Hi Rhian,

"look to our own bitterly disappointing Labor government if they think a leftward shift is a panacea." That is a subjective philosophical point of view. Truthfully under the circumstances the Labor government has performed moderately well in its first term.

Hi Paul

My disappointment in Labor may be subjective, but it is not merely philosophical.

I will not forgive Labor for its handling of the Voice referendum. It turned 60% popular support before the election into a 60% “No” vote by the time of the referendum. It made two huge mistakes. The first was to weaponise the issue for partisan gain – it thought popular support for the Voice would translate to disapproval of Dutton, and so made no genuine effort to build a political consensus. No referendum in Australia has passed without bipartisan support. The second was the conduct of the campaign itself. It was spiteful (“No” advocates were portrayed as racist and/or stupid), condescending (are Australians to be lectured to by Alan Joyce on matters of conscience and constitutional law?) and evasive (refusing to provide important detail on how it would operate played into the hands of the “No” campaign). The consequences of this failure are dire and will last decades. It has set back reconciliation in many areas, not just Indigenous representation; has emboldened some racists and broken the hearts of some who have long campaigned for indigenous advancement; and means that it is likely to be decades before we have a referendum on any issue - including becoming a Republic which I’d dearly lie to see.

My other disappointments in this government are it blatant lying on the Stage 3 tax cuts (the cuts may have been a bad idea, but if so Labor should have said so before the election); its failure to deliver on other election promises on living standards (admittedly hard to deliver, but therefore similarly unwise and dishonest to promise before the election); and its attacks on the RBA for doing its job.

My growing dislike of Albanese may not be sufficient to overcome my already substantial dislike of Dutton at the next election, but the gap is closing. Fortunately, my federal MP at the moment is a moderately effective Teal, so I may not have to choose.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to warn my UK relatives to moderate their expectations.

Hi Rhian,

I don't greatly disagree with what you say, Labor gets a black mark with me on several issues. Domestically, The Voice was badly handled (btw I voted yes), housing policy is poor, but their overall fiscal policy is good, I agree with the tax cuts as Labor implemented them. Internationally, they've done well on the China front, but poorly with that pandering to US as usual. Would I sack Labor on their first term performance, no I would not.

Hi Rhian,
"Meanwhile, I'll continue to warn my UK relatives to moderate their expectations."
- I indicated to Paul a few months back that I didn't expect much from Starmer.

Hi Paul,
"Would I sack Labor on their first term performance, no I would not."
- Dumb and dumber and their shite sandwich.

If we get rid of 'dumb' we'll end up with 'dumber'
And if we then get rid of 'dumber', then the replacement for 'dumb' will also be 'dumber'.
- So it's really a no-win situation no matter which way you go.

It don't matter which half of the sandwich you choose, you're eating shite either way.

- Been a while since I listened to Hotel California, like really listened to it - those cool guitar sections.
I'm tempted to put it on.

How many ageing nativist conservatives led by Howard, Abbott, Downer; US fossil fuel Atlas Koch think tanks & nativist Tanton NGO (both at Tufton St.), and Murdoch led RW MSM thought Brexit and Trump were fantastic news?

Most, but the silence is now deafening due to their own arrogance in walking the UK down a rabbit hole, while their allies inc. Hungary's PM 'mini Putin' Orban would love a Huxit, but for EU funds and overwhelming from citizens for the EU.