Another Abbott Labo(u)r lite moment – Bolt nails it

Posted by Chief Blogger – 22 May, 2013

With Abbott’s lurch to the left, where is the political alternative for conservative voters?

Mr Abbott was dismissive in Brisbane this morning of the push from the Victorian party branch, which will this weekend vote on a motion encouraging the federal Coalition to conduct an “operational review” of the ABC and SBS and consider the feasibility of full or partial privatisation.

Asked whether he was feeling pressure from the Victorians, Mr Abbott said: “The short answer is no”.

“Everyone understands that in the Coalition, it’s the parliamentary party which sets the policy and we have no policy to go down that path, we have no intention of going down that path, and we won’t go down that path,” he said.

So apparently Abbott is now a-okay with the ABC and SBS. Privatising the SBS, at least, would be an easy policy decision to make because hardly anyone watches the channel(s) and those that do are unlikely to ever vote for the Coalition. It would save the Federal budget $200 million annually and generate about the same amount in capital sales. So what’s stopping Abbott?!?

I think the evidence is building: the rank and file of the Liberal Party are at odds with the career politicians who sit on the Liberal front bench. Similar, although not as pronounced, in the way the Cameroons in the UK despise their own Conservative Party. Think of any number of issues from wind farms, to the Green Army, to Abbott’s PPL policy, and the Liberal Party rank and file get no say what so ever.

One thing that is clear, the Liberal rank and file are closer to Liberal Party principles than the Liberal front bench.

UPDATE

Bolt has picked up on Abbott’s swing to the left:

…for all his rhetoric, Abbott is campaigning as Labor-lite – without the stuff-ups.

Radio discussion here.

Timely given Ford’ announcement to end production in Australia. So what’s Abbott’s response? Cut the cost of doing business by abolishing renewable energy mandates, lowering corporate taxes and improving workplace flexibility? No, Abbott’s response is more industry subsidies, just like the ALP.

Barry O’Fail should go

Posted by Chief Blogger – 22 May, 2013

He supports wind farms, Clover Moore’s cycle ways, wants to kick the Navy out of Sydney Harbour, wants to ban free speech, supports Gillard education ‘reforms’ (the only state to have signed up to them), supports same-sex marriage, etc…

Tony Abbott’s budget speech

Posted by Chief Blogger – 16 May, 2013

Based on Abbott’s speech I gather the next Coalition government will focus on building trust with the public, going back to basics, while planning for the future via tax reform. This makes sense given the black of hole of trust that currently exists between Parliament and the public. Abbott therefore will not be able to successfully implement radical conservative change without having the public trust that Howard enjoyed.

I’m attracted by devolving power back to the states  and Abbott’s principles based statements on individuals creating wealth not government and taxes not being the government’s money. While Abbott announced more spending cuts tonight, I gather more will be on the way thanks to the impending commission of audit.

It does seem that Abbott wants to replicate Howard’s approach when he was elected: steady the ship in the first term and then at the second term embark on significant reform. We will wait and see.

UPDATE

The health war is being won, but I don’t understand why people should have to pay for their health insurance using after tax income.

Almost 47 per cent of Australians now have private hospital cover, according to Private Health Insurance Administration Council figures released on Thursday. The last time a higher proportion of Australian had private cover was June 1988.

UPDATE

Meanwhile, NSW ALP is ripping itself apart

CRAIG Thomson has landed NSW ALP secretary Sam Dastyari in a bind, with the Coalition requesting an investigation into an alleged offer allowing the MP to exit parliament with his $95,000 entitlement, but without running against his old party.

Gillard of course claims she knows nothing. Is NSW ALP basically a criminal organisation?

What is the Coalition going to do?

Posted by Chief Blogger – 15 May, 2013

Joe Hockey is giving Alan Jones a ‘yeah, but no yeah’ routine on ‘renewable energy’ subsidies, and defending socialised healthcare. Typical. Jones also gave a ringing endorsement to UKIP.

Nigel Farage on ABC TV

Posted by Chief Blogger – 14 May, 2013

The Guardian have released this month’s ICM poll, the first telephone poll conducted since the local elections. Topline voting intention figures with changes from a month ago are CON 28%(-4), LAB 34%(-4), LDEM 11%(-4), UKIP 18%(+9!).

The 18% for UKIP is the highest that ICM have shown and, more strikingly, the highest any company have shown. I will advise my usual caution about polls showing extremes and records, more often than not they tend to be outliers. ICM’s methodology tends to produce some of UKIP’s lower figures (ICM reallocate some don’t knows to the party they voted for last time, weight down people who didn’t vote last time and interview by phone… all things that tend to produce lower UKIP scores) so it is particularly surprising to see ICM with a record breaking UKIP score. While the scale of the UKIP increase may well be a bit of a blip though, the broader trend is the same as other companies – they are all showing a surge in support for UKIP.

Rank and file reject Abbott’s PPL

Posted by Chief Blogger – 13 May, 2013

An Essential Vision report poll on Abbott’s socialist paid parental leave scheme found that most Coalition voters do not support Abbott’s scheme (36%) or any other scheme (38%).

Abbott starts listening

Posted by Chief Blogger – 13 May, 2013

Previously Abbott seemed to support Gillard’s proposed change to the constitution to allow the Feds to meddle directly in local government affairs. Now, however, he seems to have started listening to rank and file supporters:

Mr Abbott said it was a ”bit rich” of the government to claim bipartisanship when it had not confirmed what the wording of the referendum would be.

Senator Cory Bernardi has rejected supporting the referendum ‘yes’ case on 2GB tonight.

Hockey

Posted by Chief Blogger – 5 May, 2013

If you have any doubts about Tony Abbott’s lack of fiscal discipline, then behold Joe Hockey. It seems fairly apparent that H0ckey and I assume Andrew Robb as well, are in disagreement with Abbott over a range of fiscal issues, including the NDIS.

 

Don’t go

Posted by Chief Blogger – 2 May, 2013

My preference would be for anyone OTHER than RBR, otherwise you’ll spend your career as second fiddle.

Helmut Marko believes that Daniel Ricciardo has what it takes to partner Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull.

Tony “Lite’ Abbott

Posted by Chief Blogger – 2 May, 2013

If you want an example of what a Labo(u)r Lite character Tony Abbott has become, listen to his interview with Alan Jones’ this morning: Medicare (tick), renewable energy (tick), etc….

I’m hoping we will see some type of transformation post-election, otherwise we will end up with another Barry O’Fail cartoon character.

…or may be I’ve missed something….