In real terms Turnbull hasn't changed Abbott's policies which could be his downfall. The ALP could exploit that even with a hack at the helm. For example Australia's greenhouse gas emissions are going up again so clearly the feeble Direct Action plan isn't working. The ALP should work on policy not personality.

Leadership, vision, what's that? New ideas original thinking, what's that? A future? Let's worry about that in some faraway future!

And how could any of that help a patently corrupt union movement control a once real alternative government. We can'na keep importing the British disease?

What we need is the courage of conviction and an understanding that even countries like ultra socialist China are adapting to inevitable change, with robotics replacing thousands, and as the likely outcome to a continuing 30% wages inflation!

The price of outstanding economic success!

Labor needs a actual Leader not concerned with Leadership issues and more than willing to challenge the anti development greens and the move away from our core economy, as a nation that make things, mines minerals, and finds new innovative ways to value add or replace imports.

Even if that means killing a few dozen sacred cows, and taking the people with you when you do. And that's not contained in zingy repartee!

First sacred cow to go is, the almost insane idea that private enterprise does it better or there's something in it for the people, in private public partnerships!

You know the ones where the public finds the money and the private partner reaps all the rewards, all while shifting the tax liability to some nefarious tax haven.

We need clear sighted future vision and a willingness to take on long overdue reform and just call a spade a spade.

The first essential reform being real tax reform and quite massive simplification.

The second must be returning all cash cow essential service to the government, or failing that, not for profit cooperative instruments.

The third being backing our best people and their better ideas, rather than effectively oppose and stymie them the way we almost always do?

Moreover, we must finally understand the real mark of a nation, is how well we treat the less well off and the most vulnerable, rather than outsource traditional responsibilities to bean counting private enterprise!

It's not "shorten" the stride up front, but move and on the double! Get it?
Rhrosty.

None of the currents parties are entitled to a future: Labor, Liberals or the Greens. The Nationals barely exist outside rural areas, so nothing much can be said about them. But, in general, all Australian political parties and politicians are a disgrace - an over-paid, underworked bunch of self-serving bludgers who don't give a damn for, or recognise, the needs and wants of their employers: US. As long as these morons are permitted to return to parliament just because they wish to, Australia could be in the hands of a foreign power without a shot being fired.

Continued:

Having said that, let me say this, I don't see very much changing in "NEW" labor, or the little chieftains with their little fiefdoms relinquishing their corrosive power and the divisions that inspires anytime soon!

Nor do I see very much broadening of the Membership base, given that would deprive the union bosses of their grip on the short and curlies of the labor movement.

And likely to continue just as long as university graduates with no real world experience and former union bosses with little or no relevant work experience, or just the hardship experienced by those who do actual real gut busting work; make up the parliamentary core and its staffers!

The labor party is therefore condemned emulate the legendary whoslem bird and fly in ever decreasing circles until is disappears right up its own fundamental orifice!

What do we want?

Some new ideas (hopefully, occasionally) and folks with still operational cerebral cortexes to think and then ACT on them! As opposed to just thinking or talking about them. When do want them? Now!
Rhrosty.

The author has many gems and turns of phrase, but a bit restricted in leadership tips, I think.

My hot tips for Labor leaders are:

Tanya Plibersek
- female (a trait Turnbull cannot boast)
- speaks well like a normal person (not Gillard Union cockney)
- looks good
- can win usually Green voters
- uncontaminated by a Union past and mentality as far as I can see.

Mark Dreyfus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Dreyfus
- educated
- looks good
- can win votes from Liberals and from Green voters
- did a good job as Attorney General
- also not a Union drudge.

Given someone else has raised it. The worse than useless nats, who after the usual talk fest, just roll over and beg for a tummy rub from the senior coalition partner; would disappear tomorrow, but for liberal and a few disaffected labor/green preferences.

It's all well and good to talk about what is done in the party room or inside the tent?

All of which is not worth a hill of beans when it does nothing visible or worth very much in rural electorates, which have only seen their floor prices disappear along with their co-ops and generational family farms, all disappearing into the giant maw of corporate farming or worse, foreign investment.

A few bitumen roads won't change any of that? Just hasten it maybe?

None of which enables the family farm to remain in the family!

Moreover, all of these changes, including decimated and de-populated country towns, presided over by the worse than useless nats in the tent! Ghost towns may be great for the tourists, but do nothing for the ghosts who have no choice but remain!

It seems what happens inside the tent stays in the tent?

What will be their future or that of the preference dependant greens, if in ensuring that minor parties with less than 5 to 15% of first preference votes? Just don't usurp the expressed will of the people and make it to parliament or the senate; are blocked or prevented by a change to completely voluntary non compulsory preferencing?

Would labor be disadvantaged by such a change?

I don't think so, but even so, still need to embark on long overdue democratisation and real reform/broadening of its membership base!
Rhrosty.