What’s your view on gay marriages and same-sex access to IVF programs?

I respect people’s sexual preferences between consenting adults. However marriage is something special to a man and a woman. So too is child-birth.

Issues such as gay marriage and same-sex access to IVF programs are only pushed by extremists. The pursuit of these issues is far less important to people in same-sex relationships that I’ve talked to, than a well managed economy, safer streets and a world-class health system.

Do you think tolerance means we have to be ‘politically correct’?

We can’t afford to allow ‘political correctness’ to gag genuine community debate on a whole range of important issues such as native title, border security and immigration. People should be free to express their views on these issues so long as they aren’t inciting hatred towards others. That’s what democracy is all about.

Too often I have seen well-meaning people who are trying to make a genuine contribution to a debate being accused of not showing tolerance.

Childbirth is special to a man and a woman? What’s he on about? TEH GAYS are not using stem cells to make blokes pregnant. Perhaps he’s still worried by his google inspired research on the dangers of compulsory feminization through recycled water?

Keerist!

Read what he has to say about picking up tips from “Aboriginal elders” about using “shame and banishment” (whatever that means) as the basis of his criminal justice policy.

I fear the Borg writes his own lines. This is not a good thing.

I just found the direct link to the Borg’s values.

Here they are:

http://www.springborg.com/key_values.htm

http://www.uqp.uq.edu.au/book_details.php?id=0702233609

I am waiting with bated breath to see just what the “coalition” puts up as policy on tree-clearing, daylight-saving,Industrial Relations etc. the big issues on the edge of where City meets bush.

The lack of policy development by the Libs will become more obvious as the list grows and the election grows closer.

It would be a great injustice if a hard working local member like Kerry Shine was outpolled by a Nat who runs a distance second in competence.

Consider the work Kerry Shine has put into rejuvenating the Bush while his opponent has stayed in Toowommba talking rubbish about sewerage.

The Tory has had his five minutes of fame by pushing the “No” vote to promote himself rather than solving the city’s water problems.

It is doubtful whether this Nat’s obsession with prostitution law reform or getting tough by naming juveniles will benefit anyone either. This includes himself if the coalition’s performance over the past three years is any guide.

If it wasn’t for Patel, they would be 60 to one with the bookies now instead of the flattering odds of six to one.

I respect Theodore based on his life story and don’t think Mungana fairly represents all there is to know and admire about the man.

Actually CL, I basically agree with your position. I just wanted to suggest that he wasn’t a saint. Certainly, he was a man of great ability.

Given history is the flavor of the month, I wonder if James Packer realises Theodore’s contribution to the Packer Dvnasty?

IMHO, but based on years of working at reasonably senior levels in government, the Liberals and Nationals as a Coalition face fundamental problems.

Generally speaking, the Liberals are guided by ‘principle(s)’, and those ‘principles’ affect and effect the way they think and operate. I am referring to State politics here. At the Federal level, Howard is proving to be an exception? Maybe??

On the other hand, the Nationals are very good at speaking to people. They tend to be totally pragmatic. Winning is the ‘principle’. Nationals never seem to be limited by ‘principle’.

In my experience, the Liberals and the Nationals dislike each other and a lot of that dislike can be traced to the above. Of course there are exceptions. Quinn and Borbidge got on quite well. But many would argue that Borbidge was never a real National. Real nationals, such as the Member for Gregory, detested the ‘White Shoe’ Liberals such as Bob Quinn.

I don’t know where the Opposition Parties go from here. I think Howard was politically correct to oppose the merger of the parties here in QLD. It would have caused the rise of splinter parties such as One Nation.

I travel around Australia a fair bit. And there is no doubt there is a city/country divide. The ‘bush’ feels that is has been screwed and always respond to politicians who show they ‘understand’.

I think that ‘demographics’ will eventually see the demise of the Nationals. Springborg recognised this but he was not listened to. Maybe the solution for the opposition is to see the rise of a charismatic leader who can carry the electorate. The prospects are not good.

Before the water thing, he was mostly obsessed with prostitution, and did himself no favours by, frankly, appearing to neglect the rather more practical business of council work.

So he might win, but if Kerry Shine has put in the leg-work – and it seems he has – that surely must count for something. I am not a betting person.

Paradoxically, however, their instinct may be to rely on the incumbency of the Media Tart they know rather than the Fleggborg they don’t

I think that’s right, C.L., and while you’re right about solidarity with the capital, it cuts both ways. I think in general in Australian culture there’s been a move away in the cities from the sort of reflex solidarity with the bush that used to exist – and the rent-seeking nature of some of the interest groups’ requests, and Howard’s rush to meet them (for instance, the rort of hundreds of millions of dollars for sugar industry restructuring partly paid by a hidden tax) is contributing to accelerating to it. So paradoxically, again, I think Beattie has probably done well to keep articulating a sense of Queensland as one entity.

Picking up on your point, the other thing is that Labor really is the only part at the moment to be able to claim to represent the whole state. And that claim has been very electorally important historically.

Kieran, in a way, Toowoomba North will be an important test because Shine’s opponent, Lyle Shelton, was one of the Councillors most involved with the no campaign.

Murphy’s Red Ted: The Life of E. G. Theodore is an outstanding biography.

Which just goes to show that even in Nats heartland, they can’t always count on their schtick.

And after their ‘contribution’ to the water debate recently, ’schtick’ is about all I can call it. I don’t think they have a clue – and water should be their big issue, being as how they represent rural people and all (of course it’s a city issue too, but still).

Unfortunately I can’t put my money where my mouth is.But he is going to win none the less.Put it this way if he gets the arse,Kimbo had just as well throw in the towel now.I reckon Industrial relations is an election buster.We shall see.

For 30 years, Queensland governments have sold the “low tax state” idea to businesses and investors. This has been seen as a way to boost growth, revenues, employment, pride, “cranes on the horizon,” you name it. Bob Sparkes & Co. combined this brilliantly with the political goal of urbanising the appeal of the old Country Party when they were creating the Nationals.

I think the thesis you’ve mentioned would essentially be the story of how this originally dynamic combination of rhetorical autarky and cargo-cultism itself became intertwined with inter-state immigration and left the mechanics of both public finance and representative democracy struggling to keep up. (How easily one slips into thesis sub-title-speak).

I think a lot of people sense this and may be electorally actuated by it, especially outside of Brisbane where any sense of unity with the capital has deteriorated badly.

Paradoxically, however, their instinct may be to rely on the incumbency of the Media Tart they know rather than the Fleggborg they don’t. Where do the Opposition parties go from there, that’s the political/historical question?

Boy, does Bishop present!