<< Its inconceivable that the red-headed witch will be around after September. >>

Probably right Praxidice, but I don’t think that it is inconceivable that Labor could still be in power, if they play their cards right, in the way that I have suggested.

Afterall, who really thinks that Abbott will do a good job? Everyone expects him to stuff it up. He and his mob are just going to get hounded continuously right from the very start.

Therefore the scope for Labor to reinvent itself and win the election has surely got to be considerable.

Kelvin Thomson for PM!

If he doesn’t win, he’ll be opposition leader and will put the party in an excellent position to win the following election.

But hey, if they just continue on with the same old same old, they’re not only stuffed this time but for the following and election as well and quite possibly forever!

The way I see it, it’s a complete no-brainer. They simply MUST profoundly reinvent themselves. And the Kelvin Thomson / sustainability motive seems like a very clear and obvious way forward. I can’t see any alternative.

Belly,

You speak from your heart, and unfortunately you're probably right on most every point. Do you think that the original role of unions bosses- to care for the well-being of their party members is now just a self serving 'look after the ones in charge' role? I'm leery of anyone who rises from the union floor, and can suddenly afford one or more over million dollar homes.

Lexi dear,

I did say business experience. Maybe I should have clarified the point. I meant business as in manufacturing, retail, mining etc. etc. as opposed to being a union lawyer graduating to government employee.

I do not dispute she is a master of debate, as are many people. This does not equate to hands on business acumen. BTW, Obama also took the same route to power as Gillard, with even more devastating results for his country, although per capita, we're not lagging that far behind are we?

Regardless of the spin we are being given, our unemployment figures are rising, as are the number of homeless, and our economy is now under stress. A fast disappearing species is the happy-go-lucky Aussie who faced problems with a "she'll be right mate".
When was the last time you heard that?

Wishful thinking, or self delusion old mate. Which ever it is not good for you.

Don't forget that Rudd is even worse than Gillard, at running things. She is just a nasty bit of fluff, who never gets anything done, so not too much damage, & easily reversed by that smart Abbott soon.

Rudd is as much or more despised, & incompetent, but he does actually get things done. Always the wrong thing, in his case, just as Julia, but done never the less.

Nah, you're going to have to bite the bullet old mate, & vote for at least some improvement.

Abbott for ever!

Shadow Minister,

As always, the devil is in the details, and no amount of accolades Lexi gives her can alter the facts. Google is great for facts and figures [most times], but the details are more important, as you pointed out.

I also have to wonder how a lawyer who [previously]specialised in industrial [for this read 'union']law was given a portfolio in the then 1981 Shadow Government for population and immigration policy. From there to Indigenous affairs and health. Well, that one bombed too, didn't it?

As I've noted on other threads, there have been some really great women leaders in our world. And then there is Julia who has let down all the women who pinned their hopes on her, as did some men. Wayne Swan comes to mind here as a prime example, along with chubby cheeked Kevin who actually trusted her to back him up.

Lexi dear,

May I gently suggest to you that selecting a CV on Google to publish on the Forum is not quite the same as reading our political history. Even then, we the people will never be fully aware of the behind the scenes drama played out by politicians. Maybe future generations will learn more from their history studies. By then today's issues will hopefully no longer be relevant.
What we do understand is when our lives become affected by the Machiavellian actions of politicians which impact on us at this moment in time.
Quite rightly, any Prime Minister should be scrutinised by the public. They are employed by us to serve our country, and should at all times be beyond reproach

Julia simultaneously holds the position that she need not be married or have children to relate to the needs of families, but argues that men in blue ties can not possibly understand the plight of women in this country. Somehow the latter is not be considered sexist. Or rather misogynist, as she has redefined it.

Dear worldwatcher,

I am judging the PM by her actions. By the amount of
worthwhile legislation that has been passed. By
her toughness and coolness under
intense pressure which is an asset that all Australians
of all stripes should appreciate. It's what we need
in a leader - a person who's not prone to panic. A
person who does not run out of Parliament
at the drop of a hat.
Or punches walls, people, or talks in slogans.
The trouble is Australians are not used to such qualities
in a woman and there are plenty who feel uncomfortable
with it. Being a tough leader and a female, makes our
PM a unique target, but what has been shown is that no
matter what's been thrown at her, she, stands firm.

Libs will always have us believe it's a choice
between looking after the economy and looking after
the people who make the economy work. They want Australians
to go down the path of privatisation and inequality where
government exists to serve Big Business and ordinary
people are left to fend for themselves. Punishing roads
to cuts and austerity is not what creates lasting
prosperity.

Tony Abbott keeps talking about the "Golden" years
under Howard. The truth of the matter
as economic experts
have pointed out - is that the
Coalition had the fortune to hold office in good
economic times, especially from 1996 to 2007 when the
Howard government enjoyed the dividends of the Hawke-Keating
economic reforms and when the world economy was enjoying a
long speculative driven boom.
Good luck perhaps, but hardly good management.

The experts make it quite clear that:

The Howard government let fiscal impression management
displace sound economic management and directed political
attention to only one side of the public balance sheet,
the debt side while ignoring the asset side. If the
Howard cabinet had been the board of a publicly listed
company, the shareholders would have thrown them
out for weakening the Company's asset base.

As for our current economy? That's why we have a AAA Credit
rating from the 3 key ratings agencies.