Australia may go to the polls as early as December [no confidence vote]

The Telegraph ^ | 9/6/2009 | Bonnie Malkin in Sydney

[bruinbirdman]

The Australian public could go to the polls as early as December, if an ambitious climate change bill to introduce an emissions trading scheme fails during its second hearing in the senate.

Politicians are due to vote on the contentious bill, which will force about 1,000 of Australia's biggest polluting companies to purchase carbon permits, in November. If it is voted down a second time, it will hand Kevin Rudd, the prime minister, the constitutional right to dissolve both houses of parliament and call an early election.

Kevin Rudd, the prime minister of Australia could call a general election as early as December

Mr Rudd, who is determined to see the legislation succeed, is confident that an election fought on the issue of climate change would favour the Labour party because of growing anger over the opposition's intransigence on the issue.

Australia is due to go to the polls in late 2010, but speculation is mounting that Mr Rudd will capitalise on the opportunity offered by the climate change bill.

Recent opinion polls give Mr Rudd the green light to hold an early election.

A study by The Australian newspaper predicted that Labour would increase its majority at the next election.

Mr Rudd's party had cemented a double-digit lead among all major voting groups under 50 years of age, at the same time as wiping out the opposition's traditional advantage among older voters.

The party is suffering in the country's most populous state of New South Wales, where a string of scandals involving high-ranking government ministers have badly damaged its image.

Last week, John Della Bosca, the ambitious health minister and party tactician, resigned after it emerged that he had embarked on a six-month affair with a 26-year-old comedian.

Mr Della Bosca, who is married

[FlingWingFlyer]

“Carbon trading permits” = To hell with the planet, you can still pollute. Just SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!!!

[HapaxLegamenon]

I hope this backfires.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Headed for the cliff.Wake up yung-uns.

[Frantzie]

I think this is the lib govt that replaced conservative John Howard. I think they have been in power less than a year. Looks like the Aussies may throw the bums out.

[Dan Middleton]

"Looks like the Aussies may throw the bums out."

Did you read the article?

[DontTreadOnMe2009]

“which will force about 1,000 of Australia’s biggest polluting companies to purchase carbon permits,”

Those damned polluters.

Oh, BTW, this will clean up the air, how?

Or just transfer money?

Gee just like our bill.

[Oztrich Boy]

Looks like the Aussies may throw the bums out.

Except there is general agreement that Turnbull is a hopeless tosser.

[elizabethgrace]

Kevin Rudd defeated John Howard EVEN AFTER he was caught on tape eating his ear wax!

Kevin Rudd caught on tape eating earwax - VIDEO

[steelyourfaith]

The video of Kevin Rudd consuming his nose boogers has obviously been suppressed ... that’s as far as I’m willing to reveal for now ....

[elizabethgrace]

You made me look! It plays. Kevin is right behind the speaker, eating his ear wax. Eeew

[RedMonqey]

Buyer’s remorse?

[RedMonqey]

Kevin Rudd defeated John Howard EVEN AFTER he was caught on tape eating his ear wax!

Evidently, Aussies would only consider it distasteful if he picks, then consumes, his own boogers .....in public as a stain on proper Aussie etiquette.

[octex]

Unlike the countries with Parliamentary forms of government, we here in the US can’t do a “vote of no confidence” that would dump all of the clowns in our Congress and require new elections. ....Guess that’s one item our Founding Fathers overlooked. Too bad.