Its true, Abbott is about winning government no matter what. And I mean no matter; no costed policies, no vision for the future, nothing.... sorry they will offer another Work Choices - but change the name to fool us all - again.

Dear Hasbeen,

Stop repeating the Liberal mantra. Think for yourself. The PM has not broken any promises - circumstances have changed, she is in a Coalition government with the Greens and the Independents. Tony Abbott would have had to do the same thing - compromise - had he won their support. He didn't He lost. Get over it. And this package on offer is a fair one by anybody's standards. If you threw up on seeing our PM on TV last night - then you must be in a constant state of
illness because the flip flops of the Libs, the lies, the spin, the deceit since the Howard era (children overboard affair), the secrecy,
must really make a compassionate man such as yourself quite ill.

Dear bonmot,

I loved your two links - especially the "One Act Play," from the Drum.
I'm going to send it to all of my family and friends. Thanks again.

Lexi,

The changed circumstances is her excuse for breaking her promise. Irrespective of the reasons, her word was broken. She had a choice and she chose to concede to the greens at the expense of her credibility.

This and the BER incompetence will haunt her for years. I cannot see labor letting her lead the party to the next election, as any promise she makes will be subject to "how can we believe you? You lied last time!"

In all fairness, SM, Howard managed to tell some great big lies and get away with it. Of course, he was leading Australia in a boom created by Keating/Hawke, but still...

Lexi "The PM has not broken any promises - circumstances have changed"

If that's the standard then who's word could ever be believed on anything. A change of circumstances is highly subjective. Her words were clear enough, if she can't lead the government and keep her word on the plain meaning then it should go back to the electorate.

Bligh did the same thing, denied plans to drop fuel subsidies in Qld in the lead up to the election (and from memory sell off assets) and cried change of circumstance shortly after the election. Apparently neither she nor the treasurer were aware of the GFC in the lead up to the election although it had been around for some time.

I think that a change of circumstance should only ever be a legit excuse to implement major policy that was not part of an election package if their is genuine bi-partisan support for that change, something Howard did not have for work choices and Gillard does not have for the carbon tax.

A change of circumstance might require compromise on the fine detail (GST exemptions on some products) or an inability to deliver at all but it should never involve going ahead with what you have said you won't do without the consent of those you made the commitment to.

And yes Howard did change his mind about the GST but he took that change of mind to the electorate before implementing it.

R0bert