Thanks Pistol Pete,

Its a shame you have to pull out of the fire old comments from years ago and use them as your argument and combine them with some new angles.

What you guys dont realise is the first party to stop knocking others and focus wholey and solely on what YOU can do for us, not what they can/cant, you will be much more respected and we could focus politics rather than the pathetic attempts to continually discredit eachother.

As you know most people are fairly one eyed and i would say most people have made up their minds by now, so your article wont make an ounce of difference to peoples votes.

Your budget was ok except for the cop out handouts to buy a few votes, but i am sure you will recieve some support from those who benefit from them. One off payments are a waste of taxpayers money completely, how can you call this responsible government?

Have a real crack hey. The reason you guys have a real battle on your hands is this bloke is motivated and extremely clever, and guess what things change so you cannot blame him for changing stance or his position at times. It reflects a more dynamic leadership that the current and a willingness to adapt in order to do have the best approach.

Pete, i want to vote for you guys, i always have, but your making it hard for us.

Mr Rudd is Mr wanna be elected no matter what policies he needs to change. In 6 months of campaigning we have seen more back flips than Mr Howard has had in 10 long years. Just goes to show how much Mr Rudd wants the job. At least Ms Gillard is trying to stick by her misplaced belief in unionism.

As long as Rudd is not Howard, or one of his psychopathic mates, I don't care who he is.

Rudd's problem of course is that Julia keeps shooting him in the foot! Well done, Jools! Perhaps you could aim a little higher.

Ah, Dollar Sweetie knows all about industrial relations as he fought the evil confectioners union so hard that the company went into receivership and has reemerged as The Natural Confectionery Company.

On the other hand Mr Rudd's wife has found wealth through finding employment for disabled people. Has any one ever claimed her firm is one of the Job Service providers that make clients wait for 12 months before placing them in a short term job?

If Dollar Sweetie had listened in his Economics lectures he would know that GST is a regressive tax because it places a higher tax burden on low income workers who spend more than their income on living whereas rich people spend aportion of their income.

Well Dollar Sweetie must have been the only person in Australia who didn't see Bastard Boys which is a dramatisation of the waterfront strike. I was amazed at the power of the water front workers but I never have been covered by a strong union. I was shocked at the Federal governments absolute determination to crush the unions - the good, the bad and the ugly.

We watch in horror when our student children have to provide an ABN to get part time work and provide public liability insurance. Or student/inexperienced teachers who are foolish enough to stand in front of a class of children without union protection. If a child refuses to follow instructions, and harms another pupil the education department and school leave the teacher on their own.

What further Industrial Relations changes are in store for 2008?

Dollar Sweetie you are lucky that your plans to sell off Medibank Private, gut Pharmaceutical Benefits and destroy Medicare are still off the public radar.

Dollar Sweetie what have you done about global warming and Australia's water and ultimately our food supply in your 11 years in power.

Rudd, at least, has vision.

Can we please make this forum a no-smirking area?

I'm all for political debate, but plain and simple point-scoring is really, really boring.

I suppose it is a free country - but it is a bit irritating when these guys bob up here - Ruddock has done the same as has Hockey - similarly they get untrammeled access to op ed sapce in the metropolitan dailies - so it is not as if they go unnoticed.

Having said that the government is clearly in trouble - among all the other signs of panic - grasping at apparent contradictions in the public utterance of public figures is usually the most desperate of measures -

Rudd actually hasn't said much at all - IR stinks - well they have been saying that for 15 months and most people believe that.

His post budget speech was pretty tame - lacklustre even.

And none of their other policies are exactly "knock your socks off" kind of things.

What is winning the race (so far) is the history of this government - the sins of the past in public and social policy are finally hurting -

And as for economic management some people know that the War on Terror measure have cost our economy $20 billion plus

That excludes the direct costs in Iraq - $1.3bill and Afghanistan $.7bill

Then we have the Senates estimates admission incarceration in the $400mill centre in Christrmas Island costs around $1,000,000 per person per year.

The Pacific Island Solution costs around $193,000 per person per year.

SO Peter's money vault ( awash with our money) is $22-25 billion dollars lighter for those folies alone

I am surprised that Peter Costello rabbits on about privatisation. Anyone who uses Sydney Airport would know that the privatised airport rips off travellers. Also the Commonwealth Bank kept the other bastards honest. The high fees now charged to customers are a direct result of the changes in banking regulation.
If Telstra was still in public hands as a well managed quango we might by now have fast broadband everywhere that it is needed.
His government has led to the common people being priced out of the housing market despite low interest rates, a possibility I pointed out in writing to his government as early as the late nineties.
I spoke to a trolley lad at a supermarket recently. I am sure his parents and grandparents are impressed that he works a 48 hour week with no penalty rates for less than $9 per hour. They will probably some of those after Costello's party with cricket bats.

Peter,

Realist and Pericles summarised what an average voter will vote for.
Dwelling on the past, smear campaigns, dodging important issues (Interest rates, IR) is a receipe to loose voter confidence.

At least Rudd doesn't pretend to have all the answers and have the guts to deal with issues and undo decisions whithout ego. He is not showing up every day telling us how lucky we are to have him.

I voted liberals twice and that was once too many.

Banging on about what fine economic managers they are is only making the coalition look stupid. Economy's booming eh? Maybe it is in Magnateville, but down here in Mobland we have a different economy altogether.

"Will the real Kevin Rudd please stand up?" Indeed. Only if you and John stand up first Pete. When have you guys ever aired your true intentions?

And while you're standing up you might explain how "radical" reform is "conservative".

Dear Mr Costello,

I am a swinging voter and you lost my vote as soon as the ALP elected a credible leader.

Politicians often use "anecdata" to back up a point, you know, saying "all wround the country workers/employers are telling me" this, that and the other.

I've got news for you: many of the people I speak to feel the same way.

I had to laugh last night when Alexander Downer tried to score a point by calling Kevin Rudd a "cynical opportunist"!

People are tired of your Government and many of them understand perfectly well that your mantra about the ALP's alleged incapacity to run the economy is hogwash.

Signing off, we can thank you for one thing though: you had the good sense to give the power to set interest rates to the Reserve Bank. You'll always have our respect for that, and if you have the courage to go the long haul, you'll outlast Abbott and Downer and Nelson and Turnbull (come to think of it, voting for the ALP will at least make politics interesting again - the bloodletting on your side of politics will make great entertainment!)

Over and out

I agree from what I have heard and seen Mr Rudd will say anything to get elected. From Unionists recent public comments they seem to agree, warning him about accepting AWA's.

Pete

Give up on trying to discredit Rudd with irrelevant debating points, it will not work. Lots of people like him and all you do is look like a big grinning bully.

How about some policy, some real income tax reform, removing the disincentive for people to go from welfare to work.

Get back to your own portfolio, instead of writing workchoices. Do some hard work and fix the mess you have created for far too many in our SOCIETY.

Peter, Peter when will you realise that since the Liberals have been in power you have avoided the most important business principal of all when making Financial decision and that is you must produce a result which represents a win for the Nation, a win for Business and a win for the People. You go on and on about your Extra Large Surplus, year after year. Well Peter a surplus is good. But extra large surpluses such as you are producing clearly demonstrate that you have fail to invest in infrastructure in this country. You have set the example for all to follow, that it is good for the people to have a user pay system so that Politicans can spend money at election time in order to bribe their way back into government.

This is quite funny, Costello seems to be trying to imply that Rudd is a "Commie".

Rudd's statement "higher taxing regimes are punished, and the reverse are rewarded" is also taken out of context.
The full article is here: http://evatt.labor.net.au/publications/books/86.html
It doesn't mean he's "someone who wanted to raise taxes" as Costello suggests, he's talking about global market forces dictating national taxation policies, and redressing the "adverse impact" of this. That's the key point Costello left out to make it sound like Rudd is against tax reduction and reform.

The emotive button pushing that the Libs constantly pull on the public is getting old. How about a bit of level debate for a change, give us some credit for intelligence.

Perhaps Kevin Rudd is doing or saying anything he can to take the top spot in Aussie politics and maybe, as Peter Costello implies, he's pulling the wool over all our eyes, but guess what? I really don't care!

Like so many other voting Australian's, I'm sick to death of all the back-stabbing and political "bun fights" that we see displayed in the evening news each night when television turns it's sights to the political arena. Mr. Rudd may make the odd 'gaff' now and then, but at least he's a gentleman. No screaming and yelling, no howling down the opposition and no manic laughter from this man. Steady as she goes will see him past the post, but that to me is also a worry.

What happens if Labor wins the Federal election and the economy finally goes bust for whatever reason? I can just hear the Liberals screaming now...."See! We told you Labor can't run the economy!" In a way, I'd sooner see the Coalition returned to power because although the economy is going gang busters now in certain areas like coal and mining, it will collapse. History will repeat itself. I'd just as sooner it be on the Coalition's watch than Labor's, because if the economy fails while Labor holds the reins, they'll be crucified by the public as well as the Libs and be effectively banished to the wilderness for decades to come. Then we'll really feel the pinch as a very vengeful Liberal Party systematically destroys what's left of worker's rights and directs their anger even further against the unemployed and those on disability pensions. God help us all should that scenario take place.

Lee Yuan Yew once was a Fabian. Watch out Pete, Kevin might leap frog the Libs and become a Fascist. Besides, living offshore, as I do, I am always explaining to Americans "our" Liberals aren't Liberals at all, but Conservatives. Herein, methinks, Little J. still has a streak of Pig Iron Bob: Piglet Nuke Johnny?

No. Pigmaster Atomic Jonathon*: Now, that has testosterone!

My older Brother was once the president of a young libs group in the 1960s. He now votes Labor; odd spelling and all. He claims to have the same convictions, now, as then; only, the entire political process has moved to the Right, leaving him standing on the station looking at the ALP Express to wherever.

*"I saw George once, as he jogged-by: I will love Packers till the day I die. That did not work, I wonder, why?" - PAJ

Kevin Rudd should really be known as "Mr Flip-Flop" - he flips and flops in whatever direction he thinks the votes are...couple of interesting letters in our state newspaper today about the way that the ALP can no longer call themselves the compassionate and caring party. Wonder if he will suddenly find millions of dollars for those being talked about there - just pre-election of course, has to be a non-core promise.
Kevin Rudd is trying to be all things to all people. He is a weak leader who is unable to withstand bullying. It is unfortunate that the media are making so much of him...might give them plenty of copy when he gets into The Lodge but it is not going to be good for the country.

At least he will be in the Lodge, not a Sydney based wally in Kirribilli.

Communicat you mention non core promises, Howard is the master of non core promises and back flips, except he has run out of flipping space.

As I said before, your best bet is to stop attacking Rudd, he is more popular than Howard.

The only way Howard can win the next election is to show he has a vision for the future of Australia, but so far he shows he has none.

Why is Howard stuffed? Because he has run out of ideas, the electorate is sick of his lies and baggage, Beazley and Latham were duds all Labor needed was a leader that people think they can vote for, they finally have one.

The Liberals are losing the next election, it is up to them to win it. When will they realise that attacking Labor is the wrong strategy?

Peter,

What would say us a good Gini Coefficent for Australia?

Gday Pete how goes it? silly question up that creek without a paddle a mate?
If you could only talk the little fella into going for a long trip or maybe just going.
Tried to talk to his wife? worth a try.
Now posting here and hoping you can start a landslide in the polls is cute but unlikely.
How about printing your post out and throwing it in a bottle of every bridge you come across?
Election night is only about 150 sleeps away, maybe Kev can find you a job in some embassy?

And why in the world would anybody trust little Kev - he only seems to do/say what the crowd de jour thinks they want.
And then there is his back up team; Julia keeps him dancing with lots of shots to the foot, Swan makes up policy and incredible excuses faster than anyone I have ever seen and then there is Combet singing about the mining industry needing its head repositioned about AWAs.

Sounds about as disorganized and frightening as the old labor party

PM Rudd and Costello for Treasurer?

the consensus seems to be, one's bad, the other badder.

shall we be ruled by bandit gang 'a', or bandit gang 'b'?

you don't have to be ruled by bandit gangs, but i guess it saves having to get off yer collective bum's to change the system. there's an aphorism which covers the situation pretty well:

"you get the government you deserve."

the only problem is, the planet can't stand much more of this level of 'management', and the pollies that let you rape the environment aren't capable of doing any better, they truly can't, even if they wanted to.

it'll sort itself out in the usual way, war, famine, disease, and mass death, and survivors,if any, will say: "how could they not see it coming?

The 22 conservative years of conservative government between 1950 and 1972 will be hard to beat and remember Menzies came very close to defeat in 1961.
An ALP victory this time or next, as in the past, would have a salutary effect on the electorate.
Unfortunately every generation must learn through bitter experience.

It's a bit much for Mr.Costello to complain; the pot calling the kettle black. At last the Coalition has realized that the ironically named "Work Choices" is a misnomer; miners might be doing alright, but there are several workers who are far worse off as a result of how people are fairing under "Work Choices". Could you please oficially release the figures Mr. Costello.

The morality of squandering tax payers money to push partisan policies through tv and newspaper adds is beyond belief (eg Health Insurance and "Work Choices" etc). The adds are clearly designed to put a spin on the damage that the Coalition Government has perpetrated against the electorate. The interest rate spin from the last election could very well come back to haunt the Coalition.
Mr. Howard might be considered the King Interest Creator, he had huge interest rates when he was treasurer, and lately numerous people with mortgages would have some very negative comments.

Let's get real the Coalition Government only works on behalf of the big end of town.

Dear Peter

Thanks for your article.

I wonder why you consider that someone cannot be a socialist AND an economic conservative?

We're talking Australia here, not some post war demolished country.

It's important that a Government show care for the people it governs, particularly during times of prosperity.

When you go demonising single parents and their children, so that you can justify your decision to impose economic abuse on them,particularly during times of national prosperity, that's not 'economic conservatism', that's just plain abuse.

Not every woman is a single mother. Not every single mother is on welfare. Infact, the average single mother is ONLY on welfare for two years. But we recognise a government dangerous to women who are or about to become single mothers.

Anyone in Government... and I mean anyone, would be better than the abusers that the Liberals have demonstrated themselves to be.

Your Government have only demonstrated the justification for divorce.

A few of the poster have had a go at Rudd much in the fashion of our Peter.
Not much substance and not going to change anything , fact is Australia weirys of the lies and miss use of a mandate.
And such a mandate is about to be given to Labor, I await a change in government and just maybe a new direction from the empty conservative movement in Australia.

It's mere conjecture on the part of Mr. Costello as to how Mr. Rudd will perform; however, we know how the Coalition has operated. The mining boom really has been the saving grace for the Coalition Government. It becomes quite worrying for the future when icons such as Quantas was going to be sold to foreign interests. Telstra is more interested in making profits rather than providing a service to the community.

Mr. Howard did not listen to the electorate and engaged Australia in the war in Iraq that is squandering our military resources and costing untold millions. The level of strategic analysis was of a low level; many people argued that fact prior to Australian troops being sent.

The interest campaign at the last election was a real con; when Mr. Howard was Treasurer he managed historically high interest rates. The historic fact is that interest rates were high Internationally at the time, as they had been when Labor was in power. It's quite disingenuous for the Coalition to argue about interest rates under Labor, when they also had high interest rates.

Mr. Costello quibbles about whether Mr.Rudd is a Christian Socialist or an economic conservative. Mr.Howard I seem to recall said we would never have a GST. That is, when the leader of the Coalition acts in a way that he had said he wouldn't; the Coalition can hardly try to discredit Mr. Rudd for what he says or believes. There is not any substance in discrediting Mr. Rudd for the sake of doing so. The Coalition is expressing concern about bullying in schools; yet, they are employing bully boy tactics against Mr. Rudd.

"Work Choices" was a real nasty that the Coalition snuck in at the last election; we will need to go over the plaform of the Coalition at the next election with a tooth comb to ensure no nasties are sneeked through.

Mr Costello you have had 11 years to show us what you can do. Anything you say now will not change our vote, you have a track record. If we reject your party at the next election it will be on the basis of what you have done so far. That is why the opinion polls did not move after you recent budget.

It is welcoming that so many commentators have brought out the real problem concerning the present government, which is their belief that scads of money in the kitty, is the best thing to impress the populace.

Pity it is only the fruitcake academics that have the knowledge to point out that it was Adam Smith, the father of Laizey-faire, or the modern free-market, who warned that though the business entrepreneurs need a free go, it still does not mean that governments can idle their time away.

1. The free go also does not mean that the dealers should keep all the profits.

2. Though the government does need a good share of the profits, it is the governments role not only to see that the whole proletariat gains by the process of Laizey-faire, but also the establishment.

What Adam Smith meant was that too much money put away like a miser, as the government only allows money for factories, like a farmer and his family living in hovels for the rest of their lives while making fortunes, the government istead must look to advancing the infrustructure not only for public and business benefit, but also in regard to national pride.

Sorry about old pap lessons from history, but the point is that Smith was also a philosopher as well as an economist.

It is also interesting that the above kind of history is used in a Uni' humanities course called The Changing Political Economy, which has been going now for a few years, keeping itself up to date, as the years roll on.

One wonders whether both Howard and Costello care much about it, the way we have neglected our infrustructure, including educational facilities, which desperately includes the knowledge needed to keep Australia productive when our colonial-style pitstocks run out.

I thought about engaging the Treasurer in a debate on this issue but it occured to me that I would really be debating one of his researchers. Our taxes already pay for blatant political advertising and now they are funding contributions to a public forum which should be the voices of real people.

Judging by the vitriol I read in "letters" , many of you DESERVE a term or two of loving care from Labor. Trouble is ,many of us do not.
And it will take years of cleaning up to get rid of the mess that this Labor mob will leave behind them.
Have you all forgotten why Labor was thrown out? All the political correctness? the open slather of immigration?
It has taken ten years of hard work by Howard and co to get Australia so far. Undo that hard work at your risk.
Kevin Rudd is a puppet, who pulls his string?

"Have you all forgotten why Labor was thrown out? All the political correctness? the open slather of immigration?"

Er, mickijo, you might want to check some immigration figures before you vote if high immigration worries you. Immigration rates are higher right now than they've ever, ever been. Ever.

This gummint has been whistling you with one face while upping immigration rates every year with the other. Hundreds of thousands every year under various schemes. I wonder why they forgot to let you know about that?

mickijo

Did you hear that dear Heather from the "I love workchoices" business union has recently called for immigration to be increased from 140,000 a year (the highest ever) to 180,000.

Did you see the increased funding in the budget for skilled worker visas?

Did you leave your brain in neutral?

Thanks Peter, I wasn't sure I was ready to vote for Rudd, but you've convinced me. Perhaps you could write all of the pro-Labor media releases?

By the way, does the title suggest that you listen to gangster-rap? I didn't realise you were trying to grab that vote. Or are they your primary constituents?

180,000 a year and not a word from the media. The recolonisation of Australia is in progress, but nobody dares whisper a word in opposition.

When did the Australian public consent to this madness?

These demands for higher population growth simply reaffirm my belief that we are cursed with the laziest, least innovative big business community in the industrialised world. Productivity gains build long-term prosperity Heather, not rampant population growth.

KNOW WHERE YOU STAND COSTELLO - you lost me - a secret observer - hoping you would find the HEART & SOUL of this country and put something back for the people rather than yourself.

As a REAL "NO FRILLS" CONSERVATIVE, I say, if you guys put just ONE - TWO or THREE Million of your wasteful MEDIA Budget back into the Communities of CAPE York's - through Health and COMMUNITY SERVICE infrastructures - and supported COOK SHIRE as the HISTORICAL FIRST - WHITE Administration - for the benefit of CHANGE - we might half-way take heed of your disgraceful SPIN.

As you probably know I am A POLITICAL!

I have listened to you for years... thought you were going to come through there for a minute on your last trip to Cape York.

Sad, nothing seems to touch you guys... you are in a world of your own.

We NEED INSTITUTIONAL REFORM - given you are within my own age group with all your influence and resources, I would have thought you'd want to be remebered as a MAN who STOOD for PEOPLE. We need CLEVER PEOPLE who understand how to spend wisely... to do this.

Your budget was clever if self interest is all that WE needed.

I do hope you guys learn from this election that governance needs to take better care of the HOUSEWORK.

HEALTH - EDUCATION - HOUSING - COMMUNITIES need attention and you failed us in COOKTOWN and Cape York!

http://www.miacat.com/Media_Pan_One/REGIONAL_Pacific_News/Local_Cape_York/CouncilReform.asp

Our struggle is real and you are playing games with LIFE QUALITY!

A lazy post peter, for so very long the ALP did your job on the day the polls really matter .
Fools and failures like Simon Crean and Mark Latham did all your work.
And stunned at the good luck this government forgot a John Howard basic.
You can not fatten a pig on market day!
You can lie by lie day by day destroy faith in the government.
And you Peter among many others have done that job very well.
Rather Rudd than crudd.

Re-reading these posts I am saddened by the lack of acknowledgment of a job well done by the Coalition in the face of relentless opposition by the ALP at both federal and state level. So many excellent initiatives had to be abandoned because the states refused to cooperate with a Coalition government. Delaying tactics have also been employed so that it appears Canberra is doing nothing but, hey presto, along comes a state budget and suddenly the states start to use federal funds or try to channel them into the areas they think will make them look good and where they have been getting demands from a noisy few with a personal issue and the ear of the media.
The economy is back in shape (sure it has been assisted by the mining boom but that is not all of the story), unemployment is low and it is easier to employ and be employed, interest rates are at a reasonable level and we are finally able to concentrate on issues like the environment, education and technology. All that is going to go for nothing because people have been led to believe by the unions, the media and an opposition political party supported by these that all this is somehow a bad thing - that workers are losing "rights and conditions" we could not afford in the first place (safety yes but not holiday leave loadings etc) and that we should not have gone to war in Iraq (noone should have gone but the reality is that if the US went we had to go to preserve our trade and security ties and an ALP government would have done exactly the same thing and have privately acknowledged it).
I feel so sad and frustrated that the compulsion to attend the ballot box will mean that the ALP will come in benefit from the hard work, bust the economy and social structure and then we will have to start all over again. We never learn.

The big end of town should be grateful to the Coalition Government; Communicat, not the rest of the electorate. "Work Choices" is not in the interests of ordinary people, nor are increasing interest rates. Millions of dollars have been squandered on advertising; you need to be pretty thick to believe that a 30 second feel good tv add is going to provide useful information to a viewer. As miacat stated above those wasted dollars could have been spent on something meaningful.

The cut of the Government was illustrated just after the last election when with great arrogance the Anti-Terrorist laws and "Work Choices" were pushed through in undue haste. The termites have been busy, and now the "Work Choices" has been changed somewhat.
"Work Choices" has been partially about destroying Unions, in years to come Unions may become just as important, if not more so, than in the 1890s.

Suddenly we have a Coalition Government that is supposedly interested in water, and Climate Change. Also, they have been busy trying to tidy issues that have been irritating the electorate for some time such as David Hicks, and changes in relation to Health Insurance to name a few. These matters have been allowed to languish for years, and because Labor appears to be polling well the Coalition has been partially knocked out of their complacency.

Giving people a fair go was once a well understood concept in the Australian community, with the Coalition Government it is becoming a shrinking ideal.

This notion that the coalition has spent the last decade fixing the economy so now they can concentrate on other things is either amusing or worrying.

If you can only concentrate on one thing at a time, what the hell are you doing running a country? There's more to a nation than just the economy, which has either escaped the coalition's attention or they don't care. Either way that's a worry.

Are the rest of us seriously expected to be grateful for the profits and salaries we're seeing at the top end of town, which are getting more obscene by the day? Are we supposed to be happy about the erosion of Medicare and the propping up of private medical funds? The neglect of public education, environmental problems and the punishment of people having problems? FOI restrictions on a whim? Crapping on about a dozen refugees, vast sums of money spent on detention facilities that sit empty while immigration rates go through the ceiling?

That last one really gets me. I don't mind high immigration or multiculturalism or refugees myself, but plenty of my fellow Australians, like mickijo, are worried about it. Dog whistle with your citizenship tests to make mickijo feel better, then remove the full-fee paying student cap at universities which effectively increases the number of international students. That adds to immigration and the coalition knows it.

Dumbest of all, they've set precedents in board stacking, plausible deniability, advertising spending and a million other things they'll live to regret when they're in opposition. Contrary to what the coalition think, democracy is not about permanent rule. It's about losing your job if you don't do it properly, just like the rest of us.

PLEASE BRING THIS TO PETER'S ATTENTION.

It is not prudent to have such large deficits when infrastructure is so run down and it not sound politics to remind the electorate of this by spending the surplus on trying to get re elected.
Does Peter really want us to believe that all those vessels standing unproductively off our harbours will go away if Labor is elected?
Are we to forget the fact that Peter claims to have known nothing about the AWB doing the governments bidding in Iraq and that he knew nothing about the Qantas Board taking the airline offshore?
Remind Peter that whilst he might forget what his government did 12 months ago many other Australians do not.
For as long as Peter and John attack Kevin they will keep his profile before the public in a positive light because Peter and John are now percieved as dishonest bullies and that impression is reinforced every time they sneer and snarl.
In the time that remains try and get Peter to use his ofice for the good of the greatest number of people.
Just remind him that money can't buy you love.
Bruce Haigh

For deficit read surplus.
BH

Too many soft years and the lack of mental rigour are the price we will pay for a government who has been too successful.
For people who have had it good but are thankless towards those who gave us the good times, you may be on the road to discovery.
Your friends, the ALP, are like a mob of headless chooks running around squawking, they all squawk and squawk but they are never productive.
They are never ever going to produce anything but jobs 'for the boys' and you will pay, this you deserve.
Enjoy!

Bruce,
At last someone agrees with me. Peter Costello was part of a team who could not sell Telstra fast enough. Now we have Telstra crying foul because of the ACCC. If Peter, Johnny and Helen give into Telstra than we will end up with an American Telecommunication System. Have some doubts. Wait until Optus tells their customers who are not on their network, please find another provider and that applies to both telephone and internet services. This will occur within the next couple of months. My advice if you have cable, try an internet phone service and soon you will take your landline and place it in the bin.

Peter: All Kevin Rudd and his team have to do is look better than John Howard and you. They do.

If they lose, it will be because John and you frightened the electorate into voting for you, instead of appealing to our reason.

I realise this is a promising campaigning strategy: the Australian electorate is easily frightened. This is what I dislike about you the most: you press our shabbiest buttons.

To the contrary Workchoices is very much in the interest of workers - although it may not appear to be at first glance. In the end though it is what will keep jobs in Australia. Our standard of living may need to go down...we are almost certainly living beyond our means. Too many people believe that the luxuries of life are actually the necessities and that the government should pay for essentials. (I was always of the opinion that the taxpayers were the ones who eventually paid but it seems that I am wrong and that, somewhere out there, there is something called a "government" that has endless amounts of cash to spend which is in no way related to people called taxpayers so of course now we can all have whatever we want without working or paying for it....life according to the ALP anyway.)
Unless an economy is in decent shape it is not possible to direct additional funds to areas of national importance. Oh but I forgot if the ALP States don't want it to happen it ain't gonna happen anyway... life according to Bracks and Rann in particular.
Waiting to meet the "government" which can spend money without obtaining it from the taxpayer.

Communicat Australian voters have already judged the ALP in state governments by electing every one of them.
This too is judgment on your Conservatives, and proof of failure.
I am content to wait the judgment of those voters in this federal election and only ask is Peter the best leader your mob can find?
Howard is not that is for sure, if John Howard is a true conservative not a self interested person-he is about to find a reason to leave Parliament now.
Peter are you watching your thread? are you prepared to let Australians see just what has been given away in workchoices AWAs?
Much more than one poster claims including leave loadings and overtime, holidays ,some like picnic day, and much more.
Peter Sir given the 5 year length of most new AWAs and no pay rises in that term , could you live without tax rises in that term?
Could you justify 5 years without a pay rise for low income earners?

Having ridden on the tide of the campaign against the federal governments IR laws, Rudd is now hightailing out of union town. After the audience with Emperor Rupert he has been busily turning himself into a John Howard clone. The back peddling is excruciating to witness! God what some people will do to lick the salt of power!

Amazingly, the only socialist left (obviously ‘Christian’ in this case*) in parliament these days is none other than PETER COSTELLO himself. I really want to thank you for the Future Fund Pete, because that is the first step to state intervention in financial markets. The dream of social and state intervention in financial markets was initiated in Australia by the ACTU’s now forgotten ‘Australia Reconstructed’. This fine proposal was thrown in the bin by the hacks that run the ALP and Trade union movement almost as soon as it was printed. It took a neo liberal like Costello to resurrect it in a different guise. So once again, thanks Pete. Let’s hope the ALP has the sense to build on this foundation. I doubt it, since supposedly ‘left’ parliamentarians like Tanner don’t like the idea of the future fund.
* what the hell is ‘Christian’ socialism anyway. What would ‘Buddhist’ socialism be; or ‘Muslim’ socialism or ‘Taoist’ socialism or ‘Zen’ socialism (I like the sound of the last one).

Hasn't Peter come a long way since his days in the Monash Social Democratic Students Association? These days Peter promotes such core Christian principles as providing tax cuts as 'incentive' for those on $100,000 a year and more, while allowing the poor and underprivileged to wait three years for 'elective surgery' without which they live with constant and chronic pain. Meanwhile the ALP promise to hold taxes down as a proportion of GDP, and focus on $3 billion in budget savings in an economy of around $1 trillion. Given Rudd's 'education revolution', it is clear where these funds will be spent, but what about an extra $10 billion to cut waiting lists, incorporate dental care into Medicare, restore the pensions of the disabled and single parents, and provide scope to retain services and infrastructure development once the mining boom ends? Surely out of an economy of around $1 trillion this is not too much to ask.

Yep,what did I say a little while ago about Rudds duds and Julia who will be soon wearing them.We have the two GG's Garrett and Gillard who will bring us the Trogan Horse of panic environmentalism and extreme socialism that will make all free thinking Aussies slaves to their narrow ideology.

On the other hand we have the Coalition who have made big business their masters and ordinary folk are just merely pawns.

Labor have not the talent or intellectual prowess to Govern OZ,but the Coalition have made big business our uneasy masters.

Peter, why should I vote for your mob?

Do any of you posters remember when John Howard was treasurer?

I can remember the high inflation, high interest rates (22% for a 90 day bank bond).

Remember how mean and tricky he and co have been over all sorts of issues.

The Libs have lied and cheated, taken us to war on pure fabrication, allowed the AWB to pay bribes to Sadam Hussein and go unpunished.

You want women to have babies to populate Aus, then expect them to get back into the paid workforce and pay mega-bucks on childcare. The same childcare industry that is dominated by your big business mates.

Your mob introduced the IR laws without a whisper before the last election.

Then you import labour to drive down wages (Vanstone told us so). Et cetera etcetera ....

People have short memories, so maybe your mob might have a chance as you are all quite slippery with the truth. But you will not get my vote.

Question Peter, those IR laws, the safety net you are about to return to workchoices.
Can you tell us what happens to those who have already signed a 5 year agreement?
As opposed to those who will do so after you return the safety net?
And why mate did you take it away in the first place?
Been a long while coming but Australians are sick f the miss leading and out right lies bloke!
Roll on the election

How could the real Kevin Rudd stand up?

He, & his spin merchants have spent so much time, crafting, & re-crafting, a Kevin Rudd they think/hope the people of Australia will elect, that no one, particularly him, have any idea who, or what, the real Kevin Rudd is.

I wish I could remember, as it just may give some idea of what kind of PM he would make. Unfortunately, I'm inclined to think that he's not the type of man who would ever let a principal get in the way of buying buying a vote.

Hasbeen,

Clean your glasses, there is no difference between Rudd and Howard.

As for Costello, he reminds me of another Labor leader William Morris Hughes and you know what, we show him the door.

GOLD COAST BULLETIN

LIVE EXPORT TRADE INQUIRY WOULD BE LIKE LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER

THE RSPCA may have the answer for fed­eral Labor politicians struggling to galv­anise voters with the AWB bribery scandal.

The recent 60 Minutes program on Channel 9 revealing cruelty on Australian cattle in the Middle East hit a nerve.

Not that the RSPCA was surprised by the strong response from Australians outraged at endemic cruelty in the live export trade.

Many Australian voters may not give two hoots about $300 million in kickbacks to Saddam Hussein to sew up Australian wheat sales to Iraq. But it would be a different story if the AWB was ever linked to live exports.

The Gold Coast-based Halal Kind Meats is off to the backblocks of Queensland and West­ern Australia to look for Australian slaughter­ing opportunities. Dozens of Australian abatt­oirs have closed since the live export trade boomed in the 1990s. Kindness to animals is part of the Australian 'fair go' tradition.

Labor appears more concerned with the future of Australia's livestock trade overseas than banning the practice.
Posted by People Against Live Exports & Intensive Farming, Sunday, 18 March 2007 5:12:11 A

Kevin Rudd

Is not a clever poly. Had he of been he would have informed the public at the time of the AWB enquiry of the above post.
Kevin Rudd as "Shadow Minister" of Trade had a clear duty to have told the public especially given right at the same time 60 minutes had again ran their story on the cruel live animal export trade.
His office was contacted and documents sent to him which proved the AWB were exporting more than wheat.

Now I reckon had that of been Howard is the same postion he knowing the public feelings about live Animal Export - Would have told the public.
He would have known if he kept quite after people contacting his office about the connection it would come out sooner or later.
Oh yeh I am sure there would have been some porkies told to make it look like he was doing more about it than he really was.
My point however he would have known such a public issue was going to come out sooner or later.
If Howard had been the Shadow Minister he would have used the information to win votes.
Difference is Mr Rudd headed for the hills and missed his chance.
Ask yourself this question.
In times like this who would you rather trust the safety of your kids to- The young cocky inexperencied Mr Rudd or the cunning old fox?

LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS AUSTRALIAS GREATEST SHAME

I understand these things said Mr Rudd. No Mr Rudd you dont. Its clear you were not present when Mark Latham stood in your shoes.
At an interview and question time Mark was clapped and cheered by your supportors . Right up to the last question kevin- Which was regarding Live Exports.
Your own supporters bood him off stage,.
Put some migrants on farms and open plants. You are leaving Australias boarders wide open and inviting unwelcome guests to befriend some of those who are not fussed about either party.
http://www.livexports.com/cowgun.html

People Against Live Exports & Intensive Farming...I noticed you have been posting on various discussions bringing this issue into it...

I got a questions for you...why dont you get video tapes of the whole industry at its bare facts...and post them without identifying location or source...

I for one have seen cattle lined up for slaughter...they have tears streaming down their eyes...this made me go look at them at pasture and the tears were not prominent...I concluded that they knew what was coming but not willing to give their life yet...and why not...its easy to see they 'feel'...calm, agitation, anxiety...so they can feel happy, suffering and perhaps see their end...this last aspect is seen in the wild when animals flee from the predator but when the inevitable moment arises the struggle stops and almost as if 'gives the neck' for predator to crush the wind pipe...

ask some meat workers how some animals just fight to the last...and others go peacefully...and by accident I discovered hallal and kosher meat seems to taste better...the only difference is a prayer was given to the animals and thanks to god...ask people to try and see if they can notice any difference...if so then all animals can be killed here in Australia with the appropriate prayer for the destination country...

I think these would help forward your message if just the truth without benefit was given...particularly if animals show definite signs of 'knowing' their end and its prolonged unnecessarily by a long and suffering voyage...

Sam

Sam

Thanks so much for your thoughtful post.

Yes it is true we do post of several threads in regards to this issue because it crosses over mant topics- Such as employment and regional areas Church Leaders polys etc.

I agree with you about animals knowing they are in danger or going to die. Its a fact and very sad. Last week we met with one of the largest meat exporters and abattoir owners in Australia and he said the same as you.

We can only improve things step by step.

At least if we slaughter them here and send them in a box it saves them weeks months and days of suffering.

Kosha is the most cruel method of all.

Our method using a bolt or stun gun is probably best for the animals.

There is a difference Sam bewtween methods of slaughter. Its far more than a prayer.

The dometic plants need a jolly good skake up especially.

I have heard Malaysia are busy building big abattoirs to increase the live trade from Australia.
This was not what was agreed on at the ential meetings with those delegates originally.

So if some people think we are no longer going to slaughter here and then send whole carcass all I can say it will be on for young and old.

Halal vegetable farms will of course down the track give a better return and have always been a healthier option.

One can only hope when people realise this down the track these products will be favoured.

Possibly some others might post your request a little later.
I will leave that up to them.

Its just that it backfires BADLY when you start telling people how cruel it is eating meat.

We can only try to improve conditions at slaughter houses I am afraid not stop them.

Something I stuggle with Sam.
I dont know how any God could allow his beautiful creatures to be treated by us so call humans.

Still we wont go there because it wont help.

I'm amazed with the on-going controversy that the electorate can't understand what Kevin Rudd really stands for.
It's easy and self-explanatory......socialism!

Unfortunately, Kevin "Risky" Rudd's plans for the economy, immigration and national security would be so unpalatable that he couldn't seriously contemplate releasing any detailed policy prior to the Federal election.

Best solution.....make it up as you go!