Hanrahan in my view you have sailed a bit close to the wind with your terminology.
Look back at your words, see the those against my view are idiots theme.
I do.
And Bazz are you two aware Barnaby's team are now his harshest critics?
The debate has been had ,within the coalition, he remains only because to remove him now would admit Abbott got it wrong.
No rumor, no made up story I only wish I could tell you, my information comes from within.
Now our position in the developed world is outstanding, take some credit for it John Howard, but know Rudd's leadership helped a great deal.
Hanrahan, you will indeed see Joyce at the next election.
Join a growing crowd up the back, silent at present but filling their lungs with air.
Waiting to taunt me after the election, with fingers crossed and in some cases eyes, convinced I am wrong.
But refusing to say so, until after a victory THAT WILL NOT come.
Todays federal opposition is an asset to Kevin Rudd.
And Labor will increase its majority, so take on board this, voters who think/vote other than you want, are not mugs it is Democracy at work.
You have every right to your views and every Right to be wrong.

Perhaps this will put it into perspective;

http://www.debtclock.com.au/

In a couple of days it has gone from $62B to $65B.
I think the worry is that it is going the wrong way !

A government running a country can be likened
to a home owner looking after their home.

It takes time to save and it takes time to repair
what has deteriorated during the saving period.

The present government (home owner) is now fixing
up the home - everything was run down by the previous
home owner and the current home owner is fixing it -
no matter how inconvenient it may be for those
living in the home or how concerned the occupants
are about the costs. Repairs need to be done - on the
basics or things will get worse.

Also sometimes lightening strikes unexpectedly and
takes out the roof (economic global recession) and
immediate funds have to be found to provide the
occupants of the house with shelter.

It's understandable to be concerned about the costs
involved - when one is not concerned about the extent
of repairs required - e.g. "I don't care if the roof falls
in, I just want to save lots of money!"

However, the present government has a sense of responsibility -
to the nation - and wants to assure stability and growth in the
years to come.

That would all be fine Foxy if that was where the money was going.
It is not, it is going into unnecessary overheads that could have been
done in the natural maintenance programs.
$900 to every man and his dog, most of which money went to China & Korea
to pay for LCD televisions etc. I know thats where mine went.

It is going into make work programs and we will overshoot on what is needed.
It appears that Australia's stimulus was in fact 9% of GDP the
largest in the world.
Kevin's foot is still jammed on the accelerator, he must be driving a
Toyota, his campaign ute ?
He needs to try the brakes.

Bazz your one sided view is not shared by most financial leaders or voters.
This year Australia will reject those views and you can bank on that.

Dear Bazz,

Ok. let's assume the government terminated its
stimulus package - what would be the effect?

Commitments made under the stimulus package would
be negated - people who paid tentative deposits
for works under that package - would lose their
deposit monies (I would lose $2,500 deposit).
Trades people engaged to perform the work will
become unemployed, products delivered for the proposed
works would be scrapped. Materials ordered overseas
would have to be paid for. And we would have generally
a major mess.

For example, people who have hired builders to build
houses, and these builders who walked out half-way
through the building contract would leave a mess and
a financial catastrope for the home owner.
That is not a desirable outcome. Magnifiy this on a
national scale - and where would that leave the country?

All financial experts agree that Australia is ahead
of the game - but it wouldn't be it it suddenly dropped
its bundle so to speak - and closed up shop as you suggest.

As for the PM's Ute? Nah, that wasn't the PM's Ute - it
was simply an Opposition "backfire!"