Where are YOUR policies Mr Abbott? X-(
Ms Gillard yesterday made the surprise announcement that a new policy would come into effect on September 14, which would revolutionise the way the government manages the country.
She says her motivation for the new policy was to cut out the "silly nonsense" and create a government that was focused on the things that mattered.
Asked whether the announcement was designed to prevent former prime minister Kevin Rudd retaking the leadership, Ms Gillard responded: "Nothing about this decision was in any way related to that."
Some in Labor ranks have expressed frustration that the Prime Minister has chosen this date to introduce the new policy.
But senior Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese says he supports Ms Gillard's announcement, describing it as a "bold" move, and adding that there was only one realistic options anyway.
"The fact is, the colour red does not suit the Prime Minister so it is not unreasonable to implement a new policy that would effectively ban the colour from our parliament. The Opposition has been pushing for the colour pink but this is ridiculous," Mr Albanese told ABC Radio National.
Ms Gillard says the early notification of the policy implementation will allow people to plan ahead, but it is also designed to put increased pressure on the Coalition to scrap their red power ties in favour of more subdued colours.
"There is no excuse for anybody running around in the last week before September 14 saying, 'I haven't got anything to wear. People have got time to prepare," Ms Gillard said.
On Sunday, Mr Abbott launched what he described as a "mini-policy" and released a document that reinforced many of the Coalition's existing commitments to their power ties. He is due to make a lunchtime address to the National Press Club in Canberra today.
Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey says the Coalition has previously announced infrastructure plans, a border protection policy, and given a commitment that there will be no cuts to medical research.
"We've already released a vast number of policies, including policies to repeal the carbon tax, the mining tax. But the campaign will now focus solely on what we are all wearing" he told ABC Radio National.
"We're not going to cop a sanctimonious lecture from Labor about what colour our ties can be," he said.
"They have got every single outfit wrong over the last five years, and they've got it gigantically wrong for promising a policy that is untenable in the time frame."
On Channel Nine this morning, Mr Abbott said the Coalition's plan to counteract the new policy would be released "in good time before the next election - we will not be told what to wear by a woman”.
"What we've said is that there will be plenty of time to go shopping before September 14. Now, yes there's a challenge to fund these new outfits and the point I keep making is that we will release our colours after the Government releases theirs," he said.
While the Prime Minister has made a clear distinction between now and when the official new look makes it’s appearance in mid-August, one Labor candidate has already put in place plans to begin redecorate their office next month to remove the colour red.
Labor's candidate for the seat of Brisbane, Fiona McNamara, has emailed supporters asking for their help to launch a colour "blitz".
However, the member of parliament this would most affect was not available for comment.
But whilst the new policy announcement has been embraced by Labor and the Greens, no comment was available from the man most affected by this decision. Malcolm Turnbull was seen rushing from his Vaucluse home this evening shielded by his wife Lucy and two bodyguards. Mr Turnbull is said to be devastated by this decision as he is well known for waving his red tie provocatively at the Opposition Leader in an attempt to inflame him matador style.
http://www.martininews.com.au/opinion/political-news/no-more-red-policy-CS-20130217-2ekrb.html
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