Tangney seniors say no to boats, wary of NBN, not convinced about Abbott’s appeal

Dr Dennis Jensen

Dr Dennis Jensen

By Guinevere Hall

August 16, 2013

On Wednesday morning I joined more than 40 constituents for a morning tea hosted by Dennis Jensen, the sitting Liberal member for Tangney.

Over cups of tea and coffee and scones and muffins, the  group  of mostly senior citizens and supporters listened to Dr Jensen speak and questioned him for more an hour.  Afterwards there was mingling and one-on-one chats with the MP.

The coalition’s Stop the Boats campaign was their chief concern, with many expressing misgivings about the slowness of the processing of asylum seekers and the fact that very few who arrive actually get returned.

The group very much supported the policy, with one  person even suggesting Australia should withdraw from the UN convention on refugees, saying it had been written in an earlier time and was not relevant now.

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The next biggest discussion point was about Kevin Rudd and his appeal to younger voters who, the members of the audience felt, weren’t attracted to Tony Abbott because of his stilted, scripted appearance.

There were lots of murmurs about bringing back Malcolm Turnbull, a suggestion dismissed emphatically by Jensen.

Some in the audience believed Palmer United Party preferences would flow to Dr Jensen, while the Greens’ would go to Labor.

Dr Jensen, a well-known climate change sceptic, remarked, “I think they are pretty cross with me, I am the devil incarnate to the Greens.”

On the  national broadband network, Dr Jensen and his constituents seemed confused about how it would affect them.

The group, mostly pensioners, mainly wanted to know how much it would cost them and if it would be compulsory for them to be connected . They didn’t see any use for the internet and were very concerned they would be paying for something they didn’t want. Dr Jensen couldn’t really answer .

Dr Jensen was asked how he would ensure he carried out the wishes of the electorate. As in my previous interview with him, he said he would take  account of community sentiment but ultimately he would be guided by expert opinion as he did when crossing the floor for his last two conscience votes on therapeutic cloning and the RU486 abortion drug.

More Tangney reports here


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Comments


  1. Mainly pensioners, that would be right but why do they whinge about refugees when they are supporting a bloody foreigner as their MP?
    He was born in apartheid era South Africa in 1962

    • Noone to vote for in Tangney says

      Not fair, Marilyn. Like many people before him who entered Parliament, he first had to become an Australian citizen. That makes him equal to the rest of us.


      • So prior to becoming a citizen he was not equal to the rest of us?

      • No one to vote for in Tangney says

        In terms of being able to represent us in the Parliament of Australia, no.


      • Did I say he wasn’t? He is the one constantly ranting that refugees are not equal to him.


      • Clearly not, according to Kevin and Tony.

      • joy cooper says

        Since when has Kevin (Rudd??) said anything at all about where Jensen was born? May have said something about his political beliefs though. As for Tony (Abbott??) he was born in England himself so he is also a foreigner. Don’t know whether he has taken up Australian citizenship though.


      • As far as I’m aware, they haven’t. They have, however, made it abundantly clear that those who are not citizens are not equal to us, are not allowed to be named, or have their faces shown in images, and can be shipped off to Guantanomo-Bay-style accomodation.

      • Noone to vote for in Tangney says

        Joy Cooper and EOR, please note; you cannot stand for Parliament in Australia unless you are a citizen. Therefore, Tony Abbott and Dennis Jensen are both Australian citizens.

  2. joy cooper says

    Personally, I am sure Dr Jensen knew more about the NBN than he admitted. For example, he would have known that non-users would not be paying anything at all & any of those lucky enough to have access to it would only have their normal ISP costs. In some cases these would actually go down. It, apparently, from what I understand, would cost more for the Coalition’s version as you would have to pay to be connected to the FTTN (by copper).

    So I feel Dr Jensen was being a tad disingenuous in leaving some of his constituents confused &, I dare say, frightened, about the NBN. Naughty. It is his job to know these things, too.


  3. It’s a shame Dr Jensen didn’t say something to ease the fear the pensioners have about the NBN costing them rather than allowing them to go away confused and worried. He knows they do not have to purchase an internet service if they don’t want to and knows it will not cost them anything when Telstra decide to move their service over to the NBN network.

  4. Noone to vote for in Tangney says

    I’ve seen the list of candidates for Tangney and I will not be voting for any of them. For the first time ever, my lower house vote will be not be used. Can’t vote Liberal because of the Mad Monk and the fact that Jensen is a climate change denier…well…skeptic at best. The ALP are incompetent, the Greens are dangerous and the Palmer mob are just the plaything of man with more money than sense. All that’s left is some Christian mob and as a believer in a secular society I couldn’t possibly vote for them. Nobody to vote for in Tangney. And in the Senate, I’d like to vote for Wirrapanda but the Nationals are only using his celebrity as they have never in their history developed or supported a policy that advantaged indigenous people.

    • Wayne Driver - Tangney Candidate - Palmer United Party says

      Noone to vote for in Tangney, as the Candidate for Tangney for The Palmer United Party, I can tell you, we are not the “play tings of a man with money” We are the only Party to field 150 candidates, this covers every seat in the house of reps.

      I got involved due largely to my involvement in local community groups and as I have seen the unfair treatment of aged, community and sporting groups in Tangney have recieved by being a safe seat for one particular party.

      If you really want change, vote for The Palmer United Party, we are a true alternative, we are allowed to use our conscience on all votes. The Palmer United Party also has a strong representation from the indigenous community, the most nominated women in a political party and we all come from diverse backgrounds.

      We all want to reunite the nation and to ensure strong employment, education, health and community.

      Remember your vote is important, never waste the opportunity to make change when change is required.

      KIndest regards,
      Wayne Driver
      Tangney Candidate
      Palmer United Party

      • Noone to vote for in Tangney says

        Sorry, Wayne. Won’t be happening. I don’t doubt your sincerity but I do doubt the end game of your leader.


  5. I too am disappointed in Dr Jensen letting the group wallow in confusion on the NBN. If he was working hard for our electorate he would be across details as this. Either he misled for political purposes, or he is not earning his keep (or both!)


  6. On Dr Jensen’s climate banter, you report: “he said he would take account of community sentiment but ultimately he would be guided by expert opinion”. Ultimately expert opinion says human effects on climate are real, and we need action now.

    Climate may seem a non-issue to those in their sunset years, but already increased extreme hot days are taking their toll and I would hope they remember the grandchildren who’ll inherit their world.


    • Except that the elderly are one of the groups most affected by heat-related deaths during heatwaves. Oh, and running those air conditioners all the time is going to cost them more than a hypothetical NBN.


  7. Fear is a great vote-scoring energy when politicians choose not to assuage it. We are seeing this happen on a national scale. Conservatism has, at its root, the energy of fear, of keeping the status quo.