PM's cabinet splits as Roxon, Evans quit

[nero_bolt]

Rome is burning and Labor is imploding and more will come and its all under Gillards leadership.

JULIA GILLARD has been forced into an emergency Cabinet reshuffle following the shock resignations last night of Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Higher Education Minister Chris Evans.

Ms Roxon is set to announce today she will quit Cabinet but remain in Parliament until the election.

Senior government sources confirmed the resignations which come only only days after the Prime Minister announced an election for September 14.

Ms Gillard will face caucus on Monday before Parliament resumes the following day with the government in chaos.

Last night frantic calls were being made among senior MPs as word leaked out about the resignations, with renewed talk about the stability of Ms Gillard's leadership. Ms Roxon's decision comes only days after she rolled back controversial anti-discrimination legislation banning conduct that offends, insults or intimidates.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/prime-minister-julia-gillards-campaign-in-disarray-as-minister-for-higher-education-chris-evans-resigns/story-e6freuy9-1226567059223

Abandon ship! Now Roxon tipped to quit, too

It’s starting to look like a stampede for the gates:

JULIA Gillard has been forced to reshuffle her ministry after veteran Chris Evans’ decision to quit and with Attorney-General Nicola Roxon expected to announce today her retirement from politics at the next el...

One senior Labor MP told The Weekend Australian late last night that “Rome is burning"…

[Former Attorney-General Robert] McClelland, a Kevin Rudd supporter, said this week he would not contest his seat at the election.

Roxon has demonstrated this past year how inadequate she is for high office. Her vitriolic attacks on the alleged personal shortcomings of Tony Abbott made her seem shrill, but far worse were her clumsy, deceptive and inappropriately partisan handling of the James Ashby case and her outrageous attempt to introduce wide-ranging new laws to restrict debate on politics, race, religion and even “social origin” that might give “offence” and “insult”.

She has been an almost completely negative factor for the Government - the Minister for Hectoring and Censoring - and her departure will disappoint very few. Sadly, her mooted replacement, Mark Dreyfus, promises little better. 

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/andrewbolt/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/abandon_ship_now_roxon_tipped_to_quit_too/

How many more rats will desert this sinking and stinking ship... 

[izabsmiling]

Why is it hard for some to believe that Politicians could resign to spend more time with their spouse and families ? 

[azureline**]

because it doesn't give as a good a story as otherwise?

[vampire-teddy]

http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/02/house-members-retiring-at-the-2013-election.html

this lists the 7 people retiring from Labor and the 7 retiring from the LNP

[monman12]

LL: "c''mon john .. roxon beat big tobacco  . experience isnt everything. you need some ticker to do that. its been played down a bit, but its probably the biggest public health win seen for a long time. i agree dreyfus will make a good replacement."

Actually LL (being pedantic) Roxon initiated the action, but she would never have had the experience, (important in law)  or qualifications as  a solicitor to present the  final chapter which was conducted by:-

S J Gageler SC, Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth with R Merkel QC, S B Lloyd SC, J K Kirk SC, A M Mitchelmore and J S Cooke for the defendant in both matters (instructed by Australian Government Solicitor)

Interveners
W Sofronoff QC, Solicitor-General of the State of Queensland with G J D del Villar intervening on behalf of the Attorney-General of the State of Queensland in both matters (instructed by Crown Law (Qld))
M P Grant QC, Solicitor-General for the Northern Territory with R H Bruxner intervening on behalf of the Attorney-General for the Northern Territory in both matters (instructed by Solicitor-General for the Northern Territory)
P J F Garrisson, Solicitor-General for the Australian Capital Territory with M A Perry QC intervening on behalf of the Attorney-General for the Australian Capital Territory in both matters (instructed by ACT Government Solicitor)

Actually I will remember Roxon for the proposed ridiculous clauses in national anti-discrimination laws that she finally announced would be withdrawn just before she "bowed-out".

[lightningdance]

monman wrote

"Actually I will remember Roxon for the proposed ridiculous clauses in national anti-discrimination laws that she finally announced would be withdrawn just before she "bowed-out".

As usual monman gets it right with facts to back up the argument.

Roxon will be remembered for the disgraceful "social engineering" she perpetrated on Australians & her inept handling of the law re Slipper & Thomson, her meddling in everything.

As for spending more time with her family, that's code, it's  an insult to all as they never tell the truth, "bowed out" from her lifes dream? her lifes ambition? I think she deserted the sinking ship but if all want to swallow the "spend more time with the family" go for it.

[izabsmiling]

There was an episode of Australian story last yr that featured Nicola and her OH.

Apparently he also had an interested in Politics.That decided ,however, that only one of them should enter.Her husband did say (back then) that the commitments do have some affect on family lives/relationships...as an thinking person would appreciate ? Family is important to most of us.I would hate to be away from my family,my husband so much myself.So too would my husband.I believe that Nicola also had her heart in the tobacco issues...her father died of smoking related cancer.

[lakeland27]

its her legislatiom MM. the wigs do the donkey work and she provided the idea and impetus.

Roxon the Tonacco slayer is how she will be remembered.:-p