2010 Federal Election

[Logique]

Abbott and the Coalition are in a terrific win-win scenario now. Whatever happens from here, the Coalition were the winners in the election.

The Gillard brand has been tarnished, perhaps fatally so, along with the Labor brand.

I still believe it will break to a Coalition-Indeps government, but even if it doesn't - the Coalition will be the eventual winners, further down the line.

Abbott doesn't need to take any nonsense from the indeps.

 

[IFocus]

A surprising look from Glenn Milne

"Adversarial and aggressive Abbott stumbles"

The Opposition Leader's strident demands that the independents be barred from having access to the Treasury "Red Book" and his refusal to allow the Treasury to cost the Opposition's election promises is wrong on so many counts it's hard to know where to begin.

Couldn't agree more

So, let's take stock on where all this belligerence leaves Abbott: Firstly he's seen as still being fuelled by campaign aggression when the political paradigm dealt by the election outcome requires calm. Second he's seen as shifty on the issue Coalition costings. And thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, he's fouled, in one fell swoop, his relationship with the independents.

The latter is not a good look for someone potentially relying on those same independents to support the Coalition's claim to government.

Last, but not least of all, the above has left Abbott looking like he's still an Opposition Leader, rather than a Prime Minister in waiting. All you need to know is that Abbott's behavior has left Labor "flabbergasted", the description of one ministerial adviser.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2994830.htm

 

[drsmith]

Independents Windsor and Oakshott want to support Labor/Greens, but need to justify it to their electorates.

They both support the immediate introduction of a carbon tax.

 

[Some Dude]

I must have missed that. Let me in on the joke, Dude.

Which part is eluding you?

 

[Calliope]

Abbott and the Coalition are in a terrific win-win scenario now. Whatever happens from here, the Coalition were the winners in the election.

The Gillard brand has been tarnished, perhaps fatally so, along with the Labor brand.

I still believe it will break to a Coalition-Indeps government, but even if it doesn't - the Coalition will be the eventual winners, further down the line.

Abbott doesn't need to take any nonsense from the indeps.

I wish I could agree with you Logique, but I think the outlook is dismal. Any government depending on the support of politicians who have jumped ship once before is on very shaky grounds. It's in their genes.

Even Wilkie, the only independent who is not a turncoat, turned up for his meeting with Gillard with a long wish list.

 

[noco]

A surprising look from Glenn Milne

"Adversarial and aggressive Abbott stumbles"



Couldn't agree more



http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2994830.htm

This was typical of the ABC biased attitude towards the Labor Party.

I watched ABC Insiders this morning with Barry Cassidy and two pro Labor journos and the discussion revolved around Abbott. They were intent on criticizing him throughout the whole program. Laura Tingle was more neutral.

Not a word about Labor's costings on the NBN, the CPRS and their relationship with the Greens. Does anyone know what the final cost of the NBN will be, whether it is viable and how much consumers will pay let alone what it will cost the tax payers to install? No, The Labor Party want to keep that 'hush hush' which makes one think it was done purely for political gain.

 

[robusta]

Don't think it matters anymore Labour or Lib/Nat all policies are almost exactly the same, the only differences (mining tax, broadband, ....) will be decided by independants.

 

[sails]

Don't think it matters anymore Labour or Lib/Nat all policies are almost exactly the same, the only differences (mining tax, broadband, ....) will be decided by independants.

This is what the media keep bleating on about and seem to want the average voter to believe but are they really much the same? I think you could also add boat smugglers policies to your list. Fiscal managment has significant differences too, IMO.

The hung parliament and subsequent independents with balance of power are how Australia voted probably because the average voter believed what they were told and didn't bother to look into it. No point banging the head now - it's too late.

 

[wayneL]

Don't think it matters anymore Labour or Lib/Nat all policies are almost exactly the same, the only differences (mining tax, broadband, ....) will be decided by independants.

Yeah I remember when Brian Harradine was effectively the government.

 

[wayneL]

The hung parliament and subsequent independents with balance of power are how Australia voted probably because the average voter believed what they were told and didn't bother to look into it. No point banging the head now - it's too late.

Bang on (pardon the pun)!

 

[IFocus]

This was typical of the ABC biased attitude towards the Labor Party.

Glenn Milne is no friend of Labor hence my surprise

Glenn Milne is a Canberra journalist and political commentator. He currently works for News Limited as a columnist for The Australian newspaper.[1] He is a former chief political correspondent for the Seven Network where he reported for Seven News and often conducted interviews on Sunday Sunrise. He has also been political editor of The Australian. The former Prime Minister of Australia, Paul Keating, was known to refer to him as "The Poison Dwarf",[2] a nickname that stuck.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/20/2989172.htm

I watched ABC Insiders this morning with Barry Cassidy and two pro Labor journos and the discussion revolved around Abbott. They were intent on criticizing him throughout the whole program. Laura Tingle was more neutral.

Abbott was on the program

Not a word about Labor's costings on the NBN, the CPRS and their relationship with the Greens. Does anyone know what the final cost of the NBN will be, whether it is viable and how much consumers will pay let alone what it will cost the tax payers to install? No, The Labor Party want to keep that 'hush hush' which makes one think it was done purely for political gain

Labor just gave Abbott access to the costings?


A little re NBN here BTW Nick Ross hates Conroy pro NBN

If you're wondering what the $43 billion will actually be spent on, here's the breakdown:

Fibre to 90 per cent of premises: $26.6 billion

Last 10 per cent of premises: $5.3 billion
Backhaul (connecting networks together): $3.3 billion
Overhead: $2 billion
Out tuning (with 2.5 per cent inflation): $5.6 billion

Total: $42.8 billion

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/20/2989172.htm

 

[gav]

If you're wondering what the $43 billion will actually be spent on, here's the breakdown:

Fibre to 90 per cent of premises: $26.6 billion

Last 10 per cent of premises: $5.3 billion
Backhaul (connecting networks together): $3.3 billion
Overhead: $2 billion
Out tuning (with 2.5 per cent inflation): $5.6 billion

Total: $42.8 billion

And what are the chances of this little project being on budget? (considering Labor's fantastic fiscal management over the past few years)

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

And what are the chances of this little project being on budget? (considering Labor's fantastic fiscal management over the past few years)

LOL
Quote of the week mate, quote of the week.

gg

 

[robusta]

This is what the media keep bleating on about and seem to want the average voter to believe but are they really much the same? I think you could also add boat smugglers policies to your list. Fiscal managment has significant differences too, IMO.

The hung parliament and subsequent independents with balance of power are how Australia voted probably because the average voter believed what they were told and didn't bother to look into it. No point banging the head now - it's too late.

C'mon it used to be Liberal for business and Labour for workers, now they have both moved into the centre and only care about votes and power.
Howard's battlers sound familiar?, Rudd the fiscal conservative? (at least until a little thing we like to call the GFC.
Let us see if these independants can do better than the other choice, a poke in the left or right eye.

 

[Julia]

I watched ABC Insiders this morning with Barry Cassidy and two pro Labor journos and the discussion revolved around Abbott. They were intent on criticizing him throughout the whole program. Laura Tingle was more neutral.

Good to see Laura Tingle making an appearance. She's worth ten of the regular journalists on "Insiders".

Not a word about Labor's costings on the NBN, the CPRS and their relationship with the Greens. Does anyone know what the final cost of the NBN will be, whether it is viable and how much consumers will pay let alone what it will cost the tax payers to install? No, The Labor Party want to keep that 'hush hush' which makes one think it was done purely for political gain.

And when is some halfway decent journalist going to do some forensic enquiry into the Greens' policies and their costings? If this had occurred prior to the election, I'd bet the Green vote would have been halved.

Don't think it matters anymore Labour or Lib/Nat all policies are almost exactly the same, the only differences (mining tax, broadband, ....) will be decided by independants.

It may well be decided by the Independents, but I disagree that there is no difference between the two main parties. Certainly, for political appeasement reasons, they have both moved to the centre, but there are still considerable philosophical and economic differences.

My greatest disappointment in the Coalition is their willingness to engage in middle class welfare to the stupid degree that's exemplified by their parental leave scheme. Whatever happened to their once great policy of encouraging people to be responsible for themselves?

Labor just gave Abbott access to the costings?

Are you asking a question here? Access to whose costings?
Can you please clarify this statement/question.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Good to see Laura Tingle making an appearance. She's worth ten of the regular journalists on "Insiders".

And when is some halfway decent journalist going to do some forensic enquiry into the Greens' policies and their costings? If this had occurred prior to the election, I'd bet the Green vote would have been halved.

It may well be decided by the Independents, but I disagree that there is no difference between the two main parties. Certainly, for political appeasement reasons, they have both moved to the centre, but there are still considerable philosophical and economic differences.

My greatest disappointment in the Coalition is their willingness to engage in middle class welfare to the stupid degree that's exemplified by their parental leave scheme. Whatever happened to their once great policy of encouraging people to be responsible for themselves?

Agree with all your points Julia, Tingle is good, very good.
The Coalition are better money managers as well as having quite different policies, Weather is one that comes to mind.
It will take another 40 years to wean the generations off all welfare, but slowly and surely it will happen.

gg

 

[IFocus]

Are you asking a question here? Access to whose costings?
Can you please clarify this statement/question.

Abbott has been given access to treasury costings on the NBN by Government

 

[Logique]

It's running hourly on ABC NSW radio: Rob Oakeshott is objecting to heavy-handed treatment from lobbyists, he raises suspicions it's coming from the Nats, suspicion of a smear campaign. Warren Truss has officially denied this.

Terrible thing to be a politician jointly holding a federal balance of power and be, horrors, lobbied. Mummy the big boys are picking on me. But don't worry Rob, the ABC will champion you, they have high hopes for your future. Perhaps a regular spot like Malcolm Fraser.

Listening, yes a great thing, starting with listening to your electorate, 52% of whom want you to go with the Coalition, compared to the 34% who say Labor.

 

[noco]

Abbott has been given access to treasury costings on the NBN by Government

IFocus you have only told part of the story. It was a conditional arrangement.

From an extract in the Weekend Australian.

Tony Abbott has agreed to submit the Coalition's election promises of for costing by Treasury on the condition they not be provded to Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan, as part of a deal to open the books of the Government and opposition to the three rural independantswho hold the key to power.

As part of the deal the Government has agreed to provide full Treasury costings of the minung tax and the National Broadband Network to the opposition and it will not provide the independants access to public service briefing papers already prepared for an incoming government.

The rest of the story Sid Maher can be read on page 7.

 

[noco]

IFocus you have only told part of the story. It was a conditional arrangement.

From an extract in the Weekend Australian.

Tony Abbott has agreed to submit the Coalition's election promises of for costing by Treasury on the condition they not be provded to Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan, as part of a deal to open the books of the Government and opposition to the three rural independantswho hold the key to power.

As part of the deal the Government has agreed to provide full Treasury costings of the minung tax and the National Broadband Network to the opposition and it will not provide the independants access to public service briefing papers already prepared for an incoming government.

The rest of the story Sid Maher can be read on page 7.

Herewith link to the Austarlian relating to above story.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...down-on-costings/story-fn59niix-1225911097207