I find it amazing that Tony Abbott failed to discuss this new policy initiative with the party room. It seems like more of a reactive gesture than a well thought out policy.
How are we supposed to deduce from such behaviour that there exists a unified sense of purpose in the higher echelons of the Liberal Party.
Tony Abbott has always demonstrated the ability to unleash statements without fully thinking them through - now his position allows him the luxury of doing the same thing with policy.
I predict he will only ever achieve the stature of night watchman for the Liberal Party until someone with a little more political acumen takes over.

In one swift move Tony Abbott was able to take the heat off the immigration debate.

Pity, it was warming up quite nicely to where all political parties would have been required to clarify their positions and enter into a debate on population and sustainability. None of the parties, greens included would relish consulting with electorates on that.

Meanwhile. Tony's suggestion about parental leave is easily dismissed as an off-the-cuff remark, over-enthusiastic maybe and the pesky advocates in the media for the women's movement are aware that in the future Tony Abbott is open to bribing to win a few votes.

No loss and wins all around, maintaining high immigration numbers is far more important to the backers of the Liberals+. Tony is intelligent, he has been in politics for years and he has experienced advisors both in and outside of politics.

It Will not be Tony's last blunder, at election time this and just about every word ever spoken by Joyce will be re hashed as propaganda.
No new tax? well yes and for those on incomes of up to $150.000 is cruel to those check out chicks

Next batter up, I would suggest, as TA has perhaps signed his own 'death warrent' amoung his party faithful and I would be surprised if his leadership is not challanged over this one.

Pitty, he was actually doing better than most expected.

The old saying of 'silence is golden' would have to be the best policy when you have a sitting government, continually taking one foot out of thier mouth and replacing it with the other..

Now as for paid parental leave, I have to say that the governments model, (although I don't know much about it as I am oppossed to it all together) would be a better, more fairly balanced scheme.

Why anyone on $150K is worth more than one on $20K, in this instance, is simply wrong.

Surely someone on $150K has the opportunity to put some cash away in readiness,whereas those on $20K don't.

Dear rehctub,

Couldn't agree with you more.
He is appealing to the higher income females.
And it is unfair.

It does seem a bit odd that for an experienced
pollie like Tony Abbott he's making all these
blunders.

I wonder if he'll last until the coming election,
or will he be replaced with someone like
Malcolm Turnbull?

No chance Foxy.

I know you labor people love him. No wonder, he's practically identical to your bloke, just not as cunning.

Even a floundering liberal party could not be so dumb again.