RObert,

No, same impression as you.

Nothing "alarming" at all. In fact, he comes across quite well, even a little humble (always a good quality).

But, you know, I don't think he translates well in political life. I linked to an interview he did with Sunrise this morning, and frankly he came across as wishy-washy...his mouth was moving and words were flowing forth, but he wasn't really "saying" anything, if you get my drift.

My feeling is that now he actually has to fight for the Prime Ministership (Notwithstanding at present he's still in the box seat), I'm dubious as to whether he has the mettle to contend with Rudd.

Time will tell.

But keep anchored to the truth.
Belly,
The truth ? Then why don't you confirm the truth Rudd & Co failed miserably. You either don't know what truth is or you're simply too selfish to care what your lot did to many working Australians. Some Union Rep you must have been, Geez !

sonofgloin, "Labor governments ruled the states for the last decade....hence no infrastucture....but we have the debt"

Agreed, they have always had 'better' ways of spending the money, but the pigeons keep coming home to roost. However the same State Labor governments were consistently critical of their federal counterparts for continually setting new records of migration while all of the migrants lobbed in the big cities. Sydney's problems is one example.

In Queensland, that blithering idiot federal minister Peter Garrett hung Premier Anna Bligh out to dry by refusing the Traverston Dam at a very late stage. Queensland had to go ahead with hugely expensive and environmentally damaging desalination plants, while the water that could have been held by the Traverston later flooded Gympie and surrounding areas before lost, flowing out to sea.

Poirot, but he wasn't really "saying" anything'.

I do get that, I'm not entirely sure the small target approach is one Abbott is very comfortable with. Not one I like but I can understand the choice, a sad reflection on where politics has got to overall.

My own impression of him over the years is that much of the bad press he gets is the same lies and spin shouted over and over by his enemies rather than his lived values. Like a lot of men of our generation struggling with the balance between traditional values and where they find themselves now. He seems to not have a problem with strong competent women in his close circles but does not do so well with those who try and use their gender as a weapon.

I related to what I heard when he admitted to being uncomfortable around gays, the attacks on him over that bothered me. I liked the honest of admitting being uncomfortable while still seemingly being willing do accept equality in most issues (I disagree with his stance on gay marriage but as I understand it Gillard and Rudd both voted against that).

I liked that he admitted that what he says on the fly is not always true, I'd prefer that the reality was different but also prefer that honesty to the pretence of those who lie and pretend they don't.

As for ticker to take on Rudd I'm undecided. He seemed to not have problems last time round but then it looks a lot like Gillard was white anting Rudd behind the scenes (as it appears Rudd was doing to Gillard during her term). We may never have had Abbott dealing with a Labor PM without inside help so it is hard to tell.

But then Gillard and her supporters are still in parliament and some of them may have mixed feelings about Rudd saving the ALP from political decimation. It would be so tempting to ensure Rudds revival of Labor fortunes was a little less than outstanding if you were on the outer.

R0bert

Beach person and the rest of you conservative rabble, Noticed none took up the offer to answer Rudds 2 questions on turning back the boats.
Come on, what will the Mad Monk do if Indonesia send the boats right back in his direction? It's a rhetorical question; the fool would s#@t himself.
Beach, if ever again I should be subjected to a "verbal" in the streets of Marrickville by a couple of Jew nutters over the Greens support for the Palestinian people I will remember that "UN Charter of civil rights, (where) we cannot discriminate or sledge on the basis of religion" before I tell them to shove their Torah where the sun don't shine.
I don't know how much "political experience" you have outside of posting on this soft soap forum, but if you were to get out in the real world of the streets of the inner burbs of Sydney sometime during an election campaign, and if all you cop is being sledged with a tag like "your the Mad Monk" you would be getting off light. In my book politicians are fair game, including those from my side of the fence.

Paul1405,

ATM the people smugglers highly profitable business model permits them to choose the cheapest, expendable vessels and cruise just offshore to international waters. Phone contact with counterparts in Australia ensures the Australian navy cab rushes to the scene.

Because the smuggling gang and the Oz contacts are not part of the same gang (I would assume) the authorities are legally frustrated, with the bonus that the smuggling gang's anonymity is assured.

There are a number of ways of attacking the problem. If it was my watch I would not be allowing people smugglers to dictate where the naval vessels are located, which has also been compromising their other main roles. If necessary I would put small, fast coastal vessels on watch, restricting their distance of operation and carrying capacity. Again, aerial coastal surveillance should not be compromised by the dictates of people smugglers. Indonesia doesn't allow people smugglers to dictate its patrol boat dispersal and operational priorities.

The government's decision to keep decision makers and courts up to date with the situation in other countries is good.

What Howard did very successfully was to ensure smugglers' vessels had fuel and tow them back to the brink of Indonesian waters, having contacted the Indonesian authorities for cooperation, which was given. It doesn't take many tows to break the smugglers' business model as far as their clients are concerned.