This week was interesting to say the least.
No, you weren’t dreaming, Donald Trump did actually become the President-elect of the United States of America. Asian stock markets got nervous and Australians lost 2% of their superannuation on Wednesday. Conservatives are celebrating the victory, while commentators are saying that this shows that people are disillusioned with the system and it will embolden people to vote to change the system – something the NSW State government is bearing in mind this weekend as three state electorates hold by-elections. Tony Abbott also joined in the discussion, warning his colleagues that they “ignore the conservatives at [their] peril”.
Government ministers spent most of Question Time on Wednesday looking at their phones as it became clear that Trump was going to win. While Turnbull has attempted to calm the public, there are still concerns about strategic and trade agreements between Australia and the USA. He also said that Joe Hockey, the Ambassador to the United States is working with the transition team.
Back at home, it was announced that the government would put through the legislation in the parliament in order to be able to send refugees on Manus Island and Nauru to a third country and never allow them back in again. This was followed later in the week by an announcement that the US would take the refugees from both island detention centres. Given this has occured shortly after agreeing to take Costa Rican-based Latin American refugees, some believe it could be a people swap. However, there is further concern that this agreement could be torn up by the Trump administration, as the deal was made with the Obama Administration.
Senator Rod Culleton and former Senator Bob Day have both had their election sent to the High Court over eligibility issues. Many were surprised when Pauline Hanson and her two fellow party members voted with the Government and Opposition to refer Culleton, who may have lied about a conviction he had when he became a candidate. There are also questions over how long the government has known about the issue with Bob Day, as there is a paper trail of legal advice regarding the whole saga. This trouble, which is affecting the Prime Minister, has the opposition painting it as Turnbull losing grip – although one has to say, it has nothing to do with his actions, something that could not be said for his predecessor.
What also doesn’t help at this time is the complaint to the Human Rights Commission regarding the member for North Sydney, Trent Zimmerman. He is believed to have said at a party event that some members of the Liberal Party of certain ethnic backgrounds engage in branch stacking. Zimmerman’s response was to say that he likes multiculturalism, but there are ethnic groups that stack branches in NSW.
Finally this week, we saw former soldiers given gallantry medals for their service in the Battle of Long Tan over 40 years ago; Labor is blocking legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives, causing deadlocks; there are calls from the medical profession to introduce a sugar tax; and the PM may be banned from attending Mardi Gras next year.
Tweets of the Week
https://twitter.com/hamishNews/status/795163909791490048
Things I’ve Been Looking at Online
Had some assignments for uni this week, so only one, but there should be more next week
Lucia Stein on media coverage and women’s behaviour – ABC Online
Kara L 