< To conclude, I hope Abbott and the Coalition will challenge Labor on a variety of policy issues in 2010 >

Well, don’t we all?

Not least, a challenge to Rudd’s ‘big Australia’ BS with his massively high immigration rate, baby buying bribe that has artificially boosted the birthrate, and overall critically antisustainable momentum, that utterly flies in the face of his apparent desire to reduce our national greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure robust water resources and a healthy environment, amongst many others.

I mean, Rudd is just sooooo far off on the WRONG TRACK, that it gives Abbott ENORMOUS room to develop sensible policies, which would give the voter a very different and very enticing alternative.

Oh, if only he could see this.

Well, perhaps he can. His new environmental policies are at least a first step in the right direction.

< Abbott and the Opposition are just as important as the Rudd Labor government >

Absolutely they are. They have an enormous responsibility to develop real alternatives and to NOT just go along with the same old economic and continuous-growth dogma.

Trouble is, I don’t think Abbott is the right person to lead the Libs in the right direction. He’s got too much baggage as a Howard minister and when you listen to him, he just doesn’t seem to have any depth of understanding in the essentially important areas.

Oh well, maybe the Libs will recycle Turnbull before too long. He’s far from ideal, but he’d have to be a more appealing leader in taking the Libs in the right (left) direction and getting the Australian public to believe that the move is genuine.

Chris,
I still have problems linking the problems with finding a solution in the ritual cock fight that serves as our party corrupted parliament.

I think Ms Roy summed up modern politics well when she described the choice of leaders as being akin to "choosing a brand of detergent". To further amplify Ms Roy's point by paraphrasing Clinton "it's the system, stupid" (that hobbles real change or good government.)

I make the additional point that neither side has a monopoly on good or bad ideas. This myopic competitiveness based on differentiation or dogma clearly inhibits true sensible and productive government.

I am still unimpressed with media citations given that objectivity is a concept that is largely unknown to media commentators...most of whom are paid to entertain and usually well under qualified. Their articles are dogma laced and serve the owners interests.

Base on the above I have little hope that either leader or party will do much more than argue via spin and 'product puffing'. Status quo will reign supreme as usual.

Down with the establishment, solidarity brothers and sisters ! ;-)

Examinator, I agree with you to a large extent.

Although I do still believe in the importance of diverse political parties, albeit that differences between the major ones are less than in the past, I would argue that the most important ingredient of a democracy is public opinion, although there can be faults with this reliance as well.

All we need is good ideas that can make appeal across the political divide, but that is indeed the hard part.

For example, I do not believe that GW sceptics are winning the debate. Even the Coalition, which is more pro-business, will have to make greater environmental appeal. I believe that most Australians (and Westerners) do want something done, but showing them why some pain may be needed (including higher taxes) to produce economic gain is a battle that is yet to be won.

Until the Westerners as you describe them understand the AGW is a load
of Bulsshh. Log on to Google then 'The Great Global Warming Swindle'
and particularly U Tube with its 8 segments of the DVD, or the website
www.greatglobalwarmingswindle.co.uk then start to think it isn't just
ALP supporters who are worried it is also anyone with a bit of nous
who realizes we are being conned! For political reasons only. And Mr Red Rudd and Sen Wong are supporting this completely universal lie!
At Australian's disadvantage. You and Me! They are out of touch with the political reality of the Global warming/climate change debacle.

And the Greens would love us to become all vegetarians or vegans. To
reduce methane and greenhouse gases. Haven't you seen the SBS ads.

"If CO2 emissions stopped tomorrow the methane emitted by cattle and
sheep would still add to global warming" Eat Veg not meat and Save the Planet. If you want to save the planet go and do a TAFE course
on sustainable agricultural production and soil science.

It is so off the planet - do your research! I have a degree pertaining to environmental protection and AGM. It ain't true!

Turnbull is a crook, a hypocrit and Abbott although he ain't perfect
is a fighter, and to me attracts the Australian type generally conservative but not lame mentallity. Barnaby Joice is better I feel as a politician. Yet I vote Independent.

ALP will be fighting to maintain their majority next general election
But Tony Abbott will have pull a big rabbit out of the hat to beat them.
And I think he could do it. I can't stand Wong, Rudd or Garrett, and
I think voters will see this weakness in them. C'est la Vie

I don't think it matters who is leading the libs come next election as they won't win, however, there is a real possibillity that labor can loose.

When you look at what has been achieved in a little over two years, it's just a pitty the election is this year and not next.

Although I didn't support it, about the only positive thing Rud has done to help the punters is hand out the cash that took so long to save but the piggy bank is now empty.

On the negative side we have seen the failings of; the solar scheme and the insulation scheme, we have been forced in to a corner with the kyoto agreement (thanks to our farmers having had their land stolen from them) we have seen the failure of Kruds ETS and the millions wasted chassing his dream and who can forget his handling of the boat people.

Labor can loose this election as they just continue to take one foot out and put the other one in.

Time may well be their saviour!