Dear Hassie,

I find there's nothing "worthwhile"
to be said of the man.
He's simply an embarrassment.

STOP PRESS
Hasbeen – I’m offended

After giving Foxy a good growling and reassuring the all would be okay, you bundle me up with a couple of realists like Robert Le Page and Poirot.

That’s not fair; I reckon I’m just as delusional as the coalition press brigade.

Don’t forget only 45.55% wanted the Rabbott and his mob and other choices were not real flash. Just think where the coalition would be if the electorate had a quality alternative under a proportional system. I know this country would be better off.

OTB am I BTT?

Keep dreaming Producer, because in order to have a replacement government, first you have to have a credible oppersition, Anna Bligh and Peter Beaty proved that for years.

Foxy, surely you have to give some credit for doing in six months what Rudd, Gillard then Rudd again couldn't achieve in six years, that's stopping the boats.

If Abbott achieves nothing else in his first term, that's an achievement that will save us billions on it's own, because god knows where those incompetents would have ended up with their softly softly, let's talk about it approach.

Few posses a big stick, even fewer are game enough to use it. The people will remember this for many terms to come so if labor have any ambitions to get reelected in the next few terms, they have to move mountains, not to mention throw out the faceless men and give more say to their members and supporters alike.

Bills made the first move by wanting to disown the unions. Whether or not that's just words remains to be seen.

Dear rehctub,

How do we know the boats have stopped coming?
We're not told how many set out for Australia. Or
how many people have drowned en route, or anything else.
"Out of sight out of mind," seems to be take
on things, and keeping things secret
doesn't mean anything has actually changed.
The Coalition had their chance to really do something
positive when the Malaysian Solution was being considered.
They missed a great opportunity.
Desperate people are not going to stop coming no matter
what we're being told.

What is needed and would cost a lot less is for Australia
to set up processing centres in the countries from which
the people are leaving. At the moment people have nowhere
they can lodge their applications - hence the attempted
journeys to get out. And these are not about to stop
any time soon.

Yes, butcher one imagines that you'd be impressed by the Abbott govt's skill in stuffing people into orange pods and towing them out to sea, presiding over gulags and not cooperating when murder and mayhem arise in them.

Their latest lily-livered directive to get people to dob on their mates if they criticise Our Glorious Tones is truly magnificent - I suppose if we're going to toss away our values and freedoms, that's the way to do it.

Hail Tones, Peta and Co - weak of character and integrity - strong on the nose.

*If Abbott achieves nothing else in his first term, that's an achievement that will save us billions on it's own*

Of course we must not count the cost of this offshore concentration camp business, which is in the billions must we?

It is quite alright though to bring in hundreds of thousands of migrants and 457 visa workers.
Without a huge pool of workers it will not be possible to reduce wages.

If the number of "boat people" was subtracted from the number of "legal" migrants it would be a whole lot cheaper for us.
If the camps were in Australia the cost of building and operating them would stay in Australia.

Sorry to rain on your parade but this boat people lark is a grand way to take everyone's minds off the real issues.