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Labor’s attacks on Tony Abbott are purely cosmetic

Jamie Briggs

by Jamie Briggs

08 Apr 05:30am

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Filed under: Election 2010, Labor Party, Liberal Party, Tony Abbott

66 comments

In recent weeks we have been witness to the beginning of an orchestrated attack on Tony Abbott’s character by Kevin Rudd and his Government.

Abbott on the pollie pedal - a charity event, not a stunt. Photo: Ray Strange

Most of these attacks are nasty and personal, designed to raise doubts about the character of Tony Abbott in the lead up to the election.

Already Labor is spending money on negative television advertising about Tony Abbott and there will be millions of dollars more spent on this type of negative material between now and election-day.

Labor has massive amounts of money to spend thanks to the millions of dollars given to them each year by their union paymasters.

So desperate are Senior Labor figures to try and dent Tony Abbott’s momentum that in recent days they have been attacking him in the media for participating in community events.

In past couple of weeks we have witnessed senior Ministers attack Tony on the basis of his participation in a community ironman event and his now famous ‘Pollie Pedal’.

It is just so typical of the Labor Party that they can’t acknowledge that even nasty Liberals can sometimes do something positive with their role in the community.

Let us not forget that the ‘Pollie Pedal’ event was initiated by Tony Abbott as a innovative way of raising money for selected charities. This year he is raising money for Poche Centre for Indigenous Health within the Sydney Medical School at the University of Sydney. The money raised will be used to fund Student Clinical Outreach Placements to regional and remote communities in western NSW and the Northern Territory. Undoubtedly a good cause.

But to highlight just how hypocritical the Labor Party is it must be remembered that many of the ‘Pollie Pedals’ occurred with bipartisan support including Labor members riding in the event. This year there are none. Last year Jenny Macklin welcomed the riders at the finish and the year before Nicola Roxon launched the event. This year these Ministers have criticised Tony Abbott for participating in the event. See a pattern?

Yet this week when Kate Ellis decided to turn her ministerial hand to modelling, Labor’s concern about not focussing on ‘policy’ seemed to disappear.  Apparently when Kate decides to appear in a fashion magazine in a slinky black outfit it is all about raising ‘body issue awareness’ for young women and not about appealing to a younger demographic for electoral benefit.

We shouldn’t expect too much more from the Labor Party of course. If you want to see how they will run their federal election campaign just have a look at what they did in South Australia. Not only was nearly all their advertising spending on negative material, they stooped to a new low in Australian politics by authorising Labor booth workers to pretend to be Family First booth workers. A tactic the Labor State Secretary defended as ‘legal’ following the election. At this stage federal Labor has still not ruled out this tactic.

The reason of course that Labor is going negative so early in the cycle is because after two and a half years people have worked out that Kevin Rudd is all talk and no action. That after two and a half years of broken promises and wasted spending, the Australian public is waking up to the fact that this Prime Minister is not the product they thought they were getting in November 2007.

So next time you hear a Labor Minister go personal on Tony Abbott, just remember it’s because they are worried about the threat he poses. Unfortunately, this type of campaign is a window into modern Labor.

Most commented

66 comments

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    • Chronic Deveney Hatred says:

      05:12am | 08/04/10

      The budgie smuggler jokes were wearing thin 3-4 months ago, now they are just excruciatingly nausiating. Im looking at you Catherine Deveney. It makes your bogan material look fresh.

      Reply

    • Jack Thomas says:

      01:18pm | 08/04/10

      Hatred just feeds her, choose Disdain like the rest of us.

      Nothing will solve the problems of that woman, from being last picked at school, from being ignored at uni, to having to stir up a whirldwind in Melbourne’s middle class just to be 1% relevant. Ranting at her inner city dinner parties, inside a million dollar home with a 40 grand Prius parked out front, pushing her kids to be friends with kids from minority groups (don’t ask me how I know that one), and still being a loser (and knowing it). 

      Pity is what I feel. 

      As a cyclist in a large office of rednecks and obese bogans, I am used to the constant barbs and references about lycra that Abbot gets. Add to that the ‘jokes’ about running cyclists off the road, etc. if I was female or non-white or a Speaker of the House, I would have been paid ten times my salary in compo by now.

      It says so much more about the speaker or writer than me. Same with any talk about Abbott’s normal and healthy pursuits.

      Labor is scared, and the more Abbbott gets talked about the worse it gets for them.

    • Christian Real says:

      07:31am | 09/04/10

      Wayne Fehlhaber,
      Wayne , I guess you will be pleased to know that the Tasmanian greens have not backed the Liberal party to Govern and it looks like the Governor will give the go ahead for Labor to now form Government with the Greens help.
      If this is the case, it will be still all Labor State governments except Western Australia.
      Wayne, I have a gut feeling that Tony abbott may not be even leader of the liberal/National party opposition by the time a federal election is called.
      It appears the liberal leaders have a thing about wearing budgie smugglers to publicity stunts, I seem to recall a New South Wales Opposition Liberal leader that was getting photo shoots in his budgie smugglers, but unfortunately that did not help him get elected as Premier..

    • Luke says:

      05:57am | 08/04/10

      Why is the media so eager to repeat, report and headline anything the Labor party want them to regarding Tony Abbott? Says alot about journo’s in this country.

      Reply

    • T.Chong says:

      06:00am | 08/04/10

      There, there poor little Jamie, aren’t all those Labor people just beastly ?
      Grow up ,what a pathetic whinge.The LNP dishes dirt all the time, remember Godwin,?, as well as casting doubts about their opposition .
      All political parties do. repeat, all political parties do, and will keep doing so,LNP and Labor are both the same in this tactic.
      Labor has union links, LNP has big bizness links - because thats who both sides represent.
      Looking forward to read just how “fair and balanced” this sooky little rant will be applauded .

      Reply

    • Mavis says:

      07:57am | 08/04/10

      T.Chong, union hack, your lot are destroying a once great country. Get back to the 19th century where you belong.

    • Joan says:

      09:00am | 08/04/10

      The pic I saw of Kate Ellis had her in black leather and high high heels she looked more like a Madame Lash minus the whip than a model or politician at work- perhaps she was at play??  Abbott is a good sport and that is what all Ozies like and most won’t take notice of poor dumb budgie smuggler jokes repeated ad nauseum . With the great pretender of all Rudd, as Bob the builder, playing Dr in house, big kindie kid on daily basis,  it`s not surprising Labor supporters follow by example and pretend they are Family First - who very deliberately used large bold case font for Family First and used regular small font for ` put your’`.  Unlike you the media and most of Australia are not dim wits Christian Real.

    • John A Neve says:

      09:08am | 08/04/10

      T.Chong,
      I am sorry, but must disagree with you, I don’t believe Labor represents the unions/workers any more than the LNP represents busines big or small.

      Rather, I think todays pollies see parliament as a job, a good job and most will do or say any thing to get the job and then keep it.

    • Andrew says:

      10:59am | 08/04/10

      John A Neve, can’t agree with your comments re representation. To be frank the union movement is an entree to Labor politics both federally and at a state level and the Labor party is funded by the union movement.

      Just have a look at the front bench.

      On the other hand the LNP is more representative of small to medium enterprise. There aren’t any former directors of ASX top 200 companies sitting on the opposition front bench (plenty of lawyers and SME business owners though).

      The big end of town tends to hedge their bets. They generally go where the power is (witness how close Packer was to Hawke or Stokes is to Conroy). Most large public companies give fairly equal amounts to both parties and work really hard to groom relationships with senior policians. For evidence of this note Bob Carr’s consultancy with Mac Bank (which started almost immediately after he left politics).

    • Henry says:

      11:39am | 08/04/10

      John… what is the LNP?

      The Liberal Party and the National Party are distinct and separate.

      And the ALP is still swamped by the Unions!  The Libs stand up for small business and private enterprise.  It seems trendy to say ‘they are all the same’ but the philosophy of the Lab and Lib is still chalk and cheese.

      Or should I say reward the lazy vs reward the hard worker

    • Wayne Fehlhaber says:

      12:57pm | 08/04/10

      Henry :  In Queensland , the L.N.P. is one entity .
      Merging both parties at the state level and giving a single focus to conservative ideals and principles , was the most remarkable and visionary move made in the history of Australian politics. You state that
      ” The Liberal party and the National party are distinct and separate.”
      In Queensland , nothing could be further from the truth. Attend any meeting at any time and you will see that it is one conservative harmonious voice , with one clear goal of removing Labor from office and delivering good government to Queensland.

    • John A Neve says:

      03:20pm | 08/04/10

      Andrew,
      We must agree to disagree on this matter. To be frank, I don’t know what a “worker” is any more. As for bosses, must of them are hired hands today.

      Henry,
      I was responding to T. Chong and he used the term LNP, it is of course an amalgam of Liberal and national parties.

      As to private enterprise, there is less and less of it as super funds buy shares and large corporations buy up the little fish.
      But ah well, there ya go.

    • Jane says:

      03:57pm | 08/04/10

      Yeah…the Labor Party wouldn’t stoop so low - would they? YOU BET!!

      When it comes to smear, dirty tricks and nasty no-one can match the ALP

      Abbott really has them rattled…so much so they deceitfully registered a website under his name purely to dish sh*t. Nice one ALP…true to form.
      Way to play the man and play dirty…rather than justify yourselves.

      Get ready for the mother of all smear tactic from dirty rotten Labor.

      “THE Labor Party has registered a website in the name of Tony Abbott, ridiculing the Liberal leader in what party operatives claim is the unofficial start of a brutal federal election campaign.

      Party sources confirmed that the website had been registered by the Labor Party this week and was the first election instalment of the party’s online campaign.”

      http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/new-labor-website-dishes-up-dirt-on-tony-abbott/story-e6freuzr-1225851130075

    • Geoff Brown says:

      05:05pm | 08/04/10

      T Chong says: “Labor has union links, LNP has big bizness links..”

      Isn’t it interesting that the Labor Party’s BER scandal is making big bizness rich at the expense of local tradesmen - working families - who are suffering.

      So, T Chong, who is looking after big bizness?

    • Robert Smissen of Rural SA says:

      06:39pm | 08/04/10

      Joan they photo shopped Kate’s body to make her look trim, taut & terrific (the reality in the flesh is a lot different) The reason you can’t see the whip is that they air brushed it out.

    • Christian Real says:

      06:35am | 08/04/10

      The poll workers in South Australia appears to have had the slogan “Put Your Family First, on their shirts and in no way was pretending to be workers for the family First party,and by claiming such a thing the media is misrepresenting the truth.
      Also I can’t see that Abbott would have much time to devote, to the time consuming position of Prime Minister, should he be lucky at this years Federal election, because he spends far too much time trying to be ‘Ironman” or road racer cyclist from Sydney to Melbourne.
      Also Abbott appears to have anounced another policy without consulting anyone else in his party, and he appears to be becoming a one man show, ignoring the rest of his Opposition team.
      Tony Abbott is an opportunist that only cares about himself and his ambitions, a good actor and master of publicity stunts, and in his budgie smugglers would fit in well in the Australian soapie “Home and Away”, Summer Bay could use a new lifeguard/Actionman/Ironman, because it has been awhile since any life saving activity has been seen in “Summer Bay”

      Reply

    • ABC says:

      08:47am | 08/04/10

      I’m sorry Christian, they may not have been “pretending” to be Family First members but is was designed to raise the very strong inference in the minds of the voters that they were members of Family First, even if they did not “directly” represent themselves as such- I’m presuming you would infer that “pretending” would involve a blatant lie like “Yoohoo, voters, I’m a member of Family First”. Its misleading and deceptive behaviour whichever way you look at it.

      In terms of time spent away from politics - how long do you think it took Kevin Rudd to craft that 3000 word treatise in whatever magazine it was?  I bet the drafting, redrafting and editing took far in excess of the 14 hours it took Tony Abbot to run a trialothon.  Can pontificating for 3000 words be realisticly said to be a useful application of a Prime Minister’s time? Or writing a kids book (though we all know Rhys Muldoon did all the work). Tony Abbot is not running the country, Kevin Rudd is (well supposed to be at any event).

    • Wayne Fehlhaber says:

      10:42am | 08/04/10

      Christian Real :  The Poche centre for Indigenous Health in Sydney is the beneficiary of Tony Abbott’s organising of the “pollie pedal ” fund raiser. He devotes his own time to raising much needed funding for your people Christian. The funding will go to Student Clinical Outreach Placements in Regional and remote communities.
      It is a pity your beloved Labor colleagues do not endorse his efforts in raising the standards of Indigenous living .  Tony Abbott is a compassionate man , a man capable of leading as Prime Minister for the good of all Australians.
      I am ashamed for you Christian , because i know you are incapable of experiencing that emotion.
      Labor’s current polling rorts are scurrilous indeed , wittness the S.A. electoral cheating carried out by Labor’s thugs.
      The dribble you have posted here is 12th grade level .

    • TC says:

      01:12pm | 08/04/10

      Lsst time they wouldnt post this comment so I’ll try again Christian.

      Can we point out how silly you and “your people” look in their grub smugglers Christian or would that be racial vilification?

      Where do you think it’s your right to vilify a section of the community who voluntarily keep beaches safe? Are double standards ok because youre apparently of aboriginal descent?

    • HarlequinBeetle says:

      07:14am | 08/04/10

      No pattern.  Merely a change in circumstances - interesting that Liberals ignore a change in economic situation as not warranting a slow down, or change in Labour’s promises.  Now Abbott is leader of the Liberal Party.  Regardless of the motivation, charity or whatever, Abbott is now leader of the party, and that warrants a change in priorities. However, justification for participating in polie pedals suggests that there has been no recognition of this fact.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      07:04am | 08/04/10

      Jamie Briggs, your story and comments attacking Labor, wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you are the Federal Liberal member for Mayo, now would it?
      And are you are saying that the Liberal party is squeaky clean and don’t get up to any nasty tricks at polling booths?
      I have news for you sunshine,Liberal/National party supporters that are handing out how to vote cards at polling booths are the worst offenders.
      My wife and I have been handing out how to vote cards for countless years now, and I am almost 60 years old now, and we both spend from 8am to when the polling booths close at 6pm, and we both scrutineer as well after the booths have closed, and we both have seen and reported the dirty tricks that other political parties get up to, to the Electoral Officer in charge of the booth.
      Pre polling booths were just as bad with the national party supporters that were handing out how to vote cards and who were breaking electoral laws and witnessed by my wife,myself and other supporters from other political partys.
      At the last Federal Election, even the Family First supporter that was handing out how to vote cards was breaking the rules by telling voters"how to vote, who to vote for, and who not to vote for”.
      I informed the person of this and he looked up the rulesbook and came back to me and said, “you are right”, and then he stopped doing it.
      The Liberal/National party supporters are the most ignorant, “think they can break the rules, and get away with it” people that I have ever encounted.
      This years Federal Election, I will be more than ready for these supporters of the Liberal/National party, that break the rules at the polling booths , and I will make sure that there is plenty of evidence that I will be forwarding on to the Australian Electoral office, should they break the rules again at this Election.

      Reply

    • Andrew says:

      10:51am | 08/04/10

      Christian, have you got any evidence for your assertions or are they like most of your comments merely opinion?

      You seem so angry. Nobody hates like the left.

    • Christian Real says:

      03:00pm | 08/04/10

      Andrew Says: “Nobody hates like the left”
      Sorry to disappoint your theory Andrew, but I am right wing.

    • Jack Thomas says:

      06:20pm | 08/04/10

      Surely this is the dumbest post of the day?

      Christian, how did you even manage to turn the computer on? I can’t see how you fail to realise the author is a Liberal, as was yesterday’s Stephen Conroy who is (tah dah!) a Labor MP.

      Conroy spouted the party line, but it seemed everyone who posted was able to argue on the content of his article. In fact, he got a right bollocking as far as I could see. Everyone of his points was shot down, then thrown up in the air again to be shot a second and third time. Talking about flogging a dead horse, he’s sitting on a donkey riding it the wrong way after having paid the owner $43 billion for the hack.

      Although Labor never released a policy in opposition until 5 minutes before an election, Abbott should just do what Kevin Rudd did and yell “me too” at every policy announced by Howard.

      Then again, maybe Abbott knows that the real electorate (those outside of the enclaves of inner city Melbourne and Sydney) don’t give a rat’s tossbag about policies being announced every five minutes with a free pink batt, a million dollar school tuckshop, and a free website, all announced by a fake lip licking Nerd in a hard hat?

      Every policy announced by Rudd has been a complete failure, with the exception of his $900 handouts

      They worked a treat - just ask Gerry Harvey, the importers of Plasma TV’s and Jetstar Bali.

      The education revolution worked a treat too. Every school kid gets a computer right? Err, ok then every school kid gets a $500,000 sunshade in their playground then.

      I know - Abbott should tell everyone he’ll prosecute the Japanese in court for whaling!

      I know - Abbott should host a weekend love in of the “greatest minds” in Australia and get them all to brainstorm ideas?! He can whip some policies out the back of that ey?

      You sound like a real fun person, though Christian. Standing there taking notes at polling booths, scaring the kids, and then writing angry letters to the AEO about those rule breakers. I know your type though, I’ve seen you on public transport muttering to yourself…

    • Christian Real says:

      07:14pm | 09/04/10

      Jack Thomas,07.20pm 08/04/10
      Jack, I don’t need to use public transport, my wife and I both have our own cars, and our own house and acreage.
      It appears that I have upset you Jack,and you seem to be in denial that the Liberal/National party aren’t perfect after all and perhaps break and bend the rules much more at poling booths than the ALP or any other party would ever do.
      I already knew that the author was Liberal, or didn’t you read the starting part of my comment(who’s dumb now?)

    • Ginger says:

      08:05am | 08/04/10

      The Labor Party is the only party negatively campaigning? Have you been under a rock? The Labor Party is only attacking Abbot personally and not ideologically? Perhaps that’s because Abbot hasnt released a policy lately….
      Did you see the Health Debate- all Abbot did was attack Rudd personally calling him a liar, etc, etc.
      The Labor Party has questioned Abbot’s ability to participate in so many charity, feel good events when he is not releasing policy and the Liberal Party response? To complain and whinge about Labor personally attacking him…...
      This piece is nothing but rhetorical fluff and bubble- engage your brain next time.

      Reply

    • Jane says:

      09:16am | 08/04/10

      er - he doesn’t need to release any policy yet….they’re in opposition. They’ll release their policies when all oppositions need to..when the campaigning begins and for people to decide then. You think they are going to do all the hard work and let Labor ‘me-too’ them again?

      On a reality level, I wouldn’t worry too much about the Coalition’s ‘policies’  - they’ve had a successful 11 year period of and track record of capable ‘policy’ .....it’s the Rudd government cavalcade of FAILED ‘policy’ so far that needs your attention.

      Abbott has ridden in this charity bike ride for the last 13 years…and committed to the iron man last year before he was opposition leader - so kudos to him for his integrity and honouring those commitments.

      Labor are rattled by Abbott - so this can only be a good sign. Nothing more dirty and nasty than an un-nerved Labor about to have their coveted ‘lollie’ taken away….bring it on and let the voting populace see it and make judgement for themselves. smile

    • Jade says:

      09:58am | 08/04/10

      Well considering how much of a lier Dudd is I think it is well earned.  The libs have all the amo they need to attack labour because they have handed it to them on a silver platter after the dismal performance they have displayed over the past 2 and a half years.

      All labour can do is personally slugg lib members over their personal lives.  I think the Australian public can relate better with Tony on some notes than they can with Dudd.

    • Christian Real says:

      09:27pm | 08/04/10

      Abbott can’t release any policies because he hasn’t got any, he is more of an opportunist, with no policies, no ideas and no direction.
      He appears to spend a lot of time cycling, triathalons, lost in the outback on a Quad bike, a performing a dare devil stunt with a semi narrowly missing his comcar ,a real action, ironman type of person who appears to be a poser for media publicity stunts.
      It appears also that the last Liberal that posed in budgie smugglers failed to get elected as Premier of New South Wales.

    • Adam Diver says:

      07:54am | 08/04/10

      The problem is Jamie this type of negative character campaigning works. Just listen to some of the stupid things the regular folk say about politicians. Politics is a popularity contest and I can not see how Tony can overcome this constant attack on his character.

      Reply

    • Ron says:

      09:16am | 08/04/10

      Adam you left out one word “this type of LABOR negative character campaigning works” In the debate, Tony won the day in my opinion but supposedly lost because he was negative. Will people ever wake up Rudd’s disguises must be pointed out because he has many!

    • Seano says:

      08:55am | 08/04/10

      Bwhahahahaha….I do love a whining pollie taking a holier than thou attitude. Mate you all do it (and I’d rather you all didn’t). so it’s pathetic to whinge about it. .

      As for momentum, IMO Abbott has stumbled from one disaster to another. He’s yet to come up with anyhting in the way of sensible policy. He’s out of his depth.

      Roll on Joe Hockey.and maybe we can have some sensible debate and real pressure on the government to perform.

      Reply

    • Luke says:

      09:39am | 08/04/10

      Seano - you could at least try to change your mantra from day to day. I’m sure I read this yesterday from you?

    • Seano says:

      02:32pm | 08/04/10

      My opinion hasn’t changed since yesterday. You could try and change it or you could whinge.

      Until you come up with a better argument IMHO Tony Abbott is a walking disaster and there would be nothing worse for this country if he where elected PM. It’s bad enough we have a neutred opposition failing to keep pressure on Rudd to maintain good government whilst the Abbott expriment in back to the future politics continues.

      Like I said, roll on Joe Hockey.

    • Stewie says:

      11:47am | 08/04/10

      Labor seems to have failed rather badly on many costly programmes, so now they are applying their “deflection” model to Abbott’s physical fitness programme.
      Someone commenting in a different forum mentioned that they would prefer Abbott’s budgie smugglers to Rudd’s people smugglers.
      That just about sums it up.

    • Alyssa KT says:

      11:49am | 08/04/10

      Wow, Nicole and Jamie, how ignorant you are. I admire your selective memory. Of course, the Liberals never did anything like this themselves in the past decade? I can recount numerous occasions. Shoe’s just on the other foot now. Don’t by hypocrites.

    • Nicole says:

      01:02pm | 08/04/10

      Oh Alyssa KT dear, take those blinkers off. This is just another low smear campaign and one of many. But please, don’t let the truth get in the way of your fantasy. Speaking of having a selective memory, do tell us all the promises Rudd made before his unfortunate election, that have been acted upon, because I can’t think of any. While you’re at it, feel free to jog my selective memory.

    • Ellis says:

      10:04am | 08/04/10

      Reference Jane & Luke - Me Too !!

      Reply

    • Gra Gra says:

      10:08am | 08/04/10

      According to Jamie Briggs, the well respected political columnist, the Labor Party are attacking Abbott because they percieve him to be a threat. And he is right. He is a threat. He is a threat to every female in Australia who seeks to have dominion over her own body, a threat to every Australian worker who seeks the right to negotiate his own labor, a threat to every Australian who wants to able to judge policies, not no-alternative criticisms. Abbott is not wanted as Prime Minister by 20% of his own Party’s adherents. He won his present position by two votes, in an election that was more about getting Turnbull out, rather than getting the Mad Monk in. For this South Australian named Briggs to be coming forward now in his praise of his leader says nothing more than, “I want a promotion to where people will see me”.
      Yes, Abbott’s a threat alright. His problem is that Australia knows it.

      Reply

    • Robert Smissen of Rural SA says:

      06:48pm | 08/04/10

      Gra Gra, what are you on about? ? Tony doesn’t want anything to do with you body no matter how well you do or don’t present it. The bit was about his daughters, would you rather he told them to shag everything in sight? ?When The Honorable Tony Abbott becomes our next prime minister you will see how wrong you were.

    • Tom says:

      10:09am | 08/04/10

      It seems a little hypercritical of labour to criticise Abbott for having a healthy active lifestyle while working a high profile job.  Haven’t they been trying to get us more active to reduce the level of obesity in the country and the impact that it has on an overloaded health system?  Now they’re saying you can’t be successful in your job and lead an active healthy life…

      If abbott wants to get up at sparrow to ride a bike good on him.  I’m sure most normal pollies are probably still asleep at that time anyway.  As for the pollie pedal or the iron man event, it would involve more interaction with real people compared to most of the stuff other pollies do i.e., sitting in corporate boxes watching the NRL or cricket.  The closest they get to the public is waving when the TV camera is pointed at them. 

      Yes both sides are just as bad at personal attacks but it seems unusual for labour to attack abbott for having a healthy lifestyle while basing their next election campaign on improving the hospital system and the health of Australians.

      Reply

    • Andrew says:

      10:39am | 08/04/10

      TA definitely has Labor rattled. They were coasting along without being held to account. Now they have a true opposition.

      What is most worrying is the medias continued failure to attempt even the most simple report card for the Rudd government. Its sad that they would rather try to paint TA as a religious extremist than actually do some real work.

      The general standard of the media in this country is appallingly Left wing and lazy.

      Reply

    • Jeff says:

      11:19am | 08/04/10

      I agree with you on the media, except for the sectionof it which are appallingly Right wing and lazy.

    • Stephen Fitzpatrick says:

      11:37am | 08/04/10

      Jamie Pot, meet kettle.

      I know it’s an opinion blog but really Jamie such blatantly biased fluff is better left in the comments section. Sometimes I wonder why the Punch bothers publishing stuff like this, if we didnt see any of it from either side the site would be the better for it.

      Reply

    • Willy K says:

      12:06pm | 08/04/10

      I think you illustrate Briggs’ point.  You are rattled along with the ALP, the media and the rest of the goons.

      Media stories run at almost 3 to 1 on Abbott vs Rudd.  This is unheard of in the Western world let alone Australia with its traditionally dumbed down tabloid style left wing media. 

      The obsession with Abbott is bordering on religious and bizarre.  No questions of the appalling waste and utter incompetence of this Govt, no personal questions to our obese, churchy nut-job PM and his sick inner beliefs.  No analysis of the lies he has sprouted regarding even his own upbringing and ‘experiences’. 

      Abbott is a hard headed, tough, pr*ck at times, but with good core beliefs and would be a bloke you would want in your trench.  Rudd would offer his sweaty hand, flash you that sickeningly fake smile, promise you the world then when you walked off would drive a screwdriver dipped in rat poison into the small of your back.

      That is the difference.

    • notsurprised says:

      12:55pm | 08/04/10

      Character assasignations are always the defence of those who feel threatened.

      Reply

    • John says:

      12:47pm | 08/04/10

      Never liked Rudd but voted for him. I never liked Abbott but now I could for vote him. Rudd blew it, he makes no sense.  Big population contradicts the whole purpose of the ETS. It will of course make no difference as big business runs them both.

      Reply

    • Barry says:

      12:54pm | 08/04/10

      I have noticed that the emphasis on Abbott the religious phycopath quite interesting. But I havent heard anything out of the ordinary. Rudd I dare say would agree with Abott 99% of the time when it comes to religous issues.
      As far as attacking Abbott on his exercise the ALP should of said nothing or wished him well. Comment from the left really only isolate them as voters recognise people who play or are followers of sport. E.g Hawke - made cricketer, Keating - Collingwood football fan. Howard - another league and cricket tragic. Rudd - well has no idea is stripping a sport? ( sorry couldnt help myself)

      But the ALp have to be careful Rudd has to control the looney left from shooting from the hip, Howard always managed to get them to shout out weird stuff and made the ALP look stupid. Rudd to his credit has pretty much controlled them.

      Reply

    • Dr John says:

      02:39pm | 08/04/10

      Flip Flop Mad Monk is No threat and No policies and as it has turned out a No competent debater.

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      02:51pm | 08/04/10

      Flip Flop Rudd, I’ll turn back the boats, oh no I won’t, I beleive in a big Australia, oops now I’m not sure about that. As it turned out he debated the worm and not Abbott.

    • Dr John says:

      02:58pm | 08/04/10

      Yes Mark, Rudd did debate the worm!
      And do you really “beleive”?

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      03:43pm | 08/04/10

      Dr John, Rudd beat Abbott hands down on the Health debate, like always Abbott did not have the answers, nor did he have the policies to even put forward any sort or argument.

    • freeman says:

      09:48pm | 08/04/10

      oh please,
      the one reason Rudd called the debate for that tuesday, well before the election has been called and the campaigning begun, is so he could repeatedly answer “well at least I have a policy” whenever cornered.
      Tony will release the libs health policy during the campaign and Rudd may all of a sudden fall silent on health like he has on the ETS (and global warming in general) since abbott announced his carbon policy.

    • Hack says:

      03:42pm | 08/04/10

      Abbott spends days on a bike and conservatives wonder why the hackery has nothing to talk about but his tight pants. It’s a bit like the Vatican likening the coverage of pedophilia to the holocaust. Note to Libs: forget the coverage, debate some ideas.
      Please, Punch eds, we’ve been going around in circles for weeks with conservative paranoia about media bias. It’s so dull, weak and ill-informed (As a journo, I’m pretty sure about 70 per cent of my peers are conservative. Most of the rest back whoever is in power).
      It obviously generates comments, but how much conservative whimpering do we have to wade through?

      Reply

    • Willy K says:

      03:58pm | 08/04/10

      You comments are just more evidence of people being rattled and spooked by Abbott.  What is you problem with him that you and your ilk must constantly denigrate him?

      Was waiting till some stooge mentioned the holocaust.  You win the prize.

    • BobM says:

      04:51pm | 08/04/10

      Your’e obviously one of the 30% who back whoever is in power.  The easy option.

    • Ben81 says:

      07:29pm | 08/04/10

      If you actually read the article you might be surprised to learn Jamie is writing about the curious and seemingly organised shallow personal attacks on Tony Abbott by many Labor ministers recently about his participation in community events, and has nothing at all to do with “media bias”.

    • Julie says:

      05:10am | 09/04/10

      I agree we should be focusing on Rudds attire and his hair. How can you debate Rudd when he never has an opinion?

    • Scot says:

      05:32pm | 08/04/10

      Christain Rael, And Rudd is like Nth Korea’s Dictator. Get real. Everything he touches is like the Midas touch, or kiss of the spider woman.  People are now after Gillards blood for her failed BER program. Garrett lost his photo op to Rudd on the ship going around in Qld. We have Labor Ministers and senior public servants that are dam disgrace. They have failed the Australia people. The only people that can keep them accountable is the voters, and we have had a gut full of them. Asia is better managed than Australia EVER will be.

      Reply

    • KeiTHy says:

      05:33pm | 08/04/10

      Why bother crying wolf?!!? Honestly, who listens to the metrosexuals these days?!!?

      Reply

    • Simon the Pieman says:

      10:43pm | 08/04/10

      All this clamouring for policies.  Policies are election promises for the stupid to get hooked by.  They are a bit of election window dressing, I am surprised reasonable sounding ppl are putting value on them.

      Reply

    • Gra Gra says:

      07:47am | 09/04/10

      Yes, I agree with all the Libs commenting, Rudd did debate the worm. But I wish you would stop calling your Leader names.

      Reply

    • Johan Schmibt says:

      09:34pm | 10/04/10

      It’s not your fault Jamie that you had never heard of South Australia before the 2007 Federal Election. If you had, you would have been aware that your beloved party circulated fake Greens how to vote cards, which preferenced the Libs ahead of the ALP. Had you known this, I’m sure you would have thought twice about claiming the moral high ground.

      Reply

    • Steve Putnam says:

      08:52pm | 11/04/10

      Talk about denialism! The Libs are jumping ship right & extreme right & you lot think Abbot’s gaining traction. When election day comes around it’ll be Tony dogmeat Abbot. Mark my words & remember where you heard them first.

      Reply

    • Christian Real says:

      06:21am | 12/04/10

      Steve Putman says:
      Steve, I have a gut feeling that maybe the Liberal party will have another Leader to go to the polls with, I feel that Tony Abbott won’t make the distance by the time the Federal Election is called.

      Reply
 
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