Perhaps the most symbolic appointment Abbott will make in his first six months will be selecting the next Governor-General. Given it will cover the period that marks the centenary of the Anzac landing at Gallipoli, General Peter Cosgrove is a hot favourite.
One of other big jobs will be the Speaker of the House of Representatives. That is a very prestigious and well-paid job and might help Abbott find space in his frontbench. Some have tried to shift Kevin Andrews into the post but he's expected to be Families Minister. Bronwyn Bishop may be in line.
Wyatt Roy spoke impressively in a short interview he gave this morning.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-po...013-live-september-6-2013-20130906-2t8u8.html
Perhaps a bit young still for a senior role in Tony Abbott's first term, but definitely one to watch out for in an Abbott second term.
Lets hope he does what he says in regards to the public service.
The trend in public service numbers in Tony Abbott's first term I suspect will more reflect John Howard's first term than his last.
While Mr Abbott recognises the nexus between smaller government and economic growth, he has been less forthcoming on the fiscal imperative to cut government spending. It is understandable that Mr Abbott might be unwilling to announce any policies that hint of austerity in an election such as this, but we take heart from his commitment to a comprehensive audit of commonwealth spending should the Coalition win office. Yet we sincerely hope that Mr Abbott and his team are prepared for the scale of the task ahead. They must achieve what no administration has been able to do since World War II and reduce the size of government. The task will be made harder by the Coalition's politically expedient pre-commitment to the school and disability reform packages, not to mention Mr Abbott's private political indulgence of paid parental leave. Each may be justified in policy terms, but they represent recurrent spending liabilities that will have to be offset by cutting programs elsewhere.
Judging by the trend from 1998 to 1999, John Howard must have at least given it a nasty shake in his first term. Another factor could be that since WW2, most governments have been elected for multiple terms.No Government since WW 2 has managed to reduce the size of Government. He will have to start early and be prepared to cop the flak from the nay-sayers like Newman has copped, mainly from the unions.
Yes, he would be well advised to do as Rudd says and "cut cut cut" the Public Service to "the bone". There's plenty of fat there.
The trend in public service numbers in Tony Abbott's first term I suspect will more reflect John Howard's first term than his last.
...made even more interesting by some of their policy mix.
I find it interesting that Abbott is considered right wing and/or conservative, Seems more along the lines of a social liberal IMO http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_liberalism
More along the lines of social populist?
That's what usually happens and it won't matter who's in office. The black hole is there regardless.Maybe the "blackhole" he'll discover in a few months will give him the fig leaf to do what needs to be done.
That's what usually happens and it won't matter who's in office. The black hole is there regardless.
As Labor discovered in office.Anyone who believes the "golden" years of Howard will return after tomorrow are in for a rude awakening.
The issue I have with the blackhole is a budget is a forecast. The politicians like to make out they're written in stone, but it's just the best guess as to how things will pan out.
Personally I think treasury is still being wildly optimistic with the amount of revenue that will be coming in.
The true test of Abbott will be if the new forecasts are actually more in line with recent history or not. If not then i can see too many more deficits rolling through.
Anyone who believes the "golden" years of Howard will return after tomorrow are in for a rude awakening. Households can't take on any more debt, so I don't see the Federal Govt being able to save too much if the household sector is deleveraging, or at best is holding still.
...The successful coalition gu'mint will have to engage in some clever subterfuge in rehabilitating the economy while placating pork barrellees.
A tough gig.
One advantage of having a conservative government is that people will be more optimistic and start spending again. As a self-funded retiree I have a personal interest in bank deposit interests getting back to levels where taxes and rates don't cancel out the earnings. The official interest rates and bank interest rates are at record lows. Low interest rates are indicative of a faltering economy.
People in my situation don't have mortgages and hopefully an improvement in the economy will lead to a rise in interest rates.
I can't wait to see Bronwyn Bishop installed as Speaker by the Coalition. She has a lot of old scores to settle, especially with Anthony Albanese. He will probably be expelled from the chamber at the first sitting.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/op...right-experience/story-fni0fheo-1226712362490
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