The past week has been a bitter education in political sabotage

By Paul Kelly. HERE is a snapshot of Australian democracy: as national accounts show living standards in decline, the Senate this week — in a display of contempt by the Palmer United Party and sabotage by the Labor Party — voted down the most important university reform for a generation rather than negotiate an acceptable outcome.
What is bizarre about this week’s events is the reluctance to highlight the chaos and irresponsibility before our eyes in the parliament. PUP leader Glenn Lazarus had refused to even meet Education Minister Christopher Pyne, then accused the frantic minister of offending his sensibilities by harassing him with text messages. More...