Shadow Minister self praise is no recommendation .
I got a laugh out of your post however so thanks.
This mornings polls caught Bill Shorten pants down.
Howes honesty has marched all over bills bland attempts to please every one but ignore the truth, most need fierce words to assure them Bill and his gang/party owners will do more than pay lip service to the growing union troubles.
ABC will, as always seem both Liberal/Labor Green, better than your party,s print media arm anything Murdock owns.

I am an electrical engineer working in heavy industry with an additional degree in economics and an MBA.

Christine Milne is an ex school teacher apparently with the IQ of a squirrel, and Bandt and Rhiannon are "ex" communists and SHY has only one track, and that is to bewail the fortunes of the poor economic refugees while being happy to accept the nearly 2000 that drowned under Labor.

Abbott is a Rhodes scholar with 3 degrees and more qualifications in economics than any Labor PM in living memory.

The liberals are highly qualified and experienced, Labor is largely ex union heavies, and the greens are noisy empy vessels.

G'day Belly, like you I am greatly concerned with the way Abbott and Co, are trying to stifle free speech in this country. Remember this is the most conservative government we have ever seen, their makeup is even more extreme that the Howard regime was, no room for true liberals. No doubt from their point of view the ABC is seen as extremely biased and left wing. A subversive (government) organisation that must be silenced. Philosophically they oppose public media, they see no place for "incorrect" reporting, at taxpayers expense, just as there is no place, in their view, for dissenting public opinion. Having a receptive media is the best way of formulating "correct" public opinion. We all know the value of the right kind of propaganda! I'm sure the likes of Murdoch is none too willing, given complete control, to deliver that "correct" message to the masses.
The future danger the Liberal Party poses for society is with their unceasing march to the right it will attract even more extremists who see the party as both accommodating and a vehicle through which power can be obtained.
As the middle ground shifts to the right, the Labor Party has been caught with its pants down, so to speak, trying to gain lost ground, by also, but to a lesser extent, shifting to the political right. Unfortunately this sees Labor putting themselves in a political limbo, not sure where they stand and in what direction they are heading on many of the vital issues confronting the country. Australia needs a strong opposition, as well as a strong and independent public media!

Paul I did not find much to disagree with in your post.
You know my opinion, truly held of the greens.
But never thought I would say this, they frighten me less than Abbott,s team who control Liberalism and keep it under lock and key.
Noted Shadow Minister self promotion, think it needless to engage in histrionics over that.
But fair minded posters who may dislike both sides of politics may consider this.

As an extremism known as the Tea party holds American Republican,s in its vice like grip.
And Abbott here.
What would be the position of both extremes if Murdock,s press did not exist to fuel them both.
Take heart Labor lost the election Abbott has no mandate so he drifts away from his voters, and time will prove that.

Hi Belly, its my belief that the Liberal Party has changed markedly in my lifetime and more so in the past 10 years. No longer is it a true party of liberalism with a conservative appendage as it was in years past. The party is very much a conservative party which no longer embraces liberalism. Interestingly a Liberal Party member who I know well, said to me a few months back the party should take a leaf out of their New Zealand counterparts the Nationals and get back to center right liberalism, particularly on social justice issues.
The big problem with this cosmic shift to the right from the party is it's not only attracting more of the extreme right but where in the past many of these people would not have got a "look in" they are now, more and more, moving into positions of power within the party, controlling policy formulation and candidate endorsement, gaining total control.
To prove my point, take a look at the relationship between the coalition partners. Once upon a time The Nationals (Country Party) were perceived as the conservative element within and the Liberals as the more radical section, now the rolls are some what reversed on a lot of issues.
What is your opinion?

I know you see The Greens in a certain light, but one thing we do for our side, and politics in general, is with the degree of radicalism we display, we very much ignite the debate.
Truthfully Green members are not as the mainstream media portray. The ex-army bloke I referred to earlier, on cross-examination showed himself to be very much a small "l" liberal, he freely admitted to being an ex Liberal Party member. I had no problem with his politics at all, and was a little disappointed he just missed out, in fact I advised him to have another go asap, as I think he would be a real asset.
In our party to gain endorsement you have to be prepared for a grilling from the membership, before the vote and that exposes your personal beliefs.

Paul until you got to your greens I found us on common ground.
I, and I think you know it,can not swallow the greens very real damage inflicted on my party and the whole left of center movement.
I fear those who wish both party,s becoming one, and place the coming loss in Tasmania down to them.
An element within the Tory,s, Labor has the same problem, ignores true public wants and wishes and too voters intentions after some acts.
While some will not like our words here it is a truth every voter should know Australians will not except radicalism in our governments.
For every vote gained by such two are lost.
My party is in a storm bought about by the current union problems and it has to face the NSW Party,s by products and their court appearances this year.
Such a storm is in Abbott,s future he has badly miss judged the electorate.