Congratulations Alex for your article, particularly your insights into the ALP’s reluctance over the past few years to stick to the reformist direction set by Hawke-Keating governments. Unfortunately for some of us, pancreatis firmly closed a small window of opportunity for any substantial shift in policy direction. Consequently, as a slightly disenfranchised member of the ALP, I have my doubts that the current Opposition has the conviction and vision to deliver a reformist policy platform especially regarding fiscal and welfare policy.

This is to be expected, given that the Party seems to be increasingly represented and dominated at the representative and policy development level by factional/Party hacks and their employees. Furthermore, let’s not overlook their backgrounds. You will find many have been drawn from what increasingly seem to be ALP finishing schools eg Trade unions, Electoral Offices or the public service. Given that the majority of voters work in the private sector, there seems to be few with private sector experience, resulting in many in the “real” world looking at the policy offerings of the Party and asking the question What and Who does the ALP represent?

To add to these concerns, judging by the calibre of some of our future ALP ‘leaders’, and not forgetting ‘Prime Minister’ aspirants in Victoria, I fear we will for some time have a federal ALP Opposition offering nothing more than bric-a-brac for policy.

Garry Drougas

Amen Drougs,from an agnostic.We need a "turn over tax"[ie no imput tax credits] that taxes all business, including multi-nationals who will in many cases be paying tax for the first time since their inception.On the other hand ,we need more accountability and less security of tenure in our public service and political representitives.Our political representitives need to be more accountable and paid more if they achieve.How can we attract a higher calibre of politician with such low renumeration?
A survival of the fittest philosophy makes everyone contribute,and heightens our appreciation of others hard work, that elevates our own status.