On 24th February, 2012 at 2:13.18 pm, the resident population of Australia was projected as 22,840,328.....

I find it extraordinary that among such a population, the best we can find to elevate to positions of leadership are the present rather sad examples.

Perhaps our criteria for such positions is in need of a tweak.

hasbeen,
From any 'new blood' there just maybe some hope for a few with a bit of common sense. They could not be worse than the current mob. I cannot see one that is the least bit compedent. Just look at the stuff ups, they are across the board.

Belly,
Just what makes you think Rudd has or will change his style? Don't forget he was the one who opened the door to the illegals, and look what that has cost us. Then ther is his dream of a 'big Australia'. Lepards don't change their spots!

Abbott is untried, so you are simply speculating or wishfull thinking about him not being a good PM. We did well under the Libs previously and they did operate as a team and not a one man band. He has little charisma, but that does not make him an unsuitable PM. He may well put Australia first. I don't necessarily put my money on the best looking horse. Time will tell

Lexi,
You assume Abbott is not for thinking person ?
Well, Rudd & Gillard have proven that they & Labor definitely are not.

True Poirot, and I am sitting at home just waiting for the call....

I think this situation is a reflection of the falling interest in joinging political parties, or at least the major parties.

Back when ALP aspirants and members stood on street corners, on a soap box and addressed hordes of men on bikes with upturned handlebars and Gladstone lunch bags, there was a vibrancy about elections and politics.

That is all gone now, as is the appearance of the member in the Branch meetings, and the role of the branch in policy making.

All is centralised, sterilised and santitised and reduced to boring and irrelevant to potnetial members.

The ALP exists only for union officials, party officials and poor saps who see a career path therein.

At least the Qld Nats still retain their party as a 'party', with its main function being to socialise with others, even though they are subservient to the Libs, totally now in Qld.

The Greens offer an exscape into nowhereland for people who would like to be an 'activist' but have no idea how to become one.

Frankly, some of their party reps need to be put to sleep too.

Depressing, eh?

We on this OLO blog are not representative of our fellow citizens, whatever our views heer are. Most simply couldn't care what goes on, so lomng as petrol costs less, child care is better for less, schools are better for less and tax is less but supplying more.

Where's the Koolaid?

Dear Bazz,

Sorry but I don't tend to use "rhetoric" and "spin,"
I have actually lived under Liberal Governments and
have experienced first hand the damage that they do.
Jeff Kennett was a disaster in Victoria, and the current
Liberal government is equally so. The problem with
conservative governments is they pride themselves on
being able to manage things "economically." However,
in order to do that they cut back on things like
infrastructure, education, health, transport, and so on.
They sell off assets and yet provide tax loop-holes for
the wealthy. It's a question of balance - and that's
something the conservatives are unable to do well.
Labor has to come in and fix the mess
that is left behind. You go on believing that Mr Abbott
will make a good PM. I don't see any evidence of that.
To me he's not offered anything in the way of policies
that make any sense. From what I observe all he's done is
condemn and criticise - and that's not a reason to vote for
him.

Labor has to come in and fix the mess ,
Lexi,
You mean irresponsible spending sprees ? What you call cutbacks are in actual fact measures to live within our means not beyond them.