Category: Politics

Abbott should have called Rudd’s bluff

When the Prime Minister challenged Tony Abbott for a debate on the economy, Mr Rudd said ‘any time, anywhere’.

Mr Abbott should have called his bluff and accepted the challenge immediately, and I mean immediately. He should have said that he would meet him at the Press Club that day for the debate, or first thing the next morning if the challenge was made at night. The media would have turned up willingly and it would have been on.

The Prime Minister would have been caught off guard and Mr Abbott could have stopped Mr Rudd in his tracks. But I suspect Mr Abbott wasn’t ready either, because debating the economy is not his strength, or so we’re led to believe.

This politician is not worth the paper he’s printed on

I received the latest colour brochure from my member of parliament. It looks professional, full of staged photos with the Premier and locals, but it’s eight pages of ‘look-at-me, look-at-me’; ‘look what I’ve done for you’; ‘I’m fantastic!’

It even has a questionnaire on the back page with the opening statement: “Please let me know what’s important to you.”

What’s important to me? Well Mr Member of Parliament, why don’t you get off your seat of self-importance and actually knock on my door and ask me? From the time you campaigned to win your seat in parliament, I have never met you and to my knowledge you have never made any effort to meet me.

It’s easy to spend taxpayers’ money on a glossy brochure about stuff I already know about, but it’s a lot harder to actually get out there and earn your keep.

This politician is not worth the paper he’s printed on and I’ll be damned if I vote for him at the next election.

Take the gloves off, Tony!

Now the sisterhood has lost its cheerleader, it’s time for Tony Abbott to take the gloves off and take on Kevin Rudd.

Man to man. No perceived sexism. No false misogyny.

Kevin Rudd has no policies, yet he is sucking the air out of the debate. Please Tony, go after him and go after him hard. Otherwise you will be left on the sideline grasping for breath.

Priorities Mr O’Farrell

The NSW Government has decided to commit $250 million to upgrade ANZ Stadium. At the same time the government is cutting back spending on hospitals and law and order.

ANZ Stadium is in perfectly good condition, but our hospitals are old and need rebuilding. Crime is a real worry, yet there will be fewer prosecutors to see that criminals get the justice they deserve.

But what does that matter to the government? As long as footy fans are happy, Barry O’Farrell will be on a winner. But not the sick or victims of crime. They can’t shout over the noise of the crowd.

The federal election will be in late November

The Prime Minister has not guaranteed to honour the election date of 14th September, set by former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

My guess is that Mr Rudd will wait until late November. He will have served for three years as PM, on and off, and that will be a milestone for him. He may also believe that the longer he waits the better his chances.

My guess is just a guess, and is as good as anyone’s at the moment.

When do you think the election will be?

Is this really government advertising?

I saw a government TV ad tonight about protecting Australian jobs.

It didn’t say so but it seemed to be about protecting local jobs in preference to 457 visas, like the one Julia Gillard’s former communications director is on.

How this ad got to air is beyond reason. It’s not an ad of public importance. But it could be construed as blatant political promotion to benefit the government in the lead-up to an election. At taxpayers’ expense.

I thought Julia was just a nightmare

I went to bed last night and had a bad dream.  Julia Gillard was the Prime Minister of Australia instead of Kevin Rudd.  He was bad enough but she was a lot worse.  A huge budget deficit, $250 billion in government debt, the unions in control, ‘all men are misogynists’, us versus them, a carbon tax.

I woke up in a sweat.  Was it all real?  Could it be possible?  Phew!  It was all a bad dream.  Kevin was still PM.

And then he spoke.  Maybe Julia wasn’t so bad after all?

Who will be PM tomorrow?

Don’t assume Kevin Rudd will be Prime Minister of Australia tomorrow.

If the Governor General does her job correctly, she will ask him if he will have the confidence of the House of Representatives. That can only be done by a vote tomorrow.

If that doesn’t happen, the Governor General must commission the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, as Prime Minister.

Over to you Ms Bryce!