Kevin Rudd is now the Prime Minister of Australia.

Julia Gillard has declared she will not contest the election, and is thus retiring from politics.

These 2 facts mean that the Coalition will now have to actually make up some policies (poor ones) and do some costings (tricky, deceitful costings), in order to maintain credibility and remain competitive up to the election date.

As we all know, Rudd is FAR more intelligent, persuasive, popular and competent than a dozen Abbotts. Abbott will now be FORCED to face Rudd head on in election debates, and of course he will be demolished by Rudd.

The polls will IMMEDIATELY have Labor quickly catching up, and by election time Labor will have a marginal lead. They will win the election by several seats.

Imagine it, the intelligence of Rudd against the immature, drama queens Hockey, Pyne, Joyce, Bishop, Abbott etc etc. NO CONTEST.

'As we all know, Rudd is FAR more intelligent, persuasive, popular and competent than a dozen Abbotts'.

Really, what do you base this on, rhetoric.

You have the wrong words in your description of Rudd there PJack. The ones you were looking for are cunning, unscrupulous & manipulative.

Being intelligent is one thing of which you could never accuse Rudd.

I knew the jokes would be running thick and fast today. I just didn't expect to see them here. The Coalition has very little to do to win this election. They will have access to plenty of file footage of ALP bigwigs denigrating Rudd. They will have access to plenty of file footage of Rudd saying he had no intention of contesting the leadership. They still don't need policies to win this thing. They have two unassailable weapons in their arsenal:
1) Proof that not even those who chose Rudd like him, and
2) Proof that Rudd cannot be taken at his word.
The ALP will just have to continue their 'Chicken Little' approach - that the sky will fall in on the day that Tony Abbott is sworn in as PM. It's had mixed results so far - people despise Tony Abbott (thanks in equal proportion to ALP negativity and Abbott's own inability to keep his feet out of his mouth) but still fancy their chances with the Coalition rather than with Labor.

My recollection of Rudd vs Abbott last time is that Rudd got a hiding and was tossed out of office. Labor then got a new talking head (Juliar) against Abbott, who also got a hiding, and was again tossed out of office by the self same tossers.

Are we to believe that the "new Krudd" responsible for a raft of failed policies is now capable of leading a "new Labor" to responsible government.

Sorry, not all voters are that stupid.

SM,

What happened was that Gillard and Co shafted Rudd in a panic because (surprise, surprise) the polls had dipped for the incumbents.

She took over and Labor scraped in with the help of the Independents.

Her elevation actually lost Labor votes...and the slide has been continuing ever since.

If they hadn't got rid of Rudd at that time, I submit they would have done better in the 2010 election.

Abbott will still win the election by a good margin. Labor will be wiped out and all because Labor as it stands today is not a shadow of what it was and what it stood for. It's a bit like the Volkswagen. Hitler told Porsche to make a good solid car for the people at a price they could afford. He did and the car lasted for many years in its original marque. Then it morphed into the modern copycat stylistic it is today. Just another car.
Labor was born to represent the people with socialistic values of care and empathy. It morphed into a copycat stylistic mirror of capitalistic devalued functionality that reinvented self-seeking and nepotism as a goal.
Rudd will get an extra hit to his superannuation and pension and that is really what this egomaniac wants.

Chris "gaff" ..... I can see why you chose that name. So you "seriously" think that the reason Rudd is PM again is specifically to boost his superannuation. Nice try son, ha ha ha ha ha. You'll need to do better than that.

Within 4 weeks, the polls will have Labor and the Coalition parties neck and neck.

Rudd now leads an unstable party, you cannot trust to stand up protect the environment or our long term national security. And who likes Mr No Abbot ?

As a elderly community activist from the 70s ( OAM) , I am disgusted to see the first female Australian Prime Minister got rid of in this way. Also, Kevin Rudd turned his back on action on climate change and the mining tax. Meanwhile the appointment of Tony, the Abbott from hell is imminent.

At the next election my wife and I will keep doing what we always do. Hand out the out to vote card on the day, and tie up big green triangles within site of the election booth and my house well before the election. Christine Milne is the only female political party leader to get our vot

When Abbott became leader of the opposition Labor lead the 2pp by about 57-43.

Just before Rudd was knifed it had dropped to 52-48 on the back of the mounting boats crisis, the BER debacle etc, and Rudd was knifed by Juliar.

Juliear got a bounce in the polls as high as 56-44, but as the election approached, this dropped to 50-50.

Lessons:
1 Honeymoons are short, and not enough to win.
2 Abbott beat Rudd before, what is different this time?

SM,

When did Abbott beat Rudd?

You're surmising that Abbott would have beaten Rudd in the 2010 election.

I surmise that installing Gillard worsened the outcome for Labor.

Both are suppositions.

There was no election between Rudd and Abbott as respective leaders of their parties.

But there will be soon.....

Poirot,

You can be as obtuse as you want. The stark difference in polling from Nov 2009 before Abbott took over, to June 2010 shows that TA's attack was dragging Labor and KRudd down, to the point where the difference was within statistical error, and even Labor thought they were going to lose, and Knifed Rudd. The counter supposition that Rudd beat Abbott has no support.

If you want to dabble in semantics, then while it is true TA did not beat Krudd at an election, but my supposition that TA would probably have won, at least has the confirmation that Labor with their internal polling concurred. If you wish to put your supposition on a equal status with mine, then at least put forward more persuasive than your gut feel.

P Jack, you are forgetting, or simply ignoring one very, very important fact, that being that Rudd was responsible for the illegals mess, a mess that will at best cost us years to fix, with billions we simply don't have, and at worst have to potential to deprive the tax payer of their tax payer funded privileges for years, if not decades.

I while I can accept that you may choose to ignore/forget, I seriously doubt the masses will, especially given it will most likely be to main topic of discussion be one Tony Abbott.

After all, mr Abbott simply needs to ask, "Mr Rudd, did you get it wrong, and what makes you think, that after six years of miss management, you can now all of a sudden get it right".

P jack welcome and nice to see intelligent comment.
Rudd is in the seat he never should have been forced to leave.
Warning however this forum is full of potential front bencher's in Abbott,s camp.
Some have the screaming and miss information down to pat.
However will there be an Abbott front bench.
Now exposed to a true politician Abbott will battle to make his baseless rants stick.
He too must look over his shoulder, issues like climate change put Turnbull in the box seat to roll him before the public does.

It is extremely unlikely Rudd will retain the seat of Griffith. Increasing evidence is pointing to the fact he lacks support on the ground in Griffith. The labor branches have been decimated by declining membership and reducing numberd of branches. Kevvy's past strategy of importing support from youth and union sources as well as other electorates, is no longer possible as he is roundly hated by all his elected Qld mates and unions. As well State and Council members who once could be counted on for help have been reduced to a rump. Where once he could depend upon six to eight members he now hss maybe 3 and two of them are factionally aligned.
The LNP have an excellent candidate in a former Chair of the AMA. Swings in Griffith against Labor have historically been greater than the National average. Rudd failed to win Griffith in his first attempt in the Howard landslide against Keating. Griffith has a large population of 'Howard Battlers' and swathes of increasing North African and Asian immigrant enclaves.
He is likely to suffer the same fate as a former PM. Ironic? Naaaaah .... deserved.

It would be an odd result if Labor won the election under Rudd but then for Rudd to lose his seat. Who would be PM? I'm guessing Crean, Shorten or Combet may take a stab. Or maybe Plibersek? Or Bowen?

My goodness, it would be a pickle.

How soon people forget. The only thing working for Rudd electorally is the fact he is perceived as the underdog, the guy who got 'knifed' by a woman and some faceless men. His personality, previous mistakes and difficulties appear to have been forgotten.

Rudd was removed for more than just polls and a bad handling of the MRRT.

Barry Jones said it well. Rudd was bad at communicating and relating with the 'Inside' of the ALP and a poor administrator, while Gillard was very good. Whereas, Rudd was good 'Ooutside' in the electorate. Just when the electorate was starting to see the 'real Rudd' he was cast as the hard-done-by fallen PM which appealed to the sense of fair-play in the electorate. It was outside in the electorate that Gillard failed to translate her good qualities and policies. Gillard made some fatal mistakes early on which set the path unfortunately back to Rudd.

Gillard would have been better just being herself and mostly ignoring the spin meisters. She would have fared better showing the person that those who have met her close up see, and those who experienced the machinery of government led by her compared to Rudd. She did not do that - and maybe that would have been impossible. The focus on gender was a mistake and just became a divisive instrument.

However, I find it difficult to watch Rudd on the TV at the moment talking about vitriole, negativity and 'hate politics', because here is a man who worked to undermine the government at every turn as payback for his deposing. Whether it was the Rudd Camp's sabotage that led to the hung Parliament I wouldn't know - but it certainly did not help. Here is a man talking about solidarity and putting a united front...........hahahaha

PJack,
Your job in the Labor Media Office must take you everywhere. Just be careful the crap you peddle isn't one of those mess holes you might fall into.

Mr "Gaff", I see you continue with your gaffs. Nice try son.

Belly, did you watch Parliament today? Rudd, and his team, utterly DEMOLISHED Abbott and those 2 angry juveniles Pyne and Hockey. Labor spent the time explaining policy, policy, policy and more policy, whilst the Coalition members were having their usual hissy fits interspersed with invective.

pelican, "..I find it difficult to watch Rudd on the TV at the moment talking about vitriole, negativity and 'hate politics', because here is a man who worked to undermine.."

You are right of course and that fact will not be lost on most voters.

However the same applies to the Greens. With friends like the Greens, who needs enemies?

Peter Garrett has resigned, saying he can't go through whatnhe went through sith Rudd last time, as it was Garrett who warned Rudd he needed more time for the insulation roll out, but Rudd forced his hand.

Unfortunately, Garrett took the fall for it's failures, and that is something I personally owe him an apology for.

So in essence, the two worst descisions in the six years, Insulation and borders, were Ruuds babies.

People won't forget, and in the event they do, Abbott will remind them, time and time again I would suggest.

If he does loose his seat, how embarrassing would that be.

rehctub,

Tone down the hysterics (although I realise that up till now it's been the Coalitions "only" strategy)

Rudd won't lose his seat.

Any sign of a policy from the opposition?

(If you see one, be sure to post a link)

Just read that Combet was stepping down too.

Garrett said some good things in his valedictory speech. It was sad and despite the fact he is a bit of an oddball I am sorry to see him go. It was also a travesty that Garrett took the blame for pink batts all that time ago, Rudd instead choosing not take full responsibility. It all came out in the review but it was too late for Garrett's reputation and the vitriole from the Conservative Right was relentless. The Conservative Right would have to be the most appalling in terms of behaviour in Australia (actually anywhere in the world).

Today Garrett made the observation (outside the square) that we are not just about economic growth but about other values. And that 'we' should be reminded of that and reflect it more in policies about the future.

There is a huge departure from Labor. I don't blame them for going. I would not serve under Rudd.

While there was the matter of a hung Parliament, Labor's big mistake was also in enlisting Peter Slipper as Speaker. This is a role that by its nature demands someone of high character and integrity. The handling of the Ashby/Slipper/Cabcharge was woeful and lacked honesty. It is one thing to deal with the complexities of a hung Parliament another thing to make choices that lack integrity and are based purely on survival. The LNP is also remiss on this subject, having made excuses and covered for Slipper for many many years.

Have no sympathy for Garrett. The man was and is a droid. I lived on the next property to him in the Southern Highlands and watched him set fire to the National Parks Forrest time and time again with his junkie muso party freaks. Even Jimmy Barns steered a clear path from him.

Pjack you have done well.
In one thread we can see jealousy uninformed comments and best of all gut busting laugh bringing silly comment.
Just like the daily rants in question time from the opposition.
I can nor see why Pyne the Bishops and Mirabella got a front row seat.
Rudd to see his seat go? measure that blindingly silly thought with the reality.
That great night a Morgan poll gave Labor 49.5% Liberals 50.5%
Aware some are unable to read truth but this election is going to be very close.
We who understand the subject know those who only ever see their sides point of view are doomed to not see the truth until it rolls over them.

pelican,

'Slippery' courts those who protect him. Have a look at photo 5 in this article on Gillard.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/former-prime-minister-julia-gillard-fights-back-tears-during-emotional-farewell-speech/story-fnihslxi-1226670702600

I was overjoyed with the Rudd victory that other night. In fact I'm over the moon. Not that I could care less who heads the Labor Party.
What brings me joy is not seeing Rudd knife Gillard, but rather the fantastic outcome for THE GREENS.
Great to see the only shining light in Federal Labor getting elevated to number 3, Penny Wong. If Labor ever gets the chance to put another woman into the top job Penny would make a great choice, but I'm not to sure about Albo in as deputy dog. Then there was the demise of my personal favorite Rock Star Pete. Sad, no more Pete in Kingsford-Smith, no more yelling at this little green pixie in the streets of Randwick, I only told him he was a sell out to the environment and the workers of Australia. Labor's answer to Heinrich Himmler Steve Conroy got the boot as well, all good.
As for THE GREENS, the Rudd factor should deliver us a swag of preferences in the Senate vote in NSW improving the chances of Cate Faehrmann winning 5th spot and keeping the other Red Headed Witch Hanson out of parliament and in the fish n' chip shop.
Belly I want you out there drumming up Labor votes, helping Cate join my favorite, and yours, federal poly Lee Rhiannon in the Senate.
Belly if you only knew Lee you would soon learn to love her.

Poirot why do you think Rudd cannot lose Griffith. I gave sound reasons for my view. You merely aserted without support.

Any one who thinks Rudd may even be at risk in his seat is commenting about a subject they know nothing about.
Paul 1405 your post does not surprise me.
Are you aware I regard you as a mate?
True not leg pulling.
But too I have a mate known as the mad Irish man, great bloke but never ever gets it right about politics.
No it is not nice, in fact it is wrong.
But bloke Australia is weary of female leaders, yours stand out.
Election day will be interesting but you must prepare for a bad night.
Watching the count.

Belly,

What about a bloke who has been PM for less than a day, unelected too, who announces that Australia could be suddenly at war with Indonesia?

What a turkey Kevin Rudd is when that mouth gets going. That idiot was a diplomat, a previous Foreign minister and now he is PM!

http://www.news.com.au/national-news/federal-election/kevin-rudd-says-tony-abbott8217s-asylum-seeker-policy-risks-a-diplomatic-crisis-with-indonesia/story-fnho52ip-1226671337940

Rudd was referring to *DIPLOMATIC* conflict. Duh! It's funny how desperate the Abbott lovers are now becoming. But we expect them to twist words and not tell the truth.

In his address to journalists Rudd was talking about gunboats in a stand-off with war as an outcome.

Rudd is inclined to run off at the mouth. He is not PM material. In DFAT if he was a fresh graduate trainee at DFAT and said something truly stupid like that, he would be finding a different department on Monday.

What a clown.

After Rudd mentioned "conflict" in his address, he was quizzed by a journalist regarding what he meant by "conflict". Rudd IMMEDIATELY answered, saying he was referring to *DIPLOMATIC* conflict.

Having said that ........ let's hear more from the Abbott loving, why bother with the truth, spin doctors here. By the way, I wonder if they can even spell "mendacity".

I think if Australians vote Rudd back in they'll be seen as the most stupid folk in the western world.

I think if Australians vote Abbott in they'll be seen as the most stupid folk in the western world.

When the word "conflict" is used in discussing relations between neighbors, it generally means the shoot it up type. Rudd as an ex diplomat would have known this unless he was a complete moron.

Rudd made his first stuff in the job by over egging his attempt to disparage the turning back of the boats.

The big questions are, can we really afford another three years, similar to the past six odd we have had?

Remembering, prior to Kevin 07, we had $20nillion in the bank, huge confidence in both consumers and employers, and next to no boats.

Now if you say, we can't, and I expect you should say that, then please tell me, what will be different this time round, and why?

It's not a trick question, I just wish to know how putting Rudd back in the top job, will turn our fortunes around.

Now hear this, if he can turn us around, without implementing huge cuts, without inflicting pain and suffering to the tax payer, then I would even consider voting for him myself.

The problem I have, and no doubt it's a problem many share, is how can we trust labor to tell the truth.

No carbon tax under a government I lead....

There are no circumstance under which I will EVER lead the labor party again...

Were are our assurances they can be trusted.

Now as for Abbotts agenda, he will hammer Rudd about the boats, because after all, anything Rudd says about Abbotts approach to turning back the boats, will be answered in the manner of, why did you remove Howards solution in the first place.

Now as for the polls, it is obvious Rudd will soar, as the previous polls were not a reflection of Abbotts popularity, rather, they were a reflection of Gillards lack of popularity.

My tip is that the longer Rudd delays the election, the worse his chances will be.

Rechtub it will not wash!

Fact is and it will not go away the world is in dept, *the world*
We are one of 5 country,s having a triple A rating.
How do you think the rest of the world became debt ridden?
I feel Australia had such a good run during the GFC some did not know it took place.
Rechtub one of us, on this subject is totally wrong.
Do you except the world is in debt?
I understand.
Truly I do, under Gillard you had the election in the bag.
Abbott,s negativity, matched by yours and a few here, will no longer be hidden.
Rudd will by his actions force Abbott to stop!
Stop ill considered efforts to mindlessly chant mindless three word taunts not based on truth, his way in to government.
READ THE POLLS.

The Labor, sorry ALP spin doctors are in overdrive now telling us for the second time how the most incompetent political leader in Australia's history with the most incompetent proven outfit will take this country to those great imagined economic & social heights with even less money in the coffers than before. I have no doubt & actually fear that there a sufficient morons out there to get this lot over the line again & most likely cause a total collapse of our society. They already got us to the half-way mark so a second term would definitely finish us off.

individual,

Cheer up.

http://australianpolitics.com/2012/12/14/oecd-australia-a-standout-economy.html

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/australia/

Belly, we are indeed on the same side, we can't afford not to be.
The 'gunboat' mentality has been a tool of the conservatives since the year dot. Abbott and his "I'll turn back the boats" mantra does more harm to Australia's relationship with Indonesia than any utterances of Rudd's. Given an Abbott/Bishop combination dictating foreign policy we will indeed be at war with Indonesia, sorry should I say at war with the Yellow Peril, is that not the way the conservatives have traditionally described the peoples of Asia as the Yellow Peril. An Abbott in government, and with his child like understanding of everything political. Add to this the conservatives team of boofheads who aspire to "lead" Australia, what a farcical bunch, Hockey as Treasurer, I would not trust him with the play lunch money. Pyan in education, pyan by name pain by nature, please someone send the fellow back to primary school, he badly needs an education. Scott Morison, Minister for Productivity & Population, Immigration & Citizenship, no people skills what so ever, and they want to put him in charge of people. The list goes on, and I didn't even mention Barney Joyce, what a hick a hay seed, an embarrassment. A total bunch of political knuckleheads, and they want to run Australia.

Paul1405, "The 'gunboat' mentality has been a tool of the conservatives since the year dot"

Boy, are you mixed up. It was Kevin Rudd, PM by appointment of Caucus who is talking up gun boats and war too he says. Then he had to rush off to the phone to apologise and square it off with Indonesia. Indonesia would not be surprised by Rudd's 'eccentricities'. It IS all about Rudd after all.

onthebeach,

He had to rush to the phone did he?

It was Julie Bishop who rushed out with her bucket and spade to construct a sloppy sand castle (buttresses with goody dollops of hysteria and desperation)

....one that was quickly washed away by a tide of level-headed commentary.

(Perhaps if the Coalition gets up at the next election, they can lash Ms Bishop to the prow of their "turn-around" vessels. She could wax-hysterical in the direction of the boat people - it would surely make me think twice about continuing my journey)

Belly,

There is a small number of men and women in the unions and in the Labor Party who are bent and are using their positions and contacts for their own benefit. That has been seen in the States, all States, and has become apparent in Canberra over the past several years in particular.

It is not sufficient to bury one's head in the sand, saying that all politicians are the same, because they are not and any that are should be forced out of politics and public roles.

I daresay you would have the same concerns as any here, that if Labor got in again the rot at the top would continue and move down the structure as well. How long into the next government before more serious scandals evidence again? Labor might never rise again after that.

Everyone in Labor casually forgets that Krudd pledged to turn back the boats in 2007.

Was he lying then, or is he lying now?

SM Gillard was lying. Rudd is a lie.

The whole persona he presents is a fabrication. It is designed to present what the slimy bugger thinks the Oz people want in a PM, & he & his lady must be right to some extent, or it wouldn't work so well.

Everyone knows he is a totally different, & thoroughly nasty person, the moment the TV cameras are turned off.

Everyone knows he is totally incompetent, & should not be trusted to run the school tuck shop.

Obviously for most lefties the only thing important is being in power, & not what is best for Oz, & it's people.

Just his destruction of our boarder security should be enough to bar him from any position of influence, but they just don't care.

To those who consider the libs to be poor economic managers, and that labor, despite thier appalling record, would be better suited, I askonee simple question of you all, that being, what are you using as your evidence, as I am using track record, something that you lot surely can't use.

Belly, while I accept that the world is in debt, is is not due to waste and missmanagement like it is here, as it is more to do with finacial matters.

And, unlike us, they have not had the luxury of a mining boom to fuel their waste.

Take away mining, put in our HUGE BUSINESS COSTS and we are in exactly the same boat, but with a tiny population.

Now back to debt.

It's not a bad thing, IF WE HAD SOMETHING TO SHOW FOR IT, but we don't.

Almost everything Julia and Rudd touched, they stuffed up.

All we have to show for it is a grossly UNDERFUNDED NBN and unfunded policies such as Gonski and the NDIS.

Please tell me you're not proud of any of those under achievements!

rehctub,

http://australianpolitics.com/2012/12/14/oecd-australia-a-standout-economy.html

Yep, bloody terrible : )

.............

Hasbeen,

I just watched Tony Abbott turn it on for his followers.

'Twas a genuine a US style campaign launch - replete with all the hoopla!

Maybe he's onto something, and moved on from pamphlets......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS3dL1L4gTo&feature=c4-feed-bul&list=UU2rwiyz-ZyJoB-kqAEgHqMA

And further more, he wishes to be remembered as the "infrastructure" Prime Minister - which, when you think about it, is a significant departure from the usual practice of conservative governments wherein they sell off some government infrastructure and let the rest fall into disrepair.

Shadow Minister, "Everyone in Labor casually forgets that Krudd pledged to turn back the boats in 2007.
Was he lying then, or is he lying now?"

Actually, Rudd promised to turn back the boats in 2007. Then Rudd promised not to 'turn right' on the boats in 2010. Now in 2013 Rudd is again promising to turn back the boats. Come tomorrow..?

Rudd swings with the wind. Does a weather cock lie, or does it do what it does because it cannot do any better?

onthebeach not greatly interested in much you write.
Closed minds are not productive ones.
However an open mind with open eyes could as I have, come to the conclusion the defeat of Union interference and power brokers by the reinstalling of Rudd, changes every thing.
And gives a rocket boost to ALP reform.
With weeks we will be forced to listen and suffer the truth about NSW FILTH Rudd, a reformer will not hold back.
Win or not he and he alone will start the bush fire of reform in my great party.
I am indeed laughing at the desperate clutching at straws that are not there to blacken Labor and Rudd.
BUT warn my fellow travelers media hacks young women and older men who will give opinions not news to try to harm Labor.
Be very careful, the 24 hour news cycle rewards half wits for blowing non storys up.
And now our media, without exception is owned by those with axes to grind.
Kevin Rudd? go you good thing!

From the swamp to the cesspool, hardly a change for the better.

Kevin Rudd? go you good thing!
Belly,
Yep, it takes some intelligence to say that because nothing can be said without any intelligence.

But what are you Abbott lovers going to do after Rudd wins the election for Labor? I wonder what your "excuses" will be this time?

Did anyone see that crazy Liberal woman pollie doing her hate filled, aggressive anti Rudd speech in parliament the other day? Really crazy stuff. It's hard to imagine any pollie being so consumed with hate, fear, aggression and immaturity ... except maybe Pyne, Hockey, Abbott, the 2 Bishops, etc etc (you get the picture)

Pjack,

What are you Krudd lovers going to do when Krudd loses the election?

Combet came from the union movement the fact is he has been good to great in the house.
He may have played a bigger role in the knifing than we know.
Garret remember had the roof installation portfolio, he warned Rudd it was badly managed.
But too do not avoid this truth.
He was hand picked by Latham the loony.
Took a seat from a candidate the membership wanted , then joined the party to become a candidate?
IF ONLY! Abbott could talk screeching Mirabela and both Bishops to grab Pyne and all leave to make room for talent.

Read the polls and suffer my combative anti Labor mates!
But too consider the fleeing the house a good sign ,it is renewal and in part admission some did great wrong to my party
What better place for the faceless men than out of office?

P Jack, no excuses from me, as Abbott was never winning the race, Gillard was just loosing it, badly.

Now hers a question for you, if K Rudd takes labor to another victory and, we have more of the same, ending in billions more debt, what will your excuse be?

Belly, if Rudd can lift confidence, especially within the small business sector and go on the form a successful government, we will all be winners.

However, if he wins and fails to deliver, do you honestly think we can afford the gamble.

My tip is his honeymoon will be short lived and his popularity will soon start to decline because after all, the boat people debacle will haunt him forever.

Rehctub, Australia's debt is around 10% of GDP. That's one of the LOWEST debt ratios among ALL first world nations on Earth. And achieved during the WORST financial crisis in history (bar the Great Depression). It's a LOW, LOW, LOW debt, and absolutely 100% manageable. We have a AAA rating.

Nice "try" rehctub. Please deliver more Abbott loving "spin doctoring". You make it too easy for me.

rehctub,

As a comparison - the US has a gross debt to GDP ratio of around 107 percent.

By my calculations they should hit 17 "trillion" in debt in less than a month.

http://usdebtclock.org/

Poirot,

Firstly PJ was quoting net debt not gross debt. Net Federal debt at the end of 2007 was about -5% and is now sitting at about + 12% of GDP, or closer to 40% of annual federal level. It would be like a person on an income of $100 000 running up a credit card debt of $40 000 in 5 years.

The US federal debt is gross debt, which to get to net debt would mean that you would have to subtract all the securities that the US has been buying to drop interest rates which would take the net debt closer to 60%

P Jack, percentages mean little to me, especially when it is likely we won't have a mining boom to service the debt.

I can only assume that you think, that despite the fact that we have seen $20 billion in the bank, turn into some $400billion in debt, as nothing to worry about.

Now which ever way you look at it, that's a worry, because someone at some point has to pay that back.

Rehctub, our debt is SMALL indeed compared to other nations. It's comparable to someone having an income of $100,000 per year with a mortgage repayment of $10,000. Our debt is larger than before the GFC (boom times indeed), because the post GFC spending kept Australia out of recession and in employment. We would have been MUCH worse off without that spending with massive unemployment, an utterly crippled private enterprise and at least DOUBLE the debt we now have.

P Jack, spending to avoid recession is one thing, but to waste the money time and time again, on failure after failure leaves one with a huge debt (in comparison to where they took over) and nothing to show for it.

It has taken almost six years for Rudd and labor to accept the fact that the illegals that Rudd allowed in are no genuine, a fact that many knew from the beginning.

Combine this, with the likes of insulation, and every other stuff up along the way, and even you should be able to see why our debt of only 10% (as you say) is a huge problem.

Now on that point of what you describe as VERY LOW DEBT, please tell me, if our debt is SO LOW and we are in SUCH GREAT SHAPE, why then do we have so many out there who are suffering so badly and why then can't we afford reform without robbing Peter to feed Paul?

rehctub,

It's an indictment on both parties that they are running with the "economic migrant" line as their major trump cards.

Never doubt that Aussie politics these days is a populist, media-driven affair.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-02/human-rights-commission-economic-migrants/4792924