit this website. I for one have always voted Liberal, I don’t necessary think Abbott will be a great leader, however think that he is better than Julia. I do not think he is sexist, I think that is what Labour have tried to brand him. I think a lot of his high ranking staff are woman too. At the end of the day no politician will be exactly what we as individuals want, can’t please everyone.
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He is so sexist that his chief of staff and press secretary are women, along with many others in his office.
I’m over all this rubbish about the libs being sexist. It’s rubbish. If any group are overwhelmingly sexist it’s the male working class ALP supporters, they are also racist and homophobic. Yet there is never any mention of that bunch of rednecks ever.
You wouldn’t know what sexism was if it jumped up and pinched you on the arse.
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‘They’ll make new developments include one car space per dwelling’.
Sorry but the reason that the city has the rules about limiting new car spaces within developments is that the inner street network is already at full capacity during peak times. It simply can’t handle more cars flowing in or out of the city during these times. This is the basis for the C.O.S. policy on limiting car spaces within the inner city area.
I live in Alexandria with my family. We are able to walk into the city for work (it takes 30mins, the same time as it takes to catch the bus and we’re healthier for it!) and have one on street parking permit for the one car we share as a family. We are aware that competition for on-street parking will become more difficult as urban density increases, however this is something you have to accept when you move into the inner city.
The idea that every new dwelling have one new car bay just won’t work. If there are hypothetically 10,000 new dwellings in the C.O.S. over say the next 10 years that potential is for another 10,000 cars further clogging the road network at peak hour (plus the additional cars coming from out of the inner city area). People won’t be moving ANYWHRE if that happens.
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The car policy, along with the 10% rate cut, just sounds like an ill-thought-through grab for votes. She’s been taking lessons from her brother!
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START THE CARS and STOP THE BOATS can be their catch crys
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The ultimate in hypocrisy if you ask me. Both Abbott and Gillard are offensive beyond measure…it’s the old “some of my best friends are gay” (or in this case “relatives”) line of defense for their ongoing support of institutionalised homophobia. So his sister is good enough to run for council BUT STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO MARRY HER PARTNER!
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It’s not unlike how people used to speak about the Indigenous in our country.
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Soapbox time again, twomummies?
Look, when our Muslims want to be able to marry cousins and take several wives – legally instead of just with their own private ceremonies – is it going to be the ultimate in hypocrisy if we don’t go into rapturous applause because all love is equal?
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What a vile comment.
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Not worth replying to as it was only said to get a rise.
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I don’t think it’s vile, I think the point gay divorcee is trying to make is that regardless of our individual beliefs marriage can be viewed in different ways. Clearly I believe gay people, all people in fact, should marry whomever the heck they want. I draw the line at bigomy, for some people it’s elsewhere, like cousins. Many countries think that is ok however. Perhaps not well explained, but that was how I read it.
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What has that got to do with her arguement?
A bit of a slippery slope starting here….
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If it wasn’t for Abbott and his ilk creating a hostile and unwelcoming environment for gay people, then his sister wouldn’t need to be “brave” in coming out – and she could probably have accepted her sexuality much earlier in her life and lived a much happier,more honest life.
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Rewriting history there, Anonymous.
I’m the same age as his sister. I left school not knowing about homosexuality, despite growing up with a much loved and overtly camp uncle. It wasn’t spoken about back then, just like childbirth and orgasims and periods.
I know it’s the done thing to blame Abbott for everything from a broken finger nail to cancer but it really wasn’t his fault.
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Boom!
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Like your comments Stef. Sorry to see some of them deleted. They were funny and ironic and really made a point. Keep on keeping on.
This blog needs people like you.
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Huh, Tony Abbott doesn’t get blamed for anything. There is so much unaccountable aggro and nastiness out there in the (online) community – and I wonder why….Tony Abbott has used nothing but over-the-top, dumbed-down, vitriolic language in the community since day one of losing the election – and he gets away with it.
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This comment is spot on! How disingenuous of Tony Abbott! the very reason gay people need to be corageous in coming out is because people like Abbott (and Gillard – but this is not her letter we are discussing)condone and promote an atmosphere conducive to mistrust and abuse of homosexuals – including the denial of rights afforded to heterosexuals. It’s a lovely phrase to say that his sister’s courage has deepened his life, but it means absolutely nothing without action to back it up. The political can become personal if you barge into the arena beating your morals like a bass drum. Abbott has done this and therefore both politically and personally has turned his back on his sister. This letter is the height of hypocracy and another confirmation that this man is not fit for political office.
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What’s that I hear, Anon ?
Could it be that I hear the winds of change a-blowin’ in the distance ?
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I do like it when politicians seem genuine and demonstrate that they can reflect upon and tackle real issues in more than bit size news chunks – even if just for a moment.
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I’m disappointed you would even print this rubbish. He is actively encouraging discrimination against thousands of people, but it’s okay because his sister is included in that group? He’s refusing legal rights and status to an entire group based on sexuality, but we’re supposed to applaud him because it’s not because he’s homophobic? There’s a bit a of a difference between overcoming a family dispute and not being allowed to adopt a child or access to your partner of 30 yrs superannuation upon their death.
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Hi Anonymous,
Mamamia has for a very long time made it absolutely clear where we stand on the issue of same sex marriage and the rights of same sex couples.
Now personally, I agree with you around his policy position when it comes to the rights of same sex couples. It is discrimination plain and simple.
But all the same I was really touched by this letter. It shows that no matter what your politics, no matter what your values, how much you love someone can overcome pretty much anything. And for me, that’s how we’ll ultimately WIN the fight for equal legal rights for same sex couples – by showing those who disagree that love can overcome anything.
Now I’m starting to sound a bit Hallmark card – that was unintentional! So here’s the thing: you don’t have to agree with Abbott or his policies to find this letter interesting. It’s someone who is struggling to balance his personal values and beliefs with the happiness of someone he loves. An interesting case study if nothing else.
Jamila
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Rather than ‘struggling to balance’ I would say ‘failing to balance’ as in the end he (and Gillard) are denying people (a member of his own family) a fundamental right and at the same time encouraging and supporting institutional homophobia that is extremely damaging.
The discussion should be where do you draw the line at continuing to have a relationship with a member of your family who denies your right to be treated as an equal.
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It is not a fundamental right – that would be water, food, shelter, healthcare, education … but not marriage, whether between 2 women, 2 men, 1 woman & 1 man, or whatever.
In any case I just can’t see how gay marriage would have an adverse effect on anyone. I have a question for you all, because I’m curious: If we all really think about it carefully, how would your life be different if gay marriage was allowed? (apart from different in a good way!)
Most of the comments here are in support of gay marriage too so how is it that the politicians don’t represent the people rather than themselves or their party. I wish they would just pass it and everyone can get on with what they want to do.
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Actually, hallmark or not, I though that was a lively perspective Jamila.
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Grrr lovely perspective! Damn predictive text!
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Call me cynical but I didn’t find the letter touching at all.
It was distributed to the voting public to try to get his sister elected and to help make him appear less like a narrow minded conservative.
If she’s running “on her policies, not her sexuality” why was the opening line of his letter about her sexuality? Do you think the letter would have been written in this way if she was seeking election in country Qld?
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Yet you don’t mention Julia Gillard’s opposition to same sex marriage at all. Do you think the website should not publish anything about her as well?
Or perhaps you’d much rather have issues presented only in the way that you perceive is correct?
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Hmmmm. I too live in Surry Hills but disagree that Clover Moore hasn’t done anything since the year 2000. In the last few years, my life has improved because of the bike lanes and wine bars. Oh, and gov funded creative spaces. I agree it’s about policies, not sexuality. But when it comes to gay issues, Clover wins out too. I also love Clover’s passion for the environment. It’s cheaper to get parking permits the greener your car, for eg. I love Clover and really hope she gets re-elected.
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Kate, I too live in Surry HIlls and have to respectfully disagree with you. Clover’s positioned herself as GLBT friendly but to me it’s just an act. Having had more than than 20 years in Parliament as the local MP she’s not once tried to put a private members bill calling for marriage equality.
As someone who doesn’t ride a bike, but needs somewhere to park my car, the Bourke St bike lane has been a disaster on that front for me and many other residents. And as a ratepayer I’m tired of my rates being spent on things that aren’t Council’s responsibility like building tri-generation plants when the basics like getting my rubbish collected and having overgrown and dangerous trees attended are left by the wayside.
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Hi Rob, I think as an independent Clover has been able to do so much more for Sydney than a mayor attached to a major party could have ever done. But I think whether you like her or not depends on your vision for the city. I totally agree with her vision for open spaces, sustainability and small bars – but I understand lots of people are more interested in parking their cars than having bike lanes and car share spaces, and Clover recognises this. I heard her at a public talk about the future and the environment comment that many people don’t just want to park their cars, they want to SEE them from their front window.
I’m surprised though that your rubbish isn’t being collected??
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Havent forgive clover for taking down all the Christmas decorations so as not to offend anyone!
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I don’t normally like or agree with tony Abbott but I am impressed that he is supporting his sister this way
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