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Campaign countdown: the failure to communicate

Leo Shanahan

by Leo Shanahan

11 Jun 05:48am

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Filed under: Campaign Countdown, Election 2010, Kevin Rudd, Mining Tax, Politics, Tony Abbott

28 comments

It’s been a long week for the Prime Minister. He’s gone from more shocking poll results, to being bashed around by mining magnates in Western Australia and will head to Queensland today to face more of the same.

Perhaps though he can take the weekend and reflect on his communication skills, because lately, despite his arguments to the contrary, they’ve been lacking.

Think about this: if the consultation process over his mining tax has been as good as the Government claims, why was yesterday the first serious meeting between Kevin Rudd and Twiggy Forrest over a month after the policy was announced?

Following their talks yesterday Forrest says that Mr Rudd now “open to a process, so let’s give that a chance”, but why has it taken Rudd so long to meet such a central figure to Australian mining like Andrew Forrest?

Today The Australian is reporting that a senior Government Minister, Trade Minister Simon Crean, is now even questioning Rudd’s approach.

Crean has said that the Government was working to “fix” its initial lack of consultation with the mining industry, a statement that has added to some leadership tensions given Crean’s close association with deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

But there seems to be confusion as to when the Government might offer a compromise on the tax.

The Herald-Sun’s Terry McCrann claims that Government will put an offer on the table as soon as today, with The Age hinting at a similar olive branch from the Government to miners on the tax, but doesn’t give specifics beyond industry rumour that the Government is considering change the level of profit the tax kicks in from six to 11 or 12 per cent. But both papers also reports this is not going to be enough of a compromise for the industry.

Meanwhile with Kevin Rudd heading to Queensland today to sought out more mining types, the SMH is reporting that while BHP boss Marius Kloppers is keen to distance himself from the attacks on Rudd over the RSPT, but has “not seen a path this time how sense is going to prevail as of yet” on the tax.

Michelle Grattan in The Age today points to Rudd’s predicament, asking what it is he can actually do having already announced the tax and facing a mining industry who will be unhappy with the compromises: “But the big question remains: what will he actually do?”

Another man suffering from Mr Rudd’s communication shortcomings is the Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

According to the SMH the two aren’t even talking, with Rudd straining towards one of his Kevolquiasms, claiming it was up to Barnett to pick up the phone and “have a yak”.

While there is certainly some political point scoring from the only Liberal Premier in the country going on, the fact is Rudd needs Barnett to sign off on his new federal health deal before he can claim it as a success.

All the while Tony Abbott is travelling around, yesterday and today in Queensland, talking to voters and attempting to play the small target. A pretty relative term when it comes to Tony Abbott.

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28 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Peter T says:

      06:51am | 11/06/10

      The main problem Rudd faces is that he appears to be - and may very well be - more of a bureaucrat than a parliamentarian. He’s too much of a ‘public servant” and not enough of a politician. That’s evident in how he speaks - the language he uses is too ‘internal’ and not enough ‘public’, in that he talks too much ‘industry-speak’, rather than in everyday language the general public can readily digest.

      In short, he’s just not ‘down-to-earth’ enough to be genuinely accepted as a Labor politician. Julia Gillard, on the other hand, is exactly the opposite.

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      10:38am | 11/06/10

      @Peter T
      “Julia Gillard, on the other hand, is exactly the opposite.”

      No, she is just better at acting. She repeats the right words every time and manages not to seem robotic, but we are not seeing the real Julia either.

    • Gary Cox says:

      07:13am | 11/06/10

      Kevin seems to have a problem with democracy. Who else would announce a tax on an industry without first consulting industry leaders? Then arrogantly stating that we’re not changing it, (even though I’ll bet they do now)Then there’s the fact that Peter Garrett found out about the dumping of the ETS in the newspapers and the fact that he wouldn’t listen to warnings about the insulation debacle. I think listening would be a better skill for this bloke than communicating.

      Reply

    • Sherlock says:

      07:43am | 11/06/10

      Rudd didn’t feel the need to consult with industry because he thought it would just be an extension of the ALP class war they have been waging since the day they took office.

      Didn’t you notice how they have continually tried to push the image of mining bosses as overfed and overpaid fat cats more concerned with lining their own pockets that anything else.

      The problem for the Rudd government is that Australia has moved on since the days of Hawke and Keating. We’re far better informed and savvy than we were fifteen years ago. Far more people than the ALP spin department thought now realise that business is a much better driver of our economy than anything the government will do. The electorate recognise how dependant our lifestyle is on the resources industry and see this government imposed tax as a threat to our current way of life.

      I’m far more inclined to listen to what Clive Palmer has to say than anything from the ALP spin merchants. Regardless of what belt size Mr Palmer needs.

    • persephone says:

      08:33pm | 13/06/10

      Why does any government have to consult with anyone at all before imposing any tax?

      Don’t see the tobacco companies parading up and down the streets protesting.

      The mining industry had far more notice of what was coming than the tobacco companies did.

    • Coxinator says:

      08:07am | 11/06/10

      Wouldn’t you have thought the government would have went to blokes like Marius Kloppers and Twiggy Forrest and said “Look, we’ve racked up a bit too much debt so we need a bit more cashflow, you blokes probably haven’t been contributing enough, so what are WE going to do about it?” And started the negotiations and the arm wrestling from there. That’s got to be better than hatching a plan behing closed doors and throwing it at the miners whilst yelling “my way or the highway”. Having the mining bosses involved in the process would have lead to an amicable outcome and probably a smarter one, after all Kloppers must be brighter than say, Wayne Swan, otherwise Swan would be the boss of BHP earing $3m a year instead of the piddly $300K.

      Reply

    • Julian Thomas says:

      08:14am | 11/06/10

      Your comment:newspeak is so revealing “.if the consultation process.. yesterday the first serious meeting between Kevin Rudd and Twiggy Forrest over a month after the policy was announced?”, asking you to question the 1st “serious” meeting, between th actual PM and the CEO (others from both sides may have meet but that wouldnt make news)

      Reply

    • persephone says:

      09:09am | 11/06/10

      Because PMs don’t usually do the negotiating,they have people for that.

      Rudd didn’t do the negotiations on the ETS, Penny Wong - as the relevant Minister - did.

      Howard had never even spoken to Meg Lees until he needed her vote in the Senate - despite the fact she’d been in Parliament for several years and Leader of the Dems for several months.

    • ian forrest says:

      10:00am | 11/06/10

      Persephone tax office people spoke to the minerals council on a suggested tax plan that changed radically once Rudd/Swan put together the budget. Emerson and Cream have admitted the consultation was limited and none of the major international or Australian mining companies were directly contacted. And even worse they weren’t even consulted on the makeup of the tax.

      Jerry Harvey who in the past has gone out of his way not to show any bias towards either political party’s has called Rudd/Swan bloody amateurs over the handling of this tax.

      It’s indefensible, its chaotic it’s causing concern around the World that this country is no longer a safe and profitable place to invest. Its had a huge impact on our currency and mining stocks to which every Aussie with super has been affected. Hopefully the signs are there that a backflip will take place and significant changes will be brought about. For me I cannot remember a bigger budget mess than this ever and I worked through the Whitlam years.

    • antiperspirant says:

      01:19pm | 11/06/10

      “Because PMs don’t usually do the negotiating,they have people for that.”

      They also send the ministers out to give the bad news. What a coward. If he does not get his hands dirty how the hell is he so busy?

      “Rudd didn’t do the negotiations on the ETS, Penny Wong - as the relevant Minister - did.”

      Rubbish. You would be the only person in Australia to believe this. The gang of 4 were up to their necks in it.

      Lets also play aloing with you. This was the “greatest moral challenge of our times” - Rudds words. Are you now saying he didn’t man up and participate? Can’t have it both ways.

      The spin is strong in you today.

      “Howard had never even spoken to Meg Lees until he needed her vote in the Senate - despite the fact she’d been in Parliament for several years and Leader of the Dems for several months. “

      Well lets have the proof.

      At least he did consult with her on the GST. Rudd didn’t even tell anyone. Just the gang of 4 knew. What a joke.

      Is this all you have? Desperation .......

    • Delphic Oracle says:

      08:40am | 11/06/10

      From Kevin 07 “Now let me say this, and what’s more….....I’ ll just pack my bags and go to the UN - but maybe I’m now too UN-ten-able”

      Reply

    • Holly says:

      09:21am | 11/06/10

      My understanding is that there was quite a deal of input from the Minerals Council to the Tax Review and there was broad agreement that tax arrangements would have to be changed much in line with what the government has proposed.  There has been a great deal of consultation and negotiation since the tax was announced.  When something is very complex it is likely that the negotiations will be more protracted than some would like.  I do not think the major miners helped with their kneejerk exaggerated response.  I see they have been warned by ASIC because their unjustified claims may be interpreted as negatively affecting the market not just here but globally.

      I note this column is part of “Countdown to the Election 2010” but all I have read this week is the same old Kevin an “analysis”/ bashing, which is getting rather repetitive and boring.  Please could you guarantee a whole week of Coalition and Abbott bashing next week just to balance things up..

      Reply

    • Steve the Elder says:

      09:50am | 11/06/10

      I really like the young liberal, shallow end of the gene pool contributions after all they are doing the best they can with the talent they have got.

    • Darryl Price says:

      10:20am | 11/06/10

      Ah the formulaic response from the consort of Hades :
      - disagree
      - misdirect
      - deflect

      Yawn.

      Reply

    • heather says:

      01:51pm | 11/06/10

      bet s/he doesn’t get your reference though, lol; also the symbology of the the goddess bringing about a change of seasons is a tad amusing.

    • pc says:

      10:34am | 11/06/10

      Hi Ian,

      if you mean that chap from Harvey Norman, then you failed to mention that he supports the RSPT.

      Reply

    • dovif says:

      11:31am | 11/06/10

      Pc

      Rudd plans to give Harvey Norman a 2% tax cut, it is a little like if you support us in taxing the mining co an extra $12 billion dollar, we will give you an additional 2% of your profit

      Rudd had already brought Harvey Norman’s vote

    • Steve says:

      12:28pm | 11/06/10

      @pc
      “if you mean that chap from Harvey Norman, then you failed to mention that he supports the RSPT.”

      When your supporters say you’re incompetent, who needs enemies?

    • pc says:

      12:31pm | 11/06/10

      Hi dovif

      Ian said “Jerry Harvey who in the past has gone out of his way not to show any bias towards either political party’s has called Rudd/Swan bloody amateurs over the handling of this tax.”

      But as I pointed out Harvey supports the tax. You say that’s because the government has bought his vote

      Dovif “Rudd had already brought Harvey Norman’s vote “

      And I say you say because the miners have bought your vote. Oh thats right we dont get to vote for mining oligarchs.

      Reply

    • dovif says:

      01:51pm | 11/06/10

      pc

      The miner have not brough my vote, I have not receive a cent from the miner. I actually cannot go and vote for miners

      I just think that Australia are better off having thriving industries and thriving export, which pays for our cars and big screen tvs, Australia has one of the lowest unemployment rate because of all these thriving industries. We are currently the envy of the world

      If the miner tells me, they are businessmen and they likes making profit, In Australia, if they make $100 profit, they have to pay tax of $58, while in Canada, if they make a $100 profit, they only pay $30 in tax. I would wonder why they are not doing more business in canada.

      And then I hear about all the waste of money by this government, Insularion, building funds and it become clear, the reason for this tax is not Australia’s well being, it is to cover Rudd’s many mistakes

    • pc says:

      01:33pm | 11/06/10

      Hi Steve,

      Is Harvey Norman a labor supprter? I didnt know that and I certainly didnt say it. He supports the super profits tax, thats because its good policy I assume. Just like its opposed because its good policy.

      The mining oligarchs say that dont want to pay more tax on our resources or on our infrastructure because they are patriots. Not parasitical @rseholes that said they would pack up and leave if they couldnt make truly obscene profits. Oh thats right they did say that didnt they. The price of iron ore has gone up by 900% and yet for the last couple of years they have paid less tax then before.

      And why isnt eric here whinging about labor and their union mates?

      Reply

    • Flipper says:

      02:31pm | 11/06/10

      Hi. I think we do have a failure to communicate. In the national interest we should have two old timers like Simon Crean and Peter Costello be put into leadership of the parties as an emergency measure. Then the younger ones need to pass a test before they allowed out in public again.

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      02:28am | 13/06/10

      The miners may (or may not) be happy paying more tax, but the key problem with this tax is the retrospective nature of it.  It applies to current projects, not just future.  If this is now the way things are done here, then no future project can have any certainty at all about whether it will even make a profit or a loss.  No investor will put money into a country if they think the rules under which they invest are liable to change without notice.
      Imagine if you signed a 3 yr lease for a car, only to be told 3 months in that the government were removing all the tax advantages of a novated lease.  You’d be screwed, and furious to boot.  Or if they reintroduced capital gains tax on the family home you’ve owned for 20 years, and backdated it to when you bough it, payable now.  Amateurs is right.  You learn this stuff in economics at school.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      10:06am | 13/06/10

      It shows the calibre of those that support the lies and deceit of Tony Abbott , the Liberal Opposition and the Mining companies.
      Tony Abbott has been caught out telling lies on ABC interview programmes and then apparently claims it is not a lie, if it is written.
      Whether Tony Abbott goes by written or unwritten speeches, it was still a lie and he was caught out by Kerry O’Brien.
      The Miners protest against the proposed resource super tax is as fake as the Liberal Opposition Leader that they all support.
      Extracts from a story in ‘The Daily Telegraph’ on June 12, 2010 @ 1.41PM
      ‘Xstrata preparing work at ‘shelved’ Ernest Henry project, says minister.’
      XSTRATA has been accused of misleading Australians over the impact of the proposed super - profits tax after signing a contract for work on a project the company said had been shelved.”
      “The mining giant has signed a $3.4 million mining services contract with another company to manage a copper tailings facility at its Ernest Henry copper mine in Queensland.”
      “The contract was signed last week on the same day the Anglo-Swiss company said it was suspending operations at the mine because of the impact of the resources super-profits tax.” (RSPT)
      Extracts from a story in News.com.au:
      ‘Resource super - profits tax critic Clive Palmer ‘exaggerated’ threat to projects’
      “One of the most vocal critics of the Rudd Government’s proposed resource super profits tax has admitted he exaggerated the possible consequences.”
      “Mining magnate Clive Palmer said in May he would cancel two projects in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, which would have employed 5000 people, because of the levy.”
      “The executive chairman of mineralogy said one of those projects would employ 3000 people and generate about $2 billion a year in exports.”
      “But he has now told ABC he may have exaggerated,”
      *Then there is Tony Abbott (Phoney Tony) who is also a ‘Fake and phoney Greenie.’
      Extracts from a story in the ‘CourierMail’, on January 15, 2010 @ 12.00am
      “Tony Abbott stomps on State issues over Murray - Darling”
      “Tony Abbott has warned he will call a referendum to strip state governments of their rights to manage the Murray - Darling in a bid to tackle “Australia’s biggest enviromental problem’
      “For the second time in a week, the Opposition leader (http://www.tonyabbott.com.au) has signalled his willingness to intervene in state issues,coming after a plan to strike out Queensland’s laws banning development near rivers in Cape York.”
      ‘In the first in a series of major policy speeches , Mr Abbott last night also announced plans for a 15,000 strong Green Army to respond to large-scale enviromental remediation.
      * Yet in another story in the Courier Mail two days earlier, on January 13, 2010 @ 12.00AM :
      ‘Tony Abbott backs Cape York mining over rivers’
      ” Federal Opposition leader Tony abbott has backed minin g in Cape York wilderness as he attempts to override Queensland’s Wild Rivers laws.”
      ‘Mr abbott will introduce a private member’s bill at the first sitting of Federal parliament next month in an attempt to strike out the state laws which restrict development close to nine rivers in the state’s far north.”
      * These two news articles show that one side of Tony Abbott is promoting him as being enviromental friendly , and yet the other side of Tony Abbott portrays him as an Enviromental vandal, by wanting to overturn the Wild Rivers Act to allow his rich mining mates to plunder and destroy the Pristine Wilderness and the Wild rivers areas of Cape york and far North Queensland.

      Reply

    • Another Steve says:

      05:50pm | 13/06/10

      For Kevin’s sake, Christian, how long did that take you to whip up, or do you keep copies of this stuff as it crops up?  Sorry, but cherry picking doesn’t make Rudd any better than he really is.

      I’ve got a few choice porkies form Gillard if you want.

      And for what its worth, the XStrata contract is really pretty small in the scheme of mine sites.  For all you know, it might be the contract to keep the mine site ticking over as ready to go again when the either the RSPT tax is gone or some compromise is made.  One of the two must happen, and I guess Xstrata is hoping that their investment to date is not wasted.

      For comparison, the Christmas Island Detention Centre which was initially closed under Rudd, cost $20mill a year to keep maintained - this is while it is empty.  So $3.4million is really rather negligible.

    • Christian Real says:

      03:59am | 15/06/10

      Another Steve
      As I am interested into anything political, I do file and keep copies of political happenings as they ‘crop up’

    • Brett L says:

      10:41pm | 13/06/10

      I’m not an “educated” person. But since leaving home at 15 and having to defend many of my decisions I have learnt how to sell myself and my ideas. Today I would be classed as having a achieved monetary gains. I’m constantly bemused by the lack of salesmanship by our leaders. Our leaders are so lacking in inspiration, leadership, confidence and honesty.  For $500 there are great training courses on sales. I’ll pay that $500.00 for Rudd if he can stop the $38 Million for the miners tas.

      Reply
 
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