Shadow Minister asked if I had any proof that the elections were rigged.

In a narrow legalistic sense it may be possible to deny that those elections were rigged, however well-known facts show that the 1998 elections were a perversion of proper democratic process and without that manipulation, Howard could not have been re-elected in 1998.

During his first term as Prime Minister, having promised in the 1996 elections that he had permanently scrapped any plans to ever introduce a GST, after Hewson's drubbing in 1993 for his proposal to introduce a GST, John Howard set up a Parliamentary inquiry to examine "tax reform".

One of the committee members, Paul Zammitt, resigned when he realised that it was not a true inquiry into tax reform. Instead it had been rigged to sell the "never ever" GST. Paul Zammitt reached this conclusion after he observed that members of the public, who had serious proposals for tax reform were not being given proper hearings.

Howard called an early election before the Parliament was able to examine the report. He was able to use its recommendation for the GST to promote his re-election prospects without the substance of he report having been subjected to critical scrutiny.

Howard even lost the popular vote in that election 49.02% to 50.98% (http://australianpolitics.com/elections/1998/)

My dear David Corbett, you wouldn't have a degree in a humanity would you? You do cone across as a bit of a clone of the author. That is the area where the latest thinking I believe, says no opinion can be wrong. You had better get with it hadn't you?

If the pair of you qualify as educated experts god help us. The mere fact that someone has sat in class for a few years & indulged in a bit of group think makes them more likely to be an isolated fool, rather than an expert.

Surely an expert could promote an idea, without showing them selves up as opinionated fools, trying to hide their ideology behind a bit of would be scholarly tripe.

David and malthusista,
Check this list out and see how many you can dispute.

The list is becoming very widespread.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=5139#138643

Pretty good evidence of incompedence in my book

Rhrosty,

The GST, far from a bad idea, has reigned-in the 'black money' economy (cash-transaction-tax-avoidance), and gotten rid of sales tax, bank transaction taxes and a range of other nibbles off the average consumer - thereby simplifying and affording greater equity and fairness. The most effective tax reform ever achieved by any government.

Changes by Lib/Coalition governments to Trust and Superannuation regulations have also squashed various rorts and tax evasion measures from 'the big end of town' - showing a genuine 'egalitarian' approach. Hawke/Keating also tackled the Pilots Union in efforts to save Ansett, and introduced a wages and prices 'freeze' - in the best interests of the economy - showing that effective business reform is not restricted to the Lib/Nats, but is dependent on conscience, vision and a determination to 'do the right thing'. The current Labor government shows no such commitment to the overall national interest - viz, 'Carbon Tax' and aiming to use returns from a 'Mining Tax' for even more 'wealth redistribution', and virtually nothing to foster development, innovation, industry and productivity on which the future of the nation is so heavily dependent (especially post the mining boom).

Malthusista,

'Breaking' the maritime unions brought essential and overdue efficiencies to the waterside, which was so full of 'rorts' that Aus had the worst record of almost any ports in the world. The deregistering of the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) was similarly an essential reform. Today we see revelations about ineptitude and corruption in the Health Services Union (HSU) - should these be ignored? Trade Unionism just for its own sake, and without due relevance to the national interest and the common good is a 'bull in a china shop' well deserving of 'putting down', just as much as the likes of any dot.com 'pies in the sky', real estate 'scams' or Wall Street 'Ponzi schemes'.

This government, in its arrogant haste to bury 'Work Choices' (which was workable, though imperfect), has also lumbered us with an almost unworkable and heavily union-slanted debacle, grossly misnamed as 'Fair Work Australia'.

Election - bring it on!

Banjo your book of stuff-ups as you say has shaped an economy into what it is today. An excellent example of what an economy should look like.
As the noalition is best at, negativity it is no wonder Abbott and his team of bandits, are in a hurry for an election.
If Turnbull was the in man i would be persuaded to vote coalition.
Never in a million years anyone with any scruples, vote for Abbott.
A man with no conviction, a woman hater, an incompetent economist, a religious fanatic, and an as-hole

579,

Don't make me laugh. Labor has done no shaping other than incurring nearly $200bn in debt.

Mal,

From you claims that the vote was rigged, I see a long justification, which does not mention rigging of the voting system. All I see is innuendo and conjecture that the coalition manipulated the parliamentary tax inquiry, before taking the GST to an election. Compared to the blatant carbon tax lie designed to fool the electorate that Labor wouldn't foist an unpopular tax on them, the handling of the GST was above board.