> Are people in Australia seriously talking about getting him removed?
No.
The political climate in Australia has seriously deteriorated over the last decade and much political discourse is now indistinguishable from hysteria. The criticism being leveled at the Abbott government from progressives is very, very similar to what conservatives were saying about the Rudd/Gillard governments of the last 6 years - they're destroying the country, they don't represent the people, etc. Since the Internet is, in general, a more progressive place you're being exposed to a lot more of this hysteria than you would've been previously.[0]
> Does anyone even know what the process is in Australia to remove a Prime Minister?
The proper, established process is a Federal election. They happen every three years, and they give the electorate an opportunity to renew a government's mandate or to remove them from office as they see fit. At the last election, Tony Abbott was selected to be Prime Minister. He may or may not survive the next election, we shall see.
The new attitude in Australian politics of "I don't like this government - they should be summarily sacked" is despicable and anti-democratic. It seems to have infected both progressives and conservatives alike. It shows a complete lack of respect for the democratic process when one side decides that - since they don't like the new government's policies - they will simply ignore the fact that the government was duly and lawfully elected by the people. The dismissal of a government[1] is an extraordinary event that should only take place under extraordinary circumstances. The current circumstances are not extraordinary - progressives don't like a conservative government, what a surprise.
I don't agree with a lot of Mr. Abbott's policies, but as the Prime Minister of the country he should be afforded some respect. I will happily voice my disagreement with him, but I will not call for him to be dismissed. I will wait until the next Federal election and exercise my democratic rights then.
[0] Although it's an unpopular opinion, the conservatives had more reason to call for the Gillard Government's removal, as the hung parliament really placed the legitimacy of her mandate in question. Nonetheless, I think these types of criticisms are silly and hysterical coming from both sides.
[1] As another commenter mentioned, the Governor-General can dismiss the Government and trigger an election. This has only happened once, when the Whitlam Government was unable to pass supply bills through the Senate. This resulted in something similar to the US government shutdown that was experienced recently. This was a dark day in Australian politics and not something we should be eager to repeat - certainly not when the government is functioning (even if what it is doing is not particularly popular). "Well may we say 'God save the Queen' - because nothing will save the Governor General."
No.
The political climate in Australia has seriously deteriorated over the last decade and much political discourse is now indistinguishable from hysteria. The criticism being leveled at the Abbott government from progressives is very, very similar to what conservatives were saying about the Rudd/Gillard governments of the last 6 years - they're destroying the country, they don't represent the people, etc. Since the Internet is, in general, a more progressive place you're being exposed to a lot more of this hysteria than you would've been previously.[0]
> Does anyone even know what the process is in Australia to remove a Prime Minister?
The proper, established process is a Federal election. They happen every three years, and they give the electorate an opportunity to renew a government's mandate or to remove them from office as they see fit. At the last election, Tony Abbott was selected to be Prime Minister. He may or may not survive the next election, we shall see.
The new attitude in Australian politics of "I don't like this government - they should be summarily sacked" is despicable and anti-democratic. It seems to have infected both progressives and conservatives alike. It shows a complete lack of respect for the democratic process when one side decides that - since they don't like the new government's policies - they will simply ignore the fact that the government was duly and lawfully elected by the people. The dismissal of a government[1] is an extraordinary event that should only take place under extraordinary circumstances. The current circumstances are not extraordinary - progressives don't like a conservative government, what a surprise.
I don't agree with a lot of Mr. Abbott's policies, but as the Prime Minister of the country he should be afforded some respect. I will happily voice my disagreement with him, but I will not call for him to be dismissed. I will wait until the next Federal election and exercise my democratic rights then.
[0] Although it's an unpopular opinion, the conservatives had more reason to call for the Gillard Government's removal, as the hung parliament really placed the legitimacy of her mandate in question. Nonetheless, I think these types of criticisms are silly and hysterical coming from both sides.
[1] As another commenter mentioned, the Governor-General can dismiss the Government and trigger an election. This has only happened once, when the Whitlam Government was unable to pass supply bills through the Senate. This resulted in something similar to the US government shutdown that was experienced recently. This was a dark day in Australian politics and not something we should be eager to repeat - certainly not when the government is functioning (even if what it is doing is not particularly popular). "Well may we say 'God save the Queen' - because nothing will save the Governor General."