Poirot, do you think that any new leader of a party is going to single-handedly change all the party's previous policies to his own liking within 5 months of being elected into that position? He is no Kevin Rudd!

Isn't it meant to be the whole party deciding on the current policies? I would humbly suggest that what you are asking for is extremely unlikely to happen with any party. We can only hope to get parts of what we would like to happen, in the real world.

I never said I liked all the current policies, just that I much prefer this PM to the last.
I don't want to see Medicare go, nor do I like the current incarceration of children in detention centres. I doubt anyone but the most ardent political supporter would be happy with all policies from any one political party, so I think you are protesting too much.

Dear Poirot,

I'm on your side but I have a bigger axe to grind. What I think has been an unpatriotic act is the sale of Australia to China by Australia's politicians and business leaders since Bob Hawke took office in the mid-1980s.

The position is such now that China regards Australia as a dumping ground for its excess population and its cheap crappy goods. Take a look at the link below to see how much the demographic of Sydney has become centred around Chinese (half way down the page):

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hurstville-sydneys-real-chinatown-20150218-13ia0l.html

China sees Australia as one of its colonies. Look at the way Bishop got a tongue lashing this week for showing support for non-Chinese interests over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Suse,

I know I've come on strong on this, but you have to understand that I found it startling to read yourself and Foxy lauding Turnbull to the extent you have, seeing as he's presiding over a govt pretty much sticking to the IPA agenda - as per Abbott.

Not only that, the Turnbull govt are proving themselves shambolic and vacuous. Malcolm is either defending ministers under a cloud or booting them out.

You say: "I doubt anyone but the most ardent political supporter would be happy with all policies from any one political party, so I think you are protesting too much."

Too right....but you are talking here of a current LNP whose intention it is to undo much of what was achieved in post war social democracy. They've attacked so many of our institutions, I've lost count. Turnbull presiding over a further attack recently on the CSIRO was the point where it was confirmed to me he is just a waffling vacuous yes man to the powers that control him.

He insults our intelligence with his faux "innovation". What's innovative about sacking scientists?

And we can't ignore Morrison's role in Turnbull's "Innovation govt". I wasn't joking when I said he delivered "nothing" during his address at the NPC. 46 minutes of pure vacuous inane bilge. Every economic commentator was stunned by the lack of depth or any coherent economic policy for a way forward. Even Hockey had a plan, albeit one he couldn't get passed...but Morrison, Turnbull's Treasurer, has nothing, zip, zilch.

There are policies Labor possesses which I openly criticise, but they are in the minority.

You and Foxy, as I stated, disliked LNP policies under Abbott, but you seem quite taken with the same overall game plan under Turnbull...and all that turns on both of you surmising that he's merely selling his soul in the interim for the top job - and will miraculously turn into the kindly benevolent Malcolm you know and love somewhere down the track after he wins an election,

Yeah right....

Dear Suseonline,

If you are an avid NLP supporter you may be entitled to a free $40 Rolex. I think it even comes with a 'This Is A Fake' authentication certificate signed by Tony Abbott and Li Ruipeng.

Dear Poirot,

I understand what you're saying.

It appears to be a go nowhere government
right now. It appears to be a government
without a purpose. It has inherited a
series of positions it inherited from
Tony Abbott on - climate change, same-sex
marriage, and also things like welfare cuts
for low-income families that everyone has
forgotten about but which remain part of the
government budget.

It is early days though - and I am sure that
Turnbull will paint a clearer picture prior
to the next election. If he doesn't he may
as well leave now.

Hi Foxy,

You do see my puzzlement, I'm sure.

Turnbull does not have a big moderate power base in govt ranks. He's been allowed to usurp Abbott by the back benchers and the ruling elite of the party because the govt was facing electoral defeat under Abbott's shambolic leadership. Ergo...Turnbull has the top job because he's more electorally palatable. He's more articulate. The fact that has words are waffle and contain no meaningful substance are by the by.

But he has no real power base to change into the "moderate" that he always portrayed himself to be.

This govt is not about moderation. It's about attacking the very founddations of our social democracy. Have you noted what the UK Tories have done to the NHS in Britain. They've dismantled it bit by bit, run it down and sold off chunks to their mates incrementally. Now they're in a fully fledged battle with young doctors over there, akin to Thatcher's fight with the miners. 1,000 "Foodbanks" have sprung up across the country, in most cases feeding families whose bread winner "works"! There are nearly 100,000 children now homeless in England.
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-34346908

That's the sort of thing Conservative govts wish to unleash in the 21st century. That's the sort of thing I rail against.

And now we have a supposed "moderate" like Turnbull changing colours like a chameleon to continue the far right's work for them...seemingly enthusiastically. Like he's working to a prefabricated agenda - because he surely has no actual ideas of his own.

I can't look up to a man who would sell out like that - no matter what my prior notion of him was.