The Australian's one sided view on the skills of federal MPs
Times are tough for political writers when parliament is not sitting. They have to invent their own drivel rather than being able to report on the drivel of members. And in The Australian this morning there was a classic example.
In a desperate search to fill the hold on page one The Oz came up with:
Now readers of the Owl might remember the story last week How career politicians now dominate our Parliament.
When it comes to the front benchers of both sides the differences are slight.
The Turnbull Cabinet and previous employment:
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In a desperate search to fill the hold on page one The Oz came up with:
TREASURER ACCUSES ALP FRONTBENCH OF LACKING REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCEAnd on the story went in similar terms without any attempt to compare the Labor team with that of the Coalition government.
A shortage of “real-world” experience on Labor’s frontbench is fuelling concerns over a negative approach to small business and raising doubts about the party’s claim to represent the interests of its traditional “aspirational” bluecollar base.
Analysis by The Australian shows that only three Labor frontbenchers have listed experience working in small business, prompting an attack from Scott Morrison, who said Bill Shorten would treat the sector like a “giant ATM” if he won office at the next election.
Now readers of the Owl might remember the story last week How career politicians now dominate our Parliament.
Career politicians are now dominating political life. Back in 1966 when I came to Canberra trade union officials, political staffers, party officials and former MPs (state and federal) were less than a quarter of MHRs and Senators. At the start of this year they made up 54% of the total.In my analysis I didn't notice much of a difference between the Coalition and Labor apart from Labor having more member with a trade union background and the Coalition having more lawyers.
When it comes to the front benchers of both sides the differences are slight.
The Turnbull Cabinet and previous employment:
Simon Birmingham | Political staffer, lobbyist |
Matthew Canavan | Public servant, political staffer |
Darren Chester | Political staffer |
Steven Ciobo | Political staffer |
Mathias Cormann | Business manager, political staffer |
Mitch Fifield | Political staffer |
Fiona Nash | Farmer, political staffer |
Kelly O'Dwyer | Political staffer |
Marise Payne | Political staffer, lobbyist |
Christopher Pyne | Political staffer, solicitor |
Arthur Sinodinos AO | Public servant, political staffer, banker |
Julie Bishop | Lawyer |
George Brandis QC | Barrister |
MichaeliaCash | Solicitor |
Christian Porter | Lawyer, university lecturer, state MP |
Malcolm Turnbull | Barrister, merchant banker |
Peter Dutton | Businessman/policeman |
Greg Hunt | Business consultant/political staffer |
Barnaby Joyce | Accountant, former Senator |
Scott Morrison | Manager/party official |
Nigel Scullion | fisherman, businessman |
Josh Frydenberg | Businessman/political staffer |
The Labor front bench and previous employment:
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Anthony Albanese | Political staffer |
Chris Bowen | Political staffer |
Kim Carr | Teacher, political staffer |
Kate Ellis | Political staffer |
Katy Gallagher | Community worker, union official, Territory MP |
Tanya Plibersek | Public servant, political staffer |
Bill Shorten | Trade union official |
Penny Wong | Union official, political staffer, lawyer |
Tony Burke | Trade union official |
Mark Butler | Trade union official |
Jacinta Collins | Trade union official |
Don Farrell | Shop assistant, trade union official |
Richard Marles | Solicitor, trade union official |
Brendan O'Connor | Trade union official |
Michelle Rowland | Lawyer |
Mark Dreyfus | Barrister |
Shayne Neumann | Lawyer |
Jim Chalmers | Public servant, political staffer |
Jason Clare | Businessman |
Joel Fitzgibbon | Businessman |
Catherine King | Social worker/consultant |
Jenny Macklin | Public servant |
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