Ah pelican, as I said, the opposition is irrelevant. It is not some dress rehearsal for government, keeping anyone to account, or providing a feasible alternative. It NEVER has been.

The government tries to use the opposition as a smoke screen. The opposition is under no obligation to come up with any policy, or impress anyone or do anything constructive until an election campaign, and most times not even then as it isn't possible to cost things with scant info. You spent a half sentence in disclaimer about the actual government and 3 paragraphs to slam the opposition and Mr Rabbit. That about sums up your average Labor/Greens supporter. Actually one might add the average government minister

'How it handles it inopposition is irrelevant'

At least Col gets it.

'Krudd, Julia and the rest of the power crazed wannabes have spent 4 years proving they cannot'

Amen. This is the relevant issue.

I agree with Houlie that Kevin and Julia have not ruled well, and I admit that I had always been a Liberal voter up until the last two elections, when I voted for anyone else than either of the major party's.

However, I have never felt so strongly against a man in politics as I have about Abbott. I simply can't stand the sight of the man, or his incessantly negative brand of politics, or his (puke) speedo's!

I live for the day when somebody, anybody, in the Liberal Party takes over from the Abbott...

Col you seem content to be an unlovable person, are you equally happy to be seen as one who knows so little about most subjects.
Those of us left of Abbott's branch of the American tea party,are aware Howard took and ETS to his last election.
We too know at that time Abbott[then again he has held every side on every issue] Turnbull/Hockey/ and about a third of to days conservatives did want it too.
The standard of public debate is poor, from a live ABC TV interview with a rather lost Hockey yesterday.
Nice young thing, question or statement?* to Hockey talking of Swan, he did seem to ignore such and such what did you think about that*
Australian? most likely they long ago stopped hiding the nature of their propaganda.
See nice young girl was putting her views, in her question, yes Labor is in trouble.
But look at just what this country gets if we fall, Col you may even get a ministry.
Gillard has to go and will.
But only if my party puts its followers/country/history first.
And confronts the worst opposition in our country's history.

Belly,

This is definitely the worst government in living memory. The opposition is streets ahead in every field.

http://www.essentialmedia.com.au/essential-report/

As per the last poll, the voters trust the coalition over the government in every field except IR.

The Labor party is driven purely by self interest, it has no principle it is not prepared to ditch if convenient, and is beholden to a 24hr news cycle, a handful of inflated independent egos, and the barking greens.

They are not competent to run a cake sale let alone a country. The ALP MPs that are not corrupt are incompetent or beholden to other interests including their own.

I have no issue with governments being held to account - that is a job for the voters as well as any Opposition party.

The way a party behaves in Opposition is not irrelevant as far as making choices at the next election. Behaviour in opposition reveals much about the calibre and competency of those who might one day be charged with governing the country. At the moment there is not much satisfaction to be found in the Coalition.

I was watching Joe Hockey's performance in an interview recently and likeable as he might be, he failed to answer any question with an honest response, showing himself the master of evasion. I don't want more of the same - there are already enough spin politicians on both sides.

The truth is there is not much to choose between the two majors at the moment. Maybe people will get desperate and vote for the Australia Party even if Katter is as mad as a cut snake.

There is a huge gap that could easily be filled by new parties willing to shake up the complacency of spin politics and who are committed to democracy over the sport of winning at all costs.

Dear Pelly,

I think the Coalition underestimates the intelligence and understanding of your average voter. We are more than the sum of our personal wants and interests. We know life is more complex than just giving us everything we want, and telling us what we want to hear.

Australians are not stupid and they can spot a con-man a mile off - all teeth and abs. As another reader stated on the web - "I've always felt that Tony Abbott would be far more at home as a bouncer in the
smokey corridors of a nighclub than in the comforting halls of the Melbourne Club."