Is Kevin still king of the kids?

juju says:

02:15pm | 12/04/10

acker

Your’e dreaming…..

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/easy-money-in-a-desperate-trade/comments-e6freuy9-1225852509157

Macca says:

12:00pm | 13/04/10

haha, gold

Steely Dan says:

01:35pm | 12/04/10

Brad, everybody else - no matter who they’re voting for - knows another ALP victory is imminent. No crystal ball needed.

Matt Stewart says:

01:39pm | 12/04/10

I also doubt Rudd will be one term wonder.  Likely he will hang on by the skin of his teeth, with a reduced majority and an even more difficult senate environment.  Then, if he doesn’t lift in the opinion polls within the first 12 months after the next election, he’ll get rolled by his own party and replaced with Gillard.  Labor has done it before (Hawke/Keating) and they’ll do it again.  Gillard’s faction already have the numbers, they are just waiting for the right moment.

Bruce says:

01:58pm | 12/04/10

Brad Coward: you are correct, no crystal ball needed. The media will ensure Rudd’s win. Oh ! the media will give Tony Abbott a few wins along the way, however, around 4 weeks before the election the media will knife Tony Abbott.

Ben81 says:

02:07pm | 12/04/10

I’m resigned to the fact he’ll get back in, let’s just say too many people in Australia are narrowly ideological but aren’t very ‘politically aware’, to put it nicely.
It’ll take a few more years of mediocrity and an even longer list of failures before enough of the diehards jump ship. 

Personally, I think anyone who votes Labor at the coming election are endorsing internet censorship, and just on the issue alone they deserve no respect.

Seano says:

04:43pm | 12/04/10

“people in Australia are narrowly ideological but aren’t very ‘politically aware’”

Oh really.

“anyone who votes Labor at the coming election are endorsing internet censorship”

Are they?

But of Abbott advocates censorship. Just not at the expense of a solution that wont work. But like most things he hasn’t got an actual policy.

http://tinyurl.com/y2qa8o8

Ben81 says:

05:39pm | 12/04/10

Seano, it’s not clear yet if the Liberals are going to go to the election supporting Labor’s mandatory censorship policy, and if they don’t clearly have a position against it at the time of the election i’ll vote for whoever does.  He doesn’t need his own ‘policy’ for that, just a clear promise that Labor’s will not be supported and won’t be introduced under a Liberal government, and let it be.  So far it seems that Abbott has been very careful about not appearing to endorse it, so I’m quietly hopeful.  If he advocates voluntary censorship then I’m all for that.

Sorry I can’t view tinyurl links at work, but i’ll check out whetever you linked at home later.

Evan Findlay says:

05:34pm | 12/04/10

The fact that Abbott is politically inept and policy inert, that his front bench is from another era and that Abbott continually changes his tune whilst his Liberal front benches continually fail to sing the same tune leaves the electorate confused as to their position. Add Barnaby in for the conspiracy theories and only a monkey would vote for them.

Seano says:

07:27am | 13/04/10

Ben it is clear that Abbott advocates censorship but he doesn’t advocate having policy.

LC says:

01:34pm | 31/05/10

@seano,
Which is why the main threats to labor comes not only from the Liberals, but the Greens. At the next election, the liberal voters will vote liberal as usual, but labor’s 18-35 voters (me, 26, will be one of them) will switch to the greens. I wouldn’t be surpised if they secure several lower house seats as a result (and possibly a lot more in the senate).

Truth hurts says:

01:26am | 13/04/10

“Its about time Australians, young and old alike take a better look at him and realise that so far he’s promised a lot and delivered nothing. “

Much like Abbott then.  At least Rudd has worked out how to write a policy, instead of spending most of his time biking or sulking on talkback radio about the latest populist issue.  What is it this week?  Oh that’s right, they Yellow Peril is back in vogue.

Martin G says:

09:27am | 13/04/10

“Much like Abbott then.  At least Rudd has worked out how to write a policy, instead of spending most of his time biking or sulking on talkback radio about the latest populist issue.  What is it this week?  Oh that’s right, they Yellow Peril is back in vogue. “

It would appear that policy is still being written. Rudd has now resorted to bribing the states with extra money. Is that how you would like your health system to be run? I guess Health Minister Bipolar Nicola is too busy telling the electorate that Tony competing in a triathlon is a *bad* thing. I mean, how dare Tony Abbott set a good healthy example! What do you think Rudd’s been doing with his spare time??? Writing children’s books!!! Hypocrisy.

Talkback radio is a legitimate form of talking with the electorate. Are you trying to claim that some stupid twitter post or appearance on Sunrise with his mate Kochy is properly connecting with voters?

Gen Y is still learning, every generation tends to make the mistake of voting an ALP Government in. The hope is the lesson isn’t learnt too late, before the ALP flushes this country down the toilet.

antman says:

07:41pm | 15/04/10

Rudd has been a huge disappointment. He has proven to be every bit the populist that Howard could be and in no measure a leader. In fact, the similarities between Rudd and Howard have been unnerving: ruling their party with an iron fist and having the final say on any policy, monitoring the polls and the media obsessively, micro-managing (but denying it), always there for a photo opportunity and they spin, spin, spin.

I think Rudd may go down as the circuitbreaker we had to have (a JH-lite so as not to scare the masses) to remove a government that had been in power too long, had quickly become very lazy, had done very little to show for nearly 12 years in government (just don’t rock the boat too much), was increasingly prone to lying and had become out of touch with ordinary people who were just chess pieces for their increasingly ideology-driven policies. Worst of all, they squandered the opportunity to use the proceeds of the economic boom af a lifetime to set this country up for the next 50-100 years. I hope that the blinkers come off some day and the average Australian begins to see what a disappintment and wasted opportunity the Howard Governments were.

My hope is that Rudd is seen to have done enough for a second term (the broom still has some work to do in the Liberal and National Parties before they deserve another chance) but that Labor see that Rudd is not a long-term proposition and replace him with a true leader. Lindsay Tanner, anyone?

marley says:

01:43pm | 12/04/10

Hmm.  The whole concept of state-supported “social welfare” actually started with Otto von Bismarck.  I could be wrong, but I don’t believe he was a leftist.

John A Neve says:

02:18pm | 12/04/10

Marley,

Yes, you could “be wrong”. Social welfare has been implemented by many national leaders over the ages, in many forms.
However, I never mentioned “social welfare” , I talked of social reform, they are not one and the same.

Andrew says:

02:21pm | 12/04/10

Yes but why was it introduced for people who were over 65? Because the life expectancy was so much lower and the reasoning was, if you made it to 65 the state ought to look after you.

freeman says:

07:10pm | 12/04/10

john a neve.
your argument is ideological only.
you are just making excuses for labor, The libs need make no such excuse because they generally leave the country in pretty good shape when the leave office. All I can really get from your post is that you value social governance more than economic governance and that you will always vote labor and will always excuse their mistakes because you think labor is always the best option.

John A Neve says:

07:10am | 13/04/10

Freeman,

How I vote is my concern, but I’m willing to tell you it is many years since I have voted either Labor or Liberal, the Nationals I never give a thought to.

As to ideology, if the ideology is wrong, then the outcome is going to be wrong. I repeat, yet again, there is in my view no real difference between Labor and the coalition. We have had government change after change and based on this site and it’s contributors, we are going nowhere very fast!!!

Freeman says:

01:25pm | 13/04/10

right, so you vote greens and give 2nd preference to labor. well I’m guessing labor since you are so willing to excuse them.

John A Neve says:

01:27pm | 13/04/10

Freeman,

That is B***S*** and you know it.  You can give you preferences to who ever you like.  You don’t really vote as the how to vote slip tells you, do you?

freeman says:

06:43pm | 13/04/10

john a neve.
i said I’m guessing labor. meaning I guess you give your prefernces to labor. I am basing that on your defense of many past labor goverments (giving them all the same excuse). it seems you are trying to write off current disatisfaction with labor as fear of change, as if there were no change under all the preceeding liberal governments.

Toby says:

01:02pm | 12/04/10

But where is the serious alternative?

Dan says:

01:27pm | 12/04/10

I’ll “re-vote” him for sure. For one reason: We are not in recession right now.

The whole western world is in recession, the US is tanking, and we are not. Rudds stimulus package saved us (despite griping from the libs).

And what lies are you talking about? Howard lied us into a war, lied about refugees trying to kill their kids by throwing them overboard, what has Rudd done on that scale? You want to elect Howard’s love child Abbott?

It was Howard’s neo-liberal policies that set the stage for the GFC, that almost led to collapse of the industrialised world! How quickly people forget that we were on the edge of destruction - they forget becuase it didn’t happen. Why didn’t happen ... Rudd!

Matt Stewart says:

01:57pm | 12/04/10

“Compulsory voting should be scrapped imo. “

I agree totally.  If voting was optional, we would have a great barometer of whether voters think we have a party worth voting for, and how engaged people are with our political system.  Long periods of long decline in voting would be indicative of increasing frustration or antipathy and a sign that all parties needed to give themselves a kick in the pants.

Andrew says:

02:05pm | 12/04/10

Geez Dan, are you for real?

The western hemisphere is in financial turmoil for sure, but you think Rudd saved us from that!

Mate, here are the reasons:
1. Four Pillars Banking System
2. China
3. We had a surplus (we don’t now of course as KRudd has done the usual labor trick of spending anything he can get his hands on).
4. China
5. The RBA could significantly influence consumption via interest rate relief.

If you honestly believe John Howard is somehow responsible for the GFC or the Western Financial Crisis as I like to call it then you must be smoking something wacky.

The Rudd government is an epic failure at everything except PR. It seems you are just another person willing to fall for their spin. Sadly the world is full of silly people willing to do the same.

Mark says:

02:07pm | 12/04/10

” It was Howard’s neo-liberal policies that set the stage for the GFC, that almost led to collapse of the industrialised world! How quickly people forget that we were on the edge of destruction - they forget becuase it didn’t happen. Why didn’t happen ... Rudd!”

A few bold statements there Dan.

Any proof or just tossing the odd line hoping no one will notice? You conveniently forget Rudd’s happiness to be an economic conservative in name when it suited and to dump the moniker just as quickly.

I really think you should have a herb t and calm down a fraction.

Just a query, How do you think KRudd will pay for his spending? Please try and be relatively specific in your answer. I await with bated breath for more gems of economic wisdom to flow from you the informed voter that you are.

Seano says:

02:36pm | 12/04/10

“Compulsory voting should be scrapped imo. “

I’m informed and I don’t agree with you, I take it my vote should be scrapped as well?

E says:

02:43pm | 12/04/10

Dan, I think Andrew’s analysis of the mistakes in your reasoning re ‘Rudd Saved us from recession’ is good enough.
I would add that the industrialised world didnt almost collapse, the financial system almost collapsed. They are totally separate things. Basically what happened is that taxpayers got lumped with the mistakes of the financial elite, who kept their wealth despite their incompetance.
Also, while real GDP may be rising (slightly), when you factor in population growth we actually have a lower GDP per person, so the current economic strength of Australia is an illusion based on lowering standards of living (for everyone except the ruling class).

Lastly, remember that government spending is only a small part of the economy. The government doesnt manage the economy, they just spend their budget. Their claims of making a difference are predicated on the typical financial and economic ignorance of the electorate, typified and exemplified by comment like yours which demonstrate an inability to think in anything other than soundbytes. You, Dan, are the problem with democracy.

Toby says:

03:51pm | 12/04/10

Andrew,
You mention China twice in your reasons we avoided recession.  If that is the case and China is the saving grace (and the Rudd government did nothing) then shut up about the surplus because by association with your argument the only reason we had it was because of China.

E,
If that’s the case and governments don’t affect the economy then who cares if we have surplus or not?  And democracy is not a problem just because you don’t agree with an individual problem

So bored with the Libs can do no wrong and Labs can do no right crowd, and vice versa for that matter.

Andrew says:

04:04pm | 12/04/10

Toby, I mentioned China twice to make the point they were very important but not THE saving grace. I also make the point that we are in the Eastern hemisphere now not the Western Hemisphere.

Of course surpluses are important to economic circumstances, particularly in times of credit tightening.

If you fail to see the reasoning that’s fine but its spurrious reasoning to suggest that simply because I mention China twice they were the saving grace and therefore i ought to shut up.

I do think the Rudd government did things. I don’t think they were the right things and I think they will end up costing a great deal more than they could or should have for very limited benefit.

Anyway, if you don’t like either party or their supporters thats fine to. Start your own party and present a realistic, measured and logical alternative. Or shut up!

Toby says:

04:48pm | 12/04/10

Andrew,

Fantastic response, clear, concise and devoid of the rusted on political views usually so prominent from both sides.

Still don’t see how Howard should get a big pat on the back for creating a surplus in the strongest global economic times in recent history but Rudd and Co. get no recognition for their part in steering us through one of the weakest.  Reminds me of something about cake and eating it.

Sorry about the shut-up.  Still, fun to use isn’t it.

SarahJaneJones says:

06:40pm | 12/04/10

I find that I have very little confidence in the Libs, but I’ll probably vote for them in the hope that Labour will then have to get its act together and ditch Rudd.

SarahJaneJones says:

06:44pm | 12/04/10

As an economics student, it frustrates me no end that politicians use people’s ignorance of the economy to make ridiculous claims. I have issues with Rudd’s stimulus plan, but it isn’t with the fact that we are in deficit. Acutally, once you start to have a more complex understanding of macroeconomies, you’ll see that deficits are:
a) partially caused by the economic situation because people are earning less and becoming unemployed. That means less money in taxes and more money spent in welfare payments.
b) something that you actually SHOULD have in times of recession.

My issues with Rudd’s plan is basically what he spent the money on. Pink cricket bats has become the classic example of ridiculous spending, and the stimulus handouts as well.

freeman says:

07:13pm | 12/04/10

Dan,
you say that the reason that we are not in recession like america is beacuse of rudds stimulus? did you realise that the U.S have spent more that 1000 billion$ in stimulus? didn’t save them did it? that’s because stimulus spending had little to do with it. more important was the shape of the economy before the GFC. Rudd claims it was stimulus that saved us from ruin and barely mentions the surplus we had and other factors such as interest rates set by the RBA. This is what people are talking about when they say Rudd is trying to rewrite history. don’t buy into the spin!

Dan says:

09:00pm | 12/04/10

Alright, I admit it, I engaged in slight exaggeration and hyperbole (on an internet forum??)  in claiming Rudd saved us from the GFC… Okay a lot of exaggeration and hyperbole.
Rudd was not responsible for our salvation. Howard was not responsible for the boom years. In both cases it was largely international factors (China x 2). In respect to the GFC we were also protected by our decent banking regulations.
However the libs got re-elected for years based on their economic credentials. They and their supporters now conveniently ignore the fact the rest of the world is in recession. If the lib’s were still in power they would be crowing from the rooftops, and their supporters (I’m looking at you Mark) would be telling us what a wonderful job they are doing.

Andrew – I essentially agree with your reasoning (points 1 – 5). I do not believe Howard is personally responsible for the GFC, but his ideology is. Unfettered free market capitalism almost killed itself and was saved only by market intervention.
As for falling for spin, how was Howard’s claims of economic prowess any less spin? From your comments I take you accept this spin, but not Rudd’s spin?
Mark – I am no supporter of Rudd (I just hate Howard / neo-libs), and Rudd’s claim to be an economic conservative was clearly untrue. I don’t think he has any real convictions, or principles, or thoughts that are not reflected in a poll somewhere. However he was clearly correct to abandon his so called “conservative” economic position when it was so obviously discredited. Neo-liberalism is dead, and if it isn’t it should be.
E – I generally agree with your comments as well (except all that GDP stuff), and I’m flattered that I have personally ruined democracy for you. However I take it from your intolerance you never much liked it anyway.

evanovitch says:

01:48pm | 13/04/10

Rudd is actually a pretty lousy liar I think. I mean he gets so flustered and locks up under pressure it’s almost pitiable.

I think the most serious issue is his management style which is autocratic, arbitrary and erratic. No-one can run a large organisation / bureaucracy / organistation of any kind without a sustained vision.

Clearly he has drive, he never sleeps and he is an awful whip cracking boss who I’d hate to work for but without vision and focus all that drive is misdirected or goes off the rails.

And he’s a chronic micro manager - he doesn’t delegate, trust his team, keep on top of issues with a light touch. Instead he either hangs people out to dry or siezes the issues for his own (as he’s “the only island of ability in a sea of incompetence”) , or replaces them with another person / fixer. Nothing seems to ever be incremental or continuously improved,  all action has to be decisive, absolute, final. It is a measure of his temperament as much as anything that he is not willing to ride out   adversity or persist with anything unless it gives him an immediate benefit…

In the end the judgement of Rudd will be - effective politician short term - lousy leader long term.  But he got Labour back in power so he’s garuanteed a place in their pantheon.

Tom H says:

01:21pm | 12/04/10

“The ISP filter is not Rudd’s doing. It’s Senator Conroy’s. And he is a Family First member who actually believes the world is less than 10,000 years-old (YouTube him and Richard Dawkins on qanda).”

Whilst Senator Stephen Conroy is a socially conservative Catholic, it’s a bit of a stretch to confuse him with Steve Fielding…

Tom H says:

01:22pm | 12/04/10

“The ISP filter is not Rudd’s doing. It’s Senator Conroy’s. And he is a Family First member who actually believes the world is less than 10,000 years-old (YouTube him and Richard Dawkins on qanda).”

Whilst Senator Stephen Conroy is a socially conservative Catholic, it’s a bit of a stretch to confuse him with Steve Fielding…

Nigel Catchlove says:

01:36pm | 12/04/10

Senator Conroy is in Kevin Rudd’s Cabinet, as an ALP member.  Family First!!!  If you don’t even know which political party Stephen Conroy is in then your views are sadly shameful.  As for debilitating illnesses, they are not unique to your generation in fact breakthroughs in medical research have eliminated one - polio myelitis- and decreased the effects of many others.  Transplant surgery wasn’t even invented until the 1960s. 

The ETS may well have helped decrease CO2 emissions but the fact that it involved a system of tradeable permits each with a market based value meant that it could never be unscrambled.  The ETS has almost disappeared off the political radar now and yet according to the PM, it was ‘the greatest moral challenge of our time’, maybe until something else interesting happens.

His proposed health reforms are not health reforms, they are funding reforms that see the balance of federal funding change from 40-60 with the States to 60-40 - hardly a big reform that will see all those diseases you mentioned continue to afflict Australians with no change.  Not a single extra nurse and not a single extra hospital bed will open because of the PM’s reforms.

You’re not typical, in my experience, of Gen Y because I have found them for the most part to be astute and politically engaged.

Nick says:

01:44pm | 12/04/10

Casey

Steve Fielding is the Family First member, not Conroy. You shouldn’t be so condescending and yet so very very wrong.

Tim says:

01:41pm | 12/04/10

“The ETS did not fail because Rudd wanted it to. It failed because Tony Abbott is a moron and China had brought nothing but toothpicks and four-day-old muffins to Copenhagen.”

It failed because it was a terrible policy, which was thankfully shot down by an Opposition DOING THE JOB IT IS MEANT TO DO. The Liberals do not exist to rubberstamp KRudd’s brainfarts.

“The ISP filter is not Rudd’s doing. It’s Senator Conroy’s. And he is a Family First member who actually believes the world is less than 10,000 years-old”
WRONG. Conroy is a member of the Labor Party, and was appointed as Communications Minister by KRudd. Trying to claim that KRudd has nothing to do with this plan is ignorant stupidty at best, an outright lie at worst.

“And to make a statement about how unnecessary health reforms are at this period of time is just plain idiocy. We are a generation facing some of the most debilitating illnesses as our lifetimes progress - diabetes, skin and lung cancers, obesity, fertility problems with lifestyles delaying pregnancy, along with substance abuse issues “

Lung Cancer- Caused by smoking.
Skin Cancer- Improper sun protection
Diabetes & Obesity-  Improper Diet
Lifestylerelated Fertility problems- as you said, lifestyle related
Substance Abuse- Purely self-inflicted

Each and every one of these problems exist only because of the actions of the individual. Are you advocating that the health system society should be responsible for Gen Y when they succumb to these issues that they should be able to see coming from a mile off & prevent themselves? What a pathetic display of irresponsibility.

“I am theoretically Gen Y. You make me ashamed to share your generalisation. “

I *AM* Gen Y. And *I* feel ashamed that it’s people like YOU Casey who are to blame for the negative reputation of my generation. Can’t think for themselves, and won’t take any responsibility for their own actions.

David C says:

01:44pm | 12/04/10

senator conroy aint family first

Matt Stewart says:

01:54pm | 12/04/10

“The ISP filter is not Rudd’s doing. It’s Senator Conroy’s. And he is a Family First member who actually believes the world is less than 10,000 years-old”

That’s the most impressive self-disqualification from a serious discussion I’ve seen in a long time.  Well done, Casey.  One serious factual error (confusing conroy with fielding) and a serious misunderstanding of how politics actually works (failing to recognise that rudd in conroy’s boss) in one short sentence.  Brilliant.

Chris O'Neill says:

02:08pm | 12/04/10

Senator Conroy is not a Family First senator. He is a Labor Senator which is why he is the Labor Minister for Communications. I didn’t think it was that confusing?

As he is a Minister he is representing and acting upon Labor policy, this being policy created by the Labor Caucus and the Prime Minister. It most definately not policy invented by the Senator himself.

Casey says:

03:02pm | 12/04/10

Following suit (just in case you missed it), you’re likely thinking of Fielding. Just saying.

Also, would everyone please not judge all ‘casey’s by their name.

Thank you.

Proud Infidel says:

05:37pm | 12/04/10

Rudd is just as religious as Conroy, beside Rudd has surrounded himself with godbotherers. Bourke, Garrett, Conroy to name a view. They were only three members who had balls to say were atheists out of the whole Labor party. And add insult to injury Steve Fielding was helped by Labor into the senate. Do you see a pattern here?

jg says:

01:23pm | 12/04/10

So the insulation scheme wasn’t a failure? It was in fact a success? In fact, it actually saved people from getting their houses burnt down by dody installers?

Which planet have you just come from?

Andrew says:

01:33pm | 12/04/10

Oh casey, If you are gen Y I weep for the future of this country. Are you seriously defending the insulation scheme? If so please advise how many installers died in the 20 years prior to the introduction to the scheme.

Abbott and China to blame for the failed ETS. Please explain how China doing nothing at Copenhagen (along with everyone else) has anything to do with the failure to pass the ETS?

Correct me if I’m wrong but the vote on the ETS failed before Copenhagen. And thank god it did because otherwise Australia would be at a severe competitive disadvantage worldwide without any tangible benefit (except Rudd furthuring his personal profile agenda).

Are you suggesting the internet filter policy (or indeed any other policy) would not have been approved by the micro-managing Rudd? Pull the other one.

Further to suggest Rudds health plan is anything but a cynical approach to transfer attention away from his governments other major policy failures is fanciful. Your reference to health issues is important. No doubt, but what does Rudd’s plan do to solve those issues? Where is funding increased, how is the system better off. A new, large Canberra based health bureaucracy.

On TV on the weekend before the health policy announcement Rudd said government was harder than he thought and they would try to come up with a health policy. By Tuesday they had a policy that they then dumped on the states without consult and then in typical fashion threatened sanctions if agreement was not immediately forthcoming. He then threatens a referendum if states don’t agree. Well guess what, the Feds already have the power to force state acceptance so the referendum is just another smoke and mirrors trick.

As for the BER, yep delivery results. No doubt. But at what cost? $16.2B of money we don’t have which will deliver less than $10B worth of actual value. All for school halls and covered learning areas that can have Julia Gillards name on them. Why not spend the money on actually improving teaching standards? Lowering class sizes? Because you can’t have a “Lower Class sizes” Opening.

If you are truly Gen Y then why not wake up and smell the roses. The reason we need to get rid of the Rudd government is because we can no longer afford them. Simple as that.

They have been a massive failure and they stand for nothing. Worse still they simply won’t take responsibility for their failures but rather deny there’s a problem and move on.

Arrogant, useless, wastrels who rely on the short attention span of your generation. Maybe you should actually do some research.

Liz says:

01:51pm | 12/04/10

JG, In fact the scheme was a success - the reduction in energy used amongst the aggregate of households has reduced the carbon footprint of Australia.

I would also point out that the regulation of insulation installers is a state issue, and not a federal one.  Blaming the Rudd government for this is the same as blaming the federal government for drownings in backyard swimming pools.

Mark says:

02:09pm | 12/04/10

Casey makes me smile.

So much silliness all confined to one area. Do continue please.

Matt Stewart says:

02:15pm | 12/04/10

Liz, of course the carbon footprint has decreased.  That tends to happen when lots of people die.  By your logic, we should just start sacrificing people at the ETS altar so that we can the world for humanity - or what’s left of it.

Juju says:

02:18pm | 12/04/10

casey says:
Are these the ‘results’ you mentioned?’ - From The Australian today -

“JULIA Gillard has backflipped on the $16.2 billion school’s stimulus program, caving into public pressure led by The Australian for a national inquiry into the scheme.
Ms Gillard has announced the establishment of a task force to investigate complaints associated with scheme on all issues including the lack of value for money for taxpayers.
The announcement comes weeks before an auditor general’s report on the scheme was scheduled to be tabled in parliament, raising the possibility the report was critical of the waste associated with the scheme.
The Australian Online understands the report has been completed and sent out to stakeholders, including Ms Gillard.
There have also been number of state audit reports into claims there have been price gouging and inflated quotations for school buildings, but so far there has been no investigation into whether taxpayers have been receiving value for money.”

Results = rorts.

Grumbles says:

02:32pm | 12/04/10

Sometimes you wonder, who would vote these fools back in? Then two people claim the insulation scheme was a success (serious?), and one claims Conroy is Family First, and the internet filter is not a Labor policy (please don’t vote, I’ll pay the fine for you)

Andrew says:

02:44pm | 12/04/10

Liz, No the scheme was not a success. 4 people died a myriad of house fires. Hundreds of millions of dollars to fix. Minister and senior staff warned of the dangers and did NOTHING!

Blaming state governments for federal government failures is like, well ... blaming state governments for federal government failures. BTW which party runs the state governments?

I challenge you to ring the families whose houses were burnt down or the families of the dead workers and tell them the insulation scheme was a success.

At what stage does it become a failure?

10 dead, 1000 houses burnt down?
20 dead, 10000 houses burnt down?
50 dead 100000 houses burnt down? Billions to fix?

All in the name of reducing your carbon footprint.

You clearly set a very low standard for success.

bill says:

02:56pm | 12/04/10

Liz,
Did you add the carbon emissions from over 100 houses burning down along with 100 families worldly goods into your quick little ‘carbon foot print” questimate? 
A real calculation on the minimal change in emissions from insulation, once cost of manufacturing or “embedded” emissions less a couple of thousand tones of burnt houses will put the whole program on a repayment or “carbon neutral” footing in 10-20 years.. Still will be quicker than the current deficient repayments..

Ben81 says:

02:02pm | 12/04/10

So the youth eat up entertainment and waste of time empty gestures that achieve absolutely nothing over substance.  Interesting argument about why we should raise the voting age, dementer.

Nigel Catchlove says:

02:04pm | 12/04/10

Copenhagen was a monumental failure on a global scale, is that one of the great things that Gen Y likes?  The 2020 Summitt was a stunt and it too failed to live up to the hype, is that another ‘great thing’ that you like to see?  Free stuff for kids, now I begin to understand what motivates you - whichever politician can promise (not deliver) free stuff and whoever looks cool on TV.  Seriously I weep for the future of Australia and I’ll have to review my stance on compulsory voting.  I have always thought compulsory voting was a good thing that encouraged some, even if a token, involvement in the political process that helps guide our future.  Maybe if voting waqsn’t compulsory you and your mates wouldn’t even know there was an election on, and that can’t be all bad.

Andrew says:

02:18pm | 12/04/10

Oh really? SO the youth of today want to see a p.m. who can appear on a comedy show and a variety show but won’t front up for seious political questions?

Stolen generation apology, a symbolic gesture but what has his government done since to improve indigenous health. Nothing.

The Copenhagen Summit = epic failure. “The greatest moral challenge of our time” now gets very little airtime. When was the last time you heard him mention it.

The 2020 summit ... puhhleease.

Lap tops in schools. Alomst finshed his first term. Delivered less than 20% and way over budget because the schools didn’t have the IT to support the laptops.

Hey, list some more things, this is fun!

Just Sayin' says:

02:18pm | 12/04/10

Interesting POV from Nigel - A man who works/worked for one of the largest defence comanies on the planet.  How are you doing, SN’?

joshn says:

02:40pm | 12/04/10

You didnt see the QandA with Rudd then did you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen Kev sweat before on live TV, was great viewing!

The 2020 forum was a complete joke and we got less out of copenhagen.

in touch with today’s youth? you’re kidding yourself, the GNW appearance was carefully scripted, his office had the exact list of questions weeks beforehand. McDermot (sp?) came out and said as much.

Fren says:

03:12pm | 12/04/10

good point, symbolic gestures of grandure are far more acceptable, look good rather than working solutions.

The thing about Rudd is that every idea they try implement fails or does get up. Not that they are bad idea mind you they are good some times. But they are designed to placate a section of the community.

Im am really really worried about the health policies that Rudd wants to bring in. I can see him really stuffing up and raising a committee to oversea the error made by the implementation. Sort of like the BER or the Insullation schemes.  But yet again the committess are just a PR exercise to delay response and to take a bad news storey away from the head line.

Nigel Catchlove says:

03:47pm | 12/04/10

Thanks Justsayen, there are no secrets in my cv.  I’ve also worked for Airservices, the Fisheries Management Authority, and big oil and gas.  Now as a communications consultant I work for local government, community housing, and numerous other clients.  You should check out my website http://www.parsec.com.au

Comfortable with my opinions and I don’t feel the need to hide behind anonymity.

SarahJaneJones says:

07:07pm | 12/04/10

I’m guessing you aren’t Gen Y…the apology was merely symbolic, Copenhagen was a complete failure, the 2020 forum is long forgotten and of little importance anyway, free laptops to kids is nice but Gen Y aren’t kids anymore so no laptops for us. I think the two biggest issues discussed by my genreation are refugees and the internet filter.

Kate says:

11:04am | 13/04/10

This is precisely why you can’t generalise about “the youth”.

I’m in my early 20s. I don’t watch Rove or GNW and don’t think politicians should be wasting their time with light entertainment.
I also think the apology, Copenhagen and the 2020 forum were a bigger waste of time than last week’s Richmond v Sydney football match. I know of a large number of people my age who are politically rather conservative and are voting Liberal this election. There are others who are socially liberal (small ‘l’), but are so opposed to Conroy’s internet filter that they will be voting Liberal, or voting Greens below the line to ensure that their preferences do not go to the ALP.

There is not some group mind shared by everyone under 30. Can everyone try to remember this in future before making statements about “the youth”?

todays youth says:

01:04pm | 13/04/10

As one of ‘todays youth’ KRudds appearance on GNW lost my vote.
i want someone serious about politics not leaving parliament to go to a shoot for a comedy show.
and his performance on that compared to the Q&A one showed me he is a scripted fake. If he had stayed to the press releases I may still be faithful.
I also dont want free laptops for kids, I would like them to learn to write and spell properly not ‘lyk dis’
also, the 2020 forum was a waste of time, more showboating.

Mavis says:

04:49pm | 12/04/10

Why not? Its the Caseys of the world who get Labor over the line. Labor couldn’t exist without them.

Douggie says:

06:23pm | 12/04/10

Yes, lets elect the party with the leader that changes his mind on policy from week to week,.. when Abbott can pick a position and stick to it, I will consider voting for him- alas I can’t find any good reasons why Rudd would deserve my vote either… a sad state of affairs all round.

Andrew says:

02:39pm | 12/04/10

First negative comment re Abbott that has nopt mentioned Budgie Smugglers or the Mad Monk moniker.

Still I’d rather have Tony “Rabbit” than Kevin “Hollow Man” Rudd any day of the week.

Alosia says:

02:47pm | 12/04/10

Hey!!  I resent that!! The Mad monk has no choice but chase that Easter Bunny!!  He has to find policy somewhere, hes got none himself.

Andrew says:

03:53pm | 12/04/10

Alosia, you know he’s in opposition right? You know that all oppositions wait until the last possible minute to release their policies so they government of the day can’t steal their thunder right?

You know that everything that Rudd or his gov’t have touched has turned to sh*t, right?

C’mon, maybe spend less time worrying about TA and more time holding this gov’t to account or are you just afraid of what you might find?

jg says:

03:31pm | 12/04/10

or a Screaming Lord Such…

BobM says:

03:39pm | 12/04/10

I think they’re called “The Greens” here…..

sarahjanejones says:

06:59pm | 12/04/10

for a while there was the Party Party Party but then they nearly won a seat and freaked out and disbanded.

Juju says:

03:31pm | 12/04/10

No, King Corky…..

David J says:

03:22pm | 12/04/10

I think mentioning The Pope and kids in the same sentance is rather fool hardy. With all the pedophile abuse from Cathoilc Priests I don’t think its wise to bring The Pope into this. Abotts conection with the Catholic Church is enough to make me change my vote to Rudd

Andrew says:

04:10pm | 12/04/10

Nice to know independent thought still exists in your generation.

P.S. As a Pastafarian what do you worship .... Lasagne?

Jade says:

04:30pm | 12/04/10

Aah yes! I agree Matt, I am a Gen Y aswell, worked since I left school, have never had anything handed to me on a silver platter and I can’t stand Rudd, I thankfully did not vote for him last time, and he yet again will not get my vote this time.

God help this country if he gets in again at the election, if so we are doomed.

Brissy Boy says:

10:12pm | 12/04/10

Good to see you too have been touched by his noodly appendage. No Andrew don’t be blasphemus it’s his holy noodlyness the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Google it and you’ll get it.

Good to see Matt. I employ mostly Gen Y and people like yourself are in a minority. All of my staff loved him.

Seano says:

11:35am | 13/04/10

@Matt: “Rudd is a wanker.” - and the alternative isn’t?

@Jade: “God help this country if he gets in again at the election, if so we are doomed. “

Must be hard to type whilst running around with your hands in the air screaming “We’re all dooooooomed!”

Andy says:

03:41am | 13/04/10

Thanks for your ill-informed comment.

>“Put Australia in Debt”

Yes, indeed. Despite almost every economic commenter suggesting it was a sensible move. The beauty of retrospection is that if nothing was done - you would be blamming the government for the loss of your job. Read commentary by Glenn Stevens regarding the governments plan or flick through the AFR.

> - Visited a conference on Climate Change

As did every other nation. The result ? Nothing. Whose fault was this? You attribute it to Rudds fault that nothing was done on climate change ? You can thank Mr. Abbott for that and indeed China and India for that.

> Fired Plentifully of Staff.

The less bureaucratic staff and the more streamlining in this nation the better.

>- Made a flight attendant cry.

Shows your level of statutory, policy and governmental understanding if this is an influential part of your decision making process.

> - Is not trying to remove freedom of speech via an internet filter.

Indeed. The internet filter is ridiculous plan.

>He is a snake in a suit, sneaky wretched creature; comparable to Smeagle.

I find these types of comments littered throughout this post interesting and somewhat sad. You seem to suggest that the alternative government - an Abott lead government - would be one which is SO much better than the current one.

I don’t agree with all the things Rudd has done - but the thought of bringing back a Key member of Howard’s government - the work choices nightmare, the lack of bilateral and multilateral policy negotiation and the hoarding of Australia income to show we have a “surplus” - even though fiscal and monetary policy suggests we should be - revenue neutral - is no better. Governments should spend income on their populas - not hoard it to show “oh look we have a surplus”. A great government would say “we are neutral because we reduced debt and increased commonwealth and state funding on vital projects”

The reality is - you scream, rant and rave about Rudd - but at least he works hard and isn’t out on bike camps, or doing 15 day ‘remote’ trips into the outback and criticizing a health plan that he is yet to produce. Selectively vote out Conroy from the Senate and your arguments are dribble. An Abbott lead government is not going to push Australia into the future - a Malcolm Turnbull one may have - but a prejudicial, opinionated, right winged nut like Abbott is hardly going to help our country.

Sure - vote abott. Its your democratic right. But I only begin to dread the policies he is going to implement and how great his imposition of religious and personal views on policy will frame our country.

Inform yourself before you start making ludicrous “Heard Sun” media selected arguments.

Seano says:

07:59am | 13/04/10

It’s like a form letter.

<Insert claim to be a reformed Labor voter>

<Insert typical right wing rant>

<Insert clever closing insult>

You almost got it all right, except fo the clever bit.

Anton says:

01:12pm | 13/04/10

Do they still exist?

I looked at their website and it looks pretty inactive. I would possibly vote for them, but it looks like the 2 party bulldoser has squashed them just like so many others before.

Jie says:

10:23am | 13/04/10

It’s Rudd who has weekly photo ops at his church not Abbott.
Who cares about religious backgrounds? Not me.

Anyone and I mean anyone who stopped this fraud of a carbon tax the ETS deserves to be elected. I don’t support giving the banking elites trillions of dollars at the expense of ordinary Australians. Rudd needs his seat at the UN - fast. And someone who gives a damn needs to take his place.

Angie says:

01:08pm | 13/04/10

Bringing religion into it, prefaced by some silly comments about reform - waterfront, GST, APRA….reform? Then lets go social…..go ask Noel Pearson which side is better for Indigenous Affairs…..Labor apologies & then nothing; Howard intervention, Abbott direct hands on action plus his pollie pedal for Indigenous Health…...you are a closet Bigot.

Freeman says:

01:45pm | 13/04/10

Ross,
what a lovely philosophy. So…..... how was woodstock?
now back to the real world.
I am under 30 and it’s nutters like you that make it hard for me to
respect some of my elders. I know that religion and economics are
a bit of a drag…man…... but the reality is that 1st world countries with
strong economies are the safest and healthiest to live in. and if all you really want is “clean air, clean water, and clean soil, to prosper not money” then you have nothing to fear from religion and conservative goverments. they’re not trying to take it away from you. but I wouldn’t be surprised to see labor introduce a tax on clean air.
the money will always take care of itself? LOL, sounds like wayne swann went to your school of economics ross!