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The Forum > Article Comments > Abbott Government in crisis as the end of year approaches > Comments

Abbott Government in crisis as the end of year approaches : Comments

By Tristan Ewins, published 23/12/2013

All that said: it is not as if they didn’t have options. The floating dollar could have been temporarily suspended – and maybe pegged at 75 cents US – to bolster struggling industries – also including tourism for instance.

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We just need politicians who are leaders and who can see past their own self interests.
Even one or two would be a start.
Posted by ateday, Monday, 23 December 2013 9:13:08 AM
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Good analogy, this government could actually be a less than one term administration, should Abbott stand true to his word and go for the double dissolution option, over the carbon tax... One lives in hope.
Posted by David Leigh, Monday, 23 December 2013 9:42:29 AM
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Six years, & Labor did nothing about the high dollar, but now the clowns want to tell Abbott what he should do.

Six years & they did nothing to fix the excessive costs they had inflicted on industry.

Six years of huge mining income, but they continued to grow the debt.

Just what is it that these socialist fools don't understand about cutting spending to your income.

Must be hard for them. The had to watch socialist USSR fail & die. Now it must be dreadfully painful to see it coming back to life as a capitalist economy. Pity it's almost a dictatorship, but at least the Ruskies now have one thing right.

Now our lefties want the West to fail, so they aren't forced to see the truth.
Posted by Hasbeen, Monday, 23 December 2013 9:55:01 AM
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TRISTAN, if as you say you're a 'qualified teacher' it is little wonder why our education system is slipping further and further behind many of a near Asian neighbours !

God help our children's future, when people of the 'socialist left' persuasion of the ALP, like you, inculcate some of the communist doctrine into our kids, that I and many other veterans fought against, over fifty years ago. You and your kind are a scourge and a menace upon our society.

Please return to North Korea as expeditiously as possible, I and many others, will gladly pay your one way fare!
Posted by o sung wu, Monday, 23 December 2013 11:44:42 AM
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No don't leave, Trisy.

Your comedy pieces lighten my life. Whenever I see one of your pieces I know I'm in fir a grand old belly laugh.

Kee p it up, Laddie. It is ensuring the Labor Party is a continuing irrelevance.

Wu have no fear we Australians see right through the leftie bs.
Posted by imajulianutter, Monday, 23 December 2013 11:55:42 AM
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yea Tristan please supply us with another one of the Emiy's listers. They were such outstanding socialist that they turned a propserous nation into another socialist European diaster.
Posted by runner, Monday, 23 December 2013 12:15:35 PM
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O Sung Wu; I have never been a Stalinist, and have never wanted to impose Stalinism on this country. There are a number of descriptions that could sum up my politics, though: liberal democracy socialist, left social democrat etc; I have also found inspiration in the more radical tendencies of the Second International: for instance Austro-Marxism. If you look at the history in detail you'd see that the most determined opponents of Stalinism - and even critics of pre-Stalin Bolshevism - were themselves socialists. Karl Kautsky for instance. Or Rosa Luxemburg.
Posted by Tristan Ewins, Monday, 23 December 2013 12:40:42 PM
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Yes we're all Doomed under the Coalition, but its so much better than Shorty's Labor Party.

And I got a Coalition Christmas Card, so there :)

Just click on this:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_TZXMJY3uU/UreotQBzeXI/AAAAAAAAEno/U1YUEYgIr78/s1600/Abbott+and+Friend's+season's+greetings.jpg

Merry Christmas all ye OLO comment comrades.

Pete xx
Posted by plantagenet, Monday, 23 December 2013 1:27:24 PM
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"All that said: it is not as if they didn’t have options. The floating dollar could have been temporarily suspended – and maybe pegged at 75 cents US – to bolster struggling industries – also including tourism for instance. But this was ruled out for frankly ideological reasons."

This is ideological green Left economics at its best.
Posted by Raycom, Monday, 23 December 2013 2:23:08 PM
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"Maybe pegged at 75cents" yup that's about as sophisticated as economics gets on the Left.

Supporting handouts to US companies now eh?. Ford and Mitsubushi went under Labor with barely a sound. Qantas struggled under Labor, not in the last 3 months.

If this is the calibre of Labor's future pollies and I suspect it is, the Libs will romp it in.
Posted by Atman, Monday, 23 December 2013 2:37:14 PM
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Well Tristan, as you may well expect, I know nothing of those enlightened individuals that you've kindly cited herein ? Obviously they're academics from some bygone period of Socialist antiquity. And, for the most part I neither recognise their names nor understand their political or social prominence ?

You see Tristan, I'm not a very well educated individual, but I do know that it's your type that has endeavoured to drag this country down to such a point that we're unable to even maintain any pretence of manufacturing ! Essentially, because of the continued exacerbation of preposterous Union ultimatums that has forced Manufactures to capitulate to the whims of the various Union heavyweights.

What a shameful position this once great country has now found itself; held hostage by a few menacing union heavies. Tristan, if you have even a shred of principle and ethical standards, you'd be shouting from the rooftops for all your socialist companions, to fix this immoral and corrupt mess, that you and your kind have occasioned to this ailing nation of ours !
Posted by o sung wu, Monday, 23 December 2013 9:11:06 PM
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Tristan

I am in business. I understand why ford holden and qantas all found huge difficulties this year.

You see traditionally in Australia business tighten their belts whenever an election is called because consumers/voters sense uncertainity and just don't spend.

Your enlightened mates just ran an election campaign for NINE months.

What did you all f...ing expect. You dopey mongrels. And now it's all someone elses fault.

You're a bloody disgrace.
Posted by imajulianutter, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 11:16:31 AM
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On that note Merry Christmas imajulianutter.
Posted by plantagenet, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 11:29:18 AM
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i hope those posing as economist here know a little more than those advising the economic vandalism for the last 5 years.
Posted by runner, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 12:04:39 PM
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Tristan is totally clueless as to what is really going on around him.
Unfortunately both parties are also clueless unless they are just pretending.
I know for certain that they have been told but I suspect that they
really do understand. I believe that because they suppressed ABIRE report 117.

What Tristan does not understand is why the two economists' policies, money printing and austerity no longer work.
Implementing those policies, austerity in Europe and printing in the US have failed.

It appears that their failure is puzzling economists.
There is just a handful that realise that peak oil and the resulting
increase in energy costs is the direct cause of low to zero growth rates.

Frankly, until politicians, economists and commentators like our
current one with journalists get the message things will go from bad to worse.
Posted by Bazz, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 2:55:11 PM
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Let's hope the Chinese can bail us out again. China can never get enough of our coal, LPG, iron, even wine.

It worked for us under K.Rudd in 2008.
Posted by plantagenet, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 4:11:20 PM
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Ahhhh but pete what price will they pay and if it isn't enough will our benevelont union masters allow pay cuts for us to be competitive?

Or would the dopey mongrels prefer to see people wasting away on the dole?

Mate why should I be pleasant and civil with a bunch of economic ignorant pretenders who know only union tactics and life and who cheer on and believe in the tearing down of our western liberal democracies and who are mostly non believers in christ anyway.

Gillard should be put in jail and shorten follow. I cannot wait for the Government Royal Commission into unions.

Hey Tristan why haven't you written anything about the last, and underline last, rotten to the core NSW Labor regime?

Are you part of the coverup?
Posted by imajulianutter, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 4:40:01 PM
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Abbott's managed to drive the car industry out of town and Qantas is set to follow. Maybe 50,000 jobs lost. Maybe much more. And you're accusing Labor of 'economic vandalism'? You're right that it's possible to compete at the level of wages and conditions - But if you can peg the dollar 10c or maybe 15c lower - and revivify education, tourism and manufacturing - then why not give it a try? The answer: to begin with it would upset the miners. And secondly it goes against the prevalent Ideology. Another option I refer to briefly is wage restraint in return for collective capital share... A new Holden where the employees are major stakeholders - with support from the government as a co-investor... But again: it goes against the dominant Ideology - not just Liberal Ideology - but in the ALP as well... Australia could well face a recession. Abbott's main concern is that the Liberals not cop the blame...

Peak oil, global warming, spiralling energy costs - mean we need to invest in renewables - But again the Federal Govt is shutting down the Clean Energy Finance Corporation - despite the fact it was making a profit...

Finally: What have I to do with the decline of manufacturing? I'm telling you how it could have been saved... By pegging the dollar - like the Chinese have done - even if only temporarily... But increasingly both sides of politics are resigned to our future status as a farm and a quarry...
Posted by Tristan Ewins, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 5:17:20 PM
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And happy Christmas to everyone also! :-)
Posted by Tristan Ewins, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 5:17:59 PM
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Excellent article. Intriguing discussion.

A surprising level of irrationality, hate and anger, however, for an analysis which is really quite mild in comparison with the vicious unwarranted attacks mounted routinely against the preceding government.

I wonder why? Guilt? Embarrasssment? Shame?

On the merits of the arguments here, however, the author has the data on his side.

It has been shown here at OLO and elsewhere that during the period 2010 to 2013 Australia had not only the best economy Australia has ever had and the best economy in the world during that four year period - but the best economy the world has ever seen.

And that was achieved during the worst downturn globally since the Great Depression of the 1930s!

That's on the 20 variables discussed here:
http://onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15755&page=0

So those who appear so upset with Tristan can cheer up.

Especially at this time of year.

Merry Christmas!
Posted by Alan Austin, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 7:32:21 PM
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It must be nice ALAN AUSTIN to possess such a superior intellect as to so dispassionately observes us mindless and vacuous masses, who you believe, allegedly generate all this hate, shame, guilt, embarrassment and anger ?

We, of the banal brigade, us robotic taxpayers who go to work, week in and week out, in order to partly fund individuals like TRISTAN EWINS in spreading his far left socialist detritus to our innocent children ? It is for this and this alone, for which I complain with such verve and vivacity.

And not for the customary political implications of the usual, Labour v Conservatives argument ? Of that nauseating issue, I couldn't care less ! Both parties are (totally) morally corrupt.
Posted by o sung wu, Tuesday, 24 December 2013 8:38:02 PM
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Warmest greetings to you also, O Sung Wu, for this season of peace and goodwill.
Posted by Alan Austin, Wednesday, 25 December 2013 12:15:02 AM
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TRISTAN EWINS and ALAN AUSTIN...Thank you both for your kind seasonal greetings and good wishes, and I of course extend the same to you and yours. Despite our dispirited ideological differences and our broad political dissimilarity ! Still, it's our differences that augment our respective lives and make them so jolly interesting, don't you think ?
Posted by o sung wu, Wednesday, 25 December 2013 1:29:36 PM
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O wong
Wrong the liberals are not corrupt.
It is the left wing lying line to hold that all politicians are the same. That then excuses their favoured imoral rabble and slanders those politicians who hold dear and practise the 4 prime virtues of western civilisation.
Fortitude, justice, prudence and tolerance. Some inculde temperance as well.
Posted by imajulianutter, Wednesday, 25 December 2013 7:00:15 PM
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"Abbott drove the car industry out of town..." What a stupid comment. No mention of the fact Mitsubishi shut under Labor and Ford announced their departure under the same government. It was obvious to most car industry observers and commentators that GM-H was going to stop manufacturing. The Abbott government were told the same and then baited GM-H into finally admitting the obvious. If anything GM-H's demise can also be attributed to happening under the Labor watch but the death notice came under LNP.

The Abbott government can hardly be accused of being in 'crisis' either. A few stumbles, normal teething problems for a new government and a minister shown to be out of his depth is not a crisis. It could well be argued that a government that knifes two prime ministers in just a few years was one that truly represented a crisis...and the electorate duly responded.
Posted by minotaur, Thursday, 26 December 2013 10:43:13 AM
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Hi Minotaur,

It might be good to read the original article carefully. It says this:

“it is Abbott and Hockey who have chased the auto-industry out of town; and they must take responsibility for the falling employment and the falling revenue which follows.”

That is precisely what happened under Labor. Yes, some industries closed, others were opened and several were reconfigured.

The previous government took responsibility for the overall capacity of the economy to provide adequate employment, growth, income and wealth.

Regarding the Abbott government being in crisis, Minotaur, what are your data sources?

According to the Murdoch press, yes, all is well. The alternative media, however, will fill in the gaps and check the facts and present a different picture.

This piece, for example, lists 17 areas where the Abbott government is stricken by fairly serious internal dissent:

http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/abbotts-bitterest-foes--his-coalition-colleagues,6014

As with most alternative media you don’t have to believe the author. You can go to the sources of information embedded in the article for validation of the claims.

This site – Independent Australia – and others, such as The Global Mail, NewMatilda, the Guardian and On Line Opinion here provide heaps of helpful data suppressed by the mainstream media.

Cheers, AA
Posted by Alan Austin, Thursday, 26 December 2013 12:45:55 PM
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Alan, I never claimed it was from the article and in a post Tristan said; 'Abbott's managed to drive the car industry out of town and Qantas is set to follow.' What absolute rubbish. The claim has no basis in fact.

The site you posted a link to held no surprises for anyone who follows politics. All it did was try to beat up a crisis that doesn't exist though. I'm not saying there are not issues but the 'crisis' is in the imagination of the Abbott haters.

As I correctly stated, the electorate recognised a government in crisis and duly removed it from office. Should the Abbott government lurch into a crisis then the electorate will determine its fate.
Posted by minotaur, Thursday, 26 December 2013 1:20:01 PM
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Alan mate your efforts last year to get Gillard re-elected and your sudden new found love for Rudd just before the election still have me in stitches.
Now this christmas your gift is more mirth.

First you quote yourself as an authority on Tony Abbott and the new coalition government... when in fact all you've done is cut and paste other lefties negative stories then you suggest the left wing on line media outlets New Matilda and that Greenies mouthpiece are where we can source 'correct' info on the Coalition Government.

Mate what is happening to your beloved ABC?

Mate I see you included olo in your list.

Good for you. There really is balance in here and the left wing diatribes are exposed for what they are.

There you go Alan and you have a merry holiday season. Won't you.
Posted by imajulianutter, Thursday, 26 December 2013 1:22:09 PM
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Hi again Minotaur,

Thanks for replying. No, it is not certain that Qantas will definitely abandon operations in Australia. But the directors are making much the same appeals to the government as GMH has done. So there would appear some basis in fact. No?

Regarding ‘a crisis that doesn't exist’:

Are you sure, Minotaur?

That Independent Australia article has links to 17 areas of internal dissent. Why weren’t at least some of these policy issues resolved in opposition?

An earlier article at the same site contains links to 20 areas of serious conflict in international affairs – that’s one every five days. Another points to the 20 variables by which economic management can be measured. On how many is there any sign of improvement? None?

Another piece lists the 13 lies and broken promises identified in the first ten weeks of the Abbott government.

What we can then do is compare these with the performance of the previous government – which was certainly condemned despite far fewer broken promises, virtually no international crises, far fewer internal brawls over policy matters and overall economic management which lifted Australia to the best-performed economy in the world.

Correct?

Cheers, AA
Posted by Alan Austin, Thursday, 26 December 2013 1:56:41 PM
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Heavens above, some people are babies in the woods !
Does anyone really think GM decided between September and December to
cease building cars in Australia ?
Doesn't anyone else know what is going on ?
Why do you think they are closing down in Europe also ?
Could it be some almighty plan ?

SURPRISE SURPRISE !
A political party is having internal arguments and disagreements !
My goodness what next, petrol rationing tomorrow ?
Perhaps a politician will be found in bed with his wife !
I mean, really, the country is really going to the dogs !
Posted by Bazz, Thursday, 26 December 2013 2:56:40 PM
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Hi Bazz,

Re: “Doesn't anyone else know what is going on?”

Are you saying that you know what is going on here? If so, what happened? How can you be sure?

One hypothesis is that GM has anticipated a change of government in Australia for more than a year and expected, on all the evidence, that industry support would then be withdrawn and the Australian economy would decline.

Hence they waited for (1) confirmation of the election result, (2) for the decision to withdraw industry support and (3) signs of economic deterioration before announcing their decision to leave.

Had there been a different result with continuation of targeted support and sound economic management, the decision would have been different.

How can we know, Bazz? How do you know? For obvious reasons GM are not telling, are they?

Re: “Surprise! … political party is having internal arguments …”

No, that is not the surprise, Bazz. The surprise is the sheer number being conducted in public so soon. Seventeen toxic tussles were identified. And that doesn’t include the ones going on in private – so far – such as over maternal leave, hospital funding, Indigenous affairs expenditure, defence and increasing the GST.

Same with the more than 30 neighbouring nations and allies who have been offended. The surprise was not that this has happened, but the multiplicity and speed.

Same with the lies and broken promises. It took Labor some years to notch up about five. Or was it six? But Mr Abbott got to 13 in ten weeks.

Correct?

Cheers, AA
Posted by Alan Austin, Thursday, 26 December 2013 7:20:30 PM
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