Mega Thread Tony Abbott

[Gough]

but they are the birth mother? what did Gillard call them?

I believe she called them mothers.

 

[Cap]

I believe she called them mothers.

ah, there is lies the problem then.

 

[GreekLunatic]

if he becomes pm can he get rid of the cow bishop i wouldnt be suprised if she knifes abbot to become pm

 

[yibbida]

He used to be a fan of Slipper too didn't he?

Slippers vote made him opposition leader back in 2009.

 

[PottSie2]

if he becomes pm can he get rid of the cow bishop i wouldnt be suprised if she knifes abbot to become pm

No chance she would do that. Not everyone is of the same 'ilk' as Gillard.

What oddds are you offering ?

 

[noddy]

No chance she would do that. Not everyone is of the same 'ilk' as Gillard.

What oddds are you offering ?

Not very often i agree with Potts but on this i do as Julie has always shown loyalty & obedience to whoever is her leader, one after the other after the other.

Faithful deputies like her do not come along very often.

 

[Mayestro]

Birth mother was artless at best, did whoever writes his speeches for him not put some research into the topic in the first place? This is still an incredibly open wound for many.

Unfortunately I can't find it online, however The Age today (in the Editorial section, in 'Sorry, for grief and silence') mentioned-

He caused grievous offence by referring to 'birth parents', a bureaucratic terminology that has the effect of denying mothers and fathers any role beyond the moment of birth. The discourtesy, which was retracted, should not be dismissed lightly, because the gravity of this phrase was highlighted in the first chapter of the Senate committee's 2012 report into forced abductions. That Mr Abbott or his speech writers were unaware of this suggests, at the very least, an inexcusable lack of preparation.

 

[sherb]

I think the most significant event of many of the people's lives deserves a little bit of tact, especially considering the decades it has taken for a simple apology

Tact is not one of Tone's greatest qualities.

 

[Pie eyed]

Well yes, or these people are simply offended by anything, that is a modern trend these days.

I find your tone offensive....

 

[GuruJane]

These are mothers who had their children abducted from them by the state, often while drugged, you'd think he could show a bit of sensitivity. These are not people who are "offended by anything" as you rather gracelessly put it.

The "birth mother" thing is total crap. Back in early 90s when public pressure grew to relax the laws to allow adopted children to trace their birth parents, that's when the term arose. It was in fact the adopted children themselves and their birth mothers who invented the term and they have used it ever since. I know tyhis because several friends and acquaintances were not only adopted children who traced their birth mothers and fathers but also several of them were birth mothers themselves. It was incredibly moving.

I have no idea why some of the women at that apology objected in the way they did. Can only put it down to them being Abbott haters who didn't like the way Abbott talked about his partner of the time. Who I learn, has since died prematurely in 2011, 6 years after her son located her ( this was the one she and Abbott had always believed was his). And also his reference to "birth fathers." Nasty unwarranted reaction, imo. But complaining about the use of "birth" is confected outrage.

 

[Ice-Wolf]

I have no idea why some of the women at that apology objected in the way they did. Can only put it down to them being Abbott haters who didn't like the way Abbott talked about his partner of the time. Who I learn, has since died prematurely in 2011, 6 years after her son located her ( this was the one she and Abbott had always believed was his). And also his reference to "birth fathers." Nasty unwarranted reaction, imo. But complaining about the use of "birth" is confected outrage.

The apology was about forced adoptions, the women probably don't consider themselves "birth mothers", they were mothers whose children were taken from them.

 

[Refried Noodle]

The "birth mother" thing is total crap.....

...I have no idea why some of the women at that apology objected in the way they did.

Unravelled yourself there a little bit.

 

[sherb]

It's clear that the term "birth mother" is considered offensive by some (or many) directly involved, whether people on the periphery of the issue consider it to be or not.

Unfortunately Abbott, or whoever wrote his speech, were too sloppy and/or lazy to properly do their research. Or maybe they just didn't care.

Criticisms you can't extend to Gillard on this occasion. She got it right.

 

[dymot]

It's clear that the term "birth mother" is considered offensive by some (or many) directly involved, whether people on the periphery of the issue consider it to be or not.

Unfortunately Abbott, or whoever wrote his speech, were too sloppy and/or lazy to properly do their research. Or maybe they just didn't care.

Criticisms you can't extend to Gillard on this occasion. She got it right.

Gillard got things wrong when she allowed the vote to go ahead on the same day as the apology. If she had any compass, she would have postponed it. This was more out of line than what Abbott did by calling them birth mothers, which is a factually correct statement.

 

[sherb]

The fact that an apology was considered even necessary showed that there were deep sensitivities involved.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that and to structure your apology accordingly.

It shouldn't have been very hard for someone as allegedly astute as Abbott to make sure that the speech he delivered was properly worded. Gillard obviously was able to do it.

As I said, it was just sloppiness or laziness by the Abbott camp that he couldn't get such an important statement right.

As for the timing of the challenge, I agree. It overshadowed the apology completely and should have been held on a different day. It was a poor choice.

 

[GuruJane]

The apology was about forced adoptions, the women probably don't consider themselves "birth mothers", they were mothers whose children were taken from them.

If they really felt this way (which I doubt), it was not an exclusive club, Ice-Wolf. Most - probably vast majority - of adoptions were forced, one way or another. I know. I lived through that era.

If that minority do feel that way, then they are doing a great disservice to the majority of birth mothers (and fathers) and their adopted children. And also to the adoptive mothers who raised the children (two childless couples, members of my own family, adopted babies in these circumstances.

Much more likely they were Abbott haters and Gillardistas who didn't like his reference to his own experience and that of his (now dead) partner. Probably thought they were doing Gillard a favour, but it took away from her speech too.

btw Abbott handled the heckling very well, did not get defensive, was apologetic and contrite and made an extremely moving speech, as did Gillard.

 

[Gough]

September 15 2013

 

[Todman]

Why apoligize for the sins of our forefathers? Howard was right by not saying sorry. As it was it acheived nothing. a real empty gesture. It made some whitees who feel sorry for their own prosparity not feel so guilty.

 

[Gough]

Perhaps the point of view of someone who has been directly affected by forced adoption is timely.
http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/03/22...n-and-a-welcome-apology/?wpmp_switcher=mobile

When Abbott started speaking, immediately the tone of the room and the elated atmosphere disintegrated rapidly. Abbott obviously had not consulted with anyone. He didn’t understand the findings of the Senate inquiry and didn’t understand that language is so important when we’re talking about forced adoption. He spoke about “relinquishment” not “forced adoption”. We were there for a national apology on forced adoption, not relinquishment. My mother did not relinquish me, I was taken.
He also used the term “birth mothers”. For the majority, the mothers and fathers consider themselves parents, period. That’s when the heckling occurred, when he used the term birth parents. For my mother, it echoed the judgemental and insensitive practices of the past.
Everything that Gillard achieved in terms of validating all the mothers, fathers, sons and daughters was completely eroded by Abbott’s speech. One of the recommendations was to bring broader public awareness around the coercive and illegal practices that occurred. If our Opposition Leader couldn’t even understand what happened and use the appropriate words, then what hope do we have of the broader community understanding?

 

[Refried Noodle]

September 15 2013

Yep. The Canberra Times had a very similar photoshop fronting their analysis and comments section in today's paper.

This image has and will sum up the Federal Election perfectly. In every facet.

 

[Todman]

Yep. The Canberra Times had a very similar photoshop fronting their analysis and comments section in today's paper.

This image has and will sum up the Federal Election perfectly. In every facet.

It should be Crean not Swan at the back of the pack.

 

[Theseventhhamster]

It should be Crean not Swan at the back of the pack.

Turnbull.

 

[GuruJane]

Perhaps the point of view of someone who has been directly affected by forced adoption is timely.
http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/03/22...n-and-a-welcome-apology/?wpmp_switcher=mobile

Well here you go see for yourself demonic Abbott source of all evil viciously assaulting mothers.

http://media.smh.com.au/news/national-times/abbott-heckled-during-apology-4128264.html

Note the tense reaction of the 1000 plus audience in shot as the hecklers gather steam and their reaction at end of clip.

His speech went on for some time after that moment. http://www.liberal.org.au/latest-ne...nal-apology-forced-adoptions-parliament-house

 

[Gough]

Well here you go see for yourself demonic Abbott source of all evil viciously assaulting mothers.

http://media.smh.com.au/news/national-times/abbott-heckled-during-apology-4128264.html

Note the tense reaction of the 1000 plus audience in shot as the hecklers gather steam and their reaction at end of clip.

His speech went on for some time after that moment. http://www.liberal.org.au/latest-ne...nal-apology-forced-adoptions-parliament-house

All I'm saying is it wouldn't have taken a lot of research to get the syntax correct, it showed a lack of sensitivity. I don't think it's an unfair criticism.

 

[Pie eyed]

September 15 2013

That would be hilarious if only it didn't men a return to the dark ages, for a few years.
Witch burnings, forced religious observance, prayer in Government schools, religion as science etc.