Have you noticed first:Millions for aged care in hostels etc of course we have this problem for 10 years or more.
Second: Billions for the Murray river system 'repair' another problem that's been around for 10+years
Third: An attack on an American Senator as a diversionary ploy -the same divisive,cunning howard
Fourth: Qld. roads to be up-graded another 10+year problem and I bet ONLY roads that are in marginal seats are up-graded -again typical rat cunning howard.
Next - just wait for the leader of the national party to be given a very large brown paper bag and sent as a 'bagman' to tour marginal seats with money to buy votes err sorry I meant of course to dole out big money for the federation fund to do good things for marginal and/or national/liberal seats.
One of his own called him,howard, a lying rodent last election and if anyone knows he would. Regards, numbat

Howard’s water plan is usual theory of flashing money intended for mates only rather than practical path to executing a project. Sorry, I like some moments of but …

Howard's own seat is marginal with some pretty big demographic changes in the past few years. There's a possibility that even if the Libs win, Howard will lose his seat. How interesting would that be?

If Howard loses his seat it would be of no relevance because if the Liberal Party wins the election, Turnbull will be PM. If Howard thinks he's going to lose the election, he will retire "to spend more time with the family" and Costello will take over to lose. Turnbull will then become Opposition Leader. The factions within the Liberal Party don't want a Victorian PM, they want the power maintained in Sydney.

Which is a worry because the NSW Branch of the Liberal Party is being invaded by the religious lunatic right, so expect a stouch over leadership in the Liberal Party, whether they win or lose.

I reckon the next election is still a 50-50 bet, but Ratty and his team have been caught out in the past 2 weeks of parliament.

Jo Hockey couldn't answer why jobs growth since work choices was lower than the corresponding period before no choices.

Tony Abbott used out of date figures on state expenditure on dental health. (Showing a decrease when the published figures show an increase)

The personal attacks on Kevin Rudd are not sticking, even if The Speaker has defied convention and would not make Abbott withdraw his "Dr Death" comment.

10 billion for the murray darling, replacing the six billion the states already spend and is it for the MD or for all states? Not even a cabinet issue, treasury and finance are livid.

Will there be compulsory aquisition of water entitlements? The Nats say NO.

Changes to Matters of Public Importance debates to gag the independants.

Sorry ratty not a good year so far. The Howard superglue that held the coalition factions together is falling apart.

If Howard does lose the next election the conservative side of politics will be in turmoil for decades. :)

Steve,
Now I have something to look forward to, thanks mate, Regards, Shaun.