What we're talking about

Troy on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I have seen this family fighting day after day for months trying to get their kids/siblings back home. The dedication and ... more
Pauline on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' DHS have destroyed my own family. They failed in their duty of care to provide a baby moniter for the deaf , thousands of ... more
Christine on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' isn't it funny how DHS don't recognise the psychological effects of domestic violence on children and continue to allow ... more
Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' There is a family In the Cairns Area who are Foster Carers.Atherton Child Safety have threatened the carers and own ... more
duncan on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i have spent time with this family. it is a house full of love. "mum", grandfather and older sblings.this cannot be an issue ... more
Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Family Law is different from the rest of the law in this country.. Ie. Family Law is based on probability: ie if it might ... more
carol annetta on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' having known this family for some time i am disgusted with the treatment she has received. it seems more of a witch hunt ... more
Maureen Hillary on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Derryn,I have counselled traumatized parents as a result of DHS staff.There are great staff workers who care but they ... more
Janet Tavener on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I am a visitor to this country.My attention was drawn to the case of these children and their foster mother by a relative of ... more
sam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Happening in Tasmania also.Wewon a court case over 8 months ago and due process still hasn't been done.We spent 17,000 ... more
Anne Glover on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I just cannot believe what the DHS has put the Foster Mother, and the children through - I thought the DHS was supposed to ... more
Tracey on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' DHS are the most disgraceful organization I have ever had the displeasure of becoming involved with. They are so ... more
Vicki on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hi Derryn,I have known this carer since primary school, she has always put others above herself. Being a carer myself I know ... more
Gran'ma Pam on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' As any of us with any sense know, these children should NEVER have been taken from this lady (mum) in the first place, they ... more
Dominic Lombardo on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' I see my daughter every six months DHS are conducting a vendetta against me I have not been told why I can only see her ... more
cassy houghton on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Hello Derryn,Firstly i would like to thankyou for your support and the willingness to help this beautiful family.I ... more
Warrior princess on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Im a carer also in Qld. I see this happen way too much from our Government. They are starting to use Carers own children as ... more
paul on "I'll pay the fee," says Hinch I believe what Liberal Party has done is stupid. But I feel for candidates like Joh Bauch and James Buonopane who want to ... more
Andrea on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' Why are these public servants allowed to blatantly flout the law without the same consequences the rest of society faces? I ... more
birth mother on Help Hinch fight DHS 'pinheads' i am the birth morther of these 4 children and i just want to say dhs dont care they just want the kids in care so they can ... more

Tony Windsor on his BIG decision

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 3 September, 2010 - 5:44 PM

RELATED AUDIO:

HINCH: I want to talk about two Ps: Politics and Pokies.

As the horse trading continues in Canberra it looks like we will have a result after the weekend. The Tasmanian Independent, Andrew Wilkie used poker machines and addicted gamblers as one of his main bargaining chips in exchange for supporting Julia Gillard. He said a Gillard government would be the ‘less unethical’. Great endorsement.

That means Julia Gillard is now on 74 - only two votes away from the magical 76. That’s made up of 72 Labor, Adam Ant The Green, and Andrew Wilkie, the former Green.

That still leaves the Three Amigos who say they are going home this weekend to make up their minds. Well, Hinch’s Hunch as I tweeted last night after watching all three with David Speers on SKY’s Agenda: the man to watch is Tony Windsor.

I believe Rob Oakeshott will go Labor as I have explained before. He had a Labor pollie in an Oakeshott T-shirt handing out How to Vote Cards. That’s 75.

Bob Katter, after all his bluster and Katterwauling will align with the Coalition. And so will the pseudo-National Tony Crook. That gives Abbott 74.

That leaves Tony Windsor. He may go for the Coalition but that would tie it up at 75 a piece and for the sake of getting a government in place – for that stable and effective government they are talking about he could go Labor produces a Speaker and they govern with a one-seat majority 75-74.

And if were putting money on it that’s the call I’d make.

But speaking of betting. The pokies deal. There are now two politicians whose main platform is restricting poker machine gambling. Wilkie and Senator Nick Xenaphon.

Putting aside the issue as to why recreational gamblers should be penalised because of a few people with an addiction (do you close down pubs because of alcoholics? ) look at the cost of the Gillard-Wilkie deal if it goes through.

We have had poker machines in Australia for more than 50 years. The states rely on gambling taxes for about $3 billion a year. A billion here in Victoria.

If the Feds try to eat into that, there’ll be screams of States rights, demands for compensation, and probable trips to the High Court.

Not to mention the businesses and clubs, large and small, who paid a lot of money recently for ten-year licences. They too could demand compensation.

Methinks Julia Gillard has promised to gamble a lot of your money just to buy one necessary vote.

Down to Tony Windsor?

HINCH VIDEO BLOG: I suspect though that out in the electorate people are suffering ‘pollie fatigue’. There’s a feeling of ‘get it over with’. Either come up with a solution, form a sustainable government, or go back to the polls.

Tuesday, we may have a government

The independents will spend Friday putting their thoughts on paper, after a series of intense briefings from government departments and ministers. Key MP Tony Windsor has today hinted Tuesday will be 'D-Day' as he criticised Andrew Wilkie.

Blog comments

I like pokies very much as now a days pokies have become very much popular. This also true that many a times matter has been raised regarding the Pokies and politics. I played pokies only once and that too in the Australian online casino where it was very good experience and enjoyment while pokies.

Australian online casino Monday 11 October, 2010 - 7:59 PM
Derryn stay strong you are in good hamds with your medical team,after having back surgery I sometimes do not hear or see anyone for 2weeks at a time you have become my eyes and ears to the world and a freindly voice that I listen to evry day>Take care my friend

Sue Tuesday 21 September, 2010 - 1:34 PM
So Windthemansor criticises Willnotkie. Just a pot. Not a kettle he thinks. He is just having pain in the rear at the thought that Wilkie could have been better off than him with the Libs in power. That guy makes you believe that he did all that to fix the boyscout attitude at the Parliament.
Thou shall behave from now on he thinks!
He must have been napping for his whole dumb parliamentary life. What next? Bring your Bible ?

Sony Wednesday 8 September, 2010 - 5:49 PM
I am Winsaurus from New England. I brought the forgotten land to city dwellers. They better listen or I shake them as I shook the land of Oz.

Barney Wednesday 8 September, 2010 - 5:26 PM