The Abbott Government

[drsmith]

What was it that Julia Gillard said about a carbon tax under a government she led ?

What was it that Kevin Rudd said about the greatest moral challenge of our time ?

What was it both of them said about leadership ambition ?

While it's a shortcoming of our political process, all governments break commitments to some extent, some worse than others. The decisions this government has made need to be considered in that context.

 

[banco]

What was it that Julia Gillard said about a carbon tax under a government she led ?

What was it that Kevin Rudd said about the greatest moral challenge of our time ?

What was it both of them said about leadership ambition ?

While it's a shortcoming of our political process, all governments break commitments to some extent, some worse than others. The decisions this government has made need to be considered in that context.

You are always a reliable shil for the coalition.

 

[drsmith]

You are always a reliable shil for the coalition.

It's your choice as to whether you offer a reply of substance or engage in name calling.

There's also the option of saying nothing at all.

 

[overhang]

What was it that Julia Gillard said about a carbon tax under a government she led ?

What was it that Kevin Rudd said about the greatest moral challenge of our time ?

What was it both of them said about leadership ambition ?

While it's a shortcoming of our political process, all governments break commitments to some extent, some worse than others. The decisions this government has made need to be considered in that context.

I find anyone quite hypocritical that vented their anger at Gillard for breaking an election promise and now won't hold Abbott to the same accountability. For those that were outraged by the lie then it shouldn't matter if you agree with the policy or not. Take Andrew Bolt for example who was very outspoken against the carbon tax lie, many times he criticised Gillard for the lie but you won't see him give Abbott any condemnation for breaking the promise not to cut the ABC as he agrees with the decision to cut the ABC. That's fine he is entitled to agree with that policy but when he condemns Gillard for breaking a promise he is holding double standards as he will not condemn Abbott for the same thing. It wouldn't be hypocritical if he attacked Gillards policy based just on the policy alone and not the broken promise and then praised Abbotts ABC broken promise.

As someone who has judged both on their broken promises quite negatively I find this quite frustrating to see all these double standards occurring from those with their predisposition. We are now seeing the right take the exact same path the left did and are making excuses for the lie (Hockey didn't rule out the cuts, they're not cuts but efficiency dividends).

 

[banco]

I find anyone quite hypocritical that vented their anger at Gillard for breaking an election promise and now won't hold Abbott to the same accountability. For those that were outraged by the lie then it shouldn't matter if you agree with the policy or not. Take Andrew Bolt for example who was very outspoken against the carbon tax lie, many times he criticised Gillard for the lie but you won't see him give Abbott any condemnation for breaking the promise not to cut the ABC as he agrees with the decision to cut the ABC. That's fine he is entitled to agree with that policy but when he condemns Gillard for breaking a promise he is holding double standards as he will not condemn Abbott for the same thing. It wouldn't be hypocritical if he attacked Gillards policy based just on the policy alone and not the broken promise and then praised Abbotts ABC broken promise.

As someone who has judged both on their broken promises quite negatively I find this quite frustrating to see all these double standards occurring from those with their predisposition. We are now seeing the right take the exact same path the left did and are making excuses for the lie (Hockey didn't rule out the cuts, they're not cuts but efficiency dividends).

But it's the context dude.........

 

[sydboy007]

What was it that Julia Gillard said about a carbon tax under a government she led ?

What was it that Kevin Rudd said about the greatest moral challenge of our time ?

What was it both of them said about leadership ambition ?

While it's a shortcoming of our political process, all governments break commitments to some extent, some worse than others. The decisions this government has made need to be considered in that context.

The situation has definitely changed. The free fall in iron ore has surprised me, but it wasn't totally unexpected. Certainlyt he Govt was up there with WA in fairyland forecasts on what I/O pricing was going to be like.

What I think most people are having trouble digesting is the bald two faced morally corrupt way the Govt is handling it.

All the promises being broken and they're arguing they're not actually breaking them. For a Govt that spent years in opposition going on about integrity they've got none. Absolutely none.

 

[sptrawler]

The situation has definitely changed. The free fall in iron ore has surprised me, but it wasn't totally unexpected. Certainlyt he Govt was up there with WA in fairyland forecasts on what I/O pricing was going to be like.

What I think most people are having trouble digesting is the bald two faced morally corrupt way the Govt is handling it.

All the promises being broken and they're arguing they're not actually breaking them. For a Govt that spent years in opposition going on about integrity they've got none. Absolutely none.

So now you have got that off your chest, for the 1,000 time, what next?

 

[Tisme]

I find anyone quite hypocritical that vented their anger at Gillard for breaking an election promise and now won't hold Abbott to the same accountability. For those that were outraged by the lie then it shouldn't matter if you agree with the policy or not.

My objection to the Gillard attacks was simply that it was vanguarded by supposed adults who would be the next govt. I saw it as a low point in politics where "honourable" members acted like a group of nasty school girls.

Maybe they are proud of themselves, but I could never give them the respect they should be afforded as elite public servants and trustees of our nation. Codes of conduct were all for nought in my opinion.

 

[noco]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but currently don't we have a Government providing more debt, more deficits, more borrowings and more heartache? A year in Govt and the budget seems to be in free fall. Revenue's plunging, spending increasing at unsustainable rates. Hockey has said there wont be large cuts in the budget when the MYEFO is released, so exactly what are they doing so differently to Labor? Have they realised that an economy with increasing unemployment, falling participation rate, lower economic activity, while suffering an income shock due to the fall in the ToT that has a long ways to go yet is a bit harder to manage than they pretended while in opposition?

We have the war on youth with a uni tax that would likely see those studying nursing and education no longer able to afford to do so. There's no acknowledgement of this looming issue. The 6 month wait for those under 30 during a time of historically high youth unemployment, while at the same time throwing money at employers to employ those aged over 50. How is it fair to provide far more support for the over 50s long term unemployed than those under 30?

Possibly the Govt needs to recognise the fact that the electorate didn't give them a mandate to do as they please, that they need to negotiate in good faith, that worth while tax reform is hard. They should know how easy it is to scare people about change since they were so very effective at it when in opposition.

They've give up $8B in carbon tax revenue and seemingly had no plan on how to make up that shortfall, let alone a plan to plug the leaking tax system from the world leading tax expenditures we have (we beat Italy and Greece on that score).

Ho about some action commensurate with the rhetoric they used pre election?

Sydboy, I cannot believe how you, Basilio and Rumpole could be so ignorant of the facts why the Abbott Government is struggling to make ends meet.

Are you really serious that you do not understand what the Abbott Government is trying to do to fix the mess the Green/Labor party left this country in and the fact that Abbott is being hamstrung by a senseless bloody minded senate who is obstructing cuts to expenditure of some $28 billion; $6 billion of which Labor were going to cut themselves and are now preventing the Government from doing so....

The Green/Labor coalition are not interested in the welfare of the Australian economy...All they are interested in making sure the Abbott government do not succeed in bringing the our finances under control......The Green/Labor party are only interested in their selfish existence.....The Green/Labor party left wing socialist could not manage our finances between 2007 and 2013 and they are hell bent on making sure the Abbott do not succeed.

The Abbott government therefore has no alternative but to continue in debt and deficit and the Green/Labor party are more than happy to see it happen.....It is time the Green/Labor party showed some gumption and started to co-operate in the national interest.

It makes me sick to death to think how the Green/Labor refuse to accept some responsibility for the current situation in our economy....

 

[IFocus]

How do you cut $250mil from the ABC and claim its not a cut?

Still the expanded spending rate of this Government while claiming their determination to reign in the debt sorta looks a lot like an Italian government.

 

[sptrawler]

I find anyone quite hypocritical that vented their anger at Gillard for breaking an election promise and now won't hold Abbott to the same accountability. For those that were outraged by the lie then it shouldn't matter if you agree with the policy or not. Take Andrew Bolt for example who was very outspoken against the carbon tax lie, many times he criticised Gillard for the lie but you won't see him give Abbott any condemnation for breaking the promise not to cut the ABC as he agrees with the decision to cut the ABC. That's fine he is entitled to agree with that policy but when he condemns Gillard for breaking a promise he is holding double standards as he will not condemn Abbott for the same thing. It wouldn't be hypocritical if he attacked Gillards policy based just on the policy alone and not the broken promise and then praised Abbotts ABC broken promise.

As someone who has judged both on their broken promises quite negatively I find this quite frustrating to see all these double standards occurring from those with their predisposition. We are now seeing the right take the exact same path the left did and are making excuses for the lie (Hockey didn't rule out the cuts, they're not cuts but efficiency dividends).

O.K, so when can we move on and start and repair the economy.

When will everyone pick up their bottom lips, and get on with reducing spending and increasing taxes.

 

[sptrawler]

How do you cut $250mil from the ABC and claim its not a cut?

Still the expanded spending rate of this Government while claiming their determination to reign in the debt sorta looks a lot like an Italian government.

Can't wait to get the Labor boys back in charge of the till.

Yep, let's get the boots into the miners. Like that would be working out well now.lol

Next year the carbon tax was going on fuel and transport, yeh, just when we need it.

Absolute morons.lol

 

[overhang]

O.K, so when can we move on and start and repair the economy.

When will everyone pick up their bottom lips, and get on with reducing spending and increasing taxes.

Maybe that should have been considered before making the promise....

 

[So_Cynical]

It's your choice as to whether you offer a reply of substance or engage in name calling.

There's also the option of saying nothing at all.

Good advise that would also apply to you and the other deniers.

 

[sydboy007]

So now you have got that off your chest, for the 1,000 time, what next?

Well, it's a year since the "adults" got into power with a claimed plan.

I'm still waiting for them to actually produce some decent policy.

Their economic management is running about as well as their promise to roll out a nation wide FTTN by the end of 2016.

When do you think they'll announce a fair way forward to repairing the budget? With the pension, super off the table it makes it hard to fix things. Negative gearing seems to be a bridge too far.

You keep saying we've got to wait for the tax white paper. I hope you're right, but so far nothing this Govt has done makes me think they have any ticker for some meaningful reforms.

 

[sptrawler]

Maybe that should have been considered before making the promise....

Well that is obvious, but don't you think things need to be fixed.

Even after Gillard broke a promise, she went on to implement it, then she was judged.

The difference this time is nothing is getting done, the problems are worsening, and everyone is standing around poking their tonques out.

 

[SirRumpole]

, but so far nothing this Govt has done makes me think they have any ticker for some meaningful reforms.

At least nothing that hits their mates in Vaucluse or Toorak.

Increasing a regressive tax like the GST that hits the less well off, well that's got to be a good thing hasn't it ?

 

[sydboy007]

Can't wait to get the Labor boys back in charge of the till.

Yep, let's get the boots into the miners. Like that would be working out well now.lol

Next year the carbon tax was going on fuel and transport, yeh, just when we need it.

Absolute morons.lol

http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/02/13/myth-of-coalition-govts-howard-the-biggest-spender-of-all/

If the previous Labor governments delivered growth in real government spending during its first five years in office at the same pace the Howard government had in the years from 2000-01, government spending would be almost 6% (or around $20 billion) greater in 2012-13 than was the case.

In terms of the facts, the average annual growth in real government spending in five years from 2000-01 under Howard was 4.3%; for Labor in the five years since 2007-08, the average annual increase has been 3.4%, a huge difference given that annual spending is over $360 billion.

Those five years of excessive government spending during the Howard government have not been cherry-picked to make a point. If we look at the final eight years of the Howard government, the average annual increase was 4.0%; for Labor taking the numbers into the three years of the forward estimates to get an eight year comparison, the average annual rise is 3.2%.

The extraordinary facts about government spending take into account the unprecedented fiscal stimulus measures from the Labor government that accompanied the global financial crisis. Indeed, in 2008-09, real government spending rose by a massively strong 12.7% as the government worked to sustain the economy and preserve jobs. That spending boost has now been unwound.

In simple terms, the facts show that in the five years from 2000-01, the Howard government increased real government spending by around 23%. In the five years from 2007-08, when Labor has controlled the budget purse strings, growth in real government spending has been a tick over 17%, including the 12.7% increase in 2008-09 when the GFC was bearing down on the Australian economy, threatening a recession.

Never once did the Howard government deliver a cut in real spending in any of its 12 budgets. Nor did the Fraser government, for that matter, ever deliver a cut in real spending in its seven budgets. Twenty Coalition budgets and never a fall in real government outlays. This is staggering when put against the perceptions and rhetoric that so often do the rounds.

For the Labor party, which unquestionably spent up big as the GFC hit, there have been two years in the current period of government where real government spending has fallen, in 2010-11 and this year, 2012-13. Indeed the cut in government spending this year is the largest cut ever recorded. It is worth noting at this point that there were three years in the Hawke/Keating era where there were cuts in real government spending, so over the last 40 years, the Coalition have never once cut spending while the Labor Party has delivered real cuts in five of its budgets.

So if you're giving me a choice between a Howard / Fraser or hake / Keating or Rudd / Gillard Govt, I'll take Labor as they showed they have the balls to stem the increase in spending.

 

[overhang]

Well that is obvious, but don't you think things need to be fixed.

Even after Gillard broke a promise, she went on to implement it, then she was judged.

The difference this time is nothing is getting done, the problems are worsening, and everyone is standing around poking their tonques out.

And the exact same argument was used by lefties in relation to climate change.

 

[sptrawler]

Well, it's a year since the "adults" got into power with a claimed plan.

I'm still waiting for them to actually produce some decent policy.

Their economic management is running about as well as their promise to roll out a nation wide FTTN by the end of 2016.

When do you think they'll announce a fair way forward to repairing the budget? With the pension, super off the table it makes it hard to fix things. Negative gearing seems to be a bridge too far.

You keep saying we've got to wait for the tax white paper. I hope you're right, but so far nothing this Govt has done makes me think they have any ticker for some meaningful reforms.

I'm sure there will be just as many problems, getting tax changes through the senate, as there has been getting spending cuts through.

I'm guessing we will still have to go through the process.

Then it will be election time, everyone gets to make their choice again.