Liberal Diary

Note: Labor MP Richard Marles and Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella are among our favourite contributors to The Punch, and we have asked them to write a piece every Friday during this five-week election campaign giving their take on events.

There was one aspect of this final week of campaigning that really summed up Labor. Labor’s launch on Monday was cynically late for a start. But it was Julia Gillard’s address to the party faithful that really symbolised the depths to which Labor’s spin machine will go.
Her minders briefed assembled journalists that Julia would be speaking “off the cuff and from the heart”. They talked up the spontaneous nature of the address as evidence of their leaders drive and passion as well as her leadership ability. Julia raised her palms as she walked out – no notes in hand – and embraced Bob Hawke.

Continue reading "Liberal diary: “Foolya Joolia” not all she seems" »

Note: Labor MP Richard Marles and Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella are among our favourite contributors to The Punch, and we have asked them to write a piece every Friday during this five-week election campaign giving their take on events.

‘In the 70s, the Labor campaign director was well-liked, a fair dinkum Aussie larrikin, not a member of the detested caste of ruthless robotic machine men that run Labor’s campaigns today’. - John Della Bosca, former NSW State Labor Minister and General Secretary of the ALP for 9 years, writing in the Daily Telegraph last Saturday.

It is somewhat ironic that Labor stalwart John Della Bosca’s frank assessment (above) was published on the same day that Labor’s campaign seemed to go completely haywire. 

In fact, the photo shoot with Rudd and confrontation with Latham last Saturday were so bizarre and outrageous that Della Bosca’s comments didn’t get much coverage.

Continue reading "Liberal diary: Labor’s ruthless robotic machine" »

Just a month ago Julia Gillard declared that the Labor Government had “lost its way”. This past week proves that Labor remains well and truly lost.

Far from “moving forward” (sorry) under Ms Gillard, Labor is mired in poorly planned policy, deep division, frantic media spin, ongoing economic mismanagement and sleight of hand.  Nothing has changed.

Let’s look at the past week.

Just a week ago, Ms Gillard announced the laughable “Citizens Assembly” – a year-long talkfest that further delays any Labor decision on climate change. After declaring climate change one of the 3 vital issues she must tackle, this policy is the ultimate backflip and the worst abrogation of responsibility.

Continue reading "Liberal diary: Would the real Julia Gillard please stand up" »