Whether it's Alexander Downer in Mayo, or Rob Kerin in Frome, if somebody has stood for Parliament promising to stay for a full term and they decide to retire early, then taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the tab to find their replacement. 
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Selected and fresh photos from around the web.
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Editor's pick
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BASRA, IRAQ - OCTOBER 18: People gather around a Land Rover as it arrives at the village Al Houta on October 18 2008 near Basra, Iraq. The trip by the 51 Sqn Royal Air Force Regiment Force Protection Wing was part of a 'key leader engagement' (KLE) visit to the village close to the Basra Airbase to recruit local labour and engage with the village shiek. Visits of this type are seen as key in efforts to continue winning the support of the local Iraqi population. Although improved security in the region has brought some benefits such as improved trade and commerce, much of the infrastructure remains in a poor state of repair. Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown has indicated that the number of UK troops could be scaled down - especially as the security situation in the south of the country continues to improve.
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Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks during a campaign rally in the rain at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, September 27, 2008.
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A puppy stands on a truck carrying people to be evacuated from the area in preparation for the approach of Hurricane Gustav in Batabano, on the southern coast of Cuba, August 30, 2008. Powerful Hurricane Gustav roared toward western Cuba on Saturday with 125 mph (205 kph) winds on its way to the oil-rich Gulf of Mexico after a deadly pass through the Caribbean.
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BANGKOK, THAILAND - AUGUST 30: A member of Anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) stands behind barbed wire outside Government on August 30, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. The protesters want to unseat the seven-month old coalition government lead by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.
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Hot off the wire
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Mourners lower the body of Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, 29, left, into his grave after burying his wife Rivkah, 28, both killed in the Mumbai Jewish center attack, during their funeral in Jerusalem, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. Israelis on Tuesday began burying the six Jews killed in the murder spree in the Indian city of Mumbai, the grimness of the occasion deepened by the conviction that the victims were targeted because of their religion.
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Jewish men watch a burial ceremony for Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, in the Mount of Olives Jewish cemetery December 2, 2008. Rabbi Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, were among the five hostages killed at the Jewish center and the more than 144 people dead in Mumbai after the attacks by Islamist militants on luxury hotels and other sites in India's financial capital.
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AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - DECEMBER 03: The Te Waihono A Kupe Maori Cultural Group pose for a photo with the LA Galaxy after arriving at the Auckland International Airport on December 3, 2008 in Auckland, New Zealand. The LA Galaxy are playing a one off match against the Oceania All Stars in Auckland on December 06.
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Recently starred
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Actor Viggo Mortensen gestures during a news conference to promote his latest film "Alatriste" in Tokyo on December 1, 2008. The film will be on the screens on December 13. Alatriste, played in the film by 47 year old US actor, is a unscrupulous 17th century adventurer in the movie, set in Spain's "golden age" under King Philip IV which coincided with the emergence of artistic giants such as Velasquez and the development of the "New World."
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Chelsea Clinton (L) and former US President Bill Clinton watch as US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks at the National Building Museum in Washington June 7, 2008. Clinton endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) to be the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate on Saturday and suspended her own White House bid less than a week after the Illinois senator secured enough support to win the nomination. Clinton's endorsement of Obama in a speech at the National Building Museum marked the beginning of efforts to reunite the Democratic Party after a long and divisive campaign battle that ended on Tuesday when Obama won the support of enough delegates to clinch the nomination.
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A tear runs down the face of U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) as he speaks about his grandmother who died earlier on Monday, during a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, November 3, 2008. On the eve of Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, Obama's grandmother Madelyn Dunham died after a battle with cancer.
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U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) (R) share a hug at the conclusion of the CNN/Los Angeles Times Democratic presidential debate in Hollywood, California January 31, 2008.
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Quotes about Alexander Downer
Whether it's Alexander Downer in Mayo, or Rob Kerin in Frome, if somebody has stood for Parliament promising to stay for a full term and they decide to retire early, then taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the tab to find their replacement.
was said
in Adelaide Now
Do you think Alexander Downer would be on the advisory board of a company that acted unethically?
was said
in Crikey
The elected Liberal candidate Alexander Downer has dumped the electorate in the wake of the election because he didn't get what he wanted, which was a return to government and Labor has dumped the electorate because they don't think they will get what they want and that is a win in the seat of Mayo
said Bob Brown
in Adelaide Now
Quotes from articles mentioning Alexander Downer
Why should taxpayers foot the bill just to make it easy for political parties to bring in fresh faces?
was said
in NEWS.com.au
Political parties shouldn't be allowed to use by-elections to arrange their succession planning
said Mark Parnell
in NEWS.com.au
Whether it's Alexander Downer in Mayo, or Rob Kerin in Frome, if somebody has stood for Parliament promising to stay for a full term and they decide to retire early, then taxpayers shouldn't have to pick up the tab to find their replacement.
was said
in NEWS.com.au
Electorates are not owned by political parties, they are owned by the people
said Mark Parnell
in NEWS.com.au
They need to maintain momentum and not lose momentum ... I think to set themselves official deadlines would actually made the process more difficult rather than easier
said Alexander Downer
