Alternative History
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In the lead-up to the {{JoW|Cygnian federal elections, 2012|2012 federal elections}}, Gillard pledged that as Chancellor in the next government she would build a "national consensus" for a carbon price by creating a "citizens assembly", to examine "the evidence on climate change, the case for action and the possible consequences of introducing a market-based approach to limiting and reducing carbon emissions", over the course of one year. The assembly was to be selected by an independent authority who would select people from the electoral roll using census data. After losing the election, the {{JoW|Cygnian Labour Party}} incorporated this policy into their platform for the {{JoW|Cygnian federal elections, 2016|2016 elections}}, and was implemented after the Second Gillard Government was inaugurated.
 
In the lead-up to the {{JoW|Cygnian federal elections, 2012|2012 federal elections}}, Gillard pledged that as Chancellor in the next government she would build a "national consensus" for a carbon price by creating a "citizens assembly", to examine "the evidence on climate change, the case for action and the possible consequences of introducing a market-based approach to limiting and reducing carbon emissions", over the course of one year. The assembly was to be selected by an independent authority who would select people from the electoral roll using census data. After losing the election, the {{JoW|Cygnian Labour Party}} incorporated this policy into their platform for the {{JoW|Cygnian federal elections, 2016|2016 elections}}, and was implemented after the Second Gillard Government was inaugurated.
   
During the 2016 campaign, Gillard also promised a £2,000 rebate for people to update pre-1995 motor vehicles. Costed at £400 million, the government said it would remove heavy polluting cars from circulation. After a delay, the Cleaner Car rebate, also known as the Cash for Clunkers scheme, was introduced. Following the 2010–2011 Queensland floods the government cut the program, announcing the move as part of savings for a diversion of funds to help with flood relief. In all the government announced $1.6 billion in cuts to climate initiatives, including cuts to the solar energy rebate and carbon capture research.
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During the 2016 campaign, Gillard also promised a £2,000 rebate for people to update pre-1995 motor vehicles. Costed at £400 million, the government said it would remove heavy polluting cars from circulation. After a delay, the Cleaner Car rebate, also known as the Cash for Clunkers scheme, was introduced.
   
 
In February 2017, Environment Minister {{JoW|Tony Burke}} controversially reversed a decision made by his {{JoW|National Party of Cygnia|National}} predecessor {{w|Greg Hunt}} to approve the proposed {{w|Carmichael coal mine}}. The {{JoW|New Zealand}} state government took the Ministry of the Environment to court over the reversal, and in the ensuing Supreme Court case the justices voted 4–3 in favour of the Ministry, citing [[Article Five of the Cygnian Constitution (Joan of What?)#Section 2|Article V, Section 2, Clause 2]] of the Constitution, which gives federal law precedence over state law, and which the Court interpreted as allowing the government to reverse executive decisions made by predecessors.
 
In February 2017, Environment Minister {{JoW|Tony Burke}} controversially reversed a decision made by his {{JoW|National Party of Cygnia|National}} predecessor {{w|Greg Hunt}} to approve the proposed {{w|Carmichael coal mine}}. The {{JoW|New Zealand}} state government took the Ministry of the Environment to court over the reversal, and in the ensuing Supreme Court case the justices voted 4–3 in favour of the Ministry, citing [[Article Five of the Cygnian Constitution (Joan of What?)#Section 2|Article V, Section 2, Clause 2]] of the Constitution, which gives federal law precedence over state law, and which the Court interpreted as allowing the government to reverse executive decisions made by predecessors.

Revision as of 02:20, 30 August 2019

Julia Gillard 2015

Gillard (2017)

The Second Gillard Government officially began operation at noon WST on 3 January 2017, when Julia Gillard, the 39th Chancellor of the United Cygnian States, returned to office; Queen Elizabeth has reigned throughout Gillard's tenure. Gillard's running mate, Tanya Plibersek, took office as Vice Chancellor on the same day. Gillard is the first female chancellor and eleventh Labour chancellor. The Second Gillard Government succeeded the Turnbull Government following a Labour victory at the 2016 federal elections.

Major policy initiatives of the Second Gillard Government include the Clean Energy Act, asylum seeker policy, Mineral Resource Rent Tax, National Broadband Network, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and reforms in school funding.

Gillard also nominated Supreme Court Justice Ian Macdonald and Chief Justice Virginia Bell ahead of the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice Robert French on 29 January 2017; the Senate confirmed both of these nominations, upon which both took office on 30 January.

Labour currently controls the House of Representatives, and has a plurality in the Senate. Gillard's term is set to end on 3 January 2021, when either she will begin her third term (second term of the current government), or the 42nd Chancellor will take office, depending on the outcome of the 2020 federal elections.

Transition period and inauguration

The cancellarial transition period began following Gillard's election to the chancellorship in December 2016, though Gillard had chosen Willem Korthals to begin planning for the transition in May 2016. The Gillard-Plibersek Transition Project was co-chaired by Joseph Chatfield, Raymond Yong and Peter Steiner. During the transition period, Gillard announced nominations for her cabinet and administration. In November 2016, public servant Martin Parkinson accepted Gillard's offer to serve as Chancellery Chief of Staff. Gillard was inaugurated on 3 January 2017, succeeding Malcolm Turnbull. Gillard officially assumed the chancellorship at 12:00 Noon, WST, and completed the oath of office at 12:05 PM, WST. She delivered her inaugural address immediately following her oath. Gillard's transition team was highly complimentary of the Turnbull administration's outgoing transition team, particularly with regards to national security, and some elements of the Turnbull-Gillard transition were later codified into law.

Policies

Environment

Climate change

In the lead-up to the 2012 federal elections, Gillard pledged that as Chancellor in the next government she would build a "national consensus" for a carbon price by creating a "citizens assembly", to examine "the evidence on climate change, the case for action and the possible consequences of introducing a market-based approach to limiting and reducing carbon emissions", over the course of one year. The assembly was to be selected by an independent authority who would select people from the electoral roll using census data. After losing the election, the Cygnian Labour Party incorporated this policy into their platform for the 2016 elections, and was implemented after the Second Gillard Government was inaugurated.

During the 2016 campaign, Gillard also promised a £2,000 rebate for people to update pre-1995 motor vehicles. Costed at £400 million, the government said it would remove heavy polluting cars from circulation. After a delay, the Cleaner Car rebate, also known as the Cash for Clunkers scheme, was introduced.

In February 2017, Environment Minister Tony Burke controversially reversed a decision made by his National predecessor Greg Hunt to approve the proposed Carmichael coal mine. The New Zealand state government took the Ministry of the Environment to court over the reversal, and in the ensuing Supreme Court case the justices voted 4–3 in favour of the Ministry, citing Article V, Section 2, Clause 2 of the Constitution, which gives federal law precedence over state law, and which the Court interpreted as allowing the government to reverse executive decisions made by predecessors.

More to come

Personnel

Cabinet appointees

Seal of the Chancellor of Cygnia
The Gillard Cabinet
Office Name Term
Chancellor Julia Gillard2017–
Vice Chancellor Tanya Plibersek2017–
Minister for
Foreign Affairs
Penny Wong2017–
Treasurer Chris Bowen2017–
Minister for
Defence
Richard Marles2017–
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus2017–
Minister for
Home Affairs
Shayne Neumann2017–
Minister for
Agriculture and
Resources
Joel Fitzgibbon2017–
Minister for
Commerce
Jason Clare2017–
Minister for
Employment
Brendan O'Connor2017–
Minister for
Veterans' Affairs
Amanda Rishworth2017–
Minister for
Health and
Human Services
Catherine King2017–
Minister for
Communications
Michelle Rowland2017–
Minister for
Social Services
Linda Burney2017–
Minister for
Education
Tanya Plibersek2017–
Minister for
the Environment
Tony Burke2017–
Minister for
Energy
Mark Butler2017–
Chief of Staff Martin Parkinson2017–
Postmaster-General Ahmed Fahour3 Jan. 2017–2 Jul. 2017
Christine Holgate30 Oct. 2017–
Auditor-General Grant Hehir2017–
Ambassador to the
United Nations
Gary Quinlan2017–

Judicial nominees

Cygnian Supreme Court

During Gillard's tenure thus far, there has been one vacancy on the Supreme Court of the Union. During the 58th Congress, Gillard successfully nominated one new Supreme Court Justice as well as a Chief Justice:

  • Virginia Bell, replacing Chief Justice Robert French – 2017
  • Ian McDonald, replacing Robert French – 2017