ABBOTT’S OFF-BROADWAY TRYOUT
The return to power of the Liberal Party in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia in recent years has provided the perfect dress rehearsal for Tony Abbott as he prepares to storm the federal stage.
Across the nation, the new breed of Liberal state premiers are providing a curtain-raiser for what we might expect from the Main Event – a combination of indiscriminate slash and burn in the name of fiscal responsibility and old-fashioned political payback.
So that means kicks up the backsides of polyester-suited public servants, the dismantling of arts and literacy programs (for Liberals, an activity as pleasurable as pulling the wings off flies) and the lots of straight-faced concern trolling about how they are doing this all for the sake of budget respectability.
Cheering from the box seats – like one of the grumpy old men in the Muppets – is Jeff Kennett, who is publicly urging Abbott to take the cue from ‘Can-Do’ Campbell and put a broom through those pesky taxpayer-funded social services.
“It is what Liberal governments are called upon to do,” says Jeff without a hint of irony, “to repair the damage of their Labor predecessors who have no genuine management experience and consistently spend more than they earn.”
So that means bravely following Can-Do and sinking their born-to-rule boots into kids’ literacy programs, AIDS prevention and efforts to deal with climate change. (Notice how the austerity never extends to policing? After all, security will have to be stepped up to deal with crazed public servants reduced to crime to feed their families.)
The only question for Abbott, as he waits in the wings, is whether he follows the softly, softly approach of Baillieu in Victoria and O’Farrell in NSW or throws Wagner on the family hi-fi and rides into town like the Valkyrie Newman.
Given Abbott’s insistence he will balance the budget while paying a non-means-tested parental leave scheme, while scrapping the mining tax and the carbon pricing scheme AND retaining the increase in the superannuation guarantee levy AND honouring the disability support program, some Wagner looks in order.
So get your tickets now for the full Ring Cycle from Tony.
There’ll be more blood on the streets of Canberra than in a Martin Scorsese movie. If it’s wearing a cardigan and driving a Prius, you can be guaranteed it will have a large target on its back.
In Queensland alone, Newman says the bureaucracy has 20,000 jobs the state can no longer afford. Yet, of course, the state can continue to afford to subsidise turf clubs and other white-shoed Liberal Party grandees, whose snouts fit neatly in the public purse.
And, of course, much of what the Queensland premier is now doing was never mentioned as part of his agenda before he stormed into office with a huge majority. But that’s no matter, because he has been able to justify the slash and burn by resorting to the old trick of saying ‘OMG, I never knew the budget was in such bad shape’.
Abbott has a trickier problem…
| Page 1 of 2 | next >> |
27 Responses to this article
-
Bev August 6, 2012
It’s a worry. I’m not sure that Tony Abbott should be rewarded with the PMship after such negativity and belittling of our economy.
It seems that nothing he does or says (no matter how false) is of any concern to our media who should be informing us of facts instead of distortions.
Today’s speech on ‘freedom of the media’ and the rescission of parts of the Anti-Discrimination legislation by Abbott is a bit too much to bear. I’m past this bloke and his approval of the denigration of our PM by some males who should know better. Poor fella my country when Abbott is PM and plays follow the leaders of the States.
For all the ups and downs with this Labor Govt. it now seems a far better option than the alternative. -
My say. August 6, 2012
Watching Newman slash many good ( great) programs and services that took years to build up for the public to benefit from. Makes one cry. Many of these services are Essential services & will take a long time , if EVER, to get back.
Add to that, years of how Labor has tried hard to keep people in jobs with good working conditions…many of which were in these ‘essential’ services, now gone (and going). All so they can fund more gambling to bring in more tax dollars from the most vulnerable . Taxes in wages should be the propriety, not through gambling.
All these job cuts whilst finding jobs for his mates with added extremely high wages . Gee he is right, Queenslanders are grateful. Grateful, is he trying to turn the Queensland people against each other. Sad state to be living in when people are grateful that their friend, neighbour or family member has just lost their job.
Maybe this is a new Australia, transforming ?
Sadly Newman is showing us where the Liberal priorities now lay. All Whilst Abbott is busy pointing the finger to anything else , but accountability. I think Freedom of speech, ‘to be able to speak rudely’, is Abbott todays finger point. Note I also hear daily about many people being Blocked or their comments don’t air on Liberal or right leaning sites..
So now, Isn’t Newman proof as to why we and the MSM should scrutinise a political party MORE when they are in opposition?
I think so.
Will we get it , I doubt it. Unless the lack of Fredom of Speech is what is hampering those needed questions to Abbott by journos…as they go unanswered. Or maybe they
Are Not being asked? Which is it. -
My say. August 6, 2012
Sorry…correction
‘Taxes in wages should be the propriety’ *priority
-
Rosie August 6, 2012
My Say – Worth mentioning here that Queensland is the only state not involved in the trial National Disability Scheme – shame on newman!
-
-
Mez August 6, 2012
How mean of them! I can’t believe they won’t just keep on spending and wasting and squandering billions of borrowed Chinese money so the public servants and arty farties can keep rolling in the public trough of plenty. Hugh Jackman’s movie really needed our 12 million, buggar the little kids who’ve outgrown their wheelchairs or the elderly who are cold and hungry.
Mr Spendmore, would you mind telling me when you think the debt would be high enough to warrant the concern of Labor’s elite? Is there a ceiling?
Labor will be wiped out in Queensland, WA and NT and will be decimated across the rest of the country.
We are very aware that ‘Mummy Bloggers’ are seen as the easy target to garner support for this diabolical government. With the polls show only 28% support it’s clear that most mummies know that living within your means ensures you can keep the roof over your childrens heads and afford food, education and healthcare. In other words, if we want to be in a position to keep providing our socialist based education, welfare and health policies then sometimes we need to watch our pennies. The interest ALONE on Wayne ‘The Boss’ Swan’s debt would build and staff and entire SUPER hospital every year for the next 40 years.
The continued support of this cobbled together monstrosity of a Government is tantamount to treason.
-
Douglas August 6, 2012
The Liberals try to reconcile their mythology as fiscal conservatives with their reality as economic vandals.
-
Pappinbarra Fox August 7, 2012
Mez, there is not one fact in your post. It is all lies.
-
-
Amanda August 6, 2012
@Mez, are you sure you aren’t confusing State with Federal funding in your response to @Rosie? The alternate would be to admit that Newman is shortsighted when he has ignored the ‘little kids who’ve outgrown their wheelchairs or the elderly who are cold and hungry’.
Then again, who wants the facts to get in the way of good spin?
-
Mez August 6, 2012
I’m not confusing State and Federal I stating FACT that every single time the ALP is in power, in both State and Federal government, their waste and debt is criminal. It’s a never ending cycle – Labor runs up an enormous debt and the Coalition is left to clean up their spoilt brat spending spree. Then the MSM start hounding the Coalition for not doing anything!
We could have funded the NDS ten times over with what they’ve pissed up against the wall.
THe State Premiers are trying to sort out the debt. O’Farrell is pushing on with massive public transport promises and Gillard is pushing through the NDS that will provide a huge new bureaucracy for her Labor mates and very little to our most vulnerable.
-
My say. August 6, 2012
Mez, firstly, I think I read that the Fraser govt left Hawke a net debt of $102 billion in todays dollar terms.
What Our government owe now is equivalent to something like a few thousand dollars in a home loan. I hope you remember WHY our government first initially went into debt. Because businesses stopped spending and investing when the GFC. hit. It kept many employed.
I remember a term Mr Denmore himself made which I think is also appropriate here. ‘Who’s better off? Man with $100K loan & zero assets or man with $1m loan & $3m in assets?
-
-
-
Kate August 6, 2012
@Mez. Are you for real? Why do you bother? You come across as a Liberal party hack, or paid troll. Everyone’s entitled to an opinion, but your complete tunnel vision combined with your inability to even try to look at both sides of an argument defies belief.
-
Mez August 6, 2012
Not a troll, kate. An ex Labor voter – but one of the ‘worker’ voters, not one of the elite – maybe that’s why I don’t feel ‘real’ to you.
-
-
The Huntress August 6, 2012
I am genuinely frightened of Abbott taking control of our government as PM. Living in WA under Barnett has been an absolute shambles, watching the highly respected, hard working tertiary hospital I work for falling into complete disrepair (ie. the pots and pans come out with every rainfall as there is allegedly no money to fix the leaks), while millions are spent renovating parliament offices and billions are being set aside for a stadium. If Abbott becomes PM I want out of Australia.
-
Mr Denmore August 6, 2012
Mez, that’s a spectacular rant. You at once slam “socialist” health and education, at the same time bemoaning kids going without wheelchairs and the elderly without proper care. So who do you think is going to look after kids and the elderly – the banks?
Oh, by the way, Australia’s public debt is the lowest in the industrialised world at around 20% of GDP. By comparison, Japan’s debt is over 200%.
But don’t take my word for it. Listen to those socialists at the International Monetary Fund:
“Australia’s economic performance since the global financial crisis has been “enviable,” according to the IMF economists who drew up the annual assessment.
It was one of the few advanced economies to avoid falling into recession—a reflection of its strong position at the start of the crisis, a supportive macro policy response, a healthy banking system, and a flexible exchange rate, as well as robust demand from Asia.”
You might like to point out to everyone here what other country has low public debt, low inflation, sustainably low interest rates, unemployment at 5%, GDP growth around trend, record business investment and a reputation as such a safe haven that the likes of the Swiss government, the Bundesbank and Warren Buffet are investing here.
Perhaps you live in a parallel universe, Mez, but you really need to put a sock in it before opening your mouth and demonstrating your ignorance to everyone else.
-
Mez August 6, 2012
Why do you say that I slam our socialist policies, Mr Spendmore? I never insinuated that I have a problem with them at all. I said that we need to watch our spending so as we can support them NOT scrap them. I don’t have time to read the rest of your comment at the moment but I’ll get back to it when I can and thank you for replying. I hope there’s a figure in there somewhere and not just a twisting of my words in an attempt to make me look like a silvertail rightwing nutjob who has no regard for our needy when nothing could be further from the truth.
-
-
JoanneH August 6, 2012
Mez, Why were the Coalition prepared to mislead us before the last election, and not to have their material checked by Treasury? was it because they were afraid the deceit of a $10.6 billion dollar black hole would be exposed? The Accounting firm they used were in Court for their association with it. They have made a few ‘aspirational ‘ promises since with no costings, apart from mass sackings similar to ‘Can-do’s’ in Queensland.
After dismantling everything good that Labor has fought for, Tony and his chums would go back to Howard’s glory days. Work Choices about to be re-run, no action on Climate Change, Health system just the way it was, Education back to user pays plus big injections of money into the elite schools, the developed world’s slowest internet, Gina and Murdochs owning free-to-air television stations, Ruddock and Andrews running portfolios, Reith a senior government advisor, miners calling the shots, Howard the Governor General and so on…
Policies? Who cares? Just dust off the old ones and go back to being the Ruling Class. Murdoch very supportive,mass sackings of public servants, the ABC on-side, and a geriatric Alan Jones (he’ll be 72 at the next election) telling the oldies what to think. Ordering the Navy to turn back refugee boats – to hell with what Indonesia thinks; they should know their place. Labor in opposition to kick in the teeth for everything that goes wrong, and with Bronwyn Bishop as Speaker they may be granted a couple of questions a day, but only if they behave!
-
Douglas August 6, 2012
JoanneH,
If the Liberals did not lie they would never win elections.
-
-
Julie August 6, 2012
The escalation in Abbott’s language recently should be a massive concern, along with what he will do. Now talking about jihad’s- describing a stable economic situation as ‘self-harm economics. His rhetoric is not only setting an appalling example for kids but is showing a whole new face to bullying in this country. No wonder our kids are losing hope and suiciding. I’m finding a massive escalation in suicide clusters among teenagers.
-
Eddie August 6, 2012
As an ex-liberal voter, I now would find it very difficult to go back. Even if Turnbull was leader.
Howard and his sports, war, fear agendas were too 1984 for me to support.
Another current liberal example of ‘leadership’….
The minister for climate changes department in Victoria is starting to remove the phrase ‘climate change’ from new public strategy documents.
-
Amanda August 6, 2012
This is an interesting summary of gov’t debt since the 70′s. http://www.marketeconomics.com.au/1996-a-short-history-of-government-debt-in-australia.
-
Julia August 7, 2012
I really love the way that some folk try and denigrate others by implying that you should hide in shame if you belong to the 28%. Why would that bother someone so much? It really is telling.
-
Matt August 7, 2012
To quote Mr Denmore: “It was one of the few advanced economies to avoid falling into recession—a reflection of its strong position at the start of the crisis,… a healthy banking system etc”
You’ve mentioned the work of the Howard and Costello years. Rudd had only been in power months before the GFC hit. You remember, we blew $20+billion in a few months on pink batts (killing a few people in the process) and school halls at never to be repeated prices.
You criticise the infamous “mez’ for ranting but your blog is little more than hysteria wrapped up in attempted witty prose. The facts in your piece are scarce but the outrageous speculation is enormous.
Can I ask since you obviously do not favour any cuts in areas that you feel strongly about, where does a government turn when it needs to reign in spending? What areas are OK to reduce funding? Someone has to miss out so please enlighten us who that should be.
Or maybe you feel no one should ever miss out on increased government spending ever? If we want more money we should just get more money from somewhere? It’s the government’s job to find more money perhaps?
Personally I see running of the economy like running a household. There is a finite amount of money coming in and going out. Within that we need to feed and clothe ourselves, save some for a rainy day, a holiday perhaps too, educate the kids, pay when we get sick, protect the people within our house and our families, pay for repairs, maintenance and the odd renovation and maybe, just maybe have a bit of fun too. But the bottom line is in your own household you cant just keep spending and spending with no regard for where it comes from or that you might have to pay it back one day. With an attitude like that, well you just might come across as a spoilt child who has a tantrum when Mummy or Daddy say NO.
Now Mr Denmore, it’s time you went to your room without any supper. -
Douglas August 7, 2012
Poor old Matt, a lot of words to express a couple of platitudes. Typical in-depth conservative analysis, Lol!
-
Matt August 7, 2012
Wow Douglas you sure got me. How can I possibly keep up with your razor sharp intellect? Kudos to you sir. Well played……oh yeh Lol.
-
-
Louise August 11, 2012
what a damned shame, i thought the punch was a little better than this ridiculous artlcle. not reading punch again.
