If only Julia Gillard was always this convincing

Jay Duncan says:

11:16am | 23/02/12

Totally agree, funny how things work out when you’ve got nothing to lose.

Carol says:

12:18pm | 23/02/12

Surely the demise of the Labor party is bad for all Australians?
What was a two party system, will now become a one party system, that smacks of dictatorship doesn’t it?

We might still have elections, like they do in Russia, but we’d be living in a reverse totalitarian state wouldn’t we?

Mik says:

12:22pm | 23/02/12

There’s a Hermann Hesse quote there.

St. Michael says:

12:43pm | 23/02/12

@ Carol: “Surely the demise of the Labor party is bad for all Australians?”

Not really, because Labor as a party isn’t finished, only this government and its two feuding clans.  If the Labor party did disappear, others would fill the void, just as they always have.

As an example, the Liberal Party didn’t exist until Menzies came along and formed it specifically to oppose Labor, and indeed when Australia was first Federated the Federal Parliament was equally split three ways, between a free trade party, protectionist party, and the Labor Party.

If you think the current shenanigans in Federal Parliament are destabilising, consider the fact our first PM, Edmund Barton, was PM three separate times because alliances kept shifting and entirely new governments would form every six months or so.  It’s a bloody miracle we didn’t wind up with popular insurrections in the first ten years of Federation.

In fact, according to one old German guy I spoke to, having a myriad of small parties is a situation fraught with potential peril: Hitler rose to power with only 30% of the vote, mostly because there were no other parties around who could organise themselves effectively enough to oppose him (that, and the fact his strategy was basically hiring every thug and criminal he could find and having them vote for him.)

Louise says:

12:46pm | 23/02/12

@Yuck - you lived up to your name!  Could you focus on the abilites and the policies and not the physical characteristics, please!!!

Bertrand says:

12:58pm | 23/02/12

@Louise - agreed.

Comments like Yuck do nothing but give fuel to the dolts who think Gillard is an unpopular leader because she’s a woman, and not because of her leadership style.

@St. Michael - spot on with the comment about having lots of small parties. A lot of the problems we are seeing in Europe stem from countries in which minority governments are the norm.

MarkS says:

01:09pm | 23/02/12

They just finished an “election” in Yemen for president. One candidate can only vote yes. backed by the US of A.’

That’s deMOCKracy in action.

Carol says:

02:52pm | 23/02/12

St. Michael,
What you state is true, but only to a point. Back in the days long gone by, the major parties did not unite to preclude new parties as is the case now.

The current polarization of the electorate is so entrenched as to exclude any new party. If Labor dies, and I think it might, what re-emerges won’t be a Labor party, rather it will be another form of conservatism.

Leah says:

03:19pm | 23/02/12

Carol I think you have a serious misunderstanding of what a dictatorship is, in that case. A dictatorship is North Korea, where not only is no other party ALLOWED to rule (or exist, for that matter) but no other person is allowed to run the party that IS in power, unless personally appointed by the predecessor.

Besides, this brings the Labor party nowhere near the end. Just this particular arrangement of the Labor party, much like when John Howard, Costello etc left the Liberals, that was the end of that particular arrangement of the Liberal party.

Carol says:

03:39pm | 23/02/12

Leah,
Sorry, but I feel it is you who have misunderstood. A one party system is a dictatorship in any terms. Both the current major parties have done their very best to exclude and denigrate any new party. In fact it is one of the few times they agree!
Should the Labor party die, then re-emerge, I repeat, it will not be a “Labor” party, rather it will be another form of conservatism.

Mayday says:

03:55pm | 23/02/12

I did not see a leader but someone backed into a corner and ready to do whatever it takes. 

A true leader would put the country first and call an election, in this case Julia Gillard is just trying to save her own skin and the office of Prime Minister has been tainted ever since she became PM.

Anyone in the Labor Party who thought it was OK to sack Rudd without there being consequences is plainly stupid.  According to the polls the ministers can’t be listening to their constituents either who still prefer Rudd over Gillard.

No wonder business confidence is low.

“a leader inside her that she only lets out to play when it’s far too late.”

John Williams says:

04:07pm | 23/02/12

Conmen and scam artists are at their best when under pressure…that is how they get the big score.
Yet Shepherd finds this a virtue.
And maybe in isolation it is.
But taking in the whole picture of Gillard’s performance ....right back to Medicare Gold…as opposed to her rhetoric and you see a mosaic of duplicity, incompetence and failure.

thatmosis says:

04:54pm | 23/02/12

Add to this is why should the people of Australia believe her when she says that if she loses she will go to the back bench and forgo any aspirations to be PM.
  Is that like the “there will be no Carbon Tax under a Government I lead” or “yes Mr. Wilkie I will certainly put your Pokie policy into law” type promise. It doesnt matter who wins the ALP will lose as will the people of Australia. If the ALP really believed that they were doing the right thing by Australian they would call an election and take their medicine but they will use whatever means to hold onto power as the debt per person climbs up over the $8500 mark and thats just to the end of this finacial year..
  And consider this, what if Krudd doesnt contest the leadership and this white anting continues to the next election. Being the smart person he is, if he hasnt the numbers, that is a likely scenario and the almost PM will have him smirking away in the background for months to come undermining every thing she tries to do.
Youve just got to love this as the ALP runs around in ever decreasing circles until it will dissappear up its own fundamental orifice.

Babbling Brook says:

05:26pm | 23/02/12

Ok… I have recieved that I think the true story might be…

1) There is a dirty deal with Peter Beatie that if Gillard forces Rudd to quit parliament (by beating him in a vote where he scores 30 or less) then Beatie will step in and contest the by-election… this significantly reduces the chances of the ALP losing that seat (and government).
2) The ‘third candidate’ theory is dead. Gillard’s side would love to find a way to get the ALP back on track… but they are in a hard spot… the only real leadership contender her camp (i.e. candidate that would preserve all the privileges of that particular inner-circle) can put up in her place is Shorten. BUT… and this is the big BUT… Shorten has a super dirty ‘not so’ secret that hasn’t made it public yet (but it will). I know what it is (I think) but it would be fatal to his political career as it demonstrates an on-going pattern of behaviour. It also means there is a reasonable chance the GG would not necessarily make him PM if there was a time of chaos and she had a choice.

So look… I am not a journalist. Rather just a mug punter on the edges of things… but you guys are clearly not really serious about your jobs if you are not writing all this stuff down and putting it out into the public domain.
Gillard’s camp have crossed the line and made personal attacks on Rudd… you guys must know about the Beatie deal and surely every journalist knows about Shorten.
You should blow this thing wide open… other wise the whole country is going to be dragged through this crap forever. Both Rudd and Gillard have said that now is the time for plain speaking.
Stand up and do what you should do… tell the full story and let’s put the crap into the history box where it belongs.

Gidgee. says:

07:41pm | 23/02/12

Good heavens above: here again today we have to suffer St Michael harking back to the German nation of circa 1939 using the usual propaganda centred on that Austrian bloke called Adolf Hitler.

Give it a break, St.Michael, such references to a once very able politician now long gone is becoming decidedly tiresome: since 1945 we of mankind have suffered many who could be fairly called warmongers and, sad to say, too many of them have been temporal leading residents of Washington DC.

...on top of that patently obvious truth, of course, there is the rather pertinent observation of that great Welshman, Richard Burton,  who quite correctly, reckoned that Winston Churchill was, in fact, the greatest warmonger who’d ever walked this orbiting bit of rock we all must share.

Perhaps, St Michael, you should remove those rose coloured glasses of yours when it comes to Hitler and his arch enemy Churchill?

On the subject of the 30% of the popular vote you aver Hitler attained (in company with thugs etc.) perhaps you would have been fairer in your assessment if you’d dwelt on the fact that many American presidents have attained that prestigious role (of president) on the same voting percentage because voting is not compulsory in the USA.

You, St Michael, really should desist in following the much-cited Jewish line in declaring that the German people were/are the epitome of baseness and depravity; the be-all and end-all of human wrongdoing.

Many leaders and many peoples, since ‘45, have did their level best to be on a par, or worse, in the rampaging stakes; not the least being the 1948-created religious state of Israel which even stoops, for instance, to using Australian passports to facilitate assassinations; which shamefully stoops to using heavily armed commandos to storm a Turkish-manned ship at sea and thereupon slaughter many of the Turks aboard; which stoops to, in December 2008, say, to raid the brutally fenced in Gaza Strip and there summarily murder of the order of 1,400 Arab human-beings including, in that horrid and heinously contrived massacre 250 babies and little children.

In closing, please let me suggest that your repetitive references to the German peoples of circa 1940 as akin to low-lifes and barbarians is no more than a smoke-screen for what’s so ruthlessly and so disgustingly happened since, most of it, the utter barbarity, the killings, the assassinations, the murdering, the plundering, the thieving being smugly and cockily initiated by the USA and by its great “friend” the imposed Jewish state of Israel.

I would, therefore, suggest you take the beam from your eyes (if I may use a Jewish biblical term).

Oh, and I have to say given the artful and calculated way that any genuine and reasoned criticism of the increasingly warlike and predatory Jewish adherents of the 1948 imposed state of Israel has so often been dismissed and denied (and deleted) on the basis that it’s “anti-Semitic” to even mention such Jewish engineered atrocities I fully understand that the compere of this site may not allow my discourse.

Perhaps western humanity needs another sixty years or so before the awful reality of it all will be regarded as a fair revelation and a fair representation of the history of 20th century mankind.

We simply cannot continue to blame Hitler for the horrendous wrongs which religious and political fanatics have perpetrated since 1945.

The lofty concept of civilisation demands it.

Gidgee.

acotrel says:

08:21pm | 23/02/12

@John Williams
‘Conmen and scam artists are at their best when under pressure…that is how they get the big score.’

I suggest you’ve reached a conclusion, and are now arguing yourself towards it.  You can tell a liar.  Have a look at Tony Abbott.  He stammers and stutters, stalls, while trying to remember his own lies.  Julia Gillard without exception, always issues a smooth steady stream of sensible comment.  If she is a liar, she must be extremely practised.  Even John Howard wasn’t convincing all the time.
And another thing have a close look at her body language, you can tell liars by that as well.  Then compare it with Abbott’s

marley says:

08:24pm | 23/02/12

@Gidgee - if you’re going to comment on the “lofty concept of civilisation” perhaps you should actually first read a book or two.

Hitler came to power in the election of 1932 with 37% of the vote - that is to say, 37% of those who actually voted. Voting was not compulsory in Germany any more than it was in the US.  And that 37% was the vote for the Nazi Party, not for Hitler himself, since he’d failed to get himself voted in as German President a few months before. So, Chancellor he became, not President, and his position was not analogous to that of the American President, but rather to that of a British PM.  At least temporarily - the storm troopers soon changed that.

I rather doubt any American president has ever been elected with 37% of the vote of those who voted.  But that is neither here nor there since, as I’ve said, the positions are not analogous.

And you’ll forgive me if I point out that the views of an actor are hardly the final word on who was or was not the worst warmonger of all time. Whether Hitler deserves that title I couldn’t say - but it was he who chose to occupy first, the Sudetenland, then Czechoslovakia proper, then the half of Poland he had reserved for himself in the pact with Stalin, then the Netherlands, Belgium and France, then the USSR itself. That of course was a step too far and Germans paid dearly for it.

But to pretend that Hitler was nothing more than an astute politician is to ignore history.  I hardly see how Churchill, facing invasion, seeing allies collapse around him, could be considered a greater war monger than Hitler. Hitler invaded;  Churchill protected, and ultimately participated in the defeat of the Germans. But the greatest war monger?  Not by a very long shot.

As for the comparison between Israel and Nazi Germany - I don’t particularly like the government of the former, but they haven’t sent 6 million plus civilians to the gas chambers.  It’ll be a while before anyone matches that record.  And that’s not Jewish propaganda, that’s historical fact.  Deal with it like an adult.

acotrel says:

08:27pm | 23/02/12

@Carol
Communism and Fascism = Yin and Yang !

Little Joe says:

08:36pm | 23/02/12

@ Acotrel

I proudly state to everyone ..... “I was not conned!!! I did not vote for this worthless trash!!!”

Bear says:

09:31pm | 23/02/12

”  Carol says:

      01:18pm | 23/02/12

      Surely the demise of the Labor party is bad for all Australians?
      What was a two party system, will now become a one party system, that smacks of dictatorship doesn’t it?

      We might still have elections, like they do in Russia, but we’d be living in a reverse totalitarian state wouldn’t we?’

You’d think so but no, Liberals pretend to be democratic. They espouse their love for democracy, when people are voting for them. But when they’re like turncoats. When people vote for them it’s ‘the voters aren’t stupid…” when they vote against them it’s, ‘we’re democratic but the voters are idiots and don’t deserve to vote’. C’mon Lib-liars, you know I’m not wrong. You can vote for ANYONE you like, as long as it’s the Liberal or National party!

St. Michael says:

09:45pm | 23/02/12

Y’know, as my February resolution I decided I wasn’t going to try and burn people anymore.  I decided I’d be a bit nicer and not be as blunt in pointing out serious logical errors in people’s arguments or calling ignorami for what they are.  Particularly when it comes to World War Two.  I decided I’d take a breath, ignore the morons, and just try and stay on topic.

Seeing as the road to redemption is a long and hard one, I will just have to content myself with two replies to you, gidgee:

(1) At least you’re no longer saying, as you were roughly 3 days ago, that the US and Australia oppressed Japan into war since marley and I both pointed out to you that Japan invaded Manchuria about 6-7 years before the “oppression” from the US started.  Maybe you’re learning something.

(2) I really don’t think Richard Burton, a guy who was dumb enough to marry Elizabeth Taylor twice, is really the kind of guy you can cite as an authority on the reinterpretation of history.

Mark JW says:

04:09pm | 24/02/12

Labor is finished unless they break the alliance with the Greens. They would be better off being honest, calling an election, letting the people decide and rebuilding whilst real Labor guys the likes of Beazley can show them how.A break from the National Socialist Greens and Socialist the style of Gillard is a must. The Greens are to Labor what One Nation was to the Liberals and is strangeling what was once a Great Icon for the working man and hope for working families. And the current bunch of misfits have destroyed it, they are much more interested in holding power than running the country. To say Gillard or Rudd have anything to offer is delusional.

Joan says:

11:38am | 23/02/12

Gillard and Labor terminal after this - game over for Gillard Labor no matter what outcome. Australian people have had enough

SimonFromLakemba says:

11:46am | 23/02/12

She has the numbers, can’t see her losing. Only interesting this is to see what Rudd does after the vote? He is only concerned with himself so who knows!

Shes dead and gone at the 2013 election though.

gobsmack says:

12:45pm | 23/02/12

If the Libs are heading for a “drover’s dog” election, Abbott might need to watch his back.

john says:

03:13pm | 23/02/12

@gobsmack “If the Libs are heading for a “drover’s dog” election, Abbott might need to watch his back. “

Oh you do have a long memory, I’m impressed that you remember what happened in February 1983.

Steve says:

04:27pm | 23/02/12

Hard to feel sorry for someone who incitied a race hate riot on Australia Day.

AdamC says:

04:54pm | 23/02/12

Joan, I certainly hope you are right.

Simon, she may win the first round, but I reckon Rudd will eventually roll her. She really is extremely unpopular among voters, and self-preservation will trump personal animosity towards Rudd.

Gobsmack, I don’t know what you are on about.

St. Michael says:

11:37am | 23/02/12

“Labor is still paddling furiously against a current of toxic public opinion with no steering device in sight.”

lol.  I just realised the intended effect of that phrase.  No steering device, but a lot of rudders.

Denny Crane says:

05:58pm | 23/02/12

What garbage. Tony Abbott saw off Rudd the first time, his election result was amazing considering his starting point. He has probably been the most effective leader of the opposition ever.

Still you labor clowns carry on about Turnbull. Turnbull had his chance and he blew it. Just like Rudd. Gillard has had her chance and has shown herself to be the most deceiptful, cunning, incompetent leader in our history. Worse than Rudd but we cant go back to the future.

Rudd, Gillard and labor are pioson who are destroying the fabric of the nation. Tony Abbott has held them to account but you fools think Turnbull would be better. What a joke.

It would be a very lonley campaign if Turnbull was ever leader. The lack of voluteers would kill him before he even started.

But not to worry, it wont happen and Tony Abbott will be the next elected leader of our nation, and after the shambles of Rudd and Gillard he will seem to do a very fine job indeed. To quote that dickhead nossy, “how sweet it is”

Tracker says:

06:39pm | 23/02/12

If Turnbull came back I would vote for ALP (Rudd OR Gillard) because at least the ALP is the genuine ALP. Turnbull would be a fake ALP so no point going to all that expense changing Parliament House letterhead.

acotrel says:

08:24pm | 23/02/12

@Tracker
Turnbull is the only LNP pollie even remotely resembling an intellectual.

Ron e says:

09:15pm | 23/02/12

And “intellectuals” make good prime ministers?
Give it a rest.
The chatterers as I prefer to call them are all about talking and hardly ever about doing. Perhaps therein lies the appeal for you, Alcotrel and is a key to your fervent support of Rudd/Gillard.
The only thingthey’ve actually managed to DO, is waste colossal sums of public money.

Louise (the one usually on about Westminster syste says:

09:39pm | 23/02/12

@ Acotrel
Not counting Rhodes’ Scholars, then?

Andrew says:

11:03am | 24/02/12

Acrotrel, The fact that you believe that about Turnbull, says it all. Hes more labor then most in the labor party, and thats why you labor people love him.

yvette says:

09:17pm | 24/02/12

John what a load of rot she has already explained why she reneged on her promises . The only voice we have is our vote Julia swindled it from people who would not have voted for a C TAXHer word means nothing as how would anyone believe her the next time she she says she wont do something.Labor can have Turnbull he has promoted some of their policies Tony is honest and will lead the party to victory

old fart says:

11:31am | 23/02/12

no she wasnt late, the conference was due to start at 9:30am. she was in south australia and it started at 9:30am , central time

Tartan Smurf says:

12:13pm | 23/02/12

Old fart, out of all things in that post, you could only argue she wasn’t late?

Lookes like the Laborites have given up hope as well

DOB says:

12:38pm | 23/02/12

Ok, Tartan Smurf, I’ll address all of the points in Against the Man’s post - theyre all crap and the product of his fevered imagination. None of what he wrote was correct and lots of people whould disagree with his assessment, and I am one of them. That do ya?

Bruce says:

01:34pm | 23/02/12

Tartan. Yes she was late, but it was due Kevin Rudd giving his presentation just before Julia’s. I do not think they planned on Rudd giving another presentation so close to Julia’s. This would have surprised her and her minders and had to adjust or rewrite her presentation moments before she she delivered it. Thats why I think it mirrored Rudds speech in many ways. Julia’s and her team were ‘caught out’ at the last moment. Rudd is a chess player playing political games, he is not to be trusted. I wonder whats the next move ? Fanfare at Brisbane airport with lots of media and cheering supporters ? I suppose there will be sample bags, kissing babies,  free lollies and a feris wheel !!

wolf says:

01:57pm | 23/02/12

I think her being late was very relevant.  Apart from being disrespectful to the assembled media and waiting public it suggests that the ‘real Julia’ needs someone to help her get her message accross. Perhaps if she had 2 weeks for her staff to prepare (without her knowledge) she may have been on time for a press conference she herself called.
As it was I suspect her staff were rewriting furiously over the 35 minutes she was late.
Bruce you forgot to mention the brass band, essential for every dear leaders return to their people.

Momo says:

02:33pm | 23/02/12

Agree with your points. She just came across as cold and hopeless. She tried to sell the carbon tax as a plus? What a joke! She isn’t and never will be PM material!

Timbo says:

02:49pm | 23/02/12

Paradoxically, I think the PM might have been the cause of the gridlock - the lights on North Terrace were locked to green for over 10 minutes right up to Parliament House.  Conspiracy, perhaps?

Blind Freddy says:

03:47pm | 23/02/12

I always go to AtM for objectivity.

Andrew says:

11:06am | 24/02/12

At least ATM is one eyed not completely blind.

Tim says:

11:32am | 23/02/12

Its the same problem that Rudd had though.
They’re trying to make too many people happy behind closed doors so they don’t get to say what they really want and they’re often fighting competing interests.

We need someone who’s fully in control, who can implement an agenda and who doesn’t have to worry about backroom deals and being knifed in the back.

Benevolent Dictatorship anyone?

stevem says:

11:41am | 23/02/12

She had that opportunity prior to the last election. The public loved her and loathed Rudd. The party (all except Rudd) were right behind her and she was seen as the solution to all their problems. Even then she was useless and support rapidly eroded to the point where people began to prefer Rudd.

We have seen the very best Julia Gillard has to offer - and it wasn’t very good.

Tim says:

12:33pm | 23/02/12

SteveM,
what are you talking about?
Most people were extremely pissed off with Gillard at the last election after what she had done to Rudd.
Most people respected Rudd and not much has changed.

Tony says:

12:59pm | 23/02/12

The best she could offer would be to visit the G.G. to put us out of our misery

Tony says:

02:52pm | 23/02/12

Which Julia do you wish you had been able to see? The real Julia or the other Julia, whatever that is? I never know whether we are seeing the real Julia telling lies, the unreal Julia telling the truth or a totally confused Julia sharing the ramblings of her mind!

Whether she wins Monday or not the future is assured. We will soon be rid of her and her band of dysfunctional wannabes. That can only be good.

James says:

03:31pm | 23/02/12

Is this the REAL Julia. I tune out when her speech comprises rehearsed lines and slogans. Obviously a lot of other people think the same way and as a result she has a lot of trouble getting her message over. This morning, for the first time in 18 months I thought Julia Gillard did OK, because she was speaking openly and freely.

If she survives Mondays vote the smartest think she could do would be to get rid of those PR drongos who are feeding this rubbish about “staying on message”. It is boring, insincere and manipulative.

Denny Crane says:

06:19pm | 23/02/12

Exactly. She wants there to be equality so she had to stand there and cop it. There would be no excuse for a male leader to do otherwise so why pull out to female card- except if you are Bob Brown.

Rose says:

12:08pm | 23/02/12

Actually she’s not. Whether you agree with her policies or not she has managed to get a lot done despite having a minority government. She got two contentious bills through Parliament, the Carbon ‘Tax’ and the Mining tax.
Julia’s main problem is that she doesn’t project well in the media, particularly in a media that is as openly unsupportive as the Australian TV and press. Her timing is off as she seems to expect that she has time to play her hand out, she doesn’t. she needs to start selling what she’s doing, not just wait for results to speak for themselves. Her original take-over from Rudd was executed poorly and wasn’t explained properly.
Whoever wins on Monday needs to egt the whole ALP working toward defeating Abbott and co, that should be their priority, providing good governance so that we never have to suffer under an Abbott government.

St. Michael says:

12:20pm | 23/02/12

“She got two contentious bills through Parliament, the Carbon ‘Tax’ and the Mining tax.”

That depends on whether said taxes last past the 2013 election.

True, it’s enormously tricky to unwind a tax once it’s on, but the level of public rage against both is so intense an opposition party (any party, not just the Liberals) could just about cruise in just on the promise of reversing both, even if it did mean some welfare payments were cut and some school funding disappeared.

Nick says:

12:27pm | 23/02/12

Rosie you and your Abbott hating comrades are just going to get used to life under a Abbott led government and when he repeals the carbon tax ,shores up our borders ,stops the waste and makes our work force more productive then the suffering will cease..

SimonFromLakemba says:

12:28pm | 23/02/12

@St Michael

It has to be repealed, Tony Abbott gave a blood promise

Tom says:

12:50pm | 23/02/12

Simon, “... a blood promise”? You Labor chanters apply one standard to the LNP and a different one to Labor? (Alinski?)

Gillard has implemented it in such a “clever clogs” way that it will be messy and damaging to unwind. Abbott will succeed nonetheless..

Tim says:

01:17pm | 23/02/12

Simon,
there’s no way the Carbon Tax is being repealed and it will be easy for Abbott to dodge with the Greens still controlling the Senate.

He will get a bill past the HOR, fail in the Senate and then claim that he wanted to remove it except for those dastardly, meddling Greens.

SimonFromLakemba says:

01:25pm | 23/02/12

@Tom

Take it up with Abbott he said it, not me.

I don’t apply two different principals, both are bad as one another when they are in opposition compared to what they actually do in Government.

stevem says:

01:27pm | 23/02/12

Rose, passing bad Bills doesn’t make her good!

Simon, the bill passing the Reps and failing the Senate will, depending upon how the bill is structured, give him a DD trigger to clear the senate of Greens!

St. Michael says:

02:15pm | 23/02/12

“Simon, the bill passing the Reps and failing the Senate will, depending upon how the bill is structured, give him a DD trigger to clear the senate of Greens!”

Or, as is probably more likely since most politicians of all stripes are nervous nellies when it comes to declaring double dissolutions, he plays the Senate and/or the Greens as the harbinger of all Australia’s ills until a normal election comes round and he gets to control or at least heavily influence both houses.

SteveKAG says:

02:34pm | 23/02/12

Let’s be clear it has only passed the lower house NOT the upper house therefore it is NOT implemented yet.

Super D says:

02:38pm | 23/02/12

Firstly I reckon Rudd will defer the carbon tax if not scrap it altogether. Secondly even if he doesn’t the ALP will wave through the repeal after the election. They won’t want another election anytime soon. Far better for the nation that the tax is never implemented than having to be repealed. The only certainty is that by 2014 Australia will not have a carbon tax in place.

Jason says:

05:13pm | 23/02/12

Nick. You are dreaming.  So you want Abbott as the next PM.  Well you don’t know what is coming.  After he has sacked half the population so as to make savings and then spending the savings on the dole.  Hockey has already said 10,000 public servants are to go so with all these people on the dole manufacturing will shrink as people will not have the cash to buy goods resulting in businesses going bust resulting in more unemployed to go on the dole.  After he makes savings by cutting road infrastructure, cutting hospital beds, cutting school funding we will be back to the good old Howard days of run down roads, schools, hospitals but we will have a surplus.  I hope you all have fun when Tony is PM.

Tom says:

05:44pm | 23/02/12

Jason, you left out the part where Abbott is going to eat our children.

Rose says:

10:41pm | 23/02/12

Nick you are right, I hate Abbott. I think he is a despicable little man who is mean-spirited and elitist. His performance in the Howard government proved him unworthy of any high office. I have nothing good to say about him at all.
St Michael, Abbott won’t be able to get those bills repealed any time soon, he won’t have the support of the Greens and, despite what many of you Conservatives think, the Greens are actually more likely to increase their vote than not, especially with the ALP and Liberal leaders (and Parties) being so unpopular.
Steven, passing bills makes her effective (good is only a matter of opinion, not a statement of fact). She has led a fully functioning government during pretty turbulent times, getting stuff done despite her minority government and despite any instability in the party.
Do I want Gillard to remain PM, I’m undecided. I want whichever one has the best chance of ensuring we never have an Abbott government.

Andrew says:

11:16am | 24/02/12

You people have conviently forgotten he doesnt need the greens if labor votes with him, and dont count that out if they get a shellacking, the last think they would want is a DD election becaus emany people would actually blame them not the greens. No Rose, her main problem is that she is a lying so and so and cant be trusted. Jason, funny how you leftys forget that the states are responsible for education and health, during the howard years all states were labor, but somehow you idiots want us to believe that howard was solely responsible for the state of hospitals and education.

Al says:

11:51am | 23/02/12

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Love it!

SteveKAG says:

02:44pm | 23/02/12

Brad - what has Rudd done to chip away at the heels of Gillard?  I hear a lot being said but i have yet to find any evidence that he has done anything but his job. 
Don’t get me wrong i am a Lb through and through but this notion that seems to be made up is now becoming part of community fact that he has nipped away at her heels, that he has somehow undermined her.

How?  Please don’t give me repeated stuff i read in papers, where are the quotes from him, where is the media conference from him?

Not having a go at you at all I just think this is a bit of a falicy.

Tom says:

04:50pm | 23/02/12

SteveKAG, it is politics. Some things don’t need to be spelt out in an open way. It is all done by innuendo and ambiguous behaviour which makes it hard to pin down. Trust us, he did chip away.

Denny Crane says:

08:28pm | 23/02/12

She told us how the mining tax would pay for superannuation contributions and how somebody paying $30,000 a year in tax was being subsidized by somebody paying nothing. The woman is so dishonest it is beyond words. The only thing they have left is to attack Tony Abbott, they are very good at it but sadly there is very little else where they show any talent.

PS Wayne Swan is not only a grub but a fool as well.

Robert Smissen of Rural SA says:

01:01pm | 23/02/12

She could swim through a shark feeding ground & not get touched. I think it’s called professional courtesy.

Tom says:

07:32pm | 23/02/12

Robert Smissen of Rural SA, ... not sure the sharks would be that safe.

wolf says:

09:27pm | 23/02/12

Tory it’s ok, no need to explain. We all saw what happened to the channel 9 cameraman, is it any wonder the ‘rude’ journo subsequently apologised when he knows what could happen to those in her way?

luke09 says:

11:57am | 23/02/12

Tory, unfortunately Australia’s first female Prime Minister suffers from PMS… Prime Ministerial Shortcomings. Therefore will never convince the voters to continue supporting her government.

nihonin says:

12:10pm | 23/02/12

Lol boohoo shane, now that the manure has hit the oscillator, all
you have is petulence haha

Martin says:

12:17pm | 23/02/12

@Shane

Sad but true. Gone are the days when the punters voted for the strongest contender. Now we vote simply to replace one disappointment with another disappointment.

At least the Americans have a choice of voting or not !

jaki says:

12:24pm | 23/02/12

Anyone care to chip in a few cents so we can buy poor Shane a box of tissues ?

RyaN says:

01:26pm | 23/02/12

Looks like the party is over, now its up to the Liberals to clean up the mess and pay the MASSIVE BILLS Labor ran up in their drunken orgy.

Shane From Melbourne says:

01:48pm | 23/02/12

@Jaki, RyaN et al. Since when have the major parties been much different?- High immigration check, Middle Class family welfare check, Climate Change- subsidies to polluters instead of a tax, big deal, still gonna cost the taxpayer, unfunded promises from both sides, yeah whatever. No leaders on either side.

Tony of Poorakistan says:

02:43pm | 23/02/12

You want some cheese with that whine, Shane?

What we will get at the next election will be a Government that isn’t beholden to a bunch of fruits (the Greens) and a couple of self-serving, bitter independents (Oakeshott and Windsor) .

We’ll have less boats, more business AND consumer confidence and a lot less kowtowing to the unions.

Can’t happen soon enough.

My own guess is that Rudd won’t stand buit wil start to snipe from the back benches - why would you throw your hat in the ring, at a time of your oponent’s choosing, when you’ve been out of the country and unable to consult your colleagues?

PS Anyone seen the ‘‘which muppet for PM’’ cartoon doing the rounds? It is a gem.

Andrew says:

11:19am | 24/02/12

Martin, you dont have to vote, just get your name crossed off and leave the form blank.

David says:

03:15pm | 23/02/12

And if Rudd gets back into the Prime Ministership he is going to be big headed egotistical wanker with a chip on his shoulder. No one in caucus is going to vote to put that back in charge.

JC says:

02:45pm | 23/02/12

Its embarrassing. The ‘journalists’ these days have short memories. Remember Keatings ‘one shot in the locker’? Seriously Tory, i know you desperately want to believe her but don’t embarrass your professional integrity by naively displaying it.

Whoever loses Monday won’t go quietly. Anyone who thinks this ends Monday is high.

Mayday says:

03:44pm | 23/02/12

I think that was a dig at Kevin who will go to the backbench if he loses the ballot but will continue to white ant his assassin.

Julia knows this and is being too smart by half, she wants Kevin to go away and drop “further leadership aspirations.”

Tom says:

05:32pm | 23/02/12

Mayday, I know you used the word “smart” with irony, but the in-fighting and bad governance that these parasites have delivered is plain evil.

“Smart” in any context is not appropriate. Australia is suffering at Labor’s hands.

Sizzle Chest says:

12:28pm | 23/02/12

Where are Nossy and Acotrel???????

Washing their hair perhaps ?

Anthropogenic says:

12:29pm | 23/02/12

remain ignorant

The Tealady of the Apocalypse says:

03:53pm | 23/02/12

Both absent?  Hmmmm, bit suspicious that.

stevem says:

04:36pm | 23/02/12

Perhaps they’re both out lobbying one way or the other…

Tom Bombadil says:

04:44pm | 23/02/12

Gone out to lunch with Tim Flannery and all the other conveniently missing lot!

SimonTigey says:

08:48pm | 23/02/12

Nossy is actually Gillard, and Acotrel is actually Rudd. Neither have time to comment at the moment!!!!

Knemon says:

03:05pm | 23/02/12

@ SimpleSimon - FYI

Latest Sportingbet odds - Gillard $1.15 - Rudd $5.00 - Other $10.00

fitter says:

03:55pm | 23/02/12

Dude the News Limited journo didnt allow her to answer, he wouldnt shut up. In fact, everytime she went to answer, he kept yelling over her, and he did it at least 4 times. I mean seriously, he’s not Kerry Obrien. It was unbelievably rude. Clearly your normally cool with people talking right over you though. BTW Nazi references normally render your argument irrelevant.

stevem says:

02:16pm | 23/02/12

I’m thinking Tweek?

Mary Gill says:

03:31pm | 23/02/12

I think you are completely wrong here - it is personal.  Gillard is not trustworthy and has presided over a government that has stuffed up everything they touched.  Rudd at least has qualities about him that are appealing.  I thought the leaking of the video of his swearing backfired on Labor, just as the tent embassy fiasco backfired.  The Unions, faceless men and Thomson just added more reason to remove them.  Bring on Rudd!

Bert says:

02:30pm | 23/02/12

@Razor - Rudd was knifed by the faceless men as they didn’t like him. They used the polls as the excuse. Gillard stays on as the faceless men cannot find anyone better to do their deeds. Sad state of affairs don’t you think?

Alex says:

02:31pm | 23/02/12

He wasn’t knifed, he resigned… The same as what he did yesterday… He reisgned from being PM as he was unpopular with ALP and the people of Aus.

antman says:

03:21pm | 23/02/12

He resigned because he was told that he didn’t have the support of the caucus. He didn’t have the support of the caucus because he wasn’t getting the job done. Don’t we have a right to have a governement that gets the job done? Isn’t that what we pay them for? We should be thankful that there were some prepared to move against the ego-maniac who had managed to fool, not only his own party, but a large proportion of the Australian public that he was capable of being an effective Prime Minister.

Gillard has been a disaster from a PR point of view (but has certainly not been guilty of the same paralysis that befell her predecessor) but I have no qualms whatsoever with her actions against Rudd. Someone who refuses to change their opinion or their stance in the face of overwhelming evidence that they should is a fool. This is why I always thought that Howard’s continued insistance that he had made a decision or formed a view and would never change it, despite it beong clear that it was wrong, was the height of arrogance and stupidity.

Bert says:

03:46pm | 23/02/12

@ antman - your comment regarding “refusing to change your opinion - etc etc - is a fool”. I agree - surely this applies to Julia Gillard. which is exactly what she and her supporters are saying is her strength in that she does not change her opinion in the face of overwhelming evidence that they should? We like to call that strong leadership when we support the person and foolish when we don’t. Don’t you just love politics.

TC says:

07:48pm | 23/02/12

Bert: it wasn’t just faceless men who knifed Rudd. After Julia challenged Rudd rang around and couldn’d find much support from anywhere. This was because he and the way he ran the government was dysfunctional and he was abusive. This is the untold story of the Rudd knifing.

David says:

02:42pm | 23/02/12

I can’t understand why everyone is saying that Rudd is so popular with the Australian public. I reakon he’s the Labor party’s own version of Kyle Sandilands - a spoilt egotistical little brat who when given the role of Prime Minister experienced a head swell by a factor of three and who everyone is saying was impossible to work with. I wouldn’t trust Kevin Rudd as far as I could throw him. Julia Gillard may not be a good prime minister but do we really have that short memories. What makes you think Rudd is going to be any different a second time around?

David says:

03:02pm | 23/02/12

Um, why?

If every Government followed your suggestion there would be an election/referendum every other week…..

Karen from Qld says:

03:33pm | 23/02/12

@David   “No carbon tax under a government I lead”. A fundamental promise broken without the public having a say. And if you are going to trot out the GST - Howard took it to an election before implementing it. Need I say any more.

Ben says:

02:39pm | 23/02/12

Make that three clowns.

Razor says:

02:44pm | 23/02/12

Shorten was one of the faceless men behind the Rudd coup!
he is a over ambitious insignificant little muppett!
Combet is the answer!!

stevem says:

03:29pm | 23/02/12

If Combet is the answer, I’d hate to see the question. it might be: Who was a troublemaking union hack who was parachuted into a safe Labor seat with no real skills. Unfortunately that question is far too general.

Stinky Pete says:

03:56pm | 23/02/12

@ Razor - Combet? really? what are you on I think I want some? On the other hand it does’t matter who drives the bus over the cliff does it!

Stinky Pete says:

03:56pm | 23/02/12

@ Razor - Combet? really? what are you on I think I want some? On the other hand it does’t matter who drives the bus over the cliff does it!

nihonin says:

05:38pm | 23/02/12

Combet has already trashed the house once before, why give him another chance.

Rhonda says:

03:21pm | 23/02/12

If Gillard is the better PM why are labor in this mess now?

cars says:

03:14pm | 23/02/12

Being a liberal voter has obviously presupposed you to incoherent thinking. Redheads being firey is a common, harmless stereotype. It’s not even a negative one. It has nothing to do with gender. Fail.

Ken says:

04:28pm | 23/02/12

Sandman, you are a bloody genius.

Archie says:

03:08pm | 23/02/12

Cazza, thats it in a nutshell, Abbott = big business, dont ever forget !

Monty says:

03:21pm | 23/02/12

Seriously cazza, have a look at your own team and don’t be so ignorant! If any party has problems it’s the labor party! Tony Abbott is the most successful opposition leader in aust history! You must be affiliated with labor or seriously deluded from looking at your analysis… The Howard gov with Abbott as a minister lifted real wages for workers, brought down unemployment from 10%,interest rates from around 18% and debt of 90 billion. Grow up!

JT says:

03:44pm | 23/02/12

There truly is none so blind as those who will not see.

The great work Julia has done will result in electricity prices that you can ill afford rising year after year thanks to the introduction of the Carbon Tax. The effect of which will be felt by the public with every single service and product they purchase. One wonders if you will still sing her praises when you are sitting in the dark thanks to your electricity being disconnected. I’m sure you’ll find a way to blame Abbott for it somehow, after all, that is the story of the typical Labor hacks life isn’t it? always blaming some one else.

Your name:Troy says:

03:53pm | 23/02/12

Agree.  Amongst all the hate for the Prime Minister from Rudd supporters and Liberals, we shouldn’t lose sight of what an Abbott Liberal Government would likely entail and reflect on what can be done to avoid it.

Aside from reduced taxes for corporates, more funding for private schools and regular meetings with groups like ‘Exclusive Brethren’, we’re no doubt in for a good dose of ‘Hockeynomics’ (ie magic pudding of tax cuts without spending cuts), interest rate fibs and an obsessive belief that ‘productivity’ is obtained by stripping workers of their bargaining power.

I can only hope between now and whenever the next election is held that the Australian people (and media) start examining the reality of the alternative.

Ross says:

04:06pm | 23/02/12

Small brain Cazza. Thats all that needs to be said

Paul C says:

03:20pm | 23/02/12

The GG will never sack Gillard - They are Best Friends Forever!  The government always picks the GG for a reason, why would you pick someone you don’t trust.  Check out Quentin Bryce’s C.V. if you don’t believe me.  It would be great if the GG was neutral like they were meant to be.

David says:

03:49pm | 23/02/12

@Bert,

How to use the words their, there and they’re:

Their is used to imply possession as in “It is their house”.
There is used to imply a location as in “The train station is over there.”, or is used with are is was or were to indicate the existence of something such as in your example “There are aliens amongst us”.
They’re is short for ‘they are’, the apostrophe indicating that the ‘a’ has been omitted.

Bert says:

04:17pm | 23/02/12

@David - thanks mate - you show off - looks like you are on the same medication as I am. May I be so bold as to suggest when you use a string of examples you punctuate with a comma as in ” are, is, was or were” - makes for easier reading. I have make a deliberate mistake in this reply. See if you can pick up on it.

David says:

05:01pm | 23/02/12

@Bert,

Nothing against you personally, I just see it all the time on the punch and had a boss who never got it right and it really annoys me.

Brian Taylor says:

05:28pm | 23/02/12

Abbott will win with enough numbers, so if Turnbul starts playing silly buggers, Abbott will sack him
Unlike the holy mess Gillard finished up with, she can’t afford to sack anyone not even rudd.

Ania K. says:

05:55pm | 23/02/12

Mr Rudd is not at home yet & already knowing 33 votes so we can time it up 33 x 3 or 4 then Julia will know the truth that they are all been using her. I have the feelings that Mr. Rudd will win over Julia. Julia has never been the PM that Australians voted only from the 3 idiots & She became an installed PM. Good luck to Mr. Rudd.

Please noted that I didn’t vote for Labor party & I’m NOT going to vote again.

Momo says:

04:20pm | 23/02/12

Gillard the worst Aussie PM ever!

Ross says:

04:27pm | 23/02/12

I repeat Cazza - SMALL BRAIN

Esteban says:

04:37pm | 23/02/12

Cazza. I have good news for you. It was your mob, the ALP, That got voted in with the help of the independants.

Abbott is leader of the opposition and hence not in Government.

JB says:

04:43pm | 23/02/12

No Cazza you clearly are TOO young to actually understand what you are talking about or remember the days under Hawk and Keating!!! Who blew the budget surplus and is making cuts across the board to try and return to surplus all the while the avarage punter is out in the cold! Yes that right out of the Labor party play book, “The Liberals only look after the Wealthy” Mate we area a single income family, you know the ones Labor “Said” they would look after. Well amte we were much better under the Liberals and I earn under $80K so am i rich? Who was it that changes the Boarder Protection legislation that has lead to a shed load on boat people turning up o our door, oh that’s right it was LABOR!!!!! Howards policy worked but Labor just couldn’t leave a system that was working alone because it wasn’t theirs.  Well mate if you have a job i hope you get to keep in because thanks to Labor we are moving into recession. Forrest Gump wouldn’t vote for Labor but you would.  What does that say about you?

HeatherG says:

08:36am | 24/02/12

Yes, one has to wonder what Swan is thinking when he only won his seat this time around by the narrowest of margins, only a few hundred votes. It is only by virtue of the Brisbane electorate shuffle that he didn’t lose outright (instead part of his old electorate, my street included, previously labor, went to the LNP’s Theresa Gambaro).

Magwitch says:

04:24pm | 23/02/12

@Grant
Whatever you’re on - I’d like some please!

Tropical says:

05:18pm | 23/02/12

Not out as much as the Getup creche mob are.
Anybody who supports Labors dysfunctional mediocrity has a credibility problem.

David says:

09:14pm | 23/02/12

Um, no, I think its just because Australia is fed up with this government.

Ania K. says:

05:45pm | 23/02/12

Yes, please get rid of the ALP, they wasting lots of Tax payers money & damaged everything when they are in Govt. However Mr. Rudd is an honest man compare to Julia Gillard.

Bring it on a new Election please.

Jolly says:

10:39am | 24/02/12

Little Joe, you have spelt out the exact sentiments of the general public. Now imagine this: JG our next PM? Shudder ... quiver…take cover, more lie bombs. Yaks!! Come on Turnbull!! Don’t give us Abbott … it’s like jumping from the fry pan into the fire.