*I can provide the figures that prove this Yabby*

Well you can't Thinker 2, because you are confusing your figures.
When Howard was treasurer under Fraser, it was a totally different
ballgame then when Costello was treasurer under Howard and you
are you are confusing the two.

Yes, things were not good under Fraser, he refused to reform the
economy, cut tariffs and all the rest, which Keating to his credit,
which I have mentioned many times, finally undertook.

To his credit, Howard was on the point of walking out on Fraser,
as he knew changes had to be made and Fraser had his head in the
sand.

But things were still pretty crook, when Costello took over, many
reforms had yet to play out and more had to be introduced. I paid
18% interest under Keating, but I also know that he had to do what
he had to do, to stop Australia becoming a banana republic.

It was under Costello that business finally gained the confidence
to invest, despite the dotcom crash and all the rest. Costello
reformed APRA and our banking regulation, which was one of the reasons
why our banks came through the GFC so well.

I have always given credit to both Keating and Costello, for their
work in reforming the Australian economy, which was long overdue.
Both men were great debaters in parliament and both men are smart.
But neither is a crawler, which it seems is what the public prefers.

Just push those emotional buttons and the Lexis of this world will
come running.

I do respect your argument Yabby, and I do have some respect for Costello,
but when you say,

"It was under Costello that business finally gained the confidence
to invest",

that, I would re-word as "business took advantage of a complicit and compliant Gov't.

Conversely Yabby I continue (without confusion) to purport, that the figures (at the end of day), that being inflation, interest rates, and levels of unemployment were all worse, than the same figures when Keating handed over the economy in 96. An economic treading of water at best. No public wealth as well at worst, after the fire sale of assets.

In addition Howard changed the ways we calculate inflation (including imports), which may have been necessary with changing times in fairness. This method, none the less adequately disguise's the every rising cost of privatised essential services.

This is the regime we live under now. There are no public instruments, such as a Prices Surveillance Authority with any power over prices, there is no Arbitration Commission making independent decisions about wages, with any real power. No restraint on margins etc and so on. Fuel being a great example of this.

In a nutshell, today we live under the Howard and Costello rules structure.

All Govt's can do, "whomever they may be", is cow-tow to the current owners of our country. Our living standards, meanwhile ever deteriorating, inch by inch, minute by minute.

The hard and despicable right, in our country are now again, flexing their muscles (they must believe opinion polls), feigning balance as an excuse, and using catchphrases like flexibility in the workplace (double speak for more work, no money), with regard to IR policy. Bit early for that isn't it. They usually wait till after elections to tout that stuff.

Costello might have some of Keating's savvy Yabs, but Paul had the balls, and couldn't be bought. How could you say that about any of the current lot ?.

The best and greatest corporate line-toer in the country today is Tony Abbott, which precisely why he could or should ever be our Prime Minister.

*that, I would re-word as "business took advantage of a complicit and compliant Gov't.*

More likely Thinker 2, Govt understood the benefits to Australians,
if business bothers to invest. They could always go elsewhere, capital
is highly mobile. Australians have reaped the benefits of all that
investment.Like you and your kids, have a job.

*the figures (at the end of day), that being inflation, interest rates, and levels of unemployment were all worse, than the same figures when Keating handed over the economy in 96*

Not so Thinker 2, I did point out your confusion. But feel free to
do some more homework.

*In addition Howard changed the ways we calculate inflation*

You will find that alot of these calculations were standardised
internationally, so that economies could be compared etc. Australia
went along with the international standards, fair enough.


*Fuel being a great example of this*

Is that why Caltex Australia has just announced a huge loss, of
hundreds of millions of Dollars? Perhaps competition is actually
quite fierce, even if you are just not aware of it.

*Costello might have some of Keating's savvy Yabs, but Paul had the balls, and couldn't be bought.*

Oh I am not denying that. We still benefit from both men's policies.
The thing is, despite his good work, Keating was thrown out by
the public, as he was not a crawler like Howard. Costello was
of much the same mindset as Keating. But that is not what the public
wants. They want a Howard or a Rudd, people who know how to crawl and
push emotional buttons. Which has been my point all along.

Looking at the ballot results from another angle, Julia polled 69% of the vote.

Now if that were the marks for a student, it would be considered a pass, but hardly one that would pave the way for a career.

When 30% of your own party doesn't respect you as leader, I think that's cause for concern.

The days/weeks ahead will either make or break Julia and, given that KRudd is no longer a candidate for leadership, that narrows down labor's options and, it also ups the anti on Julia to lift her game, big time.

The other problem she faces is that if she does lift, then where was the real Julia for the past year and, would that mean the unreal Julia implemented the carbon tax, as opposed to the real Julia we supposedly have now.

Food for thought!

The PM polled 71 per cent with Mr Rudd 31.
She won the leadership quite substantially
and Mr Rudd has stated quite clearly that
the PM has his full support. The PM has
shown her ability to lead. Labor will now be
forced to look towards implementing reforms
within the party, and achieving positive outcomes,
in the long term. They can now get on with doing
the job of governing.

However the Coalition needs to look at its own leadership -
prior to the next election because Mr Abbott is not
popular with the electorate. Interesting times ahead.

Julia's authority has been eroded, as when she tried to appoint her own candidate to replace Rudd and Arbib, she got slapped down by her own cabinet.

Then she was humiliated in parliament whilst waffling in question time to as usual avoid answering questions, the speaker first asked her to answer the question, and then when she wouldn't, she was told to shut up and sit down.

Then finally Wilkie told her to shove the Pokie sham trial in Canberra.

Looks like the chickens are coming home to roost.