Dear Banjo,

As one commentator pointed out:

"A contest between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott
is a poor way to win government and when Labor
has the likes of the big media, big business
and big money lined up against them it's hard to
get any message out."

The ALP needs internal reform as Belly consistently
keeps pointing out to us. They need grassroots level
re-engagement with people. Fixing the problems of
the ALP requires more than changed leadership. The
control by party machine men and relying on bad research
to justify egregious policies that prove the government
is tougher than the Opposition are problems that won't
go away.

Lexi,
I agree with Belly about the ALP needing reform and I said to him 12 months ago that the sooner an election that wipes out many ALP members from parliament the sooner they can rebuild with better members. They should look closely at the preference of Union staffers and lawyers/academics and get back to selecting rank and file members that have had some life experience.

No indication yet that reform will take place.

You said,"As one commentator pointed out:

"A contest between Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott
is a poor way to win government and when Labor
has the likes of the big media, big business
and big money lined up against them it's hard to
get any message out."

I disagree with that. Labor has all the parliamentry press gallery behind it, the Unions, ABC and SBS and the smh and AGE. It was revealed not too long ago that business now gives more money to the ALP than to the LIBS. Right at present, that may not be correct.

The fact is the message has been wrong and the spending too much. Management of projects also leaves much to be desired.

Dear Banjo,

You can disagree with the commentator that I
cited earlier however the fact remains that
media ownership in Australia is notoriously
narrow and that mainstream media offers precious
little diversity, and such diversity as there is
runs along predictable lines. As Julian Burnside,
a Melbourne Barrister and human rights activist,
has stated:

"The economics of print and electronic media tend to
drive opinion in the direction of populism. This has
unhappy results now that both major political parties,
it seems, abandoned their founding principles and
form policies by reference to media coverage generally,
and to news polls and focus groups in particular..."

In other words, as Burnside tells us, "Just as
mainstream traditional media are full of voices (mostly
strident) telling government what to do, so the
blogosphere and social media are full of voices - more
numerous and diverse, and often more strident -
doing the same."

It's therefore now difficult to see significant differences
between the policies of the major parties, except on a
few issues. And, it is impossible to predict with any
confidence how either party will respond to changing
circumstances. As I've stated in the past political
commentators agree that this modern fact of political
life is a result of new technology which allows
political parties to see what policy responses will produce
an electoral advantage in key marginal electorates.

The mainstream media are a vital part of this process, since
the loudest voices in the dominant outlets play a major
part in shaping the views which will be expressed in news
polls. Founding principles and philosophy have disappeared
as significant forces in policy formation - and therein
lies the problem.

What we need is outlets which are rational and principled
without being biased to any social or political position.

Well, one can dream.

Banjo truth continues to be the only measure.
Did I include national superannuation in my list? what a great and much envied thing it is.
Let me tell you a truth.
Years ago, one Nation still existed, Abbott,s scheme to imprison its leader had not yet matured.
Neither had the Rudd revival.
In Orange, under a John Howard government.
At the invitation of Chicken growers/and Processors and Orange growers and distributors, yes national farmers groups asked us, ALL state AWU to come and protest the proposed importation of both.
We shared, [our leaders the platform, with all.
As requested turned body guard for Hanson!
But how many times has this thought struck me?
Local well entrenched NP member praised Hawk/Keiting, for having the guts to open us to world markets, at least 4 members of your ultra right Nationals have said things like that, and will again.
Banjo, think with me on this, simplistic frog swallowing, taking the Axe to Labor based only on red neck headlines.
Will not turn your Liberal team in to princes or is it princess?
I can assure you, your words lack under standing.
See truth says even at worst, some achievements will live in history forever.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/revealed-obeids-grand-plan-for-torbay-as-premier-20130411-2hojs.html
This link surely, warns us all.
It highlights the dirty hands of the NSW right.
But shows how very big and wide the filth that was within, yet controlling the NSW ALP.
We the ALP, must reform or face never again being trustworthy.
We too must not, ever, consider hiding it an option!

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/crean-slams-pm-in-show-of-defiance-20130412-2hqym.html
Some will condemn Crean for these words.
He has impressed me by using them, and the great recent change in him.
I have often, told of an unbreakable link between him Gillard, and Latham.
All shared a policy and a ruthlessness UNCARING FOR PARTY.
I know how bad and how like a wrecking ball Abbott,s plans are.
But too that Labor can not win.
It hurts!
But I can not ignore truth, those fleas, who think, inside Labor, that Abbott,s awfulness will tilt victory to Labor?
How truly STUPID! TO GLOSS OVER OUR TRUE POSITION AND CLAIM VOTERS ARE TOO, STUPID.