Just saw Kim Beasley on Lateline and completely unimpressed.

They firstly covered shoot-to-kill. His explanation as to why it should not be in the legislation was "why bother?" If anything, he supported John Howard's explanation for these provisions. As for what amendments would he suggest, the answer was "bi-partisan parliamentary committee", which I took as "don't know".

The second part was about hydrogen-fuelled cars. Even though he was speaking to the converted, I couldn't quite follow what the policy was. I think there was something about tax breaks, but if it got over $100 million (which is chicken feed) then it would be wound back.

Aren't these the sort of policies which are the subject of this article? Nice ideas that few will get to hear.

I agree with half of what Andrew had to say. Specifically the bit about the ALP needing to formulate more positive policy proposals, but I disagree with the assertion the ALP has been overly critical of governmetn policy. Quiet frankly they haven't been critical enough. On the contrary the ALP has displayed political opportunism giving bipatisin support to the most contentious policies, and in turn has denied the Australian electorate an opposition party

How many more opinion pieces offering advice on 'what Labor should do' - will we read befor the next election?

They already know how to lose elections spectacularly. No amount of advice will save them from shooting themselves in the foot for the third time.

It is ridiculous for the labor party to engage in conversation with the Australian people, to gain policy direction. Firstly, how would they do that, they have no idea as to what the people want, nor the language they use to express it. However if they were to be able to determine what the people wanted and apply it to policy, you would have to find those that could implement those policies successfully.

In all Australian politics, you would be hard pressed to find one person that was capable of implementing positive policy for the people, or even understanding what it is.

Privatisation is one aspect of how successful politicians have been in implementing what the people didn't want. You will not find one positive aspect of any asset, that has been privatised, that has resulted in benefits to the people.

It has all been used to pay of the debt that the politicians and beaurucrats caused in the first place. Show me any business model that survives when you sell cheaply, its income streams. Only outcome, collapsed business and broke shareholders. Sounds like our current situation to a tee.

Why should they change. They get their lives handed to them on a platter, with no responsibility nor accountability. When they retire, we continue paying them irrelevant as to what they haven't done for us. Come up with some answers to the situation we are in and you will not be listened to. As people are just slaves to voting for parties, irrelevant as to what effect it will have, then you cannot expect any more than what they give us.

The ALP should take a leaf out George Costanza's book. In an episode of Seinfeld, chronic loser George decided that everything he had ever done had led to him being unsuccessful.
So his solution was to do the opposite of everything which felt natural.
The dimunitve Costanza uncharacteristically stood up for himself when kids were yahooing at the theatre, and was treated like a hero.
He also wore tracksuit pants and landed a hot chick who didn't care about appearances.
Etc Etc.
Labor is Costanza. They know how to lose elections. All they have to do is go against their natural urges. At the National conference they should develop policies and then champion the opposite.
Long live Costanza.

t.u.s.

Sadly I agree with the usual suspect, now that working people have seen the teeth of conservative politics in the IR laws, and anti-terrorism laws, it would be nice if people could vote Labor because they put forward a whole range of inivative new policies, which the electorate could see were beneficial to them, and provide a real alternative Government to the dracionan conservative Howard Government which at the moment is relying of fear to remain in power.
I would suggest that the Labor Party ignore most of what Howard does and concerntrate on developing alternate policies to cover the broad spectrum of portfolio's. Once this is done, they must believe in themselves, believe they can win, and embark on a furious selling campaign for the 12 months leading up to the next election. They have the talent in people like Lindsay Tanner, Julia Gillard, Craig Emerson and Kevin Rudd to be able to do it, Kim Beazley needs to rally the Party at this stage, by example, if he cannot he should make way for someone who can in the interests of the Party, and the Australian people.