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10 reasons why this election is anything but boring

Leo Shanahan

by Leo Shanahan

06 Aug 06:00am

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Filed under: Campaing Countdown, Election 2010, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Politics, Tony Abbott

119 comments

A strange narrative has developed during this federal election campaign: that it is somehow boring.

You think this is boring? That's bulls**t says Tony.

As someone who sadly spends a great deal of their time consuming political journalism, talking to other journalists, political staffers and regular punters about the election it’s odd how often the idea this being a boring campaign emerges.

Can I just say I don’t get it. Arguably this election is lacking serious policy debate (and we all kow how that wouldn’t bore anyone), the leaders and their rhetoric can be very frustrating, but boring?

This campaign seems to get more interesting by the day. Here’s ten reasons why it’s anything but boring:


10. The fact that we’ve got four people running for prime minister is a historic first. It’s like the twitter election - fake and real Julia and fake and real Tony.

9. The potential for more Bob Katter to release more election ads.

8. If you’re pregnant, planning to be pregnant or merely have the potential to be pregnant, you will be getting parental leave payments for the first time after this election. It’s just not clear when or how much because both parties have different policies – the Coalition has had a few. Think of it as Deal or No Deal but with a pregnant women only special.

7. Who’s been leaking? Are there any more leaks to come out? Please, stop saying leak. But I’ve got a feeling there is a leak yet to come. Whoever is doing this doesn’t care about Labor’s re-election chances, so why would they stop? Unless they’re out of material, in which case they might just start making stuff up.

6. We could have our fourth Prime Minister in three years. When did Australia turn into Japan? Even Italians are laughing at us, and this time it’s not about our shoes and our shameful propensity to drink coffee with milk after midday.

5. The Greens have a chance of winning a seat in Melbourne. This would be a pretty sensational breakthrough for them, especially given that, as a party appealing to those concerned about the future of the environment, the seat is in the middle of a huge city.

4. OMG Kevin Rudd! The guy led Labor out of 11 years in opposition and about six weeks ago was still Prime Minister. He then disappeared for a bit, got sick, had an operation and is now back campaigning for the woman that took his job. The ALP may be on to a revolutionary new kind of political polygamy, whereby people are given two Prime Ministers in the one campaign.

(Note: Minor correction to number ten, there is actually now six people running in this election: fake and real Julia and fake and real Tony, plus old Kevin’s record and new backbencher Kevin defending old Kevin.)

3. Julia Gillard, our first female Prime Minister, is looking at the prospect of joining the ranks of those creepy short serving Prime Ministerial oddities like Frank Forde, Earle Page and John McEwen. These people should mainly be remembered because of the usefulness to pub trivia nights.

2. Tony Abbott could be our new Prime Minister. This guy would not only make history in being part of a select group of people to knock off a first term Government, he would do so after being an opposition leader less than a year, and being considered quite mad by all those who won’t vote him.

1. It’s going to be really, really close. So quit the complaining.

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119 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Julia says:

      06:27am | 06/08/10

      Oh, puuuuleeeeezzze! That’s all fine and dandy for you political junkies who like that sort of stuff. But the man on the street is falling asleep on his feet because there is no ‘Christmas’ in this election.

      From 1996 to 2007, every election there was a bucket of money and tax cuts everywhere. Everyone promised a tax cut. Even the Democrats who would never get into government promised a tax cut.

      This election: no tax cut. There is no big shiney papered gift under the tree for the next financial year, spelled out L.A.W. or even intimated by either party.

      There’s stax of taxes being bandied around for business, but no tax cut for us mere mortals.

      So it is boring. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going back to sleep.

      zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

      Reply

    • The Scarlet Pimpernel says:

      07:42am | 06/08/10

      That’s because Aunty Joolya spent most of the money on overpriced school-halls and Uncle Kevvie blew the rest on shonky pink batts.

    • Super D says:

      09:35am | 06/08/10

      Patience my young padawan.  The tax cuts are only a week away.

    • iansand says:

      09:48am | 06/08/10

      School halls again. The number one reason why this election is boring.  One side has a vocabulary of less than 20 words.

    • Budz says:

      10:11am | 06/08/10

      @iansand: It might not worry you that billions of dollars were wasted, but it cearly worries others.

    • iansand says:

      10:44am | 06/08/10

      Budz - Constant repetition is still boring as batshit.

    • The Badger says:

      11:01am | 06/08/10

      Mark don’t you have anything credible to link to? How about something from Akerman or Bolt?

    • iansand says:

      11:25am | 06/08/10

      It’s very odd.  I don’t vote for either party.  I say I find the interminable repetition of negative messages tedious.  I may be alone.  I may be typical.  Instead of absorbing this information and perhaps adjusting their message the Liberal Attack Bloggers go feral and personal.  As if that will persuade me of something.  It is a very peculiar understanding of the word “persuade” but it epitomises one of the reasons I stopped voting for the Liberals.  Politics is about persuasion, not haranguing.

    • MarK says:

      11:41am | 06/08/10

      Hi Badger.

      Sorry to see you find the Australian not a credible source of reporting. Opinions on this vary of course raspberry

    • The Scarlet Pimpernel says:

      02:54pm | 06/08/10

      @ Sven Gali

      I lost interest in that article after the author included Catholic schools in the percentage of positive responses. Of course they were happy and of course there was no rorting in Catholic schools; they organised themselves and got value for money. Remove them from the equation and it drops well below the 30-odd percent quoted.

      You guys can duck and weave, spin and bullshit all you want but it will not change the fact that a thoroughly shameful amount of money was wasted. I have already stated elsewhere that some of the blame can be laid at the feet of various state Labor Governments but let’s get serious. Gillard gave them the money -OUR money- and basically told them to run with it. This is akin to handing a horny, thirsty sailor your gold Amex card on his first night of shore leave and had much the same effect.

      There should have been some oversight at a Federal level.

    • MarK says:

      03:39pm | 06/08/10

      Nice Sven. So the “independent panel” hand-picked by Julia to “report” has found some err anomalies shall we say. What do you say to them. This was a panel created for a whiteash and they cannot give the all clear.

      And nice how you decided to get one report from a blogger on a site that concerns itself with “politics, sociology, culture, life, religion and science from a left of centre perspective.”

      So hmmm let me get this correct. A left leaning site discredits 1 person - yes I read it - 1 person in Craig Mayne who made complaints in Queensland.

      So by research you suggest that because one website, which has a stated bias and which they are entitled to, attempts to discredit 1 person that made complaints in Queensland then all complaints are invalid? Is that your position? This guy said Craig lied so like you are you liars. Come visit Hastings Public School where I live and ask them about the COLA.

      Interestingly enough the piece merely list Mayne’s errors. It does not go into any detail on anything he was correct about. Was there anything at all in his claims? Was there one thing he was correct about? Or don’t we want to discuss those “inconvenient” facts.

      I get it that the site you gave would love the BER to be all sunshine and lolipops but if you seriously think that that piece in any way absolves Gillard of gross incompetence then you need to read more widely.

      Given me another site to post comments on though. Bet they will love me over there :D. Let me see if I can bring some pragmatism to their progressive social feel goodness.

    • iansand says:

      04:06pm | 06/08/10

      But MarK.  You get your ideas from Andrew Bolt.

      Come over and join me on the sane side, where you know they are all lying cheating hornswogglers.  Partisan hackery is transparent to all but its practitioners.

    • acotrel says:

      03:06am | 07/08/10

      So the ‘rorts’ in the BER amounted to wasting 6% of the funding?  I’d like to be able to manage projects and limit losses to that!  It’s pretty obvious that the ‘rorts’ were just a nother piece of bull manufactured by the Liberal party, in the same way that the asylum seeker issue wasn’t justified by the statistics?

    • Anthony David says:

      08:31am | 07/08/10

      The Democrats are still promising a tax cut. They have a long-standing policy of indexing the tax free threshold, offset by removing the existing perversities of the tax system including the one that encourages people to drive their cars more to get into the next FBT bracket. Please see “Making fairer Income Tax” at http://www.democrats.org.au/policies/.

    • Ellis Wyatt says:

      06:53am | 06/08/10

      There is a very simple reason why neither side is offering much in the way of tax cuts.  The Government has no cash ‘left in the till’ and is still racking up debt (the Liberals are asserting this is at the rate of $100 million per day).  Gillard’s promise to ‘get the Budget back to surplus in three years’ (Swan hasn’t delivered a surplus Budget yet, but I suppose hope springs eternal) means another couple of years of deficit Budgets.  By that time Australia is projected to have a Government debt of $90 billion, with some projections that it might be prepaid by sometime after 2020, presumably through surplus Budgets produced by fiscal drag (bracket creep).

      Reply

    • Daryl says:

      09:17am | 06/08/10

      Anyone remember or know when a Labor government last brought down a surplus budget?

    • simon says:

      11:30am | 06/08/10

      I think Keating did one in 1996 or 1997…..but that was the only one for as long as i can remember….

    • TimB says:

      02:01pm | 06/08/10

      Simon, it would have been tricky for Keating to pull that one off considering John Howard was put into power in March 1996.

      Interstingly enough, googling around I found the 1996-97 budget speech. I liked this part of the opener:

      “The budget outcome for the past year was a deficit of $10.3 billion. If we took no corrective measures it would be $9.6 billion this year. We would still have an underlying deficit of 2 per cent of GDP even though the economy has had five years of growth. Debt would be increasing and Australia would be dangerously exposed to shifts in the international outlook or sentiment.
      In periods of growth we must put away savings for the downturns. But far from saving, the previous Government kept racheting up our debts - spending money it didn’t have.

      Our predecessors had Australia on a path of deficit and debt to the next century.

      Make no mistake, this path would only make future choices harder, future possibilities bleaker and rob Australians of the future opportunities they deserve.

      Our Government could not stand back and ignore the problem. Although we did not create it, we will take the responsibility to fix it. “

      Sounds like a depressingly familiar situation.

    • Sam says:

      02:17pm | 06/08/10

      Hey Simon - Howard was Prime Minister in 1996-97 so no Labor has never had a surplus nor will they ever get one

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:03pm | 06/08/10

      The Liberals don’t mention is that Howard as treasurer ran up a $10 billion deficit in a single year (1982-83), Fraser produced 10% unemployment (that was supposed to be “turning on the lights”), Menzies created 25% inflation (that’s what he called putting “value back in the Pound”), and Bolte had a debt equal to 60% of Victoria’s State product (equivalent to $700 billion debt nationally today).

      One way to think of government finances is that a government surplus is money they’ve taken from your bank account with nothing given in return.  In that light, high-tax, low-investment Costello was thieving from you.

      Liberals also make no mention of private debt, which is at crippling levels due to the failure of Conservative economic policies to invest in housing infrastructure.

      Nor do they mention corporate debt, which is why the GFC happened in the first place.

      Many of the media barons have chronically huge debts.  Why isn’t that mentioned as terrible financial management?

    • Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

      03:32pm | 06/08/10

      Simon, sorry mate, you’re dreaming! ! !

    • Evan Findlay says:

      04:47pm | 06/08/10

      For the politically inept who continually demonstrate their ignorance. The first budget surplus to be brought down by an Australian government was under Hawke and Keating in 1988. Does anyone remember the line ” This is the one that brings home the bacon”

    • Evan Findlay says:

      04:51pm | 06/08/10

      TimB,
      If it wasn’t for the economic reforms of the Keating government, those economic charlatans, Howard and Costello, would have to had made some pretty hard decisions and possibly even push themselves to delivering some policy. In the words of Keating after the 1996 election, “Costello was so lucky to have a rainbow hitting him in the arse”

    • acotrel says:

      03:00am | 07/08/10

      ‘Anyone remember or know when a Labor government last brought down a surplus budget? ‘

      Anyone remember or know when a Liberal government spent anything on infrastructure, even during a recession when we needed the work?
      ’

    • acotrel says:

      03:12am | 07/08/10

      I suggest Ellis Wyatt should put her claims in a global context! There was an American on radio yesterday, who pointed out our debt levels are laughable compared with those of other nations during the GFC.

    • Harriet says:

      07:23am | 06/08/10

      Leo for someone who claims to be a political journalist you are wrong on point 8 . Labor has had its parental leave passed into law and will commence January 2011. It is Abbott who is making it up as he goes along. On your analogy Labor the real Deal ,  so therefore Liberal No Deal.

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      09:34am | 06/08/10

      Actually the libs are planning on using the ALP program for the first year or so and then bumping it up.  To stick with the gameshow analogy, Under Labor you’ve won a new vacuum cleaner, The liberals are letting you keep the vacuum and throwing in a jet ski.

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      01:49pm | 06/08/10

      You are wrong, Harriet! The Coalition announced their Paid Parental Leave a long time ago. The only thing Abbott has added is that Fathers, (no, silly, no the peasdophile priestly types, who having never got it away haven’t a clue about personal relationships, parenting or even being slightly human & humane) will also be eligible for PPL. The difference is, & this should please feminists & all those, like myself, who are all in favour of “Equal pay for Equal Work” if a Dad is the one who stays at home for the PPL period he will get the same money as the Mum would get if they stayed home.
      Just which Real Deal of Labor’s are you referring to? The Old Real Deal or the New Real Deal.
      The Liberal’s Deal is quite clear. They have just improved it. What could possibly be better than that?

    • Macca says:

      07:43am | 06/08/10

      aah, Leo. You’re best article in some time. I tip my hat to you and wish you a wonderful weekend. Point 5 especially made me laugh

      Reply

    • Rosie says:

      08:18am | 06/08/10

      Leo this election is what it is because of the thuggery brought about the Union Powers which has backfired and trivialised it. Also the way in which Julia Gillard & the whole Labor organization have under estimated the Australian people.

      It seems you have joined the club in thinking in your 10th reason why you say this election is boring.

      10. The fact that we’ve got four people running for prime minister is a historic first. It’s like the twitter election - fake and real Julia and fake and real Tony.

      I don’t believe we have 4 people running for office. It’s you, the media and Labor’s cynicism that would like the electorate to believe about Tony Abbott and forever saying that he is faking it. Some of us want our PM to behave in a manner suitable for display in public not only in Australia but internationally and that is exactly what Tony Abbott is doing. It is the people of Australia that matters and we are happy at what we see. We all know that Tony Abbott is a man of discipline and while campaigning will apply that discipline not to take the bait from Julia Gillard and Labor and it seems from the media as well.

      I can understand why Labor would like us to believe that Tony Abbott, leader of the opposition party, running for office is not the real Tony Abbott and therefore not fit to be PM but after 3 weeks into the campaign and the media is still on about it, is utterly ridiculous. Haven’t the media realized that it is Labor’s tactic, it is etched on their foreheads, it is their only weapon, to attack Tony Abbott on workchoices and the economy, put the pressure on until he falters so they can slide back into office.

      Reply

    • T.Chong says:

      08:36am | 06/08/10

      Agree Rosie, Abbott has donned the muzzle for this election campaign.
      Its when the muzzle comes off that all is not well. He lies.

    • Tony Abbott says:

      09:02am | 06/08/10

      Ummm, errrr hello ummm my name is errr tony abbott errr ahhh i want to be your ummm prime minister errrr with me errr ahhh you get what ummm errr you see errr ummm.  I am errr speaking to ahhh you errr and umm you can errummm believe umm every err thing i say umm at least err while my lips arhhhemm are moving. After umm my lips stop errr ahhh all bets are umm arrr off.

    • Kevvie of having my bile duct out next says:

      09:06am | 06/08/10

      And my name is Kevin, so you c&%)s can listen the f%&K up. Vote for a Gillard government because it won’t be any bl*^dy different to mine. Pr!cks.

    • Dash says:

      09:10am | 06/08/10

      T.Chong, Easy to call someone a liar but lets look at some real lies many of which come from the promises of labor’s ‘07 campaign:
      “grocery choices” - lie,
      “Fuelwatch” - lie,
      “more affordable housing” - lie,
      “cheaper better childcare” - lie,
      “200+ childcare facilities” - lie,
      “I’m a fiscal conservative” - lie,
      “no child shall live without a laptop” - lie,
      introduction of an ETS - lie,
      the profit tax is “non-negotiable” - lie,
      “we wont touch the private health tax rebate” - lie,
      “a root and branch overhaul of the tax system” - lie,
      “the biggest moral challenge of our time” - apparently not - lie,
      “the dental scheme” gone - lie,
      Public ownership of hospitals by July 2009 - lie,
      “No nuclear Waste Dump NT” promise broken June 2008 - lie,
      “Reduce consultancies by $112 m” = increase to $800m - lie,
      “boost funding for aboriginal Legal Aid” – actuality cuts to funding in first budget - lie,
      “cheaper Books for Australians” – back flip to protectionist policies - lie, The East Timor Solution which never existed - lie,
      “I was only a member of the Socialist Forum ‘till 22” - lie Gillard a member till 2002

      How many more would you like? How stupid do you think the Australian public are? Real people don’t need to tell you they are real! Has the Fake Jooliya left the building yet?

    • Jane says:

      09:14am | 06/08/10

      Hey Chonga,
      “all is not well’ already….with the dyfunctional psycho array of Labor PM’s in charge now!! The multiple personalities…A couple of Joolias..mk1 and 2…a couple of Kevs…a few faceless men….it’s a joke.

      Rudd now entering the fray is simply playing a game…and writing a ‘story’.. There was no ‘call for help’ from Jools - indeed she hasn’t spoken to him!! Joolia is hardly going to contradict him though and say she didn’t - she must be absolutely seething. I reckon she’s due for a breakdown!
      Kev has Labor and his enemies within by the short and curlies.

      Kev, the narcissist, has taken it upon himself to play ‘white knight’ hero. He must feel vindicated that it’s all going so bad for Labor and has decided that if he ‘rides in like a saviour’ and Labor ends up winning it will appear like all credit is due to him. How sweet it would be. Nothing to do with any altruistic ‘Party concern’ or concern for Australia - it’s all about Kev….and how much he hates Abbott/Liberals.

      How he will br perceived in the history books also plays a part ans is no doubt been pondered whilst recuperating. He’s worked this script out..for best light for Kev.

      Too funny. This dysfunctional mob of psycho incompetents should be kept well away from Australia’s governance at all costs!

    • Rosie says:

      09:16am | 06/08/10

      T.Chong - fair enough but can you please let us decide for ourselves!

      By the way did you watch & hear what Tony Abbott and John Howard had to say at the Chinese Function last night in Sydney, if not you missed the great comradeship that exists throughout Australia.

    • Julia Gillard says:

      09:28am | 06/08/10

      Maybe Tony should read from a marketing script like me and the rest of the Labor ministers. Then he could be fake but without the umms. That would be so much better wouldn’t it! All care and no responsibility. All talk and no action. Isn’t that what everyone wants? Sorry, back to my script. It’s so hard being the real Jooliya when i don’t believe what I’m saying myself!

    • Joan says:

      09:41am | 06/08/10

      Labor are such losers they are now giving away two leaders for one vote Gillard and Rudd.  Rudd looks very prime ministerial on Front page Australian today…. in fact he looks like he has over thrown Gillard and presenting himself as PM with blue background and flanked by Australian flags. . Meanwhile Gillard running around Australia trying to find the real Julia, the super model? ocker at large model, the atheist rubbing shoulders with the Cardinal? the I love babies but none for me thanks model?..... no PM pics for Julia with Flags and no questions please thats for Rudd. There are 3 in the race Gillard and Rudd package versus Abbott.

    • Gavin says:

      09:44am | 06/08/10

      So Rosie when the ALP is returned to office will you still be saying ‘it’s the people of Australia that matter’? I’m guessing not.

      Someone form an Australian Tea Party so Rosie can move to her rightful place on the political spectrum, screwball oddities on the margins of civilised society.

    • 'T.Chong says:

      10:13am | 06/08/10

      Now,now, Dash, settle, start breathing again, thats better.. Dash , Rosie , Im only repeating what Abbott has said. He lies, unless things are scripted. His claim, not mine.
      If you dont like the message ,,take it up with the author.
      Do you also shout at the TV and radio?

    • Dash says:

      10:52am | 06/08/10

      Ha ha T.Chong, who’s shouting? Not much of a response but then again it’s hard to question the truth. Btw Abbott didn’t say that. But then again, Labor stooges never let the truth get in the way of a good story eh! Is this the real Jooliya yet? Don’t let JOOLIYA FOOLIYA!

    • T.Chong says:

      11:32am | 06/08/10

      Dash, are you serious? Abbott didnt concede he was a bit easy with the truth when unscripted?
      You arent having me on are you? about denying Abbott made that concession about telling the truth?
      Wow, ! I can almost admire yur devotion to your cloudcuckooland. I’ll step outside and all will be well again..

    • Gregg says:

      11:32am | 06/08/10

      I do believe you jangled a few nerves Rosie!

    • BobM says:

      11:40am | 06/08/10

      Yes, Joan - two leaders and a set of steak knives (may come in handy later)!

    • TimB says:

      02:32pm | 06/08/10

      T Chong, Abbott said that when things are said in “the heat of the moment”/unscripted they MIGHT not be fully accurate. It happens to the best of us, especially when you’re responding to things on the fly.

      But it’s a far cry to go from that,  to saying EVERYTHING that is unscripted is a lie. And that’s the logical fallacy you insist on implying. It’s wrong and misleading.

    • Randal says:

      03:04pm | 06/08/10

      Chong, what Abbott said was that during a fierce debate it may be possible at times to go further than one might of with a calm head when debating an issue, this then may need to be clarified later as to the final position one holds. This is a very accurate and honest description and something that many politicians have faced in their careers (recent examples Rudd and his ‘Big Australia’, Joolia and her claim she never mentioned East Timor, Plibersek calling Israel a ‘rouge state’).

      Whilst the ALP have tried to paint Tony as a liar as an admitted liar as a result in reality, as many political scribes have observed, Abbott is as honest a politician that they have come across, and when asked for an opinion Tony gave one, at times to his own detriment in this age of breaking down every syllable by today’s media. Tony has had to temper his style as a result, but he is still far more the genuine article than someone who in week 3 of a campaign declares that she is only now going to be herself…

      As a great man said overnight, ‘‘Real people don’t need to say that they’re real.’’ so if you are seeking the true deceiver in this campaign look no further than the thrice made over publically admitted fake Julia Gillard.

    • David says:

      09:24pm | 06/08/10

      T.Chong: “Im only repeating what Abbott has said. He lies, unless things are scripted. His claim, not mine.”
      Dash: “Btw Abbott didn’t say that. “

      Umm yes he did
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc5ljcri6Nk

    • acotrel says:

      03:15am | 07/08/10

      I agree too, Rosie.  Tony’s stalling and stammering is the sign of a liar.

    • shabangabang says:

      08:23am | 06/08/10

      Meanwhile, ex PM’s on both sides are being wheeled out to show that men get grumpier with age, and that arrogance never fades. You are no longer PM for a reason. Bugger off, the lot of you. Let the current leaders of the parties do the campaigning.

      Reply

    • Holly says:

      08:50am | 06/08/10

      You forgot about John Howard who now seems to have entered the fray as ghost candidate.

      Reply

    • JH says:

      11:18am | 06/08/10

      John Howard behind Tony Abbott, Hugh Jarss behind Joolya . . . .

    • Ben81 says:

      03:20pm | 06/08/10

      Holly, speaking at a Liberal party fundraising event makes him a ghost candidate?  What are you on about?

    • timbo says:

      08:50am | 06/08/10

      Word is just out out that the Coalition are going to ditch Conroy’s, obscene, retarded and just plain wrong mandatory internet filter. Hooray for common sense!!..  All you internet users out there please banish Conroy and is filter into cyber-oblivion at the ballot box.

      Reply

    • The Scarlet Pimpernel says:

      09:32am | 06/08/10

      http://delimiter.com.au/2010/08/05/its-dead-opposition-to-block-labors-filter/ 

      Excellent. And probably the biggest single vote-winner in the under-30 demographic. Not because they want more pr0n, but because they think (and in Conroy’s case, they KNOW) that the current generation has nfi about teh interwebz and just want blanket censorship because that’s all they know. They also think that it is the thin end of the wedge and, in that respect, I agree.

      kthnxbai

    • T.chong says:

      09:49am | 06/08/10

      Timbo, I’m staunch Left of Ché, but agree totally that the internet filter is morally / socially unjustifiable, and technically a sieve.
      However for the wage earner , there are probaly far more important issues, like… (fill in yur own grievances from here on.)
      While the ‘net has now become an integral part of what makes the world go round, for those with the money and power ,= Babyboomers,  the nets importance is less than for the younguns.
      When those of us in that demographic were 20s-30s yo during the 1970s-80s-1990s, computers, the net etc were still largely unknowns, and not part of the social life / planning/ communication, that is now a normal part of life, specially the younger you are. So for many of us , as senility sets in, the importance of the issue may be lost.
      Big issue, but probaly not vote changing.

    • Mighty Thorfinn says:

      12:35pm | 06/08/10

      T.chong, “staunch Left of Ché”, how can this be? The Left is all about restriction of free speech and control of the masses.

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:38pm | 06/08/10

      Thorfinn, do you have any knowledge of your own country’s (and its mother country’s) history whatsoever?  Political Right = Monarchist = believer in concentration of authority in one person.

    • James says:

      08:59am | 06/08/10

      I liken it to a soccer match versus an Australian Football match. Past elections have been like Australian Football. Lot’s of goals, lot’s of errors, lead changes and the like. Umpires (media) favouring the opposite side for which you are voting etc etc.

      This is like a soccer match. Not much scoring but the prospect of a mistake on either side could be disastrous. And the refs are still biased to the other side.

      Reply

    • The Badger says:

      11:07am | 06/08/10

      More like a soccer match between Italy and Australia. The Italians keep diving but the ref’s aren’t buying any of it.
      The ref’s have seen the Italian team training video.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcCw9RHI5mc

    • Silvio Fuji says:

      09:27am | 06/08/10

      Leo - point 6 - even the Italians are laughing…
      One of the funniest, tightest best paragraphs you have ever written.
      Laughed so hard I dropped I cappuccino I was having for lunch!

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:41pm | 06/08/10

      The Italians have had a single prime minister for 11 of the past 16 years, the monopolistic media baron Silvio Berlusconi.

    • Sickemrex says:

      09:30am | 06/08/10

      Good one and so true, loved number 6.  I have family that have been fortunate having an overseas holiday for a month of the campaign, mostly not near the internet.  Mum rang last night and asked how it was going.  I couldn’t even begin to respond.  Inane, frustrating, deeply lacking in policy and horribly negative, but not boring.

      Yes James, a soccer match indeed with the result decided by the least amount of own goals.

      Reply

    • gigifischer says:

      10:22am | 06/08/10

      Leo, You have forgotten about the old liberal prime minsters now taking sides too - Granddaddy Johnny looking after his protege and old mal ” young people today” frazer taking different sides. Has anyone asked Andrew Peacock his opinions - back to tyhe crazy 80s liberal politics on the blue side. The red side has channel 10 providing updates on history via Hawke to remind us what self serving idiots these people really are.

      Reply

    • thatmosis says:

      10:23am | 06/08/10

      I love this election especially the United States of Joolia episodes that keep popping up. As one commenter said there is No Christmas but there could be an Armagedden if Labor and their offshoot the Greens get into power. Consider the type of Australia you really want to live in and ask yourself ‘is it really worth the risk to vote for either Joolia and the Labor Party or Bob from the Raving Looney Party, sorry, The Greens and see our way of life disintergrate before our very eyes”.
        I dont vote for the person but for the party that in my mind will achieve what I think is a suitable outcome without condemming us to higher taxes, less freedoms and failed science based policies.

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:46pm | 06/08/10

      The last time there was an “Armagedden” (thatmosis’s spelling), the Conservatives had invested heavily in the side causing the most harm.

      Don’t trust Cons!

    • Elphaba says:

      10:33am | 06/08/10

      I don’t find it boring, but then again, I’m a bit of an election/politics junkie.

      I just had 2 days off sick, and spent them wrapped in a blanket on the couch with Sky News on.  Absolute bliss!

      Reply

    • Rosie says:

      10:38am | 06/08/10

      Gavin, I have always said that Australians deserve the Govt they get so if it is going to be an Australia for the dumb asses so be it. It is our democractic right but will not have it on my conscience that I was one of those dumb asses that voted for a return of a Kevin07 Govt but this time under the fake, real, whatever Julia Gillard. Ask yourself why was Kevin politically assassinating?

      Reply

    • FredLime says:

      10:48am | 06/08/10

      yes I agree with you Rosie. You get what you voted for. It does amaze me how many dumb people we have. The electorate is not smart at all, and the politicians know it.  Why else would Gillard come up with that “Moving Forward” slogan and repeat it so many times. The strategics must think we are so stupid. How can people really believe Rudd got us through the GFC when we $60 Billion in the banks before it started, and now what do we have? Where has all that money gone, and what do we have to show for it? Rudd who gave $250,000,000 to his mate Wayne Goss Lobby group for Free TV. Staying at Kerry Stokes house in Broome, ministers skiing trips with TV moguls. Do we forget all this?

    • FredLime says:

      10:48am | 06/08/10

      yes I agree with you Rosie. You get what you voted for. It does amaze me how many dumb people we have. The electorate is not smart at all, and the politicians know it.  Why else would Gillard come up with that “Moving Forward” slogan and repeat it so many times. The strategics must think we are so stupid. How can people really believe Rudd got us through the GFC when we $60 Billion in the banks before it started, and now what do we have? Where has all that money gone, and what do we have to show for it? Rudd who gave $250,000,000 to his mate Wayne Goss Lobby group for Free TV. Staying at Kerry Stokes house in Broome, ministers skiing trips with TV moguls. Do we forget all this?

    • PeterPiper says:

      11:17am | 06/08/10

      Rosie judging by the amount of people who upset over Kevin Rudd, the whole of Queensland for a start, you may be in the minority. One thing for sure Kevin Rudd was liked more than you will ever be and who can blame anyone with your acid tongue!!

    • The Badger says:

      11:22am | 06/08/10

      Rosie, don’t worry when Labor is re-elected, they will look after the dumb asses that supported Abbott.

      FredLime - I like what I posted so much I posted it twice.
      You can post it as much as you like, doesn’t make it any more believable.

    • Rosie says:

      12:32pm | 06/08/10

      PeterPeterPiper

      Yeah how can we forget the charismatic Kevin07 and after the elections was the most popular PM in Australia’s history so couldn’t understand why his female Deputy would politically assassinate him. To your way of thinking there could be nothing else on Julia Gillard’s mind but the power that the top job brought with it.

      Dear dear Peter I am not here to be liked and about the acid tongue, now I understand why Richard Marles wouldn’t publish my comments which was very similar to what I said in my first posting.

      Have a nice day Mate, going to listen to the excuses our caretaker PM is going to give in the BER Report.

    • ibast says:

      10:49am | 06/08/10

      Now Fraser has weighed in too, so add another contender to the list.

      Reply

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      11:18am | 06/08/10

      Yer kidding. I assume it was the ALP who brought him out, since he has become regrettably senile and is clearly in an advanced state of dementia. Would suit them down to the ground. 

      You have a link for that?

    • ibast says:

      12:05pm | 06/08/10

      SMH.

      It’s sad state of Australian politics (and the Australian mindset) that the Liberal party has become so conservative, that Fraser looks like a left-wing nutter.

      The mindset of a fair go in this country has be lost to the mentality of looking after number 1 only.

    • Rowdy says:

      12:09pm | 06/08/10

      Fraser’s been a nutter since he lost his trousers…..

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:54pm | 06/08/10

      Tony of Poorakistan (is that a weak cipher for Toorak?) has a low opinion of Fraser’s intellect, but even at his advanced age he is far more eloquent than Abbott.

      Could it be that the moment a hero speaks sense, his erstwhile fans denounce him?

    • Robbo says:

      10:54am | 06/08/10

      One Reason why this election is anything, but interesting:

      1: It is boring.

      Reply

    • ann says:

      10:58am | 06/08/10

      This entire election campaign has turned into a charade, nothing but a circus.  What a story, Gillard and Labor knifed the Prime Minister because he had lost his way, so, then we were told Gillard was Moving us Forward and please forget the Past, then there was the Fake Julia, then there was the Real Julia and now the knifed Prime Minister has returned to be Gillard’s and Labor’s messiah.  What the?  Are these Politicians for REAL?  What a joke.  These Politicians are treating us the voters like mugs.  Unbelievable.  Wake up Australia.

      Reply

    • Lazy Jesus says:

      10:59am | 06/08/10

      So what’s with the misspelling of Julia - Jooliya or Joolia? Is that somehow funny? Have I missed something? Can someone explain that to me (sorry, I’m not that sharp). I’m not a labour supporter BTW, just curious.

      Reply

    • ibast says:

      11:35am | 06/08/10

      It’s the wittiest thing the anti-Gillard lobby can come up with.

    • Gregg says:

      11:40am | 06/08/10

      Just get off your lazy butt and brighten up!
      Have you been in the backwoods counting trees with Booby Black again?

    • Mhoram says:

      12:09pm | 06/08/10

      LJ, it’s just the lazy hypocrital “voters” (on both sides) resorting to playing the person not the policy. They scream loud and long when the pollies (of their hated side) do the same thing, but seem to be unaware - or uncaring - that they’re doing the same thing.

      Good article from Leo, agree that’s it’s anything but boring, considering what’s at stake. What frightens me is the amount of chatter around “it’s boring ‘cause it’s not all about me”. Scary that these people can influence the direction this country takes.

      Then you’ve got the self-proclaimed policy wonks putting forward their biased bullsh*t around who lied about what. They shoot you down in flames if you make a comment, then go on to distort the truth themselves. It’s not just the pollies and their parties I’m sick of, it’s the ignorant fear-mongering bleating from the hoi polloi (once again, from both sides, although you tend to see mostly Liberal sympathisers on the Punch).

      I’m not Labor, Liberal, Green or any other organised political party. I’m someone who likes to actually try to evaluate the policies, ideals, values and leadership of the candidates before deciding. Who likes to try to cut through theBS and see what the candidates think of how this country should look and act, both now and in the future, before I decide. When did the Australian citizen, with the extremely valuable RIGHT to vote, turn into a self-serving ME, ME, ME a**hole who can’t sort the wheat from the chaff and votes on who they like, not what they can do? No wonder the pollies are sycophantic robots stuck “on message”, where is their incentive to be any different?

      LJ, did I answer your question?
      smile

    • Mark M Aldridge Independent says:

      11:08am | 06/08/10

      The most important issue, is who are we electing, while the only scrutiny is on the leaders, whom who will be representing us, I for one think the majors wouldn’t dare want scrutiny on the candidates them selves! Bring back the soap box, and lets then see the result

      Reply

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      11:50am | 06/08/10

      Boring? It may have been but not any more! Kevvy’s back!
      This Lazarus has truly risen from the dead. Stabbed in the back at least 160 times by his colleagues (who’d want any of them as colleagues?), His corpse & his memory defiled, his grave with his cremated remains in it vandalised by the Federal ALP Parliamentary Party, the rank & file of ALP members, the Union Bosses, the faceless, nameless faction leaders. Suddenly they find that the newest saint within the ALP, Jooolya Gillard, is every bit as toxic as the polls, on which the ALP so rely, said Kevvy was!
      So what happens? Another back-flip by the ALP!
      They dig Kevvy’s ashes up, reconstitute his body during that alleged gall bladder op, & in a “Me Too”  Frankensteinian experiment give the body a shot of electricity et voilá Kevin Rudd is back!
      Next thing we hear will be that the unelected union & faction bosses holed up in Sussex Street, Sydney, will arrange for Kevvy to be made Top Dog again!
      Poor St. Jooolya of the ALP! She will become a quickly forgotten ALP martyr.
      Et tu, tu, Brute!! ( Not sure if I remember all the Latin taught to me by my paedophile priest)
      If the ALP strategists think all this back-flipping & back-stabbing will help it just goes to show how inane they really are. The public will only see a political party in total, complete & utter disarray.
      To quote the ALP’s own words:
      “How can they expect us to believe they are capable of governing Australia when they can’t even govern themselves?
      This was a charge Kevvy, Jooolya, Winy & others within the ALP have laid at the Coalition’s door up until last December. The difference is that the Coalition were/are in Opposition and Oppositions, ALP, Liberal or Nats, don’t count for much whilst they are in Opposition so their squabbles are mostly irrelevant.
      Just who is running the Federal ALP Parliamentary Party?
      It most certainly is not the MPs who make up the Federal ALP Parliamentary Party is it?

      Reply

    • Jezabel says:

      11:58am | 06/08/10

      There’s only ONE reason why Rudd has agreed to “help” Gillard. He needs Gillard in power so he gets his appointment to the United Nations so he be the big man on the big stage, which is what he’s always wanted.

      Reply

    • Ben says:

      12:03pm | 06/08/10

      how bout 10 reasons why Australia freedoms are vanishing fast and picking up speed.

      1 Julia Gillard, has had a pending case for treason in Victoria which automatically nullifies her from holding any position in Australian Government. She should be in Jail not sitting in the top spot. Bought and paid for that’s why.

      2Julia Gillard along with Howard, Hawke, Keating, Beazley, Rudd, Abbott, are all Socialist commies.
      They hate the constitution of Australia and will love nothing more than to see Australia turn into a full blown communist country that would make China Blush.

      2 More false left right bull to make you the sleeping public think you have a say in what is already a fixed Game.

      4 Australia to continue down the road of tyranny and constitutional abandonment, by electing criminals for leaders who are there to serve the United Nations and corporations not the Australian Public.

      5   A false lie to get us out of debt when our constitution states that we can coin our own money and be out of Debt within WEEKS and that it is our constitutional right to kick the Privately owned Federal Reserve out of Australia and the bankers and corporations that control these phoney governments.
      “did you know that it is illegal to charge variable interest according to the Constitution of Australia”

      6 More Taxes for you mr joe public, increased living costs and no savings, all for the profiteering of bad government and banks and corporations.

      7 They will bring in the republic talk again which will really be the nail in the Free Australia coffin,  the republic of Australia if it ever goes through will be a full blown dictatorship that will make Hitler Blush.

      8 The Current state government laws are illegal in light of the Constitution of Australia, we have the right to a jury in all court matters, and that we have the right to be heard under common law.  Government wants to get rid of this.

      9 the United Nations has a Mandate to all properties which have a mortgage.  That means that in the event of Australia going broke and the republic in place ALL properties with money owed will become the property of the United Nations.  How do you feel about paying 3 times as much for a house you WONT own!!!!!
      Beazley said, The UN has given the federal Government a mandate of ownership once the Republic has been proclaimed.  THAT WAS IN 1990

      10 WAKE UP AUSTRALIA YOUR CONSTITUTION DEMANDS IT.

      Reply

    • iansand says:

      12:20pm | 06/08/10

      Good work.  Are you standing for the Senate somewhere?

    • Wombat says:

      12:35pm | 06/08/10

      Barnaby

      Please don’t use the computer unless you are being supervised.

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:48pm | 06/08/10

      In the complete absence of evidence, I am sceptical of those 10 claims.

      I do know that the Australian Constitution states that the head of government is the Governor-General and that all decisions are to be made by the Executive Council with the GG at its head.  There is no mention of a PM or a separate Cabinet.  So Australia’s had it wrong since 1 Jan 1901.

    • Barton says:

      09:02pm | 06/08/10

      Really Ben?  Howard a socialist?

    • BuddhaBelly says:

      10:19am | 08/08/10

      I just did some research on these claims, and it seems that since 1978 the United Nations has had very big concerns over private ownership of land. It uses the phrase “Social Justice” to say property as in land and housing should be strictly controlled by government, and should be acquired if needed depending on social demographic changes. I don’t think this is something that will happen in the next 20 years, but I would say as population grows those who hold property investments may be required to give them up.

    • TP says:

      12:15pm | 06/08/10

      Hey, Leo, plenty of us who WILL vote for him think he’s mad too…that’s part of the appeal. Boring it won’t be with Captain Tony at the helm.

      Reply

    • Taiabada says:

      12:30pm | 06/08/10

      I agree this battle is anything but dull.  The main protagonists, the Rabbott and The Hair, have so far had the limelight but enter KRudd and Immediately we are to have some fun.  Unfortunately few people really listen to and understand fully the nuances of the wonderful English language. 
      In KRudd’s extremely carefully worded and scripted message message on joining the campaign (one of his cleverest), he was very clearly saying that ‘Julia can’t win this election but I can and I’m coming back to save (and humiliate) her’.
      In The Hair’s response to Sky News this morning when she was asked had she been in contact with Krudd, Sky THOUGHT she said SHE HAD CONTACT with the former PM by texting.  Listen to her words carefully - she uses “we” not “I”, she doesn’t say the texting has been at any particular time and certainly not in recent time.
      Oh Boy!  The machinations, obfuscation, and the coming KRudd/Hair partnership is going to be fascinating.

      Reply

    • Con Barrington says:

      12:57pm | 06/08/10

      Plus

      Howard has stuck his nose in and given the kiss of death to Abbott.

      Hawke is still getting over the backlash from a bad TV series featuring his ego, his alter ego, his ageing missus, his forgotten missus, or was that the former missus who has just plain forgotten full stop

      Keating is dreadfully silent (thank God)(must be down on the pig farm)

      Mark Latham tried to give the kiss of death to anyone within earshot but the wind changed.

      Peter Costello tried to get in on some cushy Gold Coast seat but couldn’t produce his pensioner card….

      Reply

    • Bryan Wilsdon says:

      01:04pm | 06/08/10

      It’s boring because we already know the result.
      We will get self serving politicians who’ll do anything to further their own self esteem and pensions. Until it’s compulsory for politicians to use public transport and have the same superannuation conditions as Joe Public, it’ll never change - boring as batsh** !

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:33pm | 06/08/10

      Bryan, you are exactly right.

    • Jack says:

      01:17pm | 06/08/10

      The debate might be boring but the future of Australia is not.
      It is very serous to vote and make the right decision.

      Reply

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      02:02pm | 06/08/10

      Right on! Jack!
      Just remember the biggest danger to Australia & a Prosperous Future is that nasty, little pressure group the Australian Greens. If they do get the Balance of Power - we don’t have to give it to them as there are lots of other Senate Candidates who will treat with whichever of the major parties wins government in a fair, intelligent, rational way. Given their appalling, restrictive, anti-progress, anti-trade, anti-business policies we can guarantee the Greens will not behave in that way.
      What are they? They have a so-called Leader who, though he has repeatedly, publicly stated he is opposed to doing any sort of preference deals with any party, has neither the backone, moral fortitude or guts to prevent the deal the party he allegedly leads did with the ALP.

    • Qld Ron says:

      01:28pm | 06/08/10

      Tut, tut, tut Leo.  Your Labor bias seeps through.  This article could have been an erudite one but you bypassed some major contenders in this list.

      Reply

    • TigerBob says:

      02:51pm | 06/08/10

      Rudd’s move to the forefront of the campaign for labor will be a big distraction for Gillard as Rudd will be on the main stage. Rudd is in his element as he actually thinks he will save the labour party. It’s all about him and what he did to save Australia. He’s in it for him and no one else. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that. I don’t think the Queenslanders will buy it as they were upset they weren’t given the chance to vote him out. Another problem for Gillard is that the opposition announced that will not support the internet filter. Very good policy from the LNP.

      Reply

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:30pm | 06/08/10

      Turbull may not support the internet filter, but Abbott is morally obliged to intensify it.

      Reply

    • TigerBob says:

      03:45pm | 06/08/10

      On the contrary. His party has confirmed that it is against it. They will issue free security kits to families who want them for free. Much better solution and one that worked well under Howard.

    • Geoffrey Tobin says:

      03:54pm | 06/08/10

      We shall see.

      Reply

    • Carl Palmer says:

      03:59pm | 06/08/10

      Good one Leo, thoroughly enjoyed the read.

      I agree Leo, the election is fascinating. You also have to remember that TA also knocked off MT by 1 vote to get the opposition leaders job. Knocked off the most popular PM in history and now is getting very close to finishing the job on the current PM. Looks like there will be more blood, a short right followed by an upper – cut. Unfortunately this won’t be coming from TA though he will have landed a few of his own.

      She ain’t ducking and weaving very well, can’t wait for the next round.

      Reply

    • NickGC says:

      08:16pm | 06/08/10

      Re point three Leo: creepy and transient they might have been, but all three have scored something named in their honour ... where will the new electorate of Gillard be located, I wonder?

      Reply

    • David says:

      08:54pm | 06/08/10

      You forgot one big reason why this election is interesting:

      Chaser

      Reply

    • Dolly says:

      09:47pm | 06/08/10

      Despite your best efforts to give life to this campaign, there really isn’t enough to make it anything but boring.

      As someone who drools over politics/economics/international relations journals and articles, I am extremely disappointed at the lack of real discussion in this election.  You get more intense debate the week before the Oscars. 

      When politicians get into the juicy details of their policy and start swinging verbal blows, then things get exciting.  Mostly because it’s a downhill slide and we all get to watch.

      But you are right, there is a bit of ‘soap opera’ drama.  It just fails to even neutralise the boredom and certainly is not enough to make it interesting.

      Reply

    • Petunia says:

      06:13am | 07/08/10

      Well Im a swinging voter but I do my own research and reading before I vote and Ill be voting Labor again. Australia handed the GFC the best of any country in the world and Im yet to see a legitimate reason to vote them out. We have the lowest debt to GDP ratio in the western world. There has been errors no doubt but no real clangers in my opinion. I get the impression that the people complaining about the government would find reason to rant and rave about the end of the world no matter what they did.

      Reply

    • Abbott deserves a go. says:

      09:42am | 09/08/10

      Petunia you don’t vote anything but Labor and despite your protestations it appears you are a Labor voter.  But why when the following is the record of the last 3 years.  The GFC was handled by simply taking a massive cash advance on the credit card as paid off by the Liberals.  There have been several clangers but as a Labor troll you would not see them - but let us review:
      1.  GP Super centres - less than 10% planned actually built - none in areas of medical need. 2. Fuelwatch. 3. Grocery watch. 4.NBN, 5. Turn back the boats 6. Electric Cars (Toyota say Thank you). 7. Private Health rebate 8.  Dental Scheme 9. Home Savers Grant (closed due to lack of interest!) 10. BER (Billions wasted - even the white wash report admits that!). 11. Hospital Takeovers. 12. Indigenous Housing 13.  Childcare Centres 14. Government paying its bills ontime. 15.Coastguard.  So that’s just 15 significant promises taken to the electorate in 2007 that have failed to materialise. 
      Petunia can you name 5 significant policies that Labor has successfully introduced?  Nah no one can so don’t feel too bad.
      Labor do not deserve a second term - they need a term in opposition to just sort out their leadership.  Abbott deserves a go - if he fails then we can vote him out next election!  If he is successful he will save us a lot of debt and other angst in the future.

    • JohnJones says:

      12:03pm | 07/08/10

      I have always been a Liberal voter but this year I will vote Labor. The reason is the internet filter. It’s about time we cleaned up the filth that is coming into our homes. Next year (under Labor) we can feel confident to have eliminated the disgraceful violence and sex from games and websites. Although some people are opposed to it now, when you have children you will understand the need to stop these games and websites.

      Reply

    • marley says:

      04:07pm | 08/08/10

      I’m assuming you’re being satirical, since the internet filter will accomplish none of the things you wish for. 

      And anyway, would you expect the government to ban all fast food outlets because junk food is bad for kids?  Or would you, as a parent, teach your kids the value of decent food and refuse to fill them up on chicken nuggets or burgers and chips?  So how is the internet any different?  Give your kids good values, and set up your computer to block out the undesirable sites, as any responsible parent should do. 

      And leave the rest of us to enjoy our occasional dip into junk food and dodgy internet sites.  The last thing any of us want or need is an government which has a poor record when it comes to competent project management, attempting to manage the internet.

    • acotrel says:

      09:36pm | 07/08/10

      Tony Abbott said this coming election would be a dirty f ight.  He was certainly in the best position to know! How about the website for a lib candidate which links to an ant i-labor advertisment, and does nothing for their candidate?

      Reply

    • Jay says:

      08:07am | 08/08/10

      I love the side serving of melodrama. Jessica Rudd’s book, which is being released on labor’s launch day, has plenty of deja vu content.
      If all this drama is not in the book, I hope she has left an open ended finish.

      Reply

    • Simon says:

      08:25pm | 08/08/10

      The real joke is a failed British Labour politician Alan Milburn, not known here in England for his political acumen is now advising ALP.

      Reply

    • Youdy beaudy says:

      08:33am | 09/08/10

      Never trust a bloke with snake Eyes.

      Reply

    • Rocky Raccoon says:

      09:50am | 09/08/10

      Great article.I would throw in a 5th person running for prime minister and say that Rudd is looking more and more like a Prime Minister every day.Of course after this weekend you would have to throw in 11th reason why the election is not boring : Mark Latham.

      Reply
 
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