Roll on September and end of Gillard

[nero_bolt]

ALL the polls are now pointing to a Labor wipeout (can we have a song, Craig Emerson?) in September and a return to some sort of normality.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find anyone capable of presenting a rational argument to support the retention of either the Gillard minority government or the ALP in its current form.

The Labor-Green-independent government is properly seen as dysfunctional and the problem starts right at the top and runs through the ministry to the backbench and includes the crossbenchers who, in their own narrow self-interest, just manage to keep it afloat.

The utter contempt felt for independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor, in particular, both in their own electorates and more broadly, is, while deeply personal, based on the view that both men betrayed their conservative electorates to install the most radically Left prime minister in the nation’s history.

Curiously, no one appears to have claimed that these MPs are being targeted for criticism because of their gender, though this is frequently asserted by some young feminists when Julia Gillard’s extraordinarily flawed judgment is subjected to legitimate questioning.

Gillard’s record of appalling policy and governance has succeeded in lightening the load of opprobrium that was rightly accorded the Whitlam government over the past 40 years. To be sure, she has been assisted by her Treasurer Wayne Swan and such freaks of modern politics as Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, competing for the dishonour to be at the top of an ever-lengthening list of successfully worsening appointees, but they have all been her own appointees.

Ever since her predecessor Kevin Rudd managed to strip caucus of its time-honoured right to determine who would sit in a Labor cabinet, the prime minister has had no choice but to accept total responsibility for poor ministerial appointments and the abysmal policy decisions that have flowed from her cabinet. In her defence, it must be acknowledged that Rudd left her with some dreadful policies, such as the NBN, which were set in motion before she was running the catastrophe.

Others, such as the lethal boat people policy, are of her own making. Gillard actively participated in dismantling the Howard government’s successful border protection program when she was Rudd’s deputy.

She was solely responsible for the non-existent East Timor Solution, she was the architect of the Malaysian Solution which not only has the High Court rejected but which was clearly always going to be a ridiculous proposition.

Further, as The Daily Telegraph revealed in recent days, more than twice the number of boats that came under the Rudd government have reached Australian waters under Gillard and have delivered nearly 29,000 people since she came to office.

The Indonesians have been saying for years Australia should stop making it attractive for unlawful non-citizens who choose to make unauthorised boat arrivals to risk the trip.Their message has been clear: Take the sugar off the table.

Under Gillard, the sugar bowl has not only been placed on the table but its contents have been replenished.

Again, this has nothing to do with Gillard’s gender but everything to do with her gross incompetence and flawed judgment.

As does her decision last Sunday to embrace notorious broadcaster Kyle Sandilands at a Kirribilli House charity fundraiser.

Having won a degree of notoriety with her own mendacious attack on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott last year, during which she claimed he was guilty of misogyny and sexism, Gillard’s invitation to Sandilands, who once attacked a critic calling her a “fat slag” and questioned a juvenile abuse victim about her sexual experiences, was gob-smacking hypocrisy at its best.

The biggest task for any conservative government after it manages to replace the current rabble and embarks on restoring the nation’s economic security will be to sweep out the political correctness that Gillard and her team have used in their endeavour to reshape the national cultural identity.

One respected Labor veteran nailed the problem during a conversation last week when he said that the Rudd-Gillard governments had completely lost their way when they abandoned serious policy issues and started responding to their Left-Green inner urban branches.

“Out went concerns about mainstream Labor voters and in came hand-wringing about gay marriage and arguments led by fringe ideologues like the global warming lobby, open-door policy refugee advocates and student feminists,” he said.

Labor has no plausible defences for its policies and the mainstream is no longer interested in buying its excuses, alibis and phony accusations.

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/piersakerman/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/roll_on_september_and_end_of_gillard/  

[freddie*rooster]

Happy Easter Nero, I hope the Easter bunny found you.

[polksaladallie]

I don't think so, all the shades were drawn.

[nero_bolt]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/business/big-business-blasts-pm-julia-gillard-over-foreign-investment/story-fn7ki14e-1226609582643

Big business blasts PM Julia Gillard over foreign investment

BILLIONS of dollars in foreign investment risks being lost overseas with the nation's peak business body warning Canberra is treating the business community with "a complete lack of respect".

In his annual address, obtained exclusively by The Sunday Telegraph, Business Council of Australia President Tony Shepherd voiced the "extreme concern" expressed by the overwhelming majority of businesses under his watch.

The great national economic backbone we, along with thousands of other business people - small, medium and large - and the people who work within our businesses, have gradually forged for this country is being compromised," Mr Shepherd said, speaking on behalf of Australia's 180 biggest firms.

"It's being compromised by appalling process and a total lack of regard for the role of business in the Australian economy. We are experiencing a purposeful provocation through deliberate attacks on the business community and, in effect, everyone who works within it."

As the chairman of construction giant, Transfield, Mr Shepherd was joined by former Future Fund board member and UGL Chairman Trevor Rowe in attacking recent policies adopted by Canberra.

"Businesses are now genuinely concerned about how competitive we are," Mr Rowe said.

"We have an enormously high cost structure and recent initiatives this government have taken in the area of workplace reform only add to additional costs and inflexibilities in the labour market. We need a flexible workforce to meet the challenges."

The government has experienced a remarkably tenuous relationship with both big and small businesses - with last Friday's resignation of small business minister (and Kevin Rudd supporter) Chris Bowen symbolising the hurdles the government faces to repair its relationship with businesses ahead of the May 15 budget.

Mr Bowen, who took over the portfolio seven weeks ago, was the fourth holder of the office in the past 14 months.

Mr Rowe also expressed concerns businesses had with current debt levels, warning that, in order to attract more foreign investment, stability was needed in politics.

"We're coming on the back of a massive resources boom and that is now peaking," he said. "We're now looking for the next investment cycle.

"But business needs confidence and stability in policies.

"Business is waiting to see how things work out for the next six months before it can start making investments with some degree of certainty."

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Director Greg Evans said business surveys continue to record low levels of confidence and subdued trading.

"Business operators consider their views have been ignored by the federal government," he said.

"The announcement and introduction of the carbon tax and the imposition of much higher business costs without any compensation continues to hurt many areas of small business," he said. "There is no doubt this policy severely damaged the government's relationship with businesses."

[not_an_eloi]

akerman's pimp's found a way to advertise their client's 'services' for free. B-)

[azureline**]

Nero.... if you could condense your copy/pastes, I could read them.......

[*new2vintage]

The only problem is there will be at least a few years of " There will never ever be a GST " Liberals......

[lakeland27]

its interesting with such a strong economy, AAA from all 3 major ratings agencies that the public at large know little about swans terrific performance. all they seem to know is that he changed tack on seeking out a needless surplus and the content of some phoney debt articles . the australian public are really quite dim. or they have a substandard media..

[catsnknots]

The only problem is there will be at least a few years of " There will never ever be a GST " Liberals......

This is an old argument... far out.. 

Howard changed his mind and took it to an election... he outlined his position and allowed the people to have a say.... 

end of story... 

[azureline**]

There is never an end to any story in politics.... nothing is ever laid to rest :8}