This article is a joke, isn't it?

"Since then, a line of Labor Premiers have rolled out an identikit agenda..."

Lets talk about the public transport and hospital debarkles in NSW, teachers asking for a 30% salary increase in Vic, QLD health and roads. The Labor governments have been a dismal failure all across the country - the only truth in this article is that the Labor governments are still in because the Liberal oppositions have been cr@p.

Also take for example the last state election in NSW - 60 something percent of voters said that the current government did not deserve to be re-elected. Hardly becoming of "the natural party of government".

It's true that the Libs have lost their way - they are anything but a party based on Liberalism, and a period in the wilderness is required so that they either fall apart entirely or come back in a completely different form. Personally, I'd like to see them return back to a more Liberalism based policy platform, but I think that's a long way away.

Lets see what 10 odd years of federal labor comes up with. I'm willing to bet a nanny state, a failed economy, maybe another recession "that we had to have". I'll also be interested to see how long Rudd lasts before he's given the boot by "the party faithful".

No, the ALP is NOT the natural party for Australia. Labor dominance at the state level is explained by ineffective oppositions. For the same reason, Federal Labor has been floundering in the wilderness for the last 11 years. If the federal Liberals get their act into gear and provide strong effective opposition, then Rudd had better watch out next election. Why? Because incumbents will always fall short on their promises (the nature of the beast), and if there is a viable alternative, WITH a leader that people can see as prime minister material, then there is highly likely to be a change. The Libs won in 2004 for the same reason that NSW State Labor won their last election - the opposition, particularly the leader, was a joke.

Plus its a bit rich for the author to have a dig at the Lib's for being slightly more socialist than in the past, and not then apply the same logic to the ALP's turn towards economic conservatism.

“….the ALP is Australia’s natural party of government”, according to this lawyer. All of the really strange statements seem to come from lawyers.

The claim is, of course, complete and utter rubbish. Labor is in government everywhere in Australia now because slightly more voters – including those who did not vote Labor directly, but whose preferences helped them over the line – decided that they preferred Labor for a myriad of reasons best known to them.

Simply put, all elections are usually decided on a 51% to 49% basis, or some other slim majority. Almost half of the population clearly indicates that it does not want either Labor or Liberal, depending which party wins or loses at the time.

This whole article is ridiculous. Mr. Corke must spend most of his time in outer space. All Australians, irrespective of political leanings, should feel insulted by this prat.

Save us from lawyers and their absurd notions!

I think the 'identikit' Labor premiers are mostly concerned with securing corporate board places and consulting gigs for their next incarnations, rather than being the natural government of anything.

What I'd like to know is what's the use of a triple-A government credit rating if you never borrow to build public infrastructure?

Toll-funded turnpikes don't count; governments do nothing there but grease the tunnels for private investors' pleasure. Where are the promised railways, the open roads free of tolls, accidents and commuter congestion, the brilliant schools and the excellent hospitals?

Public transport and schools and hospitals should compete on quality, safety and even comfort with the private alternatives. If they don't, they're nothing but a mop for the leaks the market can't be bothered with, consigning the people who rely on them to second-class citizenship.

actually, xo, it's 1st class subjection.

The conservatives do so much damage when they are in power its hard to believe they have held power for about a third of the time since 1980.

Now we have wall to wall Labor I expect that GST funds that the Howard government held back for pork barrelling will be redistributed to the states so they can build roads, equip hospitals and staff schools. If, of course it hasn't all been squandered.

Any one who doesn't believe me needs only look at the employment prospects of young graduates who want to teach in Victoria. While hospitals complain about lack of funds they pay consultants and nurses agencies squillions of dollars every year. Let's lose this outsource and rent mentality - its costing the community dearly.