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Senate Estimates

by Jason Wilson

Although the Senate isn't currently sitting, our Senators are very busy with Estimates hearings.

Estimates hearings originally came about so that the Senate could keep a closer eye on how budget money was being spent. Since they were initiated in 1970, they have grown into an opportunity for oppositions to put Governments under pressure. Harry Evans explains on the Senate website:

From the start the estimates hearings were an opportunity to question ministers and officers about any activity of government departments and agencies. They were a general inquisition into the operations of government.

Estimates Hearings are a crucial part of the Senate's role as a house of review - a role it always performs more effectively when it is independent of Government control.

Perhaps it's inevitable that due to its inquisitorial nature, part of the Estimates process comes down to political point-scoring - at the expense both the Government and other Government-run or funded organisations. So far, this round has seen a few Opposition and cross-bench Senators go for the jugular. We'll be offering reports on the Estimates process here on the Project Democracy blogs.

Rob Emanuel

Posted by Rob Emanuel 10/24/2008

I had such a ball watching Abetz and Coonan interrogate Dr Henry this week in the Estimates hearings. Refusing to accept his answers they kept, fruitlessly, trying to gte him to prove their point - they couldn't, of course.

It's obvious that the conservative forces have not accepted their defeat and regard themselves as a government in exile.

Abetz and Fifeld's performances were disgraceful, and were on display to teh whole country. Despite Malcolm, the conseravatives haven't a chance at the next Federal election.

We must remember that it was Lionel Murphy who made these hearings an Inqusition into the McMahon government. Ray anmd Faulkner kept that going throughout teh dark years of teh Howard government. Labor is much better running these hearings than the childish and unrealistic Liberals.

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Antonia Hildebrand

Posted by Antonia Hildebrand 10/24/2008

Government in exile. Exactly. That's how they always think of themselves. Childish prats.

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phildeerhound

Posted by phildeerhound 10/26/2008

Oh boy has this blog hit the nail on the head or what! Congratulations Rob and Antonia you have found a terminology which exactly describes the behaviour of the Liberal Party in the post election period, behaviour which has been particularly appalling, even by the vile standards they set when actually in Government.

I had identified this weird belief amongst senior Liberal Party members that they have a divine right to rule, that they are the only people suited to Government, and need consult no-one and learn nothing. And I had already put it down largely to bad parenting, keeping low quality company, and unwholesome social habits such as hiding in exclusive clubs

But I had not been able to articulate the present phenomena of Prima Donna behaviour on the part of the Turnbull gang. Now I can, thanks to Rob and Antonia

It is indeed phrased in the mentality of being the "Divinely Appointed Rightful Government in Exile" . This apparent delusion has led them to be not only incapable of behaving as a proper rational thinking and researching Opposition, it has turned the Coalition into the most destructive force that is acting against attempts to bring the existing financial collapse under control, or to at least shield this nation from the worst effects of the present Capitalist economic collapse.

Who can listen to Turnbull's diatribes against a fee for guaranteeing deposits of over a million dollars without becoming convinced that these diatribes are really about protecting himself and his mates?

Turnbull's party comes across not only as a group deluding itself to to be the Government in Exile, his own personal wealth displays it as in reality being "the Rich in Exile"

What have any of the rest of us in common with this snarling rabble? Our real concern should perhaps be that the raging dogs may yet turn rabid and head down the political path of racism, authoritarianism and ultimately fascism.

History teaches us to be vigilant in times like these, and with people like these, who behave as if they were demagogues too immature and self centred to accept their own rejection by the people of a democracy. Accepting occasional rejection is something that should be taught as a child grows up. Did these people miss out on that lesson? Did mummy shield them from life's hard knocks?

If Coalition Senators want to act patriotically in present times they will inform their fellows in the House of Representatives that the time for tantrums is over, that it will take hard work and compassionate and rational thinking for the Coalition ever to again play a leading role in this nation, and that the entire present Opposition front bench needs to be sacked. The safest method of curing Cancer in a body remains that of cutting out the contamination, all of it!

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Ai

Posted by Ai 10/26/2008

Fascism is a distinct possibility if you look at Turnbull's pedigree and understand fascism as the coercive power of the state being used to enforce the rule of corporates. Paulson, US treasurer, ex Goldman Sachs has the power to loot the US treasury to support his old investment banking firm and select others. That is the nub of the US 'bailout'. This is a firm, who like others on Wall Street made tidy profits out of short selling pension funds they 'managed' until the wheels fell of the wagon of global finance. Now it could be merely coincidence that Malcolm's last job before being a politician was with Goldman Sachs. But doesn't he seem to be in a bit of a tizz that the gov. is backing bank deposits and, for now,in effect blocking a US style (give all the money to the creators of the problem) bailout of the financial sector?

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Nathalie

Posted by Nathalie 10/27/2008

I went to Parl. House last week, just on the chance I might see K. Henry. They told me he had spoken in the morning, sorry. I stayed behind anyway to see the next lot, and lo and behold! it was Ken Henry again! (the staff at Parl House seem amazingly uninformed!!)

I watched the "kindergarten" of spoiled brats (i.e.the Opposition members who spoke ALL the time!) for 2 hours! I left convinced that Abetz is THICK, can't understand anything of what is being said and can't ask questions properly! and the Hon Coonan.... well! what can you say??? She was being 'stupid'!?!? Only Barnaby's questions made sense to me and to Henry, who was able to answer them.

In the meantime (as the Goon Show has it)Heffernan (the 'barren' Senator) kept coming in and out, talking loudly, to the shadow Att-Gen (another big mouth!)
It is sad to reflect on the state of our Houses of Parliament when you see the performance of such an Opposition!

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Rosalind

Posted by Rosalind 10/28/2008

I too was appalled by the performance of the Opposition Senators at the Estimates Committee. They behave in such an insulting manner towards senior public servants believing their bullying tactics and accusations of dishonesty makes them look tough, but it has the opposite effect, they just appear dumb, stupid and plain bad mannered. And let's not forget the even dumber Senator Fielding, he is an absolute waste of space. During their time in Opposition John Faulkner and Robert Ray shone in this role, earning the respect of hardened journalists like Alan Ramsay as they exposed serious flaws in the Howard's ability to administer responsible government for all. And boy was there a lot of ground to cover there with dishonest government ministers cheating on travel allowances, phone cards rorts and the knobbling of military personnel during the times of the vote winning accusations of 'children overboard'. These Liberal Party clowns are way out of their league.

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