The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

If they have any sense at all, they will be saving certain tactics until just weeks before the election...just because people often have short memories...and fear doesn't last too long either.

Has the date actually been set?

I believe that December is the latest, but most people are tipping Nov.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22200885-601,00.html



Just how is rent, compensation? Presumably the govt will 'rent' the land to the 'owners'...so how does that amount to any compensation?

And that last paragraph is hilarious in it's depravity. Do aborigines on reserves know how to negotiate? Can they agree between themselves? And which if any single one at all, has money to take the govt to court?

Fresh poll blow for 'rattled' Howard
August 7, 2007/the AGE



SENIOR Liberals are rallying around John Howard after a fresh damaging blow, with a leaked internal report from pollster Mark Textor declaring swinging voters see him as old and "rattled".

There is more bad news today, with the latest Newspoll showing that Mr Howard has failed to make a dent in the commanding lead Labor has had all year.

The poll has Labor's two-party lead at 56 to 44 per cent, marginally worse for the Government than the 55-45 margin of a fortnight ago.

And Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has increased his lead as preferred prime minister. He is up one point to 44 per cent, while Mr Howard has dropped one point to 39 per cent.

The bad polls come as the Government waits on tenterhooks to see whether interest rates rise tomorrow, which could further damage its standing. .... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/fresh-poll-blow-for-rattled-howard/2007/08/06/1186252630018.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

So he definitely did not need this front page story from my morning newspaper today!:

Workplace ad pulled over bad boss claim
Michael Bachelard
August 7, 2007/the AGE


Damien Richarson, left, in the Federal Government's workplace advertisement.

THE Government's $37 million campaign to sell its workplace legislation was in tatters last night after allegations that an actor in a Workplace Authority advertisement was himself a bad employer who ripped off junior staff to the tune of thousands of dollars.

Workplace Minister Joe Hockey last night pulled the ad "Protection for under-18s" off air after The Age asked him about the history of one of the actors, Damien Richardson, who until recently had a painting business employing youngsters.

Mr Hockey also announced an emergency review of the background of all actors appearing in any Workplace Authority advertisement, to be carried out by the Workplace Ombudsman, a spokeswoman said.

The Ombudsman, Nicholas Wilson, will also be ordered to start this morning his investigation into the allegations against Mr Richardson made by his former worker, Erin Gebert.

The move to pull the advertisements, which are intended to bust "myths" about WorkChoices, is highly embarrassing for the Government coming into a parliamentary sitting week, and is more evidence that its $80 million total spending on advertising is still failing to convince voters of the virtues of WorkChoices.

This follows the leaking of Government research that shows its industrial relations policy has caused panic, fear and feelings of disempowerment among voters ?- findings used to formulate the taxpayer-funded Workplace Authority ad blitz featuring authority director Barbara Bennett.

It also follows the failure of the Government's 2005 campaign, which cost $45 million, to convince people that WorkChoices was good policy.


http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/workplace-ad-pulled-over-bad-boss-claim/2007/08/06/1186252630021.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

quote Joe Hockey "The test is how you deal with these sorts of allegations."

The test you dick brain is weather the legislation is working to keep vulnerable people safe from predators.

Precisely!

... you've got to have a bit of a laugh at the Libs' discomfort.

<snigger>

But hang on! This is $37 million of our taxes being spent on this utterly dishonest & stupid campaign!

... & speaking of campaign funding ...:

Government ad spending balloons
August 7, 2007 - 7:15AM
The AGE

The Federal Government has so far outspent Labor by almost three to one in its pre-election promises since the budget.

The Australian Financial Review reports the Coalition has engaged in a spending spree worth almost $7.5 billion compared with $2.6 billion from the Opposition.

An assessment by the newspaper of spending proposals made by the major parties has identified commitments worth more than $10 billion in the past three months.

The link between government spending and interest rates is set to be a focus of federal parliament when it resumes today.

AAP

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/government-ad-spending-balloons/2007/08/07/1186252664424.html

Ignore the polls, Howard tells Coalition
August 07, 2007
The AUSTRALIAN

JOHN Howard has urged his Coalition colleagues to ignore the growing consensus that Kevin Rudd will win the next election.

The Prime Minister today said that Labor is not a fit alternative government after the latest Newspoll showed six weeks of campaigning during winter parliamentary recess had not broached Labor's lead.

He told a party room meeting they were behind but could still will. Labor were getting "cocky" and were thinking about the trappings of office, he told the meeting.

"He said there is a sentiment among commentators that the ALP are near certainty to win the election," a Coalition spokesman reported.

"The Prime minister said that is not the readout he has received as he moves around the country.

"The Prime Minister said no election is ever unwinnable or unlosable, the Prime minister said the Labor party are very cocky now and are thinking about the trappings of office.

"He concluded by saying, you know we can win the election and you know that this is not a good replacement government."

Mr Howard told the meeting he did not detect the fundamental disillusionment which existed in 1983, 1999 or 1972. ...<cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22203745-601,00.html

.... but has the leaking of JH's election "strategy" yesterday cooled his heels? Hell no! He's going to intervene in MORE state business! (NOT that I am exactly crazy about forced local council amalgamations. Not by a long shot. But since when was JH a champion of small, representative local councils?) :

Howard sizes up Beattie for council merger brawl
Sid Marris | August 07, 2007
The AUSTRALIAN

JOHN Howard today opened up a new front in his war with the states, with plans to pay for ballots on Queensland's council mergers.

On the same day the Howard Government tabled its legislation authorising the indigenous intervention into Northern Territory, and a week after the Mr Howard promised to take over a Tasmanian hospital, the Coalition announced a direct challenge to Peter Beattie's council consolidation plans.

The move could prove a thorn in Labor's side come the federal election.

Mr Howard told question time his government would pay for the ballots to give locals a voice. "We do not intend to remain idle and silent," he told federal parliament.

"We are not trying for a ballot in every shire and council, but if you want a vote in the Australian Electoral Commission will conduct it and the Commonwealth will pay for it." .... <cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22203841-601,00.html

... meanwhile, federal parliamentarians are reeling, with minimal time to consider the federal government's far-reaching "intervention" legislation. 500 pages of detail & not nearly enough time to digest the details before the vote takes place!:

Govt rush to push intervention laws 'appalling'
Posted 11 hours 52 minutes ago


Intervention ... The bills for the federal crackdown will be introduced to Parliament today. (ABC TV)

A leader of a delegation that wants the Federal Government to reconsider its Northern Territory intervention says it is travesty that Parliament is only being given a few days to consider 500 pages of legislation.

The bills for the federal crackdown on Indigenous child abuse will be introduced to Parliament today, with the Government seeking approval to spend almost $600 million in the first year of the intervention.

The Federal Government says more than $200 million will be spent on welfare changes and employment programs, with the rest going towards other measures including education, child protection, law and order and health services.

The Government has not yet calculated the cost of compensation for land takeovers.

Labor says it backs moves to address child abuse but is unhappy with the time it has been given to assess the bills and will decide how to deal with the proposed legislation this morning.

The head of National Indigenous Television and former ATSIC chief, Pat Turner, has travelled to Canberra as part of the delegation.

She says introducing the legislation in such a rush is an abuse of power.

"How the hell we're supposed to analyse that and see exactly what's involved by the time they introduce this - it's really appalling," she said.

"So not only are they treating Aboriginal people with contempt, they're also treating the Parliament with contempt." ... <cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/07/1998162.htm

& there's so much more! But I haven't the stamina to cover every single JH horror story!

So, over to the cartoonists.

Leak, from the AUSTRALIAN:

Moir, from the Sydney Morning Herald, commenting of Labor's sad & sorry sell out of Tasmania's forests. That's Mr Midnight Oil (former major greenie ) & also currently Labor's environment spokesperson, whose been gagged & bound by his leader's decision.:

From Knight, at Melbourne's Herald Sun (known locally as "the HUN") :wink:

Yesterday's Moir (SMH):

JH, the big election campaign spender! :

... & finally, Bruce Petty, from the AGE ... I see his point! :wink: :

Just a comment on "Labors sellout of the Tasmanian Forests"

I find this incredibly sad. Treefelling and Woodchipping should only ever happen on plantations, fullstop. I don't know how many of you are aware, but Australia used to have the Tallest trees in the world - Red Cedars near the Qld NSW Border. They were all cut down...and now I will never get to see those forests because of our ancestors lack of foresight.

That said, Labor lost the relevant Tasmanian Seats because of it's stance, and the rest of Australia didn't vote for it because of it's stance...so the Majority rules.

I know that's a simplistic version of the events, and while I am very sad that they've ammended their policy there...I also understand it.

On the good side...Bob Green is still campaigning very hard to save them, and I wish him every success.

One last article: the likely interest rate rise tomorrow.:

On Borrowed Time
August 7, 2007/the AGE

Tomorrow the Reserve Bank is likely to raise interest rates. It is the greatest fear for struggling home owners - and the cause of much political buck passing. Economics editor Tim Colebatch looks beyond the spin to examine who is really to blame.



"..... Three million Australian households now have a mortgage. Households owe the banks and other institutions more than $1 trillion, with a further $120 million owed to non-traditional lenders. When the banks pass on that rate rise across that vast ocean of household borrowing, it will cost households another $2.5 billion a year, or almost $50 a month for a family with a $300,000 mortgage.

That is why the Howard Government is looking around for scapegoats ?- and following the advice of its pollster Mark Textor, is blaming the Labor states for the rate rise it sees coming.

Three years ago Prime Minister John Howard made low interest rates the main theme of his election campaign, promising Australians that he would be "keeping interest rates low" if they trusted him with a fourth term. They did, but interest rates rose.

If rates rise tomorrow morning, that will be the fifth rise since the 2004 election. For the person with that $300,000 mortgage, that would mean $240 a month in increased mortgage bills. Even if you owe $150,000, you'd be paying an extra $120 a month. ....."

http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/on-borrowed-time/2007/08/06/1186252633071.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1