The last liberal in parliament was Howard.
579,
so, going by your measuring of standards Curtain would then have been the last Labor Prime Minister.

579, I must agree with you, the conservative front bench looks rather lackluster. The Mad Monk has a history of being a poor performer. I think it would be a huge mistake if Australia should vote this feeble bunch into office.
I do question the conservatives claim that they are the paramount economic managers that they believe they are, their past record seems to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors with little of substance to back their claim. The conservatives in Australia have in the past had the good fortune off being in office when international conditions have been on the up and up. I wonder how well the conservatives would have managed the GFC, given the chance. The secret of conservative economic management is based on cut, cut, cut in areas of most need, add in massive middle class welfare and do little else, a steady as she goes philosophy.
In the past, when the conservatives have been in office and there has been a major economic catastrophe hit, they have lacked policy and direction to deal with problems. Under these conditions the conservatives tend to preach doom and gloom,adopting a "batten down the hatches" mentality, avoiding government intervention believing the market will correct itself, eventually, and then hopefully we can ride out the storm. A philosophy which has been totally discredited and seen to be a complete failure.

579 & Paul1045,
I must say you two really are a special set of numbers. You are very much like my senior line bureaucrat. Hugely impressed by certificates & presentation & achievement is measured by accreditation whilst the whole show is falling into a heap all around. Actual useable performance is totally disregarded. I only hope that people with that mentality will become less in numbers as the next federal election draws near. Those of us who work & think can no longer afford to keep the likes of you. Sad but true. Instead of putting your efforts into denigrating the capable may I suggest you ty & pull your own weight out there instead of hanging off the public service's apron. You certainly don't make it sound like you know what work is & how to do it.

I have no idea what he said. The noalition will slash and burn, Newman is in that department. Give to the rich and let the rest fend for them self. Always the same agenda.
When times are tough the people traditionally vote labor.
The coalition seem to think we are doing it extraordinarily tough.
The carbon tax has run out of steam, with blunders by the score from the opposition. Not one prediction got over the line.
Surely they can come up with a leader that can talk rationally with-out the daily dose of blunder.

Good morning all,

Interesting exchanges here.

@individual: You appear to be challenging 579 and Paul1045 in your last post - and they are certainly capable of speaking for themselves.

But you seem to be leading with your chin when you say "the whole show is falling into a heap all around" with regard to current federal Government.

On asylum seekers and Indigenous affairs there seems not a cigarette paper between the two major political groupings - both equally bereft of vision.

But on economic progress, legislative achievement and ministerial competence, the evidence shows they are in different universes.

Earlier, these 15 criteria were listed:

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

These are areas where the current wonky amalgam of Labor, Greens and Independents has run rings around the previous Howard Government.

So in what way is what show falling into what heap?

Do you have any actual evidence to support this claim? If not 579 and Paul1045 probably don’t need be troubled too much by your ad hominem slurs.

Cheers, AA

579 is absolutely correct.
Today's Age is reporting falls in the costs of many houshold consumables with the cost of living total coming in at lower than average wage increases.
Absolute, empirical evidence that Abbott and his band of con artists have gotten out of bed every morning and lied, day after day after day, to the Australian people.
And even with measurable data proving his daily lies, he is still persisting with them;
thus proving beyond doubt that Abbott is totally lacking in strategic thinking ability, as well as being an addicted liar.
Not a wondeful combination in a potential - god help us - leader of our nation.
Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au