PS: When it comes to the motivation, I put Malcolm Fraser in the same basket as Mark Latham.

I must say you're in fine form today, Houllie.

...and in the interests of keeping the thread on track, I'll comment on Julia's boat people strategy...What is Julia's boat people strategy? I haven't followed it since East Timor decided not to come to the party.

That was the fake Julia's policy.

I've forgotten everything that's happened before the Real Julia started speaking. I'm moving forward.

Dear Houellie,

You only cherry-pick dishonest hyperbole?
Do tell.
Coming from you that's funny.

There are a lot of Clayton's policies being flung about at the moment - it is hard to know when the next version will surface based on spin-meister's perceptions of public perceptions.

Abbott's various parental leave permutations leave one worrying about his reactive policy strategy as well, it seems to be infectious and not a lot of leading with the nose. Who will win the prize for the most pork barrelling - so far Abbott's overly generous parental leave wins hands down but Julia's kowtowing to the Christian lobby on school chaplaincy has to come a close second.

At least mental health might finally get a look in now that it has been deemed important enough to throw into the mix, however past experiences show promises don't always mean policies.

Perhaps governments should enter into 'Electoral Agreements' when they put forward policies to ensure under a democratic system they adhere to the voters wishes which also includes not introducing new policies not presented to the electorate pre-election unless of course it relates to changing global pressures such as threat of war, financial crises etc.

Abbott's parental leave policy is purely an instrument for Abbott to try to repair his image with female voters. He doesn't believe in it nor does his party, but they accept his tactic for now.

If they were to get elected it will be watered down to within an inch of it's life, or the ol' we didn't know the state of the books excuse will be used to drop it.

The nationals are especially spewing as they like the woman at home on the farm, who gets jack sh1t compared to the city career woman.