Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

@msolga,

It is hard for me to know whether I'm being objective as far as Tony is concerned but he did look a bit silly.

Tony: If you can't trust them to do pink bats you can't trust them to roll out broadband
Kerrio: But you'r saying you can't roll it out either

Ad infinitum, his only argument is that the govt can't be trusted to deliver it so we won't either. Huh?

Kerrio does a nice line in condescension, '"peak speed" is quite a simple concept'

Tony 'I'm not a tech head'
How true, different four letter adjective required.

2 Replies

@hingehead,

To argue that the stimulus didn't contribute to keep us out of recession is complete crap. Certainly in Cairns. I know how much the construction companies were on the brink of massive layouts that only the promise of the BER funding prevented. Even with it we lost 2000 tradies.

John Hewson is right, mad monk rabbit is innumerate.

1 Reply

@msolga,

Losing track of election promises, from both sides ... (How seriously does one take them, anyway? Which are the "core" promises & which "non-core"? Who do you believe? Confused

)

Anyway, today's promises ...
From Labor, pitched at western Sydney, where (speaking of marginal/swinging seats) Labor is in a bit of strife at the moment. :

Quote:

Gillard's $2b rail promise for RSL forum
Updated 2 hours 24 minutes ago

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will go into a community forum tonight armed with a $2.1 billion promise to fix rail services in the key election battleground of Western Sydney.

Ms Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott are both taking part in the town-hall style meeting in front of 200 voters at the Rooty Hill RSL.

Ms Gillard will go into it with a plan to build what Labor calls "the missing link" in Sydney's rail network.

Labor's rail plan involves the Federal Government teaming up with the NSW Government to build a $2.6 billion rail link between Epping and Parramatta. ..<cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/11/2979432.htm

um ... isn't this rail line a state (not federal) government responsibility? Neutral

Quote:

Labor has rejected suggestions it has pork-barrelled key western Sydney seats by committing $2.1 billion to a rail link between Parramatta and Epping.

"Absolutely not," Transport Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio today when asked whether the announcement was part of plan to bolster the government's hold on Labor seats.

The 14km link, shelved earlier in 2010 after more than a decade of planning and discussion, passes through the Labor seats of Parramatta and Bennelong. ... <cont>

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/labor-denies-porkbarrel-suggestion-20100811-11yq8.html?autostart=1

Meanwhile, Abbott & Joyce pitched their promises at country voters. (Haven't had the opportunity to compare what the Libs are proposing with Labor's promises on the Murray-Darling yet.) Though clearly something needs to be done. A pity it's taken an election for the situation to be taken seriously, by both sides:

Quote:

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has promised to get water flowing into the Coorong Wetlands "straight away" as part of the Coalition's new Murray-Darling Basin management plan.

Mr Abbott and Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce officially unveiled the $750 million plan at the mouth of the Murray in South Australia this morning.

The Coalition's plan includes pumping 150 billion litres of water back into the Lower Lakes and Coorong, fixing inefficient irrigation infrastructure on farms, and starting up a Menindee lakes re-enginerring plan to save water. ...<cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/11/2979433.htm

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@hingehead,

Quote:

It is hard for me to know whether I'm being objective as far as Tony is concerned but he did look a bit silly.

Yes, I know what you mean, hinge. It's hard to be objective.

My problem is trying to work out whether he's seriously inarticulate or just plain ignorant of his own party's policies.

Yesterday's press club address really was a terrible effort from someone who could become the next prime minister. Everything he says appears to be so simplistic, no detail, no complex explanations .... It's hard to know whether this is what he's been advised to do (to avoid any possible slip-ups) or whether this is the best he is capable of. I find him excruciating to watch & listen to. It's embarrassing.

Quote:

Kerrio does a nice line in condescension, '"peak speed" is quite a simple concept'

Yes.

But I think he was totally frustrated with Abbott who used his lack of technical knowledge as a handy excuse for not properly discussing a subject he should have been able to discuss. (As leader of the opposition &next possible PM.)

Quote:

Tony 'I'm not a tech head'
How true, different four letter adjective required.

Ha!

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@hingehead,

Quote:

To argue that the stimulus didn't contribute to keep us out of recession is complete crap.

Yes, I know. In no way did he satisfactorily explain how the Libs would have tackled the situation differently, or better, either.

(On the matter of the the schools expenditure program ... it has been terribly disappointing to see how the money has actually been spent. I know the money had to be spent quickly & I know the point of the exercise was to save jobs, but .... (many impoverished) state schools won't see the likes of that sort of money again. Or for a very long time, anyway. It could have made a real difference if they were allowed more input on how the money was actually spent, like the private schools were able to do. There has really been a lot of dissatisfaction within schools about how both the federal & state governments have managed this program.)

1 Reply

@msolga,

... not that the deal many state schools received under the scheme concerned Abbott at all. He was more interested in point scoring. Of course.

1 Reply

@msolga,

Of course. I think it's wearing thin.

I also think you are right about what Tony says. I think he's coached quite carefully and given messages to punch through over and over. I think Kerrio nearly got him to snap - his voice got really high when he said 'XX Billion dollars'

I'm thinking this is possible;

Kerrio: Hello Tony, your budgie smugglers look tight.
Rabbit: Well if you can't trust the government to install pink batts you can't expect my swimmers to fit.

I think the Q and A will be challenging for him, because he will have to fall back on his personality and personal style (as Julia did) and hope people like it. I don't think they will. Julia is just more personable. Do people vote for personable? (outside of the USA of course...).

1 Reply

@hingehead,

Quote:

I'm thinking this is possible;

Kerrio: Hello Tony, your budgie smugglers look tight.
Rabbit: Well if you can't trust the government to install pink batts you can't expect my swimmers to fit.

Let's face it. Everything is the government's fault. And the Libs would have done it better. Smile

Quote:

I think the Q and A will be challenging for him, because he will have to fall back on his personality and personal style (as Julia did) and hope people like it. I don't think they will. Julia is just more personable. Do people vote for personable? (outside of the USA of course...).

Yes, I think it'll be a challenge for him, too. He is probably being drilled on projecting a warm & lovable personality by his minders as I type!

Do (Oz) people vote for personable?
Hmmm, don't know. Not sure.
They don't like smug, "uppity" leaders, that's for sure.
And they certainly like those who make their mortgage payments manageable, too. (Out in those marginal seats, especially.)
"Personable"? Or intelligent women as leaders?
Let me think about it for a bit.

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Just before I go ...

A couple of things that made me laugh just now:

I voted in this SMH poll & was astonished that there was 100% agreement in response to the question! A most unusual state of affairs! Surprised

Quote:

Poll: Do you think national issues are being ignored in favour of a campaign largely being fought in marginal electorates?

Then I noticed there'd been only 1 registered vote. Mine.
Ha!
(there are more responses now)

and this:

(speaking of budgie smugglers!)

Moir on the Liberal launch.
Something about Julia in the back row struck me as very funny! :

http://images.theage.com.au/2010/08/10/1766866/Moir10cod-620x0.jpg

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Hey ho, Cardinal Pell's been at it again .. <yawn>
What an ignorant, pompous ejit the man is! Neutral

:

Quote:

Catholics divided over Pell's criticism of Greens
Updated Tue Aug 10, 2010 10:37pm AEST

Cardinal Pell's weekend newspaper column slammed the Greens' so-called Stalinist roots. (Reuters: Mark Baker, file photo)

A division has emerged in the Roman Catholic Church over whether or not Christians should vote for the Greens.

The Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, warned Catholic voters on the weekend to be wary of the Greens, describing them as "sweet camouflaged poison".

But other Catholic leaders disagree. They say it does not reflect well on the Church when a man of Cardinal Pell's position uses that kind of language.

The stoush between the Greens and the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) started late last week when the ACL accused the party of refusing the scrutiny of Christian voters.

All major and minor parties were sent a questionnaire from the lobby group but the Greens refused to respond to 18 out of the 24 questions.

The ACL's managing director, Jim Wallace, says it was dishonest of the Greens to ignore the questions.

"Even the Sex Party answered honestly the questions - I don't agree with their positions, but at least they were honest enough to actually put their replies forward and respond today whereas the Greens weren't," he said.

"I don't support the Sex Party but I certainly don't support either a party that doesn't act honestly before the electorate."

The Greens say all their policies are clearly stated on their website.

But Cardinal Pell's weekend newspaper column slammed the Greens' so-called Stalinist roots.

He said the Greens were anti-Christian and opposed to the notion of family

"One wing of the Greens are like watermelons - green outside and red inside - a number were Stalinists supporting Soviet oppression," he said. ... <cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/10/2979361.htm

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@msolga,

Wow! What a twat.

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@Eorl,

Don't believe that for one minute. She is a very very ambitious lady and I think plans were afoot long before they toppled K Rudd. I'm not a labour voter but think what was done was disgusting. He deserved the right to take them to an election regardless and try to win. If he lost, then fair enough, change the leader. I don't trust this particular labour government. The spin is ridiculous and full of lies and misleading statements.

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@msolga,

Good grief! he sounds like some US far right fundy christian.

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@WendyLou,

Hi WendyLou, if you think the labor caucus would have outed Kevin Rudd if he was looking good in the polls and their parliamentary careers looked safe for another term then I suggest you are a victim of spin yourself.

Everything I've read suggest (regardless of ambition and I'm sure she has plenty, as she should - I don't want ambitionless politicians) that she was backed into a corner by the caucus - she didn't want to run against Kevin before the election, even when caucus said they had the numbers, it wasn't till they said they were going spill the leadership and back Wayne Swann that she decided to run.

I'm curious if you think what was done to Malcolm Turnbull was 'disgusting'?

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@Eorl,

eorl wrote:

Hope you all saw QandA tonight. Defining moment of the election I predict.

I suspect last night's 7.30 report was one too. Tony looked so clueless. It was hard not to get the impression that he didn't live in the same world most of us do.
Around 75% of Australian households have internet access - who would have thought the Abbott household was one of the ones that didn't?

On 7.30 Report tonight Chris Pyne performed fairly badly. None of his education 'reforms' would actually improve access to education:
increase the education tax rebate
Give principals greater autonomy
Give the remaining BER money to the public schools and let them keep what they don't spend (I did a doubletake on that one).

Crean was measured, seems to be getting more comfortable with his role as elder statesman of the party. As someone who works in a university I can tell you what he said about targets for indigenous and lower socio-economic graduates is taken very seriously and we report on our actions to meet this targets in all our reporting from team, to department, to division.

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Ooh, another turning point moment - the Gruen Nation's Pitch segment has the ad that could/would/will push the Greens into senate control.

For those unclear on the concept the Gruen Report is a show about advertising, that has become a show about political advertising in the lead up to this election. It has a regular segment called 'The Pitch' which usually gives two advertising agencies a chance to compete against each other to 'sell the unsellable' on a topic of host Wil Anderson's choice. But for election mode the two agencies do a pro or con ad for a political party. Last nights was the Greens - both were great ads but the Pro ad won out.

The Gruen Report is televised nationally on the Oz public broadcaster 'Aunty' ABC - which has a legal obligation for impartiality (which the Libs think it always crosses to go left, regardless of numerous content analyses that say it is actually very fair).

If the Libs win and the greens get say %15 of senate votes, do you think there be some sabre slashing at Aunty in retribution?

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@hingehead,

They've outdone themselves this time!
What an excellent advertisement, hinge! (Love the gentle, sensitive music! Wink

)
But the message, the message!
OK, I'm persuaded.
I'll vote for that party! Very Happy

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@WendyLou,

Hello, WendyLou.
A pleasure to meet you! Smile

Please feel free to join in more of our discussion.
The more the merrier.
Which state are you from?
Which policy issues are most important to you?
Join in, there are only 9 days to go!

And (in case you're reading this, by any chance) how do you think this election campaign is going, jeeprs? Love to hear from you, too!

Any other Oz folk on this board are most welcome to contribute, too, too! Goes without saying, I hope. Smile

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@hingehead,

I watched my first episode of yeswe Canberra this morning & I'm posting it here for anyone else who might be interested. Summing up the week in the campaign, plus a few other things ...

Not too bad. Some funny & insightful moments .. plus a few that really hit the spot. (I came seriously close to wetting myself laughing during the being kind to Phillip Ruddock skit. (Towards the end of the half hour) Very funny!) It's a tall order, producing half an hour of funny, surprising & also some distasteful political material each week, but the chasers really try hard.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/yeswecanberra/video.htm

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Were any of you able to watch the debate that wasn't a debate at Rooty Hill (what a name for a place!) last night?

I wasn't able to, not having access to Sky. I'd imagine most other people didn't have access to this non-debate, either, for the same reason. But anyway, from what I can gather from my media reading today, Julia Gillard (in a separate session to Abbott) sat on a chair & answered questions, while Tony Abbott got down there with his audience, spoke with them eye to eye & was a clear winner for doing so. He "played room like a Stradivarius"! (I so wish I'd seen that! Wink

)

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/abbott-played-room-like-a-stradivarius-20100812-12093.html?autostart=1

Then, when one of the (carefully selected by Sky) as supposedly a yet uncommitted swinging voter in the audience, was exposed as a known Liberal supporter (who had declared himself as such as a Big Brother participant in the past) Sky said they'd investigate the allegations.

One wonders how many of the other "undecided/swinging" voters, supposedly carefully chosen by Sky in the audience were in the same boat as this fellow?

And our "respectable" press dutifully reported it all, as if it was all above board!

(sigh) I swear I am not making any of this up!

But, you know, I'm starting to wonder if our media commentators are mugs. Simply reporting what they are fed, as if it is the truth. Who knows what the reality of this situation actually was? Why couldn't Sky have organized a real debate between Abbott & Gillard? Now that would have been interesting!

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Oz Election Thread #4 - Gillard's Labor

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