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Counterpunch: Wow, that was really average

Leo Shanahan

by Leo Shanahan

16 Aug 02:10pm

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Filed under: Bob Hawke, Election 2010, Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Labor Party

167 comments

The Labor Party campaign launch today should be a lesson in why waiting till your last week for a campaign launch is not a good idea: because it could fall flat.

Julia attempts to wrestle Bob off the stage. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen

In a very close campaign today’s Labor launch won’t hurt Julia Gillard’s chances, it just won’t do anything extra for them, and that would’ve really helped right now.

There was nothing new in what Gillard had to say today, and was made doubly painful by a meandering and confused speech by former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

It didn’t start too promisingly, with warm up speeches from Anna Bligh and Wayne Swan, whose contribution to motivational speaking is roughly the same as the Canwich to fine cuisine. But at least Bligh and Swan gave speeches that were recognisable as such.

Bob Hawke was then greeted to the stage, and the former PM proceeded to give the audience a really good but very long impression of Grandpa Simpson.

There was obviously some discussion about drawing on the Hawkie renaissance inspired by the Hawke telemovie. This discussion ignored the fact that these events took place between 20 and 30 years ago, and that while Hawke may have given one hell of speech to the ACTU in the early eighties, now he just comes across like the last premiership winning captain periodically rolled out by a desperate football club.

Gillard’s assumption to the stage was strangely Spartan, hardly any music, no screen show and not a balloon in sight. All of which I accept is unnecessarily superficial, but would go some way to reminding people they were watching a campaign launch and not the Grade 6 weekly assembly.

The speech was one we have not only heard before, but one that has planted itself on repeat in our brains like some futuristic torture machine. There was her love of hard work and a reminder that her parents got jobs out here in the sixties, of course choosing not to join the vast ghettos of unemployed Welsh migrants commonly found in Adelaide at this time.

Gillard awkwardly paid tribute to Kevin Rudd, and to his credit resisted the urge to remove his shoe and throw it her at her head.

The message we were to take from this speech was consistent with the Labor message this campaign: Julia’s Labor provides a prosperous and positive vision for Australia, compared to Tony Abbott who is a stupid and scary man who’ll ruin the economy. This is all effective, but today’s speech won’t make people tune into that anymore than they could have or would have already.

There was a good policy announcement which boiled down to allowing rural Australians to claim on Medicare e-visits to specialists and late night doctor consultations via the internet. The first really just adds a Medicare item to something already being done. The second is reliant upon there being doctors willing and able to do any of this. An online doctor is still a person who has to wake up and 12:30 and has to be willing to help to help out, and if they’re not there or two busy the broadband isn’t going to make a difference. But still, points for linking health and broadband issues.

The crescendo was a bastardised version of Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can”, replacing it with the less impressive “Yes We Will”, which, at this point, is what Labor have to keep telling themselves. Maybe that was the point of today - a large mutual reassurance session for the ALP. 

Most commented

427Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself
371There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin
353"Gifting", "journey" and other words we hate
313Thomson didn't answer the question everyone is asking
300Animal experiments won't cure me from cancer
262Who murdered the Arts degree?
246A big day for Thomson, who thus far is guilty of nothing...
231South Australia. It's the middle bottom bit.

167 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • wholesale men clothing says:

      11:35am | 21/03/12

      Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic post.Thanks Again. Will read on…

      Reply

    • Housewife49 says:

      09:56am | 17/08/10

      Average is just that. Average.

      Meanwhile, not so much as a peep here about that Abbott person in a public TV debate last night.  Busy with family things I dodn’t bother to watch. Lackustre, I gather.  http://larvatusprodeo.net/2010/08/16/tony-abbott-on-qa/

      I guess that’s worth knowing. If you read nothing but The Punch you might think all Liberals are like the hordes of rude uninformed people on here. Then they’d never ever get elected, would they?

      Well, I’m a busy litle old lady and I’ve things to do. Time to go and vote!

      Reply

    • Youdy beaudy says:

      09:18am | 17/08/10

      Well, one thing about the labor launch was that it was not like an Amway Meeting as was the Liberals. God what a scripted nonsense that was.

      But really people, it you want a dudder with absolutely no vision for the future, vote Abbott. If you want social change and more forward thinking then vote Gillard. That’s what it really comes down too.

      The Liberal Party think they have the right to rule, so thank the God that they have a Labor Party to challenge them and put them in their real place, which is really a pile of out of date losers that have absolutely no idea of what they are doing. Abbott opens his mouth and words just fall out. Absolutely no vision for the country to go forward only backwards to the same old same old do nothing policies.

      Julia will win next Saturday because she is more articulate in what she is saying and at least has some policies which may make it better for the working class in particular. As far as the Country itself it is very wealthy. Taxes roll in every day in Australia and fill the coffers and really all this rubbish about us going down the crapper is just hype.

      But they have to run a deficit if they want to implement new policies and give new opportunities and help to the families that have been doing it hard. In spending money more opportunities will come. It wont be perfect, it never is. but at least it will move us forward.

      Capitalism will have to be re looked at and changed the world over if the world wants to continue to survive what is coming down the track for all of us. Yes, there may still be some nasties coming to all of the worlds peoples. The world today is an open marketplace and very competitive and we as Australians have to find our place in all that even more each day if we want to survive ourselves.

      It’s not just about us, it’s about everyone world wide. So far Labor has been able to stave off some very bad effects that we may have inherited from the World Recession. Their Policies did save the financial systems here. The Liberals being of the Big Business, bugger you jack I’m alright types should see that. Nothing positive from their useless Leader.

      Well, next Saturday night it will be all over and the result will be in. I think that Ms Gillard will romp home and well romp she will. Don’t worry about Queenslanders turning against Federal Labor as different to State Labor, because everyone,Queenslanders aren’t stupid, and will read between the lines on this one. Gillard should be given a go as PM regardless of Rudd stepping down with health problems. He did not contest the vote and he could have, but chose not to. So what’s the problem there anyway. A Media Beatup that’s what the problem was. Abbotts not as competent as Gillard and that’s a fact and regardless of peoples loyalties politically they are duty bound to put their mark on the best contender.

      If people think that the Labor Party who have fought for many years for a fairer deal for the workers is deliberately trying to bring down the economy of this country then they are deluded. And that’s the Truth.

      Reply

    • Julia. says:

      07:53pm | 17/08/10

      Gee you are smarter than I thought Tony . The above was for Labor supporters and swinging voters . How about a debate on something I am good at. Spin Rhetoric and the like.

    • Tony says:

      07:49pm | 17/08/10

      Youdy beaudy
      Now cmon admit it . You are really J.G We can tell by all the one eyed drivel above. Sounds like an election speach . Come on come clean J.G.

    • Holly says:

      09:07am | 17/08/10

      Dash - you are so trusting - do you think the coalition never wasted any money - pull the other one - think IT in public sector outsourcing for one.  Wonder if that was a staffer who asked the question about the BER.  She obviously had not read the Orgill report, or if she had she was happy to misreport its findings.
      Dash do you have a mortgage or a credit card debt? - if you have how do you sleep at night?  Private debt in Australia is much greater than government debt and is actually much more scary.

      Reply

    • Holly says:

      08:29pm | 17/08/10

      “The majority of complaints raised were in our opinion very valid concerns,” he told reporters at a Sky News conference.

      “On any project there is a necessary trade-off between quality, time and cost.“There are huge lessons to be learnt.
      “There are clearly schools that have not got any value for money.”
      But Mr Orgill said the taskforce had observed overall, that the BER was delivering infrastructure to schools, while also working as economic stimulus. He said the program had created a “lot of jobs” and without it the “real cost would have been in unemployed people”.
      “The (number of) complaints have been largely been in NSW, which accounted for about 50 per cent of all complaints.
      While the taskforce found evidence of shocking waste, mismanagement and huge cost overruns, Mr Orgill suggested that their had been wide-scale rorting, saying: “We’ve seen evidence of systemic rorting”.
      He said the taskforce was working closely with the NSW Department of Education to fix program’s problems in that state.

    • Joe Blow says:

      12:33pm | 17/08/10

      Holly - you make me smile every day.  Each time Abbot does well it’s because the audience is rigged or the interviewer was biased blah blah blah.  You must be the only person in the world who believes that Q&A would be an Abbott-friendly environment.  The twitterati stopped tweeting because they weren’t getting the ‘blood’ they had expected. 
      On coalition waste - I don’t remember anything in 11 years of Howard govt to match the billions wasted by this govt in 3 years.  You obviously don’t either otherwise you would give us some examples.  How about this example - After 12 years of Hawke/Keating Labour: Debt = $96Billion!!!  After 11 years of Howard Coalition: Surplus = $20Billion (a $116 Billion turnaround!!).  After 3 years of Labor: Debt at $40Billion!! What is it you don’t get???

    • Daniel says:

      08:58am | 17/08/10

      The ALP launch made the Greens look like a Hollywood event.

      Reply

    • Holly says:

      08:07am | 17/08/10

      I did not see Julia’s speech but Tony Abbott’s performance on Q and A was coma inducing stuff.  Even the twitterati seemed to have nodded off or changed channel.  I could see the audience yawning and wishing for merciful relief. What a small minded, lacking in vision , negative future this man offers the country.  He has absolutely no plan or sense of direction as demonstrated in his first response.

      Reply

    • Dash says:

      08:41am | 17/08/10

      Come on Holly, it could be worse. We could have record levels of foreign debt or a $40.4billion defecit. Or the threat of a carbon price driving up power prices and inflation. Or we could have a government that wastes taxpayers money on rorts and failures, promises the world and then fails to deliver. Oh hang on a minute, that sounds exactly like the Gillard government. Silly me. Better to be boring than a backstabbing, socialist radical, feminist liar that has presided over failure after failure in the most wasteful government in our nation’s history. Labor needs to go before they turn Australia into a NSW clone.

    • Rosie says:

      11:25pm | 16/08/10

      I hope you all watched Tony Abbott’s performace on ABC Q&A. Tony Abbott was good and even got two people making comments about the Labor Party and was cut off by Tony Jones.

      At the end of the night Tony Abbott was applauded and the audience expressed stronger approval than Julia Gillard had last Monday night.

      I am not sure whether anyone else noticed the twitter comments that kept coming in from Labor supporters trying to undermine Tony Abbott’s efforts. Towards the end it just died off and replaced by a few positive ones.

      Now we can look forward to a debate and a Town Hall Forum in Brisbane. The ball is in smarty pants court. “Be there or be square”

      Reply

    • The Badger says:

      10:36am | 17/08/10

      Mutual admiration society at work.

    • Gregg says:

      02:59am | 17/08/10

      Tony came across really solid Rosie and even with some curly questions where Liberal policy was obviously not going to align completely with the questioners ideals he was still able to give appropriate answers rather than evade them.
      Even when Tony Jones followed up, Tony came back with substantial answers.

      If the guy prattling on about cable and nodes looked familiar, if you had ever seen that reality show beauties and the geeks, he was on that as Chief Geek of course but even what he was saying was not totally true.

      Four Corners also featured Julia and Tony and he came through that with flying colours too.

    • Joe Blow says:

      10:09pm | 16/08/10

      uot eof the speech:
      Kevin Rudd “A man of achievement and more achievement to LIE in the future”  - She said it and she’d know ......

      Reply

    • Jarrad says:

      09:55pm | 16/08/10

      I hate politicians, but I hate journalists more. You’re a numpty.

      Reply

    • Rebecca says:

      08:31pm | 16/08/10

      It was not unscripted. The script was apparently on the lectern BEFORE she walked there.

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      08:28am | 17/08/10

      Yep and there’s video of it being placed right here

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBh3xCt1qIc&feature=player_embedded

      at the 12 second mark.

      Why would the Labor Party spread such a blatant lie about something so trivial? 

      Though I suppose it could have been her shopping list that was strategically placed before she spoke.

    • Denis Murrell says:

      08:06pm | 16/08/10

      Really beats me how anyone, apart from those rusted-on Labor supporters and those students and former students unduly influenced by Leftist teachers and lecturers during their education, could vote in a party that has run such a shenanigans of a campaign, beginning with the shafting of Krudd and the replacement of him with his equally as guilty deputy to today’s so called ‘launch’ where poor old Hawkie spent ten minutes doing an imitation of Grandpa Simpson. Anyone with even a milligram of commonsense and an open mind will give Tony a chance to at least repair the damage the ALP has caused during the past three years.

      Reply

    • Joe Blow says:

      08:02pm | 16/08/10

      Just heard Gillard’s “Yes we will” in the car driving home and laughed out loud.  She sounded like a droning school kid trying to read a speech written by an adult.  She was just mindlessly reading the words, no spirit, no belief, no clue!  At least KRudd could actually read a speech wth some feeling.  Imagine Gillard giving the “Sorry” speech - she would have had to apologise for putting everyone to sleep.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      07:58pm | 16/08/10

      The current Labor troupe (thinking now of seargent bilko’s) are so un professional and underdone that any idealisms they may retain after Mr Rudd’s drubbing will be left as a mess. Their capacity to actually think up legislations, propose them to a Senate and relegate specifics to councils to achieve anything… well, they should really have retained Kevin.
      A lot of us now look to Mr. Abbott, and suffer the indignities of his harsher measures.

      Reply

    • Ginger Whinger says:

      07:43pm | 16/08/10

      All I saw was fake ginger whinger. Please Australia, do the right thing and stab the labor party in the back like they did to Kevin.

      Reply

    • Gran Depine says:

      07:39pm | 16/08/10

      How can one describe PM Gillard’s ALP election policy achievements and promises speech today? Sentimental Obama kissing neo-socialist plagiarism.

      Plagiarism in many many ways. Everything from Cash for Clunkers, NBN, bailout the banks with unnecessary bank guarantees, unnecessary first home grants, UN BS “sustainability” rhetoric, carbon trading,  etc etc.

      As for the the old guard on display, the ALP EX-PM’s. Geeeeeez! doesn’t the past always look better than today as seen and described through their melancholy glory day eyes. They should all be shredded like five year old tax returns and receipts. Kevin Rudd is very familiar with paper shredders, a technique proudly displayed in his UN job resume. Hint, hint ...the QLD Heiner Affair.

      PM Gillard’s political platform narcissistic symbolism made me sick. The open hand movements symbolizing honesty. The Singapore Air Hostess smile that offered a happy finish every time she paused. The prodigal son (PM Gillard) returning home to Dad (Hawke et al) whilst the EX-PM Rudd sits with his tail between his legs like an OBEDIENT emasculated dog who is given a “United Nations SHMAKO biscuit” to pay homage to the white witch of the South. Yes, ladies and gentlemen we are definitely off to see the wicked Wizard. Neo! take the blue pill.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      07:37pm | 16/08/10

      Bob’s about 5 foot tall.
      Has Jules got her high heels on ?

      Reply

    • Rod Hagen says:

      07:34pm | 16/08/10

      MMM.  I keep having visions of Abbott , if he somehow manages to scrape in, rechristened “King Cannot”.
      He’ll be holding up his mobile phone on the shoreline and shouting “back! back!” to a couple of battered little boats that will be straggling in with a handful of Pakistanis escaping from the almost unfathomable horror of the Indus floods on board.
      Meanwhile, Australian workers and businesses will be going down without trace as GFC2 hits us and Tony focuses on his maritime duties, while religiously maintaining his belief that a deficit is something that must be avoided at all costs even if it means that the Australian economy sinks faster than the SIEV X!

      Reply

    • Rod says:

      07:32pm | 16/08/10

      Funny how journos complain about the manicured, stage managed, bribe laden, negative, policy and philosophy free, zone of campaigning in current political processes, but when someone presents a bare bones, honest,  almost totally positive, policy and philosophically laden, speech they can it because it isn’t glitzy enough?

      No, it wasn’t like the Libs policy free, carping, meaningless, rant.  No, it wasn’t a Greens manifesto for the future Australian revolution. What it was, though, was a remarkably honest, down to earth, portrait of just what an Australian government should be doing over the next three years, with far more vision than the Libs have had to offer, and far more realism than the more extreme members of The Greens could ever accept. I’m a long term Greens voter myself,  but the launch today pretty well hit the spot for me in terms of most of things that matter, barring a strong statement on dealing with global warming and Indigenous Australia.

      Reply

    • (Mrs) Cynthia Slack says:

      07:24pm | 16/08/10

      Than k you Queenslanders for the reality and satire you inject into this election.. Enjoyed your humour and you commonsense -can’t wait until I return back home there to live!

      Reply

    • nosthow says:

      06:30pm | 16/08/10

      Brilliant speech by a very clever Julia Gillard (a lawyer herself), unscripted and no teleprompter - how good is that ! The Bob Hawke touch went down very well and Labor are now on their way to retaining government. Lets face it Abbott has no policies and no vision for Australia, a draconian Asylum Seeker idea and to back him up a tired old Opposition mostly the dregs(Andrews,Bishops,Ruddock et al) from the Howard era that survived the 2007 drubbing ! Goodbye Tony Abbott !

      Reply

    • The Badger says:

      10:33am | 17/08/10

      @TimB

      The dregs he is referring to are not retired politicians like Hawke.

      They are left overs from the Pre and Howard era who still sit in opposition.  Dregs like the Bishops, Hockey, Andrews, Tuckey and the Abbott himself.

      The conservative party needs a refresh before they get another shot.

      Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
      Oscar Wilde

    • Mark says:

      08:36pm | 16/08/10

      ”  nosthow says:

        03:21pm | 16/08/10

        Brilliant speech by a very clever Julia Gillard (a lawyer herself), unscripted and no teleprompter - how good is that ! The Bob Hawke touch went down very well and Labor are now on their way to retaining government. Lets face it Abbott has no policies and no vision for Australia, a draconian Asylum Seeker idea and to back him up a tired old Opposition mostly the dregs from the Howard era that survived the 2007 drubbing ! Goodbye Tony !”

      Ummmm ok well since we are repeating stuff

      “
        MarK says:

        03:32pm | 16/08/10

        Don’t confuse clever with repetition and learning by rote.

        It was easy because we have heard it all before.

        Please reconcile to me the statement by Gillard that her and Abbott were close together on the boat people issue then please? Draconian if one side says it but visionary of the other announces it? Nice work. You really nailed the right there.”

      Ahhh let me add you avoided answering my question earlier. Go on give it a go now.

      PS Why did you post this twice .... it really wasn’t any better the second time raspberry Do you like just have this in word or something and run around blog sites going ctr v?

    • TimB says:

      07:24pm | 16/08/10

      Nosthow you seem to be repeating yourself (exact same post at 3.21PM). Are you a malfunctioning Laborbot?
      It would explain why you are wrong yet again:

      http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/16/2984500.htm?site=thedrum

      “As it happens, a written version of her speech awaited her at the lectern, but the suggestion of spontaneity had by that stage already been successfully contrived, and much was made afterward of Ms Gillard’s skill in speaking off-the-cuff.”

      I also love that you call the Liberals “the old tired dregs” yet you applaud bringing Hawke back from the 80’s. Too funny.

      Let’s hope you keep up your track record of being wrong this Saturday eh?

    • Chris Kelly says:

      06:26pm | 16/08/10

      At a funeral this morning I overheard two gents agreeing with each other that Bill Shorten would replace Julia within three months of the election if Julia wins.  I would like to know from Julia if part of the deal with the union back room heavies when they assassinated Kevin was for her to step down shortly after the election and give the Prime Minister position to Bill, or maybe back to Kevin???

      Reply

    • The Badger says:

      07:30pm | 16/08/10

      My condolences,

      Were you at the funeral of Macchour Chaouk?

    • Diamantina Dick says:

      06:22pm | 16/08/10

      This cannot be seen as anything more than another Labor farce. No ALP logo anywhere to be seen. All the way back to Hawkie for the warm up act (why no Keating, Crean, Latham, Buckets, Rudd). Last elected PM enters up the side and exits out the back with the help of a wing man (Falkner) to keep him in check. And a NEW Slogan!! Spare me.

      And I hear Smith is talking to Nauru, ROFLMAO!!

      Reply

    • Jason CR says:

      05:43pm | 16/08/10

      Jill, stop being a party pooper.  Surely you’re going to enjoy the Gillard / Bob Brown comedy act for the next 3 years.  Grab a choc top and popcorn, put your feet up and enjoy the show like me!

      Anyway Labor voters don’t care about electricity and other bills.  As long as they can afford their staple diet of Winny Blues and a 5 litre deathbox of moselle…

      Reply

    • Stewart Henstock says:

      05:36pm | 16/08/10

      Yes we will?
      Fake Julia back at work.
      I wouldn’t be comparing myself to Obama so quickly Julia.If you hadn’t noticed the US is about to tank again under a very unpopular President.
      When it comes to the economy there’s only one party you can traditionally trust and that’s the Liberal Party.
      The Labor party is great for reforms but hopeless in implementing their policies leaving the Australian economy in debt every time they leave power.
      In the 3 yrs they have been in power just what have they done: paid parental leave…NO ETS…new school halls = wasted millions,more boat people,an increase in pensions = after her arm was twisted.
      So the Labor Party save us through the GFC.
      Without a Liberal surplus Labor would of put us into a depression and if the the worlds economy tanks again that’s were we will end up under a Labor Gov.
      Labor are like teenagers with their parents credit card…spend…spend ...spend….promises that never eventuate…ETS…Pink Batts
      Now is time to reign in the debt before we end up like Greece.

      Reply

    • PeterA says:

      05:22pm | 16/08/10

      Ah,Philby,my fellow Australian.What I lack in intellict I make up in imagination.
      I did watch the speech and I thought about the practicalities of implementing consultation by remote video.Is one of those 1300 new GPs going to sit in front of a computer screen and do….what?
      No pay..no say?How are the GP’s going to collect their fees?It won’t take long for Medicare to be paying 100%....Medicare?Think you and I.
      Is all diagnosis visual only?
      GP.“That looks like Rowanda River Rash on your leg,where do you live?”
      PC[user]“Forestdale,and it should be,I copied it out of the book,I want 2 weeks off work and I need a script to give to the Boss.
      Boss"Your fired”
      PC.Unfair dismissal has been dismissed,that’s why I vote Labor.
      Boss"I give up.I’m going sell up and become a politician”
      PC “But what about me all the apprenticesJulia’s churning out?”
      Boss"See Julia,she could get you to dig a hole for you and Philby to hid in.

      Reply

    • Joe Blow says:

      12:45pm | 17/08/10

      @Philby - well I’m convinced now… $43 Billion so that someone can show their rash to a doctor over the internet. 

      This idea is ridiculous - it will just lead to doctors being bothered by hypochondriacs who can’t be bothered leaving their armchairs.

    • Philby says:

      07:34pm | 16/08/10

      Peter, the point is the online service is not a diagnosis, when will you accept that? It is a consultancy, it makes perfect sense, you dial up the service the person (be it a nurse or a doctor, not all doctors are in it for the money or are you cynical at that idea aswell?) can see and provide advice. No if you have ever watch a movie in HD you will know that visually you can get a pretty good view at things. The patient can then be provide with advice not a diagnosis or a perscription ar any of the like. This may very well also reduce the number of people who go to emergency with a minor ailment.

    • The Badger says:

      07:09pm | 16/08/10

      Whats the matter Timb
      feeling left out cause you didn’t get a mention?

    • TimB says:

      06:50pm | 16/08/10

      Nice Badger, that explains the arguments that the Labor supporters here come up with smile

    • The Badger says:

      06:06pm | 16/08/10

      It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them.

      Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

    • Biteme says:

      05:12pm | 16/08/10

      It seems fantastic! The GFC is over and “we are moving forward”. Well tell that to the 280,000 people who have their money still locked away in managed funds. When is Swann going to allow these people to access their money??

      Reply

    • kp says:

      05:07pm | 16/08/10

      The Badger is a Labor Staffer and I know that there are plenty more out there paid to post pro-Labor blogs. Just ignore him or her. Pathetic stuff !!!!

      Reply

    • Charles says:

      05:06pm | 16/08/10

      I will still vote Greens, but let’s be honest. If you are a mainstream political party supporter how in your right mind could anyone possibly suggest that Julia Gillard wouldn’t be a better Prime minister than Tony?
      Yes I’m sure those will reply with the same political messages they read on the recent brochure that was dropped in the mail box.
      And if a bunch of disenfranchised QLD’s are going to somehow dictate the outcome, then I hope for the sake of all us that Victorians and South Australians are more sensible.

      Reply

    • Philby says:

      07:28pm | 16/08/10

      Stewart, please explain how the debt would have been different under Liberals. Please an example of labor sucking at managing the economy.

    • Laura says:

      07:05pm | 16/08/10

      As a Victorian, I am deeply ashamed of the woman called Julia Gillard. I turn off the radio every time the voice comes on. I change channels every time she appears on the TV screen.

      Whatever she touches it turns to dust and she tells us it is gold. She has made lying an art form.

      With the help of a fawning media, Gillard has re-written the book on politics. She is Machiavelli meets the snake in the garden of Eden.

      The polls are showing a close election with a probable Labor victory but the airwaves are full of anti-Labor and anti-Gillard hate and it is on the rise. So on Sunday morning if we wake up to Gillard as our PM, I ask where will all that hate and anger go? And in the next 3 years as Gillard and her crew further trash Australia what then? For a start, maybe the idiot journalists who told us to vote for Kevin in 2007 and then repeated their sin by telling us to vote for Julia in 2010, ought to be named and shamed.

    • Stewart Henstock says:

      06:14pm | 16/08/10

      Both are just talking heads for their parties.
      It has nothing to do with Julia or Tony.
      It’s all about management.
      Labor traditionally and still do suck at managing the economy.
      Maybe you would like to donate some of your money to pay off the million dollars a day Labor has racked up…wait…you’re a tax payer…you already are.
      Greens??
      If the greens took control of the economy we would all be living in trees within a decade.Maybe that’s why they want to preserve the forests.

    • James says:

      05:05pm | 16/08/10

      I thought the speech was pretty boring, but I still think the Liberals are crazy.

      Who backs Labor…..The unions who look after workers, Getup who look after voters, The Greens who would look after us if they got the chance.

      Who back the Liberals…..The big rich evil mining companies who just want to make as much money as they can off everyone, Cigarette companies who don’t care if you die as long as they get your money, probably the Devil too, who knows.

      It would be nice if all political parties just laid off the scare campaigns though.  Sick of it all really.

      Reply

    • dwgw says:

      06:28pm | 16/08/10

      James you have a big problem. The person who looks after the worker is the person who pays his wage. I have friends who work in mining and they are afraid for their jobs under Labor. Its not like the big mean mining execs wink their eye and get it out of the ground. They pay a fair wage for hard work and are giving many workers a chance to live for the future.

    • Ben says:

      05:04pm | 16/08/10

      Gee Telegraph is just a moutpiece for the Right wing isn’t it? What a predictable story and set of responses.  Does nothing for anyone and we don’t learn a thing.

      Reply

    • The Badger says:

      10:25am | 17/08/10

      @ Tarzan
      I don’t vote Labor!  never have. That’s a fact.

      By the way, how is Jane voting?

    • Tarzan says:

      10:56pm | 16/08/10

      Badger your characterisation as a Labor voter is the reason I will vote Liberal.

    • tim kent says:

      04:56pm | 16/08/10

      Your comment:I think it highlights Abbott has breached the peter principle level
      of competence. he is now in the area of incompetence just watch him on the economy. it is painful

      Reply

    • Laura says:

      04:54pm | 16/08/10

      Gillard couldn’t even come up with her own slogan. 

      “Yes we will’ came directly from Hilary Clinton’s campaign and she lost! Oh if only!

      And there were at least 2 miscalculations in her speech.

      Gillard thinks if she repeats a lie often enough it will be accepted as the truth. And with a largely obliging media, it hasn’t been hard for her. This woman has taken poitics to a new low.

      Reply

    • Philby says:

      04:53pm | 16/08/10

      I love Abbott’s plan to turn the boats back. Just give him a call and he will decide what to do with each arrival. This is just another example of how purile and inaffective Abbott’s policies really are. All this time he has been ranting “We will stop the boats, Labor will not!” and all he has is to call him to decide when each boat arrives? Classic.

      Reply

    • The Badger says:

      02:51pm | 17/08/10

      Yes Philby,

      The way in will work in practice is that there will always by an aide close by Mr. Abbott carrying the “boatphone”.
      I’m not sure what colour Mr. Abbott will decide is appropriate, but it will probably be red for a national emergency situation such as our borders being breached by unwashed refugees.

      If you don’t know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.
      Yogi Berra

    • jill says:

      04:50pm | 16/08/10

      Bills under Labor will keep rising, rising and rising !!!!!!!!  ENJOY people of Australia. :-(

      Reply

    • Shane From Melbourne says:

      05:19pm | 16/08/10

      And they won’t under the Liberal Party? Dream on. All the middle class will do is cry out for more middle class welfare.

    • Daniel says:

      05:16pm | 16/08/10

      ‘cause bills under Howard stayed steady right? right? Keep singing this line while ignoring the facts.

    • Philby says:

      05:02pm | 16/08/10

      Jill here is a calculation for you I pay $3500 a month on a loan now at 6.8% it was at it’s lowest 8.2% that means i would be paying $4220 a month. I’m sorry but will utility bills increase by that much? Also let’s say you make $50K in 2006 you would pay $11K in tax, today you would pay $8600. Will utilities go up by 3.5K? Our standard of living now is much better than it was 4 years ago.

    • Ian says:

      04:41pm | 16/08/10

      Sally says:04:07pm | 16/08/10
      Correction RBA interest rates under Hawke were 18% and I was paying 24% on a bank loan. Inflation was running at well over 9% And if you go into it Bob hawke with the ACTU froze wages for years resulting in a reduction of real wages by 25% over his time. Workers had no choices.

      Reply

    • Philby says:

      07:22pm | 16/08/10

      Ian I see your point, it does show that inflation is a tricky monster. Therefore for any party to use it as a tool to show fiscal management is a tough sell.

    • Ian says:

      06:25pm | 16/08/10

      Philby says:05:04pm | 16/08/10

      Ian watch the labor launch Hawke gives a very interesting explanation on why that happened.
      Yes To try to stop inflation , Like work choices was put in place to do but it didn’t take 25% of wages from the whole nation.  Incidently if you have a look it didn’t work for hawke. Inflation fell a little then rose again.

    • Philby says:

      05:04pm | 16/08/10

      Ian watch the labor launch Hawke gives a very interesting explanation on why that happened.

    • John says:

      04:34pm | 16/08/10

      There was nothing to congratulate about.  I still remember how hard it was to find a job in Hawke/ Keating years and the interest rate was like 18%.  The Howard years has been good thanks to the industrial reforms.  Then these 3 years have been really tough.

      Reply

    • Ian says:

      07:59pm | 16/08/10

      yes John
      Seems the Labor fraternity turn a blind eye to the fact that coalition last time in for near 12 years. there was record employment record low interest rates and record low 2.5% inflation. whilst paying off a huge inherated dept.
      of 96 Billion. Could have done a lot with that money that was paid off with huge interest.

    • BobM says:

      07:34pm | 16/08/10

      He’s been ‘under’ Labor for the last three years, you tool.

    • The Badger says:

      04:47pm | 16/08/10

      Having trouble finding a job are you John?

      Long term problem?

      A job hunter will always be better under a labor government.

    • PeterA says:

      04:27pm | 16/08/10

      Looking through “nosthow"s” rosie glasses I’m temporally blinded by the fact that"Government” does not earn money.Working behind a counter or digging it out of the ground,you and I earn money and have to give more and more to the Government to pay for all the benefits they “give"us.
      Don’t be fooled by the “tax cuts"look instead at the rising Utility Rates and Electricity Charges and myriad other “little charges’that have crept into our live since…...oops..isn’t that a lovely shade of Red your wearing,Anna,Julia….hullo….anybody?.....must all be on the boat to Ashmore….........

      Reply

    • Bob says:

      01:05pm | 17/08/10

      Philby: Utilities are a state responsibility. As are pretty much all things that are disintegrating. This is after a mining boom and all that extra GST revenue that went to the states… Where did it all go?

    • Philby says:

      04:36pm | 16/08/10

      Peter during Howard’s days utilities went up 40%.

    • Big gay Al says:

      04:26pm | 16/08/10

      Hope Queensland has been stocking up on extra wine barrels for all the Liberal sour grapes that will trickle out on Sunday morning.

      Get a real leader instead of a self confessed liar and homophobe and the Liberal Party might amount to something (well probably not).

      What’s that smell- oh Liberal corpse.  Bring it on.

      Big Gay Al

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      08:06pm | 16/08/10

      Yeh we wouldn’t want someone who is not real or openly opposes gay marriage being the leader of a major political party and vying for the PM’ship now would we…..oh wait.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      04:19pm | 16/08/10

      Gee Leo, sounds like you must have missed the event? what happen get stuck in the bar? If you want to hear repeatitive just listen to a couple of rAbbott news conferences. He a running around trying to get in as many of threm as he can, you reckon he’s a smelling a loss. I reckon he is ; )

      Reply

    • Ben G says:

      04:12pm | 16/08/10

      Didn’t the whole “Yes, we can” thing have something to do with kicking out the woeful incumbents?

      Reply

    • Simonious says:

      04:10pm | 16/08/10

      You are right about Hawke and Grandpa Simpson, Leo. I was waiting for him to blurt out :” I wore an onion on my belt that was the fashion of the day”

      Reply

    • PeterA says:

      03:51pm | 16/08/10

      Instead of spending our money on income generating projects eg.Interstate Fast train/redirecting wasted monsoon water from up north,Labor keeps coming up with these ill-conceived ideas like “roof insulation"and in my local area,a bird obversation timber walk-way,with fixed binoculars overlooking a lagoon that’s dry 9 months of the year and all the birds go elsewhere.Now we have consultation by video.What about payment?Would the Doctor NOT tell
      KRudd to pull the knife out of his back untill he’s quoted his Visa and pin number?

      Reply

    • Chris says:

      09:07am | 22/08/10

      @ Philby. Where in Oz does Medicare pay for a consultation? Bulk billing is almost extinct in SA, NT and WA. In Alice Springs, a 10 min consultation costs $68, of which you get $33 back from Medicare. Unless you belong to a certain section of our population that is,  in which case all medical expenses including prescription medicine is fully covered.

    • Joe Blow says:

      10:28pm | 16/08/10

      @ Philby ... and now all we need is a $143Billion telekinesis system so that after these patients have been tele-diagnosed via the NBN their medication can also be transported via broadband ...oh you mean this policy hasn’t been thought through to the end?

      BTW, How funny was Gillard lying to Kerry O’brien about the NSW rail pork barrel. 
      K O’B - Why was it a surprise to the NSW Govt? 
      J.G. - No answer. Then something about there being discussions blah blah Albanese blah blah.
      K O’B -  You said you would be consultative with your cabinet.  Why didn’t you put you highest cost election promise to cabinet?
      J.G. - I didn’t have time to put it to cabinet during an election campaign.  Clearly another billion dollar Labor policy scribbled on the back of a beer coaster mid-campaign to buy a seat!!  And we are supposed to trust her with the economy ... you Labor voters must be kidding if you’d trust her with your wallet.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      06:23pm | 16/08/10

      Tony of Poorakistan says:04:59pm; I think your the one that needs help reading the article you posted a link to. It is far from a muted response and you have totally mis-represented what has been stated in that article. But considering you claim to be from Poorakistan you probably cn’t read anyway.

    • Heather says:

      05:48pm | 16/08/10

      It all sounds like a cop-out to me; because Labor have spent all the money on the fantastic wonderful superfragilistic etc NBN, they have no money left to spend on what people actually want; which is improved health care, by actual humans, in the regions and even in cities. They remind me of the big banks; hmm, let’s see, everyone will absolutely LOVE internet banking, so we’ll just close all the branches, shall we. Sort of reminds me of the, um surprisingly (not) mentioned, Citizens Forum against Climate Change.

    • Philby says:

      05:10pm | 16/08/10

      So are you telling me that you will exactly where you are now in 5-10 years. will the number of people living around you be the same? All of this makes a difference to your speed, to how you use the internet The issue is we need to do this just to catch up, in reality this should have been done 10 years ago, one the Howard governments infrastructures that could have been done. It’s easy for me in the city to say, the internet is fine, great that I have internet for a start, many people don’t even have that. This is a big country, infrastructure will cost more than other countries because of it. It is a benefit to live in a country with so much space but there is also a disadvantage. Does that mean we should not be part of the future?

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      04:59pm | 16/08/10

      Philby

      you had better read the whole article—> http://www.ama.com.au/node/5976

      Or get an educated person to read it to you.

      It provides muted support, if any and particularly notes that it should only be seen as an adjunct to current practice. This is a far, far cry from Joolya’s dream of having diagnoses over a videocall.

    • TC says:

      04:38pm | 16/08/10

      Excellent Philby. So now they can all wait at home with superfast internet. Now there’s $43 Billion ++ well spent

    • Soultrader says:

      04:36pm | 16/08/10

      @Philby
      I hope the consultations aren’t dependent on the NBN, actually being rolled out. What about the next 10 years before these clowns get it off the ground. We can’t wait that long. Could be fatal.

    • Philby says:

      04:27pm | 16/08/10

      Peter did you not watch the speech? Medicare will pay for the consultation, as it does now with face to face. Imagine no waiting in those horrible waiting rooms. Even the head of the AMA has backed this. Are you a person who has such a short memory that you have forgotten the wastage by the Howard government such as all that resource money = no infrastructure? or how about to those who put interest rate before Howard was 15% arguement, well rates are 2.5% lower now than they were with the last government and that with the GFC.

    • Joe Stephens says:

      03:42pm | 16/08/10

      Labor, Liberal.. neither have put up anything of substance. The winner of the elections simply the least worst choice as opposed to be anything we can be proud of.

      Reply

    • Ian says:

      03:33pm | 16/08/10

      Yes we will….eventually; and it will cost a whole lot more…..

      Reply

    • Gregg says:

      03:29pm | 16/08/10

      Oh Leo, tell me your definition of effectiveness again
      ”  The message we were to take from this speech was consistent with the Labor message this campaign: Julia’s Labor provides a prosperous and positive vision for Australia, compared to Tony Abbott who is a stupid and scary man who’ll ruin the economy. This is all effective, but today’s speech won’t make people tune into that anymore than they could have or would have already.  “
      What a fun fest!

      Reply

    • Peter Askerow says:

      03:22pm | 16/08/10

      I had a cartoon going on in my head as I watched the PM trying to pull the Cuddly woollen blanket over the women voters eyes eg.the time of day/numerous mention of children. A farmer has a broken leg out in the paddock and he has a GP on the laptop
      farmer.“I got a broken leg”
      Gp “yes it looks like a broken leg….that’ll be $145.thanks”
      Gillard[in tram conducters cap]“and that’ll be 43 Billion thanks,you’d better hurry and get that seen too”

      Reply

    • BobM says:

      03:29pm | 16/08/10

      Great idea for a Lib ad - they should get on to it.  grin

    • nosthow says:

      03:21pm | 16/08/10

      Brilliant speech by a very clever Julia Gillard (a lawyer herself), unscripted and no teleprompter - how good is that ! The Bob Hawke touch went down very well and Labor are now on their way to retaining government. Lets face it Abbott has no policies and no vision for Australia, a draconian Asylum Seeker idea and to back him up a tired old Opposition mostly the dregs from the Howard era that survived the 2007 drubbing ! Goodbye Tony !

      Reply

    • Front seats says:

      06:26pm | 17/08/10

      It seems that Tony Wright is now - along with Annabelle and two camos - claiming that Julia did read from the speech she had in front of her after all the kudos.
      It’s a really bad look.
      Nobody gives a stuff about her reading a speech, but the way she let that “ad-lib” line go on uncorrected speaks much on her credibility.  She could have made it a positive by correcting the “ad-lib” falsity when she had the chance, and perhaps joking about it.
      That would have played to her strengths - self deprecating warmth and sharp, intelligent, humour.
      It seems she’s just locked up on this.  It’s only a little thing in a normal context, but at the moment it’s going to cost important votes.  And I can tell you a lot of those reporters on the bus are starting to wonder about what they’re being sold.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      09:06am | 17/08/10

      TimB says:08:00am;Sure that was only a small bit of the pie, and Labor has always recognised that small piece of the puzzle. But by the same amount if not more Howard was supported by the Hawke and Keating’s economic reform. Let’s not forget the win fall to the economy the GST did for the states, the resources boom that ran Howard the budget on and failed to spent on infrastructure. And also let’s not forget it wasn’t the mining industry that directly got us through the GFC at all, that because it would have been stuffed without China. When China slowed down through the GFC the mining industry sacked it’s workers hand over fist, when China started buying our resources the mining industry picked up. The mining industry only works when it has buyers it isn’t going to sell itself.

    • TimB says:

      08:00am | 17/08/10

      Rob, there’s no way Labor could have managed the GFC without the Liberal surplus. Credit where credit is due please.

      If Labor get in and we have a GFC II, we’re screwed.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      07:07am | 17/08/10

      julia says:11:51pm; If Labor is so terrible why are they still leading in the polls. and if Julia is so fake why does she lead rAbbott by a country mile as prefered PM. If the liberals were/are the better economic managers why does Labor win that poll, and if we’re to have another GFC Labor wins that poll as better to manage it by a country mile.

    • julia says:

      11:51pm | 16/08/10

      Nosthow.
      If abbott is so terrible it must make you feel so proud that labor is on a knife edge in the coming election

    • MarK says:

      07:53pm | 16/08/10

      Lol getting at me? Hardly. Been trolled by a lot worse than you.

      So lets be clear.

      It would be an honour to serve in parliament but I don’t have the brains so we will leave that alone.

      The boatphone was a media beat up. You guys really need to keep up to date. Read more widely it is fun seriously. You must learn to sift the funny and the mistruths from actuality.

      I am glad you read my posts. I love an audience raspberry.

      Continue on…I am a big boy and love a good argument.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      07:36pm | 16/08/10

      nosthow says:06:54pm; I think you are mate. MarKy always finishes with this lil beauty “You really nailed” contain in the last sentence. He is about as repetitive as rAbbott, but watch out Marky is a guru on everything political. We wait for his next enlightenment.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      07:18pm | 16/08/10

      Steve says:05:26pm; Interesting I didn’t see Annable Crabb in the room to verify her assumption, Julia never looked down to any notes. And Kieran Gilbert of Skynews went up and pointed that fact out. He was standing right next to the lecturn and knowing his bias to the liberal party would have surely pointed that out. I wouldn’t believe Annable Crabb dribble anyway, isn’t she looking for a job at the Courier Mail?

    • Nicole says:

      07:10pm | 16/08/10

      Cute Badger. And thanks for thinking of me and my fellow comrades. We must really get up your nose.

    • nosthow says:

      06:54pm | 16/08/10

      @Rob r Charteris - good one rob - the “Boatphone” - this is a beauty. The call to Tony on the “Boatphone” - “can we send these unfortunates back out to sea Tony” - “of course you can,” he says , having another coffee. What a compassionate man Tony is - NOT ! i wonder where Abbott will find employment after Aug 21 - the mines in WA ?

    • nosthow says:

      06:42pm | 16/08/10

      @MarK - am i getting to you Marky - dont like hearing how bad your man Abbott is ? Well some good news - after this Saturday hes gone !

    • Steve says:

      05:26pm | 16/08/10

      I think you will find her notes were already at the lecturn…reported by Annable Crabb at ABC.

      If Labor get back in in 18 months time, there will be no one on the face of the earth who will admit they voted labor!!

    • The Badger says:

      04:53pm | 16/08/10

      MDMConnell
      And I’m still wondering if this guy Mark, Nicole, Macca are really conservative trolls like they sound they are.

      Follow the smart money - Liberals now out to 3 to 1 in a two horse race.

    • Michael says:

      04:52pm | 16/08/10

      I thought hawke was drunk he was so useless. Then there was that bulls#1t about how wonderful krudd was and how accomlished he was. So great that gillard and the faceless labor puppeteers sacked him. Everyone applauded as gillard lied about how great krudd was. Then there was the bulls#1t about online NBN GP consultations - when will you be doing this joooolia? WHEN? Make a commitment to something - anything! Another loose idea that MIGHT be a reality sometime in the suture… “Yes we will”. WILL WHAT!? WHEN? As always, labor deliver a bunch of motherhood statements and fluffy comments with no commitment, no timelines, no firm anything. I would not trust gillard or labot to sit the right way on a lavatory - just ask their former leader. He is so wonderful and so accomlished they had to sack him! What does that say about the rest of them?

    • Tony of Poorakistan says:

      04:51pm | 16/08/10

      Daniel

      Nauru have said they will sign and despite what Gillard says, it is not a protracted process.

      So - why not Nauru?

    • Daniel says:

      04:30pm | 16/08/10

      Gillard isn’t saying turn the boats around. Gillard isn’t sending them to a nation that isn’t signatory to the UN refugee charter. There’s a difference.

    • MDMConnell says:

      04:25pm | 16/08/10

      I’m starting to wonder whether this guy, Brian, and Badger are actually conservative trolls doing a bad impression of Labor supporters…..

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      04:14pm | 16/08/10

      MarK still blurting out your self conceited dribble there fella. Your obviously up for a job in rAbbot’s opposition backbench, replcaing Wilson tuckey. Perhaps you can man the “Boatphone” right next to the “Batphone”

    • MarK says:

      03:32pm | 16/08/10

      Don’t confuse clever with repetition and learning by rote.

      It was easy because we have heard it all before.

      Please reconcile to me the statement by Gillard that her and Abbott were close together on the boat people issue then please? Draconian if one side says it but visionary of the other announces it? Nice work. You really nailed the right there.

    • Pugilist says:

      03:19pm | 16/08/10

      Yes we will! What the? Does she really expect us to embrace this hackneyed and barely disguised imitation of Yes we can. It proves that Gillard has no fresh ideas and relies on trite slogans and meaningless phrases to sustain a thin agenda ...

      Yes we will, Julia - hopefully we will vote you out!

      Reply

    • Elizzie says:

      03:19pm | 16/08/10

      “Let me just say” with palms up and facing forward…yawn more of the same ‘ol..If Rudd wasn’t given a 2nd chance by his party why should Labor get a 2nd one? They’ve done more damage than last time Labor was in for a period of 10 years. Julia you are a liar-wouldn’t you be more likely to be front row forward of the dogs than change the PM? You said the party had ‘lost its way’ you were to fix 3 things, mining tax climate change and asylum seeker issue-FAIL on all 3. Not buying it. A vote for Labor is a vote for the party that has lost its way and is full of leaks. No cabinet members announced either.

      Reply

    • MarK says:

      07:19pm | 16/08/10

      “Is that why the libs choke on climate policy and are scared of boats? “

      The hypocrisy is strong in this one.

    • Brad says:

      05:30pm | 16/08/10

      labor selfish and liberal selfless?

      Is that why the libs choke on climate policy and are scared of boats?

    • Vote Quimby says:

      04:38pm | 16/08/10

      I’ve always said, a vote for Labor is a selfish vote, a vote for the Liberals is a selfless vote!

    • Amy says:

      03:12pm | 16/08/10

      My favourite part was when she said “Tony Abbott is all slogan” and a solid minute later she launched in to “Yes we will” ad nauseam.  Who writes this stuff?

      Reply

    • Suz EQ says:

      05:56pm | 16/08/10

      No! Not even Mr Arbib.

      If you do a Google search you will find that it came straight from a speech from Hillary Clinton on the US Election trail.

      Nothing new.
      Yet another Labor speech rehashed and lifted directly from the Obama crew.

    • Wake me when it's over says:

      04:50pm | 16/08/10

      Mark Arbib of course!

    • Rosie says:

      03:08pm | 16/08/10

      Julia Gillard walking on to the stage after speeches from Bligh, Swann and Hawke was only touching for die hard Labor supporters. Compared to Tony Abbott walking on to that stage with his wife and two daughters expressed very strong approval by everyone watching. It was a class act. Even more so after the speeches made by the Mayor of Brisbane, Australia’s only Lib Premiere, Leader of the National Party and Tony Abbott’s lovely loyal female Deputy. It was fun and showed a united stable party. It was all about the Liberal Party and not just one selfish individual that the Labor party was trying to justify and defend the reason why she should be accepted by the people of Australia.

      The Patriarch of the Labor Party Bob Hawke tried so hard to bull dog his way through his speech but only managed now and again when he remembered he was suppose to sound loud, bold and inspiring like he use to during his political days! Poor Thing

      The use of the children’s choir was an exploitation of the innocence of those that are not eligible to vote. Politicians going into schools during election campaigns is bad enough but to use them on a political party launch is a disgrace.
      Parents of my grandchildren have told the Principal of the school they attend that they do not want them near any Politician Lib/Labor during any election campaign.

      Reply

    • Brad Coward says:

      03:04pm | 16/08/10

      The ALP launch was flat ?  You must be kidding !  It left me feeling so warm and fuzzy that I was expecting several Disney characters to join the PM on stage for a quick chorus of ” It’s A Small World ” and my Grandma to rise from the dead to bake a tray of her special lamingtons and brew a pot of tea !

      I hope that I’m able to aquire a transcript of the speech.  It will provide me with my fill of fantasy whilst I wait for J.K. Rowling to pen the next Harry Potter saga.

      Reply

    • George says:

      05:47pm | 16/08/10

      Yeah Tony Abbott is a real spark isn’t he. With those ums and ahhs it is amazing he gets any words into his sentences at all.

    • Nigel says:

      05:23pm | 16/08/10

      good news Brad, there is a link to the transcript on the australian home page!

    • BobM says:

      03:26pm | 16/08/10

      10/10 Brad !!!

    • MarK says:

      03:21pm | 16/08/10

      You had me at lamingtons….

    • Mikko says:

      02:57pm | 16/08/10

      Thanks Leo for filling in some blanks - after the second Moving Forward in that repeitiive drawl I moved forward to the remote and moved forward to the midday movie which I’d also seen before. Similar theme about a serial killer rather than serial spender, both hoping for a reprieve, only Ted Bundy didn’t get one.

      Reply

    • poa says:

      02:57pm | 16/08/10

      Yes we will (do exactly what we’ve done for the last 3 years!)
      How did that go again?
      Oh thats right…we’re “moving ahead” from all that.
      Only it’ll be worse cos the ALP will owe everything to the Greens.
      Think your electricity was expensive last quarter…

      Reply

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      07:02am | 17/08/10

      Bob says:11:46pm; Actually Bob is the sir John Kerr who sacked Whitlam, geee i dont know these snivelling lib’s cant get their history right. Now some god might save rAbbott but nothing will save Bob.

      And lets not forget, Nelson knifed! Turnbull knifed! and that traitor Menzies didn’t want to go off (in a huff) and try and be Englands PM

    • Bob says:

      11:46pm | 16/08/10

      There were 3 PM’s Thrown out.  all Labor
      Whitlam the nation sacked him
      Bob Hawke his party sacked him
      Kevin Rudd his party sacked him.
      Rudd is the shortest serving PM in history but Gillard will beat that if Labor loses.
      Those are the facts

    • Gary says:

      11:16pm | 16/08/10

      @Truth please,  one might argue that both pm’s to lose their seats were racists, considering Stanley Bruce created the “White Australia Policy”. There is a touch of satisfaction that Labor removed them both also.

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      11:15pm | 16/08/10

      Truth please says:09:36pm; gee perhaps you should rename yourself   “Angry Truth please” Ok Howard was the first arrogant bully PM to be thrown out of office. AND Rightly So ; ) and his love child rAbbott wont even get there :p

    • Truth please says:

      09:36pm | 16/08/10

      Hey Rob Charteris, don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story eh? Howard WAS NOT the first sitting PM to lose his seat. If you’re going to try and make yourself sound smart, at least get your history right. Look up the name Stanley Bruce. You rusted on ALP hacks will bend and twist the truth whatever way you can to suit your agenda, but now you’re re-writing history? Sheesh, you seem eminently suited for preselection to the next safe Labor seat.

    • Jono says:

      08:50pm | 16/08/10

      Howard lost after the boundaries of Benelong were re-drawn and he also lost after being the sitting member since the early 70’s. Not sure McKew will be around in 25 years time in Benelong..

    • Bob says:

      08:10pm | 16/08/10

      >>And you have to remember if Howard was so good, why was he the first sitting Prime minister to be tossed out of his own seat. <<

      Probably because Labor’s entire campaign revolved around unseating him in whatever way possible, and what came next could be dealt with as it came (or not). If Howard won that one, there’d be no contest this election and they knew it.

      blocker roach: Electricity? You mean just one more thing that is the state’s responsibility? Along with everything else that was falling apart.

    • Ian says:

      07:52pm | 16/08/10

      BLOCKER ROACH Howard was in for near 12 years and you winge power went up 40%  thats according to your figures 3.3% a year.
      How long has labor been in.

    • MarK says:

      06:41pm | 16/08/10

      “if Howard was so good, why was he the first sitting Prime minister to be tossed out of his own seat.”

      Lots of first since 07. First PM knifed in his first term. First woman PM.

      You should be excited Rob. Let go of the hate. Embrace the force. Hatred leads to the dark side

    • Rob r Charteris says:

      04:53pm | 16/08/10

      And you have to remember if Howard was so good, why was he the first sitting Prime minister to be tossed out of his own seat. Lib’s like to refer to lil Johnny as a visionary, the reality was he was a bully. Howard government failed in so many areas, Yeah they saved some money in the bank but that was one of their premier problems they never spent on anything and by the time he and his cronies were thrown out of office a long list of things were falling apart, infrastructure rail, roads, ports, sold out our education system to overseas students no wonder we have a skill shortage. And now they put up rAbbott who wants to take us back to flat earther times next we’ll be forced back to believe in imaginary friends. Bring on the election I say, I look forward to Julia putting the sword to rAbbott once and for all.

    • blocker roach says:

      03:43pm | 16/08/10

      power went up 40% under howard, short memories again…

    • Fed Up says:

      02:56pm | 16/08/10

      The speech was badly received in Qld. If you look at the Courier Mail people were mostly trashing Labor.
      I wonder if Qld won’t become a horror session for Labor. Gillard needs to accept Abbott’s invitation and go talk to people over here in Brisbane coz’ this launching was pretty average. Indeed.

      Reply

    • Jason CR says:

      05:21pm | 16/08/10

      Why only the economy Fred?

      Why doesn’t Julia want to debate the BER, insulation batts, climate change, etc etc???

      Just asking.

      I also don’t think that 3 (fake Julia, real Julia, homewrecker Julia) against 1in a debate is fair.

    • Fred Nerk says:

      03:57pm | 16/08/10

      Of course her speech was trashed by CM readers. it’s only read by one eyed conservatives these days. Maybe it’s Abbott who should be accepting Gillard’s challenge to debate the economy. Why won’t he?

    • Keith hammersmith says:

      02:55pm | 16/08/10

      YEs we will,  as in yes we will have 200 new child care centers?
      Yes we will give every student a lap top?

      or is this a new set of ‘yes we will’

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      02:45pm | 16/08/10

      I suppose they went with “Yes we will (can)” because they couldn’t offer hope or change.

      Reply

    • Glen says:

      04:28pm | 16/08/10

      Yes we swill…doh

    • Headache says:

      02:45pm | 16/08/10

      Flater than flat, am I going to have that for 3 years ?????? can I just say you don’t bag Sir Joh in QLD Mr Hawke !!  Bagging Bligh would be fine !

      Julia, no we won’t, no we won’t, no we won’t !!!!

      Reply

    • Gary says:

      11:02pm | 16/08/10

      Corruption has never really been a problem for libbers, it’s kind of a badge of office, right Adrian?

    • Mark W says:

      04:00pm | 16/08/10

      I agree, with all of Johs faults Qld was a much better place to live. That is until Labor took over. Bring back the good times.

    • Adrian says:

      03:43pm | 16/08/10

      Sure Gary at least Joh knew how to get things done, corrupt or not. Of course Jooolia won’t be taking care of the union factions who got her the numbers to punt krudy.
      I’d take a corrupt Joh over a labor pm anyday.

    • Gary says:

      03:00pm | 16/08/10

      As a fellow banana bender, I have been bagging ‘Sir Joh’ from early in his career when it first became apparent just how totally incompetent/corrupt he was.

    • Val says:

      02:42pm | 16/08/10

      “No child will live in poverty by 1990”.

      People swallowed that one at the time, just like “the greatest moral challenge”, “fuelwatch”, “grocerywatch” and now the “internet doctor” - what a joke this mob is - all spin and no substance.

      Reply

    • Mary-Anne Gourley says:

      11:36pm | 16/08/10

      One big problem with Internet doc - you need to be connected to it - what about the people who don’t own a computer how will they consult the internet doctor - ESP?

    • TJ says:

      02:41pm | 16/08/10

      Disagree. Thought Hawke was long for sure but engaging if nothing else - some good material for 6 o’clock news.

      Gillard was down to earth and positive - in contrast to coalition launch - which was sterile and like a billy graham revival meet.

      All in all a B+ performance, after a C grade performance from the coalition

      Reply

    • BlameHoward says:

      09:51am | 17/08/10

      iansand says:07:44pm | 16/08/10

      Howard, as treasurer, did not have the guts to de-regulate financial markets. If he had the courage to do what has proved to be for the benefit for the nation, he would have presided over the highest ever home mortgage rates.  But under his watch home mortgage rates were capped.  I don’t like weasels.  Howard was one, and Abbott is his acolyte.

      Fraser’s negotiations with the ACTU saw him lose control of a wages explosion in 1982 The economic crises of the 1980s brought Howard into conflict with the economically conservative Fraser. As the economy headed towards the worst recession since the 1930s,  Fraser pushed an expansionary fiscal position much to Howard’s and Treasury’s horror. With his authority as treasurer being flouted, Howard considered resigning in July 1982, but,  he decided to “tough it out”. The 1982 wages explosion—wages rose 16 per cent across the country—resulted in stagflation; unemployment touched double-digits and inflation peaked at 12.5% (official interest rates peaked at 21%).

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Howard

    • PaulB says:

      10:21pm | 16/08/10

      Daniel I think you’re telling fibs, or you just don’t know your history.  You must have that Leftist attitude toward money.

    • iansand says:

      07:44pm | 16/08/10

      Howard, as treasurer, did not have the guts to de-regulate financial markets. If he had the courage to do what has proved to be for the benefit for the nation, he would have presided over the highest ever home mortgage rates.  But under his watch home mortgage rates were capped.  I don’t like weasels.  Howard was one, and Abbott is his acolyte.

    • Mal says:

      05:57pm | 16/08/10

      Daniel.  Surely you are not referring to the interest rates being charged on mortgages.  Your comment is dishonest.  I bought my first house under the hawke/keating governments.  Trust me.  They were a disaster in terms of mortgages and the likes have never been seen since.

    • Jason CR says:

      05:16pm | 16/08/10

      The argument over 20-30 years ago is becoming boring.  I’m more interested in Labor trying to get Mark Latham across the line only 6 short years ago.  We certainly dodged a bullet then and yet to think he was chosen before Rudd and Gillard…
      So forget about old Hawkey, who’s as nutty as a Xmas cake these days….and it’s no wonder Julia wants to “move forward” because the rear vision mirror has Rudd, Latham, Crean, Keating, Hawke and Gough still seeking some limelight.  Labor = It’s all about them!

    • Barry says:

      04:57pm | 16/08/10

      ‘yes we will’...why do they continue to pay Mark Arbib for this derivative crap? - B+ in your dreams

    • Daniel says:

      04:26pm | 16/08/10

      Sally, was that after Howard as treasurer left Hawke with a 23% interest rate to sort out?

    • Sally says:

      04:07pm | 16/08/10

      TJ I don’t know how old you are however I can remember the time Hawke was Prime Minister and interest rates were at 15% and Keating left a huge dept for Howard to short out.

    • Bob H says:

      02:34pm | 16/08/10

      Amazing Julia, I have never heard a speech that replicated having to put your hand into yesterdays cold dishwater in order to remove the plug.  It was so dull, that I was distracted by an unpuffed sofa cushion.

      Reply

    • Carnegie says:

      02:30pm | 16/08/10

      I agree Leo, very bland…......
      Graham Morris got it right, he assessed it as not a bad speech IF you are a Education Minister but not the speech of a leader!

      Reply

    • Tails says:

      02:30pm | 16/08/10

      It did all feel a bit self-congratulatory didn’t it?

      Reply

    • mickijo says:

      02:28pm | 16/08/10

      It sounds like…..............glad I stayed home and did the ironing.

      Reply

    • Ripa says:

      02:53am | 17/08/10

      I love ironing, however i was shocked, when upon doing the sock sort, i found that mysteriously i had more right foot socks then left foot ones, how bizarre , this led me to ponder are socks a-sexual… or are they like the baramundi?, and did the labor party get “the little engine that could” write their speeches, and if in fact they did hire him, do they feel guilty that through him they have added to coal emitted carbon.

 
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