Dear Bazz,

What voters don't want to hear is a party telling them
that they'll release their policies "in due course,"
along with a growing list of excuses to avoid scrutiny.
Especially a party that does have unparalleled resource
in the Independent Parliamentary Budget Office. Voters don't
need that party declaring they can't release their polices
or their costings until just before the election.

Voters are not idiots. They realise that if someone promises
more spending and lower taxes but does not disclose what
savings they'll make to keep their promises - that this
does not add up and that the only way out of this
magic pudding world is to make massive cuts.

And when a
party refuses to disclose these cuts, and at the same
time when that party opposes other savings measures such
as the government reforms to the private health insurance
rebate and the baby bonus to make them sustainable in
the future, then voters have a right to be concerned.

Voters are aware that Mr Abbott will establish a Commission of
Audit, a well-worn Liberal tactic used by Premiers Newman,
Baillieu, and O'Farrell, to avoid disclosing their real plans
prior to an election and keeping secret the massive jobs,
education, and health cuts, headed their way.

As one commentator stated,

"Australians deserve a little
more respect from the man who wants to lead the nation.
The upcoming election will be held against a back-drop of a
fast-changing world. The central challenge for political
leaders and aspirants is to ensure Australia's continued
economic resilience in this time of change."

"Since the PM announced the Sept 14 election date, the
man who once wanted cameras to follow his every move
has noticeably reduced his media commitments.
He now abruptly walks away from
press conferences and is keeping tight-lipped in
Parliament Question-Time (except for the odd interjection he
seems unable to restrain). "

"It looks like now that the scrutiny is being applied,
Mr Abbott has nothing to say."

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/opinion/politics/final-nail-in-pms-coffin-20130218-2end2.html
I post this link with a sense of relief, I am not alone.
No one can know, truly understand, the pain I feel, and the need to just say what I think is true, about Gillard and my much loved partys impending near death.
The author is no stranger to the ALP, and as I am, no enemy.
Currently, power brokers, the same ones that removed Rudd, are defending Gillard, to defend the actions that put her and my party in this hole.
Self interest, not party loyalty drives them still.
They have plonked the house on Gillard, despite the fact she stands in the stalls, on three legs and facing the wrong way.
I have been here before.
Lathams election, 4am start, set up a booth many miles away.
Knowing without doubt, our fate.
New members of the ALP flocked full of joy, claiming victory, to re-leave me at nine that morning.
I went to the Nationals booth Captain shook her hand and said congrates on the coming landslide victory she was to have.
Those newbys did not last, did not share the joy of 2007.
We can if we wish pretend it will not be so this time, remind me how wrong I was the morning after this one, remind me why we go to election with Rudd on the side lines?

The Greens regularly accuse the Gillard government of porkies and broken promises. Here is Christine Milne on the regular theme:

<Greens Leader Christine Milne has moved to distance her party from the embattled Gillard government, announcing the end of the minor party's alliance with the Labor Party.
.................
"Labor by its actions has walked away from its agreement with the Greens and into the arms of the big miners," she said.>

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/christine-milne-says-labor-has-walked-away-from-agreement-with-greens/story-fncynkc6-1226581081454

Lexi, Lord Nelson would be proud of you !

You seem to be unable to accept what has been the practise since at
least since I became politics aware.
It is just the way it is so get used to it.

Why don't you complain because the Labour party does not reveal all ?
Frankly, I find your biased attitude makes you look ridiculous,

It is one thing to have a different political opinion, but you exhibit
something quite different.

Bazz,

In Lexi's defence, people can raise the issues of possible corruption involving Craig Thomson, most of the NSW Labor Right, and even the AWU slush fund that the PM helped to set up, but what about Mary Jo Fisher's shop-lifting ? Yes, I know it was for less than a hundred bucks and the charges were eventually dropped, at a cost to her of more than $ 200,000 in legal fees, but clearly neither party is a choir of angels.

And I'm old enough to remember xome Liberal member trying to bring in a color-TV without paying duty, and another one trying to smuggle in a Paddington Bear.

Oh yeah, then there was Ray Meagher, that's going back a while. And Theophanous. And Orkopoulos. And the guy who was jailed in Queensland for rape, Darcy I think. Pity they were all Labor men.

But people don't realise how serious it is to try to subvert our Customs rules by trying to bring in stuff from overseas without paying duty. Shameful !

Well, Lexi, I did my best.

Loudmouth, I haven't a clue what you are on about !

Are you saying that when Labour is in opposition they did put their
policies out before the government's policies were announced ?
That they never held back until the closer to the election ?

If so why were the Liberals complaining about no Labour policies when they were in government ?
What has customs got to do with it ?
I never mentioned customs or dishonest dealings !
Are you replying to the wrong post ?
Have you dropped a bit ?