The opposition to the Carbon Tax is nothing to do with compromise. The electorate generally doesn't like a new tax. When Howard introduced the GST he almost lost the election and the GST was balanced out with income tax reform.

The Carbon Tax is plagued with dodgy numbers. Firstly the compensation is illusory. There is no taxation indexation for years to come and bracket creep will make everyone worse off. The government also talked about raising the tax free threshold while ignoring changes to the Low Income Tax Offset that cancelled those changes.

The electorate is wisely skeptical about any new tax and presenting misleading information only makes it worse.

On the issue of boat people, the government simply doesn't have the numbers. Gillard has to do a deal with Abbott or the independents and there is little point bringing legislation to parliament unless there is broad support for it. Gillard refused to accept the Coalition amendments so the bill was not passed.

I reckon your analysis is pretty spot on James. Totally agree with your statement:
'The policies of the Gillard Government are not as bad as they are made out to be. The carbon tax takes a step to address climate change, but avoids damaging the economy. The Malaysian Solution was an attempt to stop the boats while engaging in a South-East Asian regional framework'.

Re the carbon price I'm one who is not happy because I reckon there are too many exemptions;(by the way the previous CPRS was to start off with a tax too; little difference so the claims fo 'lies' are nonsense). But I accept there has to be a compromise; that is what politics is about.

Because the nation tends to be polarized on the two issues you talk about, few are really happy. But I hope the majority wakes up before the next election that Gillard, like her persona or not, is actually doing a good job of getting a workable compromise on these issues and that is all any of us can hope for. I'm sure thankful we don't have the far right or left's version of utopia on either.

This is what was always going to happen with a hung parliament. Gillard shows a lot of strength. Abbotts approach is all frustration, and denial at any cost to Australia.

Come on you lot, call it as it is.

Anyone can dictate Gillard's policies, for the cost of a pillow slip.

That is a pillow slip on a pillow in the lodge.

Offer her that, & you have what ever it is you ask, no matter how stupid, or bad for Oz.

We've got the cheapest PM a pillow slip can buy.

The independants claim to any credibility has gone down the toilet. To hink Mr Oaksott had the audacity to claim he supported open and accountable Government. He actually did it with a smirk on his face. If nothing esle this Government has lifted hypocrisy to a level far beyond anything seen or heard of before.

And the biggest compromise is to every principle she ever pretended to stand for.

Her credibility, her honesty and her integrity are all completely compromised.