Politics that grubby game.

If there is one thing that I can't stand is a liar, and what is even is worse than a liar is a hypocrite. Stretching their neck like an ostrich above the crowd to gain the high moral ground.

Tony Abbott, the hypocrite: in opposition, on and on about liars. The first Abbot budget has seen broken promises   loss of funding to the ABC, every one paying more taxes  and  extra burden on those who are on the lowest economic scale. 

I'm going to predict it now. Tony Abbot will be a one term PM. As a person who has followed politics for a long time I've never seen a PM so consistently so low in the polls first term.
It confirms to me that the Abbott government didn't win government. The Gillard/Rudd governments were punished for not there policy, but there disunity.
Australia is a middle centrist population politically. Howard was aware of it. Abbot has shown total disregard and I'm sure will be punished in under three years time.

Then theres always Turnbul...

Abbott and Carbon

Tony Abbotts "non-delivery of an indivisible substance" has brought up a problems with his negative slogans. It reveals and it is important for me that he cannot articulate why his negative slogans are true.

All of people when I have asked the question whether they are worse off after the "tax" reply no. (Yes I think there maybe bussiness out there, but when pushed a bit they havn't invested in ways to reduce electricity eg solar or more efficient refrigeration.)

I understand that politicians speak in hyperbole. But Tony has taken it to the extreme to the extent he is only speaking to those who are already rusted on Coalistion supporters.

 

I can't help thinking that if the liberals really want to win the election convincingly they need Turnbull. I can feel confident that although I may not agree with opinion he will have a slogan backed up with an articulate argument.

Polls, Polls

Results from the latest Roy Morgan face to face poll carried out 3 and 4th of October::

If a Federal election were held now the ALP would retain Government according to the latest Face-to-Face Morgan Poll.

The ALP primary vote is 44% (up 3.5%), well ahead of the L-NP 38.5% (down 2.5%). Support for the minor parties shows the Greens 12% (down 1%) and Others/ Independents 5.5% (unchanged).

The Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating is 125.5pts (down 2.5pts), with 53.5% (unchanged) of Australians confident that Australia is ‘heading in the right direction,’ compared to 28% (up 2.5%) that say Australia is ‘heading in the wrong direction.’ The latest weekly Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating for the weekend of October 2/3, 2010, was 122.9 (up 1.5pts).

Some thoughts::

::This poll was prior to Tony Abbots gaff about wanting to sleep rather than visit the troops in Afgahanastan. Bad news for coalition, and no excuses.
::Tony who was more reconcillitory during the election appears to be back in his 'oppose everything', head kicker self. I don't think the Australian public will be to keen on this.
::Tony now after all the election publicity where Australians got to know him will now be more recognised and scrutinised. Double standards which you could get away with as a minister will be watched and remember now with the bigger profile.

Prediction::

If Tony dosn't change his ways been a 'wrecker' will  stick:
Turnbull opposition mates will start to gather momentum.
For things to change Tony needs to genuinely  start to be a bit more diplomatic. Make some genuine middle ground moves.

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Look me in the eye Tony...

Image by MystifyMe Concert Photography™ via Flickr

Interesting how the liberals but probably more significantly Tony Abbott has gone back on his word regarding the speakers role.

Its pretty blatant. To me it just shows his driven nature to get into power.
It would appear his tactic is for the current government to be in as a precarious position as possible. Then for his party to have another go at winning an election as soon as possible.

For me especially in the Church I have always remembered the words 'Character over Anointing'.
I think it can be applied to politics. That's why I like Malcolm Turnbull. Even though he stuck to his principles over the emissions trading deal, and lost. In the long term he gained a lot of respect.

Tony Tony, read a bit of Shakespeare, your going down a slippery slope.

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BHP and a Carbon price

From the ABC today ::

BHP chief executive Marius Kloppers says Australia will have to move to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions if it wants to remain internationally competitive.
And he says it is in Australia's long-term interest to move ahead with a carbon price before a global agreement.
Professor Garnaut says the message from BHP is not unexpected but it is sensible.
"It does make sense for us to begin the transition now so that we're well-placed for the future world of carbon constraints that sooner or later is going to emerge," he said.

This is a pretty significant statement which I suspect other major Australian companies will follow.
It also makes the Liberals, especially Tony Abbott's position on environmental short sighted. While in many ways in makes Malcolm Turnball's position, visionary to Australias need especially considering the concessions he got out of Labour.

It will be interesting what back-peddling Tony Abbot is prepared to do as more business here and overseas start gearing up for a increasing carbon economy.

As for Labour who know what deals they will make....maybe some sort of forum?

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Election 2010 :: NBN

Image via Wikipedia

If their was one key election issue winner or looser it was the National Broadband.
To be honest I was suprised that Abbott didn't go along with the vision of NBN for Australia's sake. The usual opposition line is.

"...We will honour any previous government commitments..."

Well as time has shown the rural independents have decided the issues with one of their main reasons been the NBN.

The other failure which I think can be seen by Tony Smiths move from the shadow communication portfolio is their inability to actually sell their alternative. The press conference was a joke. Tony Abbott didn't show, Andrew Robb looked like he was running the show and overshadowed Tony Smith the Coalitions expert. 

I don't think the liberals will make the same mistake again. I think Abbott has already reflected upon this with putting Malcolm Turnbull in the shadow minister for communication.

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Election 2010 :: Labours Enviromental policy

Rumours today of Labours environmental policy,  as reported by the ABC

A re-elected Labor government would ask a new "citizens' assembly" for climate change advice, under a key part of the ALP's new climate change policy set to be launched by Prime Minister Julia Gillard today.

I cannot but agree with Mr Greg Hunt our local man at Flinders who said

 Julia Gillard's proposed "citizens assembly" will fail to produce action.

The problem I see with it is that their is no actual leadership in a citizens assembly. I would rather vote for an environmental plan than somthing that 'might' happen. It's just to wishy washy for me.

The only person talking any sence in Malcolm Turnbull

"The Coalition's policy is not the ideal from my point of view I grant you that, I'd like to see a market-based solution, but I'll tell you this, it does have the potential to meet the emissions reductions targets by 2020," he said.
"The real question is the policy. Everyone knows where I stand, I've stuck to my principles on it. But the fact is, we have got a policy, Labor has nothing."

I think he is right. Labor has nothing!

Australian politics::

Havn't put any political musing for a while so here it is.


Kevin Rudd:: He looks like he is in a spot of bother. Not only is his usual opposition upset but so are his supporters. It does look like he weaseled out of the Emisions Trading Scheme. Doing so he has lost credability.

Tony Abbott:: Poo Poo man. Poo poo this, poo poo that. That's all I can hear. I never anything positive. Its all a government conspiracy. The reason why: We are the opposition.

Malcolm Turnball:: I'm glad he is back. It seems that there is a moderate now back in the liberal party. (Jo Hockey, seems quieter now, it must be fatherhood) If or I should say  when he gets back on the front bench the Liberals will look a bit more balanced. I dare say the media will go to him for some constructive conversation. (I bet they already know what Mr Poo Poo Abbott would say).

Overall the next couple of months should be rather colourful as the election looms.

Keating at his colorful best

It was like the Keating of the 90's when yesterday he gave his current assesment of the opposition.

From the Sydney Morning Herald::

Mr Keating described Mr Abbott as the "poor man's John Howard" who was regarded by many of his Liberal colleagues as their "resident nutter" when he arrived in federal parliament in 1994.
"It was bad enough having the real John Howard... at least Howard was a militant, aggressive conservative driving in reverse through the rear-vision mirror."
Mr Abbott was an "intellectual nobody and no policy ambition".
On the other hand his predecessor Malcolm Turnbull had an articulated, intelligent, moderate, thought-out conservative position.
"You wouldn't trust this mob (the coalition) with a jam jar full of five cent bits."
He described the opposition's finance spokesman Barnaby Joyce as a "junior Joh Bjelke-Petersen" who ran around making foolish economic pronouncements.

At this stage, Keatings assessment is but a colorful opinion of mine. Except I would add Wilson Tucky is still clucking away in the stalls.

Liberal shenanagins

The liberal party today had their spill, and elected a new leader. Poor old Joe Hockey didn't even make it to final vote. Tony Abbott won, but not convincingly.

A few thought...

::The liberal party needs to be seen to be closer to the center. Abbott is not the man for this.

::Joe Hockeys or Malcolm Turnbull's time will come. There will be a spill when Abbott looses the next election. Or sooner if Abbott doesn't look a bit more moderate.

::The vote was less than convincing 42-41, a shaky start for Abbott.

::Turnbull didn't go down in the ball of fire as predicted. Sure he lost but he will be a thorn in Tony Abbott's side, with that sort of margin.

::Turnbull has learn't a lot from this. He will be wiser if he gets a second spin.

Restlessness in the Coaltion ranks

Malcolm has called a leadership spill. No tweets from Malcolm or Joe on the matter.

The Challenger is Kevin Andrews. Known for the Haniffe scandel as well as the well written anti Euthanasia legislation (I've actually heard him speak on this).

Its interesting that I think reason that Malcolm was voted in as leader was that there was a realization in the Liberal party that new ideas where needed, that the party needed to be seen as at the center right. (I think Howard was initially perceived by the public to be in this position. But ongoing legislation and time proved this wrong).

The problem for the liberal party and Malcolm is that members keep looking over there shoulder. To how things were, the glory days of Howard. It is this type of thinking that will cause the liberals to stay in opposition. As Joe Hockey said and I paraphrase 'The liberal party dosn't do opposition well but in government we do very well' .
Overall I think that Malcolm was doing a pretty good job, with a tired bunch of old horses. How old is Wilson Tuckey?

Libs bring out there environmental policy....

I was pleased to see that the liberal party unveiled their environmental policy the other day. From the Herald Sun::

Opposition's alternative proposes a slow and gradual rise in penalties for electricity generators to allow them time to adjust to cutting their greenhouse gases.

It would also reduce the "churn" effect in the Government's plan, which will raise tens of billions in pollution revenue from industry, but then have to compensate households for their higher electricity and gas bills.

The alternative scheme would save 26,000 jobs in regional Australia, according to the Opposition, including in the Latrobe Valley, Geelong and Portland, which are expected to be hit hard by the Government's scheme.

-The positives as far as I'm concerned is that both Labor and the Liberals are on the same page, that the environment is important. That the have do do somthing in regards to reducing our Carbon emissions. That emissions without offsets aren't good for the environment.

-It also sidelines Fielding more and more. He is now in the minority that believe that carbon emissions don't effect the environment. I don't actually think he needs his 'scientific' argument. Just that Its Gods creation. That humans shouldn't be pumping stuff into the air. God didn't create the earth with chimneys all over the place belching toxic fumes.

-both parties need to articulate a policy which is simple to understand. Both as far as I'm concerned, are to complex in there presentation.

Once again as a Christian, I think its upmost important that we are good stewards of the earth. That there is to much of a linkage between poverty, justice and environmental issues for Christians to ignore.