Good one Mikk. I asked for additions. Go for it.

True, interest rates are falling.
Another clearly measurable sign that this Labor Government is managing the economy extremely well.
And another reason for another term of the kind of high quality government that Labor typically brings to the table.
Gillard for PM in 2013.
Or alternatively, ABA.
Anybody but Abbott - the master of misogyny; the hero of hopelessness; the furher of failure.
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

This has been an intriguing discussion, conducted in a welcome spirit of inquiry.

Herbert Stencil posted ten excellent criteria for assessing government competance and comparing regimes. He noted, appropriately, “no doubt there are more”.

Here is a supplementary list. How many of these should we regard as relevant in assessing the relative successes/failures of recent governments and competing parties?

1. Economic growth
2. Job participation rates
3. Income per person
4. Economic freedom
5. Interest rates
6. Inflation rates
7. Taxation as a % of GDP
8. Value of the Aussie dollar
9. International credit ratings
10. Awards such as ‘world’s best treasurer’
11. Promises broken with no sound justification
12. Promises broken by force of external circumstance
13. Blatant lies to the people (as in statements made knowingly untrue)
14. Ministerial sackings and resignations in disgrace
15. Backbenchers convicted of criminal offences

Cheers,
AA

Have you ever noticed that conservative posters like Herbert Stencil and Alan Austin simply want to judge a government based economic issues see the AA list above. These people have no understanding of the society we live in, that's correct we all live in a society not an economy. Granted economic issues are important but they are not the be all and end all of having a great society to live in.
Just spent a couple of weeks with one of our near neighbors, the people of Vanuatu, living with the locals. On the AA list their society performs poorly, but I don't think they much care about GDP and international credit ratings (I don't think they have one). Despite having little in the way of material things, no one has a mobile or an Ipad, you will not find a more happier and loving people.
Their main concerns are education for their children, proper health services etc, things we in Australia take for granted. Australia is Vanuatu's major aid sponsor and the people there "very much like Australia". Our aid money, about $70m, is being very well spent.
Australians could learn a lot from the Melanesian people.

- Appointees to key positions with links to the government of the days party.
- Suicide rates (possibly with a factor for single occupant, single vehicle fatalaties)
- Levels of homelessness, alcoholism etc. eg things that provide indicators of the real pressures on people.

R0bert

Herbert stencil. Govt works as a team. The coalition have not shown they work as a team in opposition, and neither has Newman in QLD.
Belchin Joe was a dictator, Newman is a dictator, and Abbott is a dictator.
The amount of times he has put his foot in mouth, and yet he remains leader, says heaps about the depth of quality in the coalition.
Abbott's front bench is a sham, and dangerous.
At this point in time there is no option, but to stay with labor.
While Abbott is leader, they will never get my vote.