By that token, the liberals finest asset was KRudd (control freak), followed by all of NSW Labor (the 40 thieves), Anna Blight, Julia Gillard (Queen of the BER rort), and Peter Garrot (beds are burning).

From my perspective the ALP is a collection of well intentioned clowns, who whilst believing passionately in their policies probably shouldn't be allowed to drive unsupervised.

I support neither side anymore SM, and there is no doubt that a distinct lack of talent exists on both sides.

I perceive the Coalition as worse because they appear to represent vested interests,
and their own self interest, beyond any wishes or plans for Australia's future.

The last Coalition Gov't did represent vested interests and led us to reduced freedom, un-necessary and costly involvement in political wars
and cut the consumer/employee adrift with changes to Trade and Employment practices acts.

And they pursue this ideologue stuff with a crazed and dogged zealotry reminiscent of the tea party movement in the U.S..

Mountains of emotive rhetorical palaver forever undermining any or all of our elected Alliance Govt's agenda whatever it may be. Using a now temporary Senate majority to thwart the progress of Govt at any opportunity as it did during the last Rudd Gov't.

It stinks on ice SM. No red nosed overblown Governor's General to exploit on this occasion.
What a shame.

My political memory is longer than that, with Workchoices still sticking in my craw,
among all the other things.

The petrol pricing madness we experience today (as one example) is a direct result of Coalition Trade practices policy SM.

Ethical restraints on profits were removed by edict. And policing any law that does exist,
is non existent , a toothless ACCC replacing the former body with hardly any chance of winning a case against cartelling or anti competitive conduct etc because of the law structure introduced by a fanatical, driven by foolish ideology; Howard Govt.

Can you comment ?.

Good morning Shadow Minister, I except your comment.
Except that it is as close to fair and balanced comment that I will ever get out of you.
It over looks much, but that is no surprise it seems unaware of the reforms of the Hawk/Kieting years, even your team agree that changed this country.
Not you fault, mine, see I ask too much look for balanced understanding from everyone.
Time for me to grow up ,understand it is a bridge too far for some.
Read the papers yet?
I have,quite concerned about the Sydney morning Heralds leaks on proposed East Timor refugee processing.
IF TRUE, it seems to be ,well cash for clunkers on top of Abbott's big new tax.
But while it is grist for your mill it IF TRUE concerns me.
Given your standard issue conservative views have you considered this? next time you govern this country will the war on working class those policy's proclaim further divide this country?
I think so.

Belly,

What this shows is that East Timor is a promise that Julia Gillard made to the Australian people that she has no intention of keeping. What was leaked was simply a thought bubble that has no consultation or real work attached to it. It has simply disappeared into the "too hard" basket.

Nauru was functioning under Howard.

I am not sure east Timor is the answer.
But far from sure SM it is as you say.
Nehru interests me, what went wrong there, we know the buildings are not habitable and need rebuilding.
But are other hidden things behind not using it, say face saving or costs we know nothing about?
If it was as you think all black and white, Labor always wrong your mob always right I doubt Labor would have won the last two elections.
You certainly can not hope to convince me your view is true, the crying wolf your side is fixed to is making it hard to regard any thing as fair dinkum .

Belly,

Your mindless bleating that because I am an ardent Liberal supporter and am thus biased and what I say cannot be true is pathetic. It is entirely possible to be biased and correct.

The issues I hammer Labor are genuine gold plated stuff ups that blind Freddy can see, and I back up my statements with facts and statistics.

Either you cannot refute my statements because they are correct (which is what I suspect) or you do not have the mental horse power to develop a cogent argument or rebuttal.

If what I say is incorrect, please show me where. School yard "Nah nah nah nah nah." only makes one look like an idiot.

If you have any concerns about the way Abbott is confrontational in the hung parliament, it is nothing compared the antics of Labor in 1940.

It is the job of Government to develop and implement policies, and for the opposition to expose their flaws and prevent wastage and misuse of funds. The opposition is in no position to develop detailed policy, as it has no control over the departments responsible, and policies made by the opposition today could be made redundant tomorrow by the government.

The correct thing for an opposition to do is develop a frame work defining policy goals, from which policies can be made if government changes hands.