Broken promises. What is acceptable?

[i-need-a-martini]

Lots of broken promises are made by governments. If the promises are broken because of economic need, I understand.

But what of the empty promises that they know they can never keep. Like the 'Stop the Boats' promise?

Or this one: where Abbott promised at the Garma festival in the weeks leading up to the election that he would spend his first week as Prime Minister in Yolgnu country.

To break promises like this is just a low act by someone who knew he would never be able to keep it.

See where he says it clearly here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1OKujvU2wQ

I wouldn't bother to listen to the whole boring speech (although many of his off the cuff comments are a little eyebrow raising) but at 21:40 he starts making promises he can't keep.

[*crikey*mate*]

How about the health care promise?

How about the free education promise?

How about the equitable eduation promise?

[the_hawk*]

They tell the fools what they know they want to hear and they get voted it.

Its a shame pollies dont get paid like normal workers, like based on performance and abtaining goals

[the_hawk*]

Perhaps we should be able to fine them for breach of contract

[i-need-a-martini]

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@crikey*mate wrote:

How about the health care promise?

How about the free education promise?

How about the equitable eduation promise?

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Can you be a little more specific?

[*crikey*mate*]

They're not party specific Martini, All parites have contributed to those broken promises, but they're ones that get up my nose.

Medicare was introduced so that every Australian had access to the health care they needed. They don't. 

Every child was supposed to have access to a free, equal and just education. They don't.

Our old age pensioners were told "work hard,pay your taxes and we will look after you when you can no longer work". They're not.

Legal Aid for the people who need it? It barely exists.

The people who need the government's help and protection the most, just don't get it. 

[**meep**]

“Why shouldn't I, if you will permit me, spend my first week, as Prime Minister, should that happen, on your country,” said Mr Abbott.

With the end of his first week as Prime Minister fast approaching, social media has erupted and is accusing Mr Abbott of breaking his promise.

Warren Mundine who heads the Coalition’s new Indigenous Advisory Council has dismissed the claims that Mr Abbott has broken his promise.

“This idea he was going to do it in the first week is a bit crazy, because we know the Prime Minister of any government, the first week is setting up cabinet and getting on with the job,” says Mr Mundine.

“His promise was quite clear to everyone who has half a brain, that it was about being in an Aboriginal community on an annual basis and he wanted his first trip to be to Yolngu country,” he said.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/24/abbott%E2%80%99s-broken-promise-sparks-online-controve...

[i-need-a-martini]

But that is the point I am trying to make Criley. 

Howard introduced GST after announcing he had no intention of doing so. I opposed it then and I oppose it now. But I accept that boken promise because I believe he thought it possible to continue with the old system. However, he was then forced to introduce it by his own party. 

But when a politician makes a promise that they KNOW they can't possible keep - like stopping the boats or spending his first week in a remote community, that's unacceptable. That's an out and out lie.

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Should also point out:

Medicare was free up until 1999 when another government changed the status.

Education was free and equal until another government changed the status (private school and uni fees).

Not sure about legal aid. Wasn't it always means tested?

[lakeland27]

mundine puts his people first and his other loyalties elsewhere. think about the alternative, a return to Mal Brough (eek) or Mundine .

i think he's done the right thing. better to get in on the ground floor (and keep pearson out)  damage control.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@**meep** wrote:

“Why shouldn't I, if you will permit me, spend my first week, as Prime Minister, should that happen, on your country,” said Mr Abbott.

With the end of his first week as Prime Minister fast approaching, social media has erupted and is accusing Mr Abbott of breaking his promise.

Warren Mundine who heads the Coalition’s new Indigenous Advisory Council has dismissed the claims that Mr Abbott has broken his promise.

“This idea he was going to do it in the first week is a bit crazy, because we know the Prime Minister of any government, the first week is setting up cabinet and getting on with the job,” says Mr Mundine.

“His promise was quite clear to everyone who has half a brain, that it was about being in an Aboriginal community on an annual basis and he wanted his first trip to be to Yolngu country,” he said.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/24/abbott%E2%80%99s-broken-promise-sparks-online-controve...

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Warrens version is simply not true.

He made the "I will be here in my first week" after a lengthy run down of the time he has spent in remote communities. He talked about how he hoped that he could always spend at least 1 week every year (even as PM) in a remote community.

He then took it FURTHER by saying that he thought this community was so special that he would spend his first WEEK as PM with them. It was very, very clear. 

And thank you for highlighting Warrens assertion that  “His promise was quite clear to everyone who has half a brain,.." I am sure that Warren Mundine is doing his best to protect his Ministry but Mundine was sitting in the first row while he gave that speech. I imagine he would have inwardly groaned and said "Oh no. You idiot! Why would you make such a stupid promise?" because he knows that ANYONE with half a brain would know that this was not a promise that could be kept.

And if you would like to see how clear Abbott was about his intentions, I suggest you watch the actual video. Perhaps start 15mins earlier when he WAS talking about his one week a year committment. And then perhaps replay the point at the 20minute mark where he becaome very specific.

The fact is, that it was a dumb thing to promise. Anyone with half a brain would have realised this.