I feel our current Federal Opposition leader comes across as weak and we are now going to face tough budget cuts, many that will hurt.

Julia Gillard when she gave her "misogyny speech" - it was strong and within a week of of the speech, a YouTube version had one million hits.

When Julia Gillard gave this speech, I saw the fear or 'stone' in Tony Abbott's face - and it got worldwide attention.

With only one woman on the current governments frontbench, Julie Bishop - we, I believe need Julia Gillard back in the Senate now - to "take on" the government - budget wise and make a real difference.

She could even be Australia's "first" democratically elected Female prime minister - if she was to have or re-gain some credibility.

I would rather have Pauline Hanson than that liar Gillard.

On a scale of 1 to 10:

Julia Gillard credibility level = +1

Toneliar Abbott credibility level = -257

NathanJ,
I know the world has that view of the population here but I'm sure the morons do not yet have the numbers for that to happen but a few more boatloads & it'll be possible.

Typical silly comment from individual (proving he's no "individual", but a slave to his treasured far right wing political correctness)

Are there really people who weren't ashamed for the world to see we, or at least a high minority of us, had been stupid enough to vote for that disgusting woman.

I really thought the lefties just grinned & bore the shame, once they had seen the "real Julia".

Must stop thinking about her, I don't want to throw up.

Another embarrassment from Tax'em Tony, the Mad Monk is now refusing to meet with the President of our most important neighbor, Indonesia.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-backs-out-of-trip-to-meet-indonesian-president-susilo-bambang-yudhoyono-20140502-zr3kz.html

The Mad Monk on achieving office, immediately strained our relationship with our near neighbor through his silly antics and total ineptitude, with no understanding of how to conduct himself on the world stage.
At home he is a fool, internationally, he's an embarrassment.
If no replacement is available then the bloke on telly in the bright yellow chicken suit would be an improvement on our Tone! I can just picture it now at the UN General Assembly
The announcer; "The General Assembly will now be addressed by the Australian Prime Minister" and up step Big Bird, it would have to be an improvement on Tone in his budgie smugglers!
Hasbeen, Make yourself feel better, just thing of you man Tony in those imfermis

But, but, but Paul you just don't understand.

According to Individual and Hasbeen, Toneliar is our anointed Saviour.

And Philip S worships his Goddess Pauline Hanson.

Now Philip, these 3 forum blokes are obviously highly intelligent, and Australia needs to listen to their advanced wisdom. They KNOW that Toneliar Abbott is 100% truthful and would never, ever break an election promise. We have to trust these 3 forum saints. Yes, we must worship at the feet of Toneliar and dear Pauline.

Oops, my last paragraph should have begun with "Now Paul".

NathanJ>>Julia Gillard when she gave her "misogyny speech" - it was strong and within a week of of the speech, a YouTube version had one million hits.<<

It may well have been strong Nathan but it was not a reflection of Gillard’s views. She had no opinion on this comment from her adopted Peter Slipper:
''They look like a mussell removed from its shell. Look at a bottle of mussel meat. Like salty C..ts in brine.''

Gillard has no credibility and your suggestion about her input into the nation’s budget is a joke...surely...From a $20 billion surplus on day one to $400 BILLION debt six years later.....

Nathan the only way to pull ourselves out of this $20 million a day interest repayment is to get a fair share of the mining revenue....and neither party is willing to do it...Labor had the right idea, but after Gillard was told what is playing politics and what is playing with the globalists she presented a tax that did not even pay for its implementation and management costs.

Australia is the most profitable mining operation on the globe. Global miners get a more for their dollar investment in Australia than anywhere else on the globe. They pay us a pittance and claim all their costs back......Both parties are compliant in theft of our resources....Every other government on the globe get more revenue from the miners than Australia....What does that tell you.

But what chance of that Nathan given the parade of greedy (present and past) politicians helping to lubricate the plunder. None of them are our representatives...none of them.

....She could even be Australia's "first" democratically elected Female prime minister - if she was to have or re-gain some credibility.

Not sure if the word 'some' is appropriate as this lady was and is about as popular as a doped pie.

Paul, that dud, as you refer to when speaking about Tony Abbott, fixed in less than six months, the boat illegals debacle,that not only did labor cause, but could not stop in six years. Of cause with the assistance of the green and their combined supporters.

Just think, had Julia accepted defeat in 2010, as she should have, the illegals would have been fixed mid 2011 and we would be in far better shape.

Thanks for that. The next time you have the wish to support waste and mismanagement, just remember, it's my money you are assisting to waste as well.

Rehctub .... what offence have your hated "illegals" been charged with at entry point?

That's right ... they get charged with *NOTHING*. Therefore they are not "illegals". It's people smugglers who commit an offense, NOT the refugees. It seems you are too bigoted to comprehend that.

That "term" you use is a hate term, and displays your inhumanity, hate and dogmatic ideological gullibility.

John,

If Juliar re took the Labor leadership, there would be much joy in the liberal camp, as she did more than anyone to open Australia's eyes to Labor's incompetence and the extent that she and labor would lie and abandon their promises and principles to hold onto power.

The legal term illegal immigrant (as in most immigration dept documentation) refers to people that haven't entered the country via the legally authorised methods and is accepted by all except those who want to dress up the issue by re writing the English language.

Hear hear, naughty boys and girls - if you misbehave, then Julia will be back!

<<She could even be Australia's "first" democratically elected Female prime minister>>

I understand your admiration for females, Nathan, but of 3.5 billion others you could at least elect someone pretty!
Besides, Julia cannot be legally elected until she pays off the parking ticket for her broom.

Nathan,
A quiet word.

If you really want to help Labor get back into government, I strongly suggest you do not air your opinions publicly.

Many voters may think your intellect is normal for Labor.

I think Tony Abbott is a liar and should be replaced.
Julie Bishop seems decent and fair and strong and could make a good leader and PM.

JF Aust,
what did Abbott lie about ? He was forced to change his thinking as the reality of the ALP mess but that's about all. I can't see any lies so please tell me.

Abbott did not lie he was forced to change his mind. No one forced Abbott to do anything he volunteered. The last election was set up as a fraud and the AU people fell for it.
When is a lie not a lie, when Tony says it is still within the limits of my promise.

Individual wrote, "What did Abbott lie about?". Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha -- the political correctness of poor ol' individual knows no bounds. Hilarious.

<<what did Abbott lie about ? He was forced to change his thinking>>
good one Indi,

With Howard it was core and non-core promises. With Abbott its a case of, I don't lie, I just change my thinking. "Did I say I wouldn't introduce any news taxes, I've just changed my thinking and I'm going to introduce a leave on tax."
I recall Abbott was held in very low regard during the Howard years, and that was by Liberals! I wounder why?

individual,

Tony Abbott lied about no new taxes, it was a lie because he knew about the state of the national economy before the election.
Joe Hockey surely knew as well.
The Liberal Party must have known as TA was/is the leader.

The numbers were there to be seen before the election, before making promises or using tricky statements to deceive voters.

There was and still is data showing the expenditure and debt and GDP and all other indicators about the state of the national economy of Australia.

Australian people are not stupid like some bigots think.
Using the words "debt levy" for a new tax is like Julia Gillard calling "carbon tax", "carbon pricing".

Individual's should not be fooled by media spin about Abbott finding out about the debt, after the election. Forced to find out, how outrageous.

Everyone should help get Australia moving ahead instead of backwards.
For example the medical system is an industry that consumes medicine and supplies that create business and employment and tax revenue from their manufacturing, and from associated employment. Medical services should be properly serviced and the industry developed further, instead of suffering any cutbacks.

The writing is on the wall with TA leading. Shut it down, cut it back, sell off public assets, play roads and trains between cities, play fighter aeroplanes, import whatever with whatever commissions, sell the export beef industry, forget living off the sheep's back, have no oil refinery in Aus, let states sell power poles built and owned by pensioners, take more indicators like fish off the CPI so as to hide self interest political donation projects.

Productive infrastructure is needed, business and employment and export generating infrastructure, not train and plane toys for the boys.

The Liberal Party should change it's leader.

Tony Abbott once said himself, to the effect, there is need to get what he says in writing for it to happen.

JF Aus,
There's one thing I absolutely abhore about Abbott & that is that he didn't knock back the payrise, same goes for Newman. Then there is that stupid parental thing but I believe that's already been revised to more moral levels. Listening to Macca on the radio this morning (ABC of all things) & there was a chap saying what we all should be saying. We can't go on like this expecting all services without paying for them. So when Abbott is talking about increasing costs he's obviously talking about a user pays system, fine by me but not fine by the hangers-on.
You say productive infrastructure is needed, yes it is but for that you need a population that's prepared to work. Where do you get that here ? Not among the lefties that's for sure.
What do you say should be done then with non-productive infrastructure ? Hold onto it at great cost ? No, sell it off. Get rid of useless & expensive bureaucrats & introduce a national service.
Did Abbott lie or is he forced to go back on promises ? I think it's the latter.
Anyhow, I think it counter productive to argue about things that may or may not occur in the minds of the lefties. I can see some improvement since the departure of the duds & hopefully it'll snowball.

Individual wrote, "you need a population that's prepared to work, where do you get that? No among the lefties".

Let's examine the intelligence level of that quote from individual. With his far right wing "political correctness", he's putting forth the supposition that the only people who work are right wing people to the right of left wing people.

Now, if my year 6 son wrote that inaccurate dribble (the quote from individual) in an exam, he would undoubtedly get a *FAIL* for sheer stupidity.

Poor Individual. He's no "individual". He merely blindly follows his version of political correctness.

I think Julia and Shorten and Howard and Abbott have done their dash. It's over for them. We have seen their style of leadership and they are not wanted. Howard even lost his seat.
Shorten got in because their new leader voting system is stacked against the voting people. Abbott got in by one vote, a vote apparently from his former leader Howard.

Those hanging on should be provided with food coupons. There is not any deterrent in what they are being paid, in reality there is incentive to stay home without paying fares or fuel to get to work and back. Another deterrent to work is low pay in an economy of high prices, like why work for almost nothing? Employers should get tax breaks or subsidies to pay workers properly, adequately. It is amazing how left and right people have a will to work when the money is good and fair. And if they don't work with good pay, goodbye.

I fear Australian business and lifestyle will now go downhill, already is, until the likes of Anthony Albanese and Julie Bishop get to be leaders.

(last post limit coming up I think)

Nhoj,
You're starting to sound like my manager, an ALP cronie & not competent at all.

Individual, you're starting to sound like my employee, an LNP cronie & not competent at all.

Ah well, just another inbred parrot having a go at sense.

It seems politicians can say one thing before an election, and then say something else after that.

The only difference here, with our current budget situation - is that Julia Gillard has been made to look like a criminal.

Will our Prime Minister Tony Abbott - get rid of the Carbon and Mining Taxes - as he has constantly pledged?

By having Julia Gillard "back in the picture" politically, we can at least have a rational debate for the first time on that topic first - and then move into debate on sensible budget reforms if we must have them.

Julia Gillard, come out and say something now - your party needs you - as does Australia - many would say for the first time.

Individual wrote, "Ah well, just another inbred parrot having a go at sense".

Don't be so hard on yourself my dear boy.

We no longer have "the real Julia" on the stage - only "Phony Tony", a corporate puppet who lied his way into government on the back of contrived partisan media spin.

At some stage Abbott and his supporters will have to stop justifying his incompetence by pointing the finger elsewhere and accepting responsibility for his own decisions.

I for one am very much looking forward to the publication of Gillard's memoirs later in the year.

JF Aus -

Bishop as PM?
Seriously?
The "Shadow Minister for Demanding Apologies"?

One media reporter called her "unbelievably stupid" over starting the diplomatic furor with Indonesia by insisting on the tow-backs to Indonesia "whether that country likes it or not".

She said our refugee camps were "better than mining camps" - a matter disputed by the UNHCR and other groups.

Then there was the fiasco over faked Australian Passports being used by Mossad assassins, by admitting that "everybody does it". Not a clever thing to say about the workings of National Security and international relations generally.

Now, in order to arrange a "Cambodian Solution" she is completely ignoring the current human rights abuses of imprisoned and murdered Cambodian garment workers. The again, her Government has given the Sri Lankan government a gunboat, in spite of international criticism of human rights abuses in that country.

For a Foreign Minister, she doesn't know much at all about diplomacy.

I can't imagine she would have anything to offer as a PM.

If an election was held now Abbott would be out on his ear! according to the latest Galaxy Poll.

Talk about a spectacular nose dive. I was over the Moon when Abbott was elected, believing it would do my side of politics the world of good. I expected this mob to bugger up big time, and therefore enlighten Australia as to what you get with these Wombles. But! I never in my wildest dreams thought they would by as incompetent as they are proving to be, they don't have a brain between them, not one, maybe Turnbull. Unfortunately for Turnbull, given the top job he would have nothing to work with, nothing at all! I though it would take 2 to 3 years to show the Wombles up, but its taken less than 6 months. Imagine if Labor had been on the job for the last 6 months, they would have had the Coalition looking like real fruits. Labor has been missing in action since the election. But it is still amazing,how easily this mob have crashed and burned!

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/pyne-defiant-on-dud-poll-result-for-the-government-20140504-zr46j.html

rache,
Oh well, who else?
And why blame JB if it was Abbott that gave the order.
Many media reporters are unbelievably stupid too, like all those pushing CO2 propaganda. It's even stopped people buying their newspapers and magazines.
Indonesia is not perfect, check media today about so many of the Bali bomber mob still not in jail. Indonesia allows economic go-getters into their country and then allows them to sail out to our's.
Refugee camps might be better than mining camps, miners have to paty for accomodation and meals, not so for 'refugee' go-get-rich in Australia opportunists.
A true refugee could get assistance in any Australian Embassy etc in other countries along the way, before reaching Indonesia.
Mossad? National security? Having Abbott there is a national security risk.
I don't know the truth about Cambodia because the media is full of spin and blatant deceit.
About 2 years ago I asked an Australian Syrian what Assad was like, and the reply was, "well he got the Christians and Muslims together".
But that is not what we hear on ABC - SBS 'news', is it?

If Julie Bishop offered decency and honesty, that could be a start we do not have in sight at present.
Anyway, who else is there?

I would agree with Turnbull as PM if he would drop the republic waste of time and money that will not increase development of anything productive, especially exports.

Well JF Aus, I don't know of any mining camps that are behind guarded razor wire where people are murdered and incarcerated indefinitely.

As for Syria, poison gas attacks on civilians will kill both Muslims and Christians so that's fair too I suppose. Did the (so-called) "free" press have a different opinion of Assad?

Behind his public mask of appearing reasonable, Turnbull is just as extreme as Abbott in many ways but trashed his own chances at a re-run because of his own previous mistakes. He got more votes than Abbott at the last leadership spill but not a clear majority. Hockey then withdrew and then Abbott got in by 1 vote. (Peter Slipper's?)

Hockey is probably the only alternative but he's painted himself into a corner with all his previous hypocritical comments about the economy and is proving just as dishonest as Abbott. He'll be the one left carrying the can if things go bad. He can't use the Nuremburg defence ("I was just following orders") but Abbott can theoretically blame Hockey and have him replaced.

That's the Party System at work in an alleged democracy.

Otherwise, we will just have to wait and see what Rupert Murdoch decides for us, when the time comes.

Isn't it laughable how the Left has all but ruined Australia & now that the Coalition is working on repairing it all the lefties are running scared. Are they so callous or stupid (probably both) that they're now biting the hand the fed them & will continue to feed them but with smaller portions from now on. What is it that they can't understand when people say we can't go on like this ?
The bandwagon is slowing & that's all there's to it.

Anyway, who else is there?
JF Aus,
In other countries they wonder who to choose, here they wonder if there is anyone to choose. Drastic difference wouldn't you say ?

Tony Abbott IS a liar.

http://sallymcmanus.net/abbotts-wreckage/

individual,
You are not wrong there.
Thinking about it the media here comes to mind, with their closed shop and non democratic gagging of news not on the two preferred party agenda's.
We don't get to hear from potential leaders to be able to assess who is capable of what.
But we are getting to hear who we do not want.
Like a few others on this site, I am sick and tired of liars.

Politicians are always targets when they appear to change their minds due to unforeseen circumstances and we then have all this venom and name calling. If circumstances change and further evidence presents itself to make one reconsider a previously held sincere belief, they get pilloried for it, even though they might present cogent and well thought out reasons.

I really hate it as a follower of OLO when, what should be sensible debate, deteriorates in such a way, and I find it immature.

I am quite sure that neither Tony Abbott nor Julia Gillard had any intention of making statements that they knew would be thrown back at them when in office. They just made what they thought were poor decisions at the time they made them.

Every individual in life makes a statement that they don't follow through with which they believed at the time. Just don't call them Liars.

Snake,
I understand your sentiment there about calling poly's liars, they call each other liars. At one time a poly on his soap box could expect a lot worse than name calling being directed his way. If your going to put your hand up for public office, you need a rather thick skin to take the abuse that will come your way from time to time.
As a member of what some would call a fringe party, The Greens, we never allow a candidate to campaign on their own, for the simple reason there are abusive people out there. Not all of our candidates are hard nosed people, some are quite soft in nature and do get offended when called names, and suffer badly from personal insults.

Yes Paul, I understand where you are coming from. It doesn't stop me deploring all pejorative jibes and dissonance in parliament and also made by some members of LOL. If they can't form a logical and convincing argument, they resort to name calling. When this happens it always stops me from contributing.

It's a bit like road-rage. Show me the person that hasn't made a mistake on the road and received a honk on the horn for it. If I make a mistake I raise a hand in apology. As for the "finger flip", it's only a very ignorant form of face-saving.

Humour sometimes manages to defuse a situation. Once someone said to me "why don't you go and get f----d. I just replied "Do you think I haven't tried ?"

If a political leader goes to an election specifically on "honesty" and "trust", and promises *NO TAX INCREASES* -- then after being elected increases tax, that means he .. wait for it .. believe it or not .. *LIED*.

That politician, if he wishes to go back on his tax promise after the election, to retain credibility, MUST go to another election *BEFORE* the tax increases. And the proposed tax increases must be part of the election campaign. If they then win that election, fine -- increase taxes then.

However Toneliar Abbott is not doing that, "if" in a few days in the budget speech any tax increase whatsoever is announced. That will confirm that Toneliar is indeed an unmitigated, unashamed manipulator and *LIAR*.

Let's wait a few days and see.

It is not Julia who needs to take on the government. She does not pay and elect it. We, the voters do. It is the voters who need to take on the government.
They do that by giving feedback to EVERY MP in parliament. If government still takes no notice they do it with votes. Their own vote will not change much but if they campaign for others to join them, all those votes might. The best places to do that are in marginal electorates. It is a waste of time in safe seats. We all benefit from leaving our comfort zone and going to another electorate, chatting with locals. They will turn out to be just like us.
So, no buck-passing. Don't expect Julia to do our job. It pays to supervise people you pay to do a job. We pay politicians, bureaucrats and public servants a stack of money to do a job which they often don't. They need strong supervision. Try it free with Residents Roundtables or a Voterland petition on GoPetition.

John, Paul, and other left whingers,

You are all calling Abbott a liar for something that you are assuming is going to happen. It may come to pass, but much of it probably won't, and I will be there to rub your noses in it.

Remember the Henry tax review which had nearly 200 recommendations for Labor who adopted only one which was the shambolic mining tax?

Oh isn't that sweet. Shadow Sinister is defending his beloved Toneliar Abbott. Let's see if Toneliar breaks his election promises in the budget. If he does, will Shadow Sinister then criticize his beloved budgie smuggler hero?

OF COURSE HE WON'T.

He'll make up "excuse" after "excuse" after "excuse" for his hero. After all, he has to maintain his political correctness and ideological dogma.

Shadow Minister,

And there is more. He is selling $10bn of assets.
Who will invest in those assets if they are not valuable and money makers?

Those assets are owned by pensioners and others who either inherited them from family workers of the past, or contributed to their cost during their lifetime.

I think TA is a liar and a fool.
Uncaring too. Should be middle of the road like most of us.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalitions-10bn-asset-clearance/story-fn59niix-1226905277289#

John,

Grow up!

JFAus,

The assets are making money, and when they are sold, the money will be used to build new assets that also turn a profit, etc. The important thing is that the infrastructure is built and benefits society.

An example is if someone builds a house for $100 000, he can either keep it or rent it out for profit. If he sells it for $100 000, and builds a second house, he has not lost money but there is another house built. Simple logic.

Australians are losing $billions in time fuel etc for a lack of infrastructure, It is less important who owns the infrastructure than it exists.

Shadow Minister,

What new infrastructure are you talking about?
What productive money making infrastructure is proposed?
Can you make a list and post it here?

Remember, new, productive and money making.

JF,

I am not the minister for Infrastructure and am not going to play your stupid game.

Anyone with an IQ greater than a squirrel can think of a few examples, such as toll roads, rail roads, ports, airports, etc.

Next time post something that passes the squirrel test.

Shadow Minister,
Best the shadow ministry be dumped like the science ministry.
Usless stupid and squirrel comments do not describe productive infrastructure.

Toll roads just take money off the people.
Toll roads produce no exports.
Road building is not sustainably productive. Once built that's it.

Very fast trains in this country are a joke, they will not be viable. How many people want to go by fast train when there are buses and aircraft, how many each day for what purpose, what reason? How many at what ticket price? VFT in this country with it's small population centers is crazy.
And even now it's cheaper to go Sydney to Brisbane or Melbourne by air than by train.

Existing ports are being sold to overseas investors for quick cash to balance the books, causing loss of long term income.

The proposed Badgery Creek airport will produce no new tourism income because existing airports already meet demand and will into years to come. Big boys playing with trains and planes is not viable or productive.

What is etc? What exactly? Make a list without the squirrel IQ stupid inference. Think SM, our assests are beong sold. What then? What now?

It is difficult to find new productive infrastructure opportunities, is it not, so why sell the existing ones?
It is that sell off and failure to provide subsidies that is now resulting in more and more taxes and reduction of health services.

Yes, close the Shadow Ministry. Or think with an open and fair mind.

What some people on this page don't realise is that if we don't have some high profile people 'come out' and represent the day to day person out there - these people will lose out.

Julia Gillard - would definitely make a difference - in so many ways 'beyond belief' - and that is an understatement and there could easily be some on the Liberal side of politics who could contribute.

If high profile people don't stand up now - and the general public - savage cuts are on the way - and people will pay the price for it.

JF,

It is difficult to argue with someone whose opinions are not constrained by his complete ignorance.

People pay tolls on roads because the time saved is worth far more than toll paid. This goes for people getting to work, trucks etc. The expanded roads make money, but save the users far more. It also allows people and businesses to be situated further from the center, etc. Badgerys Creek is not needed now but will be greatly needed in 20 years when it reaches completion.

The consequences of Labor's policy of holding on to assets and not building new ones is disastrous, but considering that every project they have attempted has been a disaster, their fear of failure is justified.

Shadow Minister,
Yes I must admit that roads drain a lot of money from the pockets and purses of the people, through imported road building machinery and and even oil to make the cement and steel, plus fuel to drive on roads using imported cars. As far as putting money into pockets and purses, it's a potential script for a version of 'one flew over the cuckoos nest'.

Help overcome ignorance Shadow Minister. Look into the money the New Zealand dairy industry is bringing back into that country. Milk is creating wealth for the whole NZ nation, while our dairy industry is going downhill in preparation for takeover by foreign investors.

Why not contact your mate Abbott and suggest his government develop Australian milk co-op processing infrastructure specifically for exporting milk worldwide?

I agree toll roads are needed and are good but they produce nothing for export whatsoever. They do not bring money into the country. Compare toll road new money, new income for the nation, compared to returns from say, milk export infrastructure.

NathanJ,
I don't know what Julia could do. She had her day and messed it up. Surely she is back practicing law or retired on parliamentary income.
Perhaps she would make a good ambassador for the people, for the nation. She sure has a lot of talent