".... they can not escape the fact that the blame does indeed lie with Labor. The liberals will be locked into this blaming until such time that...[insert the excuse du jour]"

Dear Poirot,

Isn't that a convenient tactic - and of
course the other Liberal tactic is continuing
to appoint Commissions of Audit - and spending
even more money in doing so. Makes perfect
sense in these supposed "difficult"
financial times doesn't it - then it becomes
easier to explain their horror budgets.
"Not our fault - they did it!"

Thank you Poirot and Foxy! You've made my Sunday morning. Mikk said it beautifully.

Why is it not possible for the conservative wannabee rich people to be surprised by Helen Ridout's comments? Sounds like the thinking, articulate conservatives ( the Liberal hero Howard comes to mind to as well) are also very dismayed by this odd government.

Individual, you are very funny with your suspicion of educated and rich people. Have you actually looked at the makeup of the present Liberal government? All had free tertiary education. All are wealthy, some have tax payers help pay of multi-million dollar investment houses http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/taxpayers-footing-bill-on-treasurer-joe-hockeys-15-million-canberra-house/story-fni0cx12-1227026624945. I sourced a non-left wing paper report for you and Julie Bishop's law firm Clayton Utz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Bishop) defended Hardie's when they where being sued for compo from Asbestos sufferers, who were all left to rot.

This government is not so much 'conservative', just completely removed from normal daily life. Of all Australians and their families. Even thinking hard-working 'rich' ones who do not need government aid, like ourselves.

Dear Yvonne,

Well said - and spot on.

I've just re-read Peter Costello's book,
"The Costello Memomoirs," and goodness
me - you certainly are right about this
odd bunch that we have in government
currently. They are not true conservatives
or Liberals - not in the calibre of either
Costello or Sir Robert Menzies. These ratbags
have been bought and paid for. It's all about
money and power. It's the ideology of greed
which leaves no room for social equity, compassion,
or the idea of an egalitarian society.

Australians need to take a stand at the next election.

Indy, you are a classic modern Liberal, addicted to blaming Labor.
The Canetoad was handed an Australian economy that was the envy of the OECD, if not the world, the "problems" were an electoral furphy invented by him and rejected by bankers and economists world-wide.
Considering that amongst his first actions were to dump millions into political witch-hunts, which coincidentally are now blowing up in his face, lol, and to raise the debt-limit by billions, and a slew of other spending excesses, where was his economic restraint then?
Honestly, The Canetoad and his supporters, like you, remind me of nothing so much as schoolyard bullies, whinging and whining.."It's not MY fault, HE did it first" when called to account, and busily harassing and hounding the defenceless whenever and where-ever they can, and blaming the victims yet again.
That is unacceptable behaviour from children and is just as ugly and nauseating when followed by those who are supposed to be adults, let alone leaders of our nation!

G'day Bruce,
Fyi, I'm a Nationals supporter, I have no time for the Liberals. My old man was Labor & even as teenager I could see through the academic Labor smoke sreen.

handed an Australian economy that was the envy of the OECD.. Furphy !

"It's not MY fault, HE did it first" when called to account..furphy.

and busily harassing and hounding the defenceless ... another furphy.
Defenceless ? Come on. With all the meadia on their side ? Get a little real.

You cannot escape the fact that Labor all but ruined Australia no matter how you want to put it. The Linerals aren't exactly doing a great job but then the best Captain can't run a ship with a crew as bad as the australian public service & the Labor voting hangers-on.
They are the real mongrels. Unless of course it wasn't them who turned a great surplus into a huge debt. It was a labor outfit that took my job, it's a labor cronie who wants me to lose my job again now. It's labor cronies who cost me dearly over the years . In a word in my experience Labor doesn't stink, it's utterly putrid !