Stand up for Australia

Julie stephens 17/07/10 05:29 PM Report Abuse

Tony, That was a very impressive speech, good luck

Betty 17/07/10 05:33 PM Report Abuse

We really can't afford to let the ALP have any more power. They have taken away working people's money and wasted it on so many levels it is heartbreaking and we can't afford to be soft on them, they must be stood up to and made accountable for their waste and arrogance. Keep up the good work

Peter Reedman 17/07/10 05:35 PM Report Abuse

Tony,

You have my ABSOLUTE Commitment and Support. Great Speech You can DO IT!

Rob Boundy 17/07/10 05:36 PM Report Abuse

Re ALP trying to establish another offshore processing centre. Don't we already have one at Nauru that has already been paid for by Australia and sitting idle waiting for occupants. Just another example of reckless additional spending by the ALP to duplicate what is currently not being used

Joy Waller-Ogden 17/07/10 05:36 PM Report Abuse

A good speech, and well-delivered. Keep it up. We must win.

Blaise 17/07/10 05:37 PM Report Abuse

Go Tony! You will make a great PM!

I am going to donate now.

Justin Rickard 17/07/10 05:39 PM Report Abuse

Go for it Tony. Dare to do alk you can do.

T Thom 17/07/10 05:40 PM Report Abuse

Go Tony impressive speech even with the lef-wing media trying to bait you YET AGAIN!

peter 17/07/10 05:40 PM Report Abuse

Good luck Tony. I wish you well. I hope you do win as the thought of Labor staying in government is too frightening to contemplate given the national debt is now just under $100 billion dollars and climbing. If this continues we will soon be unable to pay even the interest on much more debt. When that happens we face diabolical times. So, our only hope is to have a more conservative government in power once again to reign in debt and avoid the economy being trashed with higher interest rates and higher taxes, leading eventually to massive unemployment, which is really what Labor stands for when they say "moving forward" for "working families". I'm afraid Labor is very much against "working families" once the proverbial xxxx hits the fan as the national debt goes up exponentially under Labor.

Georgina 17/07/10 05:42 PM Report Abuse

Gillard has stolen Rudd's slogan "moving forward". See Menzies House - "Moving Forward - to Where?" I say "To what". More spin and waste. She will stop at nothing to steal policies and try to distance herself from the policies in which she was involved with Rudd.
Keep up the good work, Tony. We don't want Gillard and her sickly smile trying to woo the voters "by whatever it takes".

JPH 17/07/10 05:45 PM Report Abuse

EXCELLENT SPEECH!!! I wish you, Tony the best of luck, and I will certain;y be helping out, volumteering at train stations before I go to school, as well as on the actual election day for the full 12 hours! GOOD LUCK!

rashas 17/07/10 05:46 PM Report Abuse

Can you explain how you intend to "stop the boats" please? I am wondering what specific and I guess the right term would be "Direct Action" you plan to take on this issue if elected?

Georgina 17/07/10 05:47 PM Report Abuse

Just one more thought. Gillard doesn't know what having a family is about - she can't possibly know the trials many parents go through. And she doesn't know a thing about mothers having to work to help pay for food and rent. She is all talk and no experience. Experience counts more than rhetoric.

Jan 17/07/10 05:48 PM Report Abuse

Tony I like it..........Good Luck

Luke 17/07/10 05:48 PM Report Abuse

Great speech today Tony. Likewise, I am also completely committed to assisting the election of an Abbott Coalition government. The last few years of the nightmarish Labor government have moved me to join up and support the cause. You will be a great PM.

Bentley 17/07/10 05:49 PM Report Abuse

Haha. This is hilarious. All these big-L Liberals praising 20 seconds of speaking as a speech. Hilarious.

Tony to be Boned on August 21st 17/07/10 05:49 PM Report Abuse

Gees Crying Poor and asking for money in an election Ad - Pissed off your bankrolling Miners are now with Labor ?

Why won't Malcolm throw in a few dollars to help ??

Mia 17/07/10 05:52 PM Report Abuse

Can you please make clear the Coalition's stance on the dreaded Internet Filter! (Christopher Pyne mentioned on QandA that your party opposes it) You would be surprised as to how many votes you would gain on this issue alone. Please make it an issue as it works on two levels - 1. Internet Filter will not work - Govt refuses to listen to the experts on this issue and continues to spend money on pursuing it. 2. Censorship - Govt wants to control the legal content (have no trouble with illegal sites being removed or blocked) that is available, which is unacceptable in our great country which prides itself on personal freedom!

Bev 17/07/10 05:52 PM Report Abuse

Keep at it Tony - you have my family's votes (all 4). We need sensible economic management. The day that Ms Gillard knifed Mr. Rudd made me sick to my stomach and I'm not a Labor supporter or voter. How can we trust her...shorst answer is we can't. So go for it Tony and let's "go forward" to a better Australia.

June Thompson 17/07/10 05:53 PM Report Abuse

Tony,
What a terrific speech.
We have joined.
We have donated.
We have volunteered.
Good luck Tony, you have our absolute support and yes I do try to spread the
message at Bridge!!.
Ross and June.

Richard Sutton 17/07/10 05:55 PM Report Abuse

Hilarious song.

allan 17/07/10 05:57 PM Report Abuse

Crap speech today Tony. Hope you lose big time! You'd be a disaster for the country.

Bryce 17/07/10 05:58 PM Report Abuse

Such an uplifting song... the tears... in my eyes... I think I need a tissue.

Wait nope, nevermind I need a bucket. I'm gonna spew.

STAAAAAAND UP... FOR REEEEAAAAAAL ACTION.

Tony, still spinning the same old lies and you're sounding even more like a right-wing conservative hack.

nico 17/07/10 05:59 PM Report Abuse

I would have voted for Malcolm Turnbull, shame you knifed him Mad Monk

Jennifer 17/07/10 06:03 PM Report Abuse

Tony, your speech was lousy. But that's good because I think you'd make a lousy PM.

Your front bench is incompetent, and you have no vision.

Why should the PM state who her ministers will be when you won't.

And how the heck do you plan to stop the boast? You've got to stop the Afghanistan War first.

Finally, your Green Army is preposterous. That is not action, that is lip service and 'feel good' nonsense.

On the strength of your speeches I wouldn't vote foryou if you were the last man on earth.

WorstChoices 17/07/10 06:14 PM Report Abuse

Abbott wants to bring back WorkChoices. Why can't the Liberals at least be honest about that?

Oh, sorry. Silly question.

Keith Ravenscroft 17/07/10 06:18 PM Report Abuse

This could be our last stand against a wolf of communism dressed up in sheep's clothing! Lets face it, she has virtually sold her soul to the socialist left to soak in the bath of glory - well Tony, its up to the Party and the people to make sure she is kept at bay, like any wolf should be. If not she will run us into disgrace - worldwide.
Ignore the slanders who charge you without evidence - you have more support than the polls report.

Colin 17/07/10 06:19 PM Report Abuse

So Gillian says that she and the Labor Party are MOVING FORWARD, to what from where? She stuffed up the Schools building projects, wasted money the country didn't have, and now claims that she has learned from the experience Ha! She as Minister would not listen to anyone who opposed the whole idea, Gilly knew best. Remember a few years back under K eating she advocated for, wait for it, "Medibank Gold" she had the plan, but then they lost the election. And don't let Australia forget that she along with Wayne Swan went along with every project and mad idea that Rudd had, including the Insulation debacle. Margaret Thatcher she isn't, she is purely a Union faction puppet and will do what the Union bosses tells her to. The only rhetoric we will hear from the Labor Party will be Tony Abbott will bring back work choices, and that old can of smelly fish will not work this time around. Good Luck Tony.

grandmother 17/07/10 06:21 PM Report Abuse

work choices IS back something about next parliment ,
did you realise you said that in your talk to day most of us out here heard it
even though the press still have not mentioned it.

no one wants WORK CHOICES
not even a liberal ??? to late you have said it now

Connie Thomas 17/07/10 06:22 PM Report Abuse

Tony: I really support you in every way and wish you the very best.

I would sugges however, that you take it to Julia Gillard about all her "flops". She is excellent with rhetoric whereas you are a more honest, down to earth man for whom I have every espect. Julia has all of Kevin Rudds "SPIN" WHICH GOT HIM TO MR. 70%.

i WOULD REALLY LIKE THE COALITION TO GET WITH THE "rhetoric" etc.

And I don't want someone born out of Australia as our PM.

I reiterate you have been doing a great job and you are in my prayers and thoughts during this extraordinary time.

We really need you as our next PM.

God Bless

boris 17/07/10 06:22 PM Report Abuse

At least the election will get rid of Abbott and banish him to the back bench. Ah Malcolm how I missed thee

boris 17/07/10 06:24 PM Report Abuse

And 5. STOP THE BUS

Henrik Ziegler 17/07/10 06:25 PM Report Abuse

Uh, hate to burst your bubble Connie, but Mr Abbott was born in London.

Judy Legh 17/07/10 06:28 PM Report Abuse

Tony you have my vote, Labour is just so incompetent it beggars belief, but of course all the pot smoking bogans will vote for them, I wouldn't vote for Julia Gillard if she was the last woman on earth.

Labour has lurched from one disaster to another, it is embarassing to have these idiots representing the Australian people. However, I do think that it is time to pull out of Afghanistan, we will never win there and it accomplishes nothing. I hate to see good Aussies dying , I think you will fnd a lot of people agree with me.

As for the boat people, liberal stopped the boats before and they can do it again.

I wish you luck in this election.

Liberal voter 17/07/10 06:28 PM Report Abuse

And here come the Labor sheeple. Adding nothing of substance, just like Labor really.
You idiots make me sick. This country will die a slow death if Labor win. Meanwhile after you have lost your jobs after your Labor 'mates' destroyed a once strong economy and waiting in a queue at Centrelink I hope you have a good long think about who you voted for and why.
But you won't have to worry about that you Labor fools. Enjoy your long time in opposition starting from August 22nd.

Ken 17/07/10 06:33 PM Report Abuse

Labor's "Let's move forward" is like the utternace of "Let's just move on" made by errant footballers and other miscreants.

Go Tony!

Brad 17/07/10 06:34 PM Report Abuse

So you'll stop the boats. What are you going to do about the other 98% of asylum seekers who arrive by plane?

June 17/07/10 06:37 PM Report Abuse

There is only one that annoys people about Tony, and he should do something about it, that is the ugh! and the um! every few sentences, it signals that his thinking is not clear, when we all know that it is. Take your time and stress your points clearly the people will come around. Here's to the next PM of Australia. Oh! and avoid saying things off script like in the interview on channel 10 news tonight. You said "Work choices will not be reintroduced" then capped it off with "Not in the first term of the Government" does that mean that they will be? talk about putting a gun to your head. that is just handing the election to Labor, they won't let that go. But best of luck Tony we are counting on you.

Mike 17/07/10 06:39 PM Report Abuse

@Connie Thomas, Tony Abbott was born out of Australia.

So were four former PMs.

moving forward 17/07/10 06:39 PM Report Abuse

Sorry liberal voter if we make you sick the above comment.

Australia did not have a recession because of the labor gov. I bet you do not know there are 25 million people out of work in europe i heard hockey the other day say something about it was only a european recession gfc. Really try telling that to the millions of Aussies who lost their super over night because of the gfc.
And also you do not want us to have super tone you want to take the mining tax away and they pay less a person who is 30 will now have at retirement an extra 200 th on retirement. because of the super tax

and the National broadband you said that gone. Well what will the medical profession think of that backward step, when we hoping tohave surgery done in remote areas by camera to the local gp etc.
also students not to mention big companies that will have time saved in other words productivity i use to think thats what liberals where all about.
I dont even think john howard would be happy with lower productivity

move over 17/07/10 06:41 PM Report Abuse

yes connie abbott was born in the uk

o dear you dont know much about history and your leader thats so funny

Terry 17/07/10 06:44 PM Report Abuse

For Gods sake lets get these idiots out of power. Keating stuffed things, Gillard and her cronies are outdoing him.
Please go back to the super adds you have been showing us. Straight to the point.

Jen of Newport 17/07/10 06:45 PM Report Abuse

Hi Tony,
Why are you not hammering all the failures of this Rudd/NOW/Gillard Government.

They will get dirty and bring up past "stuff" so beat them at their own game. You have all this recent factual failure data.

David of Tasmania 17/07/10 06:46 PM Report Abuse

To 'Moving Forward' - give us a break! Labor got out of trouble with the GFC courtesy of the previous Government's sound economic management and sensible accumulation of funds which Labor not only used but squandered. The waste and gross mis-management by this Government knows no equal in recent history, not even the debacle of Whitlam and co.

Brett Clements 17/07/10 06:47 PM Report Abuse

Maybe start with a logo instead of a freeze-frame of you pulling a funny face. Good luck brother.

Geoff Hare 17/07/10 06:49 PM Report Abuse

..you've got my total support T.A. - my hand is up to help out on August 21, hope others follow suit..GH

Colin 17/07/10 06:53 PM Report Abuse

a couple of question for you Labor voters. Where did the money come from that kept us out of the recession? and how much does the country owe? Why are we importing more food now from overseas especially China, than we ever did in the history of Australia. Think back Australia was the food bowl of the world, now we have a food bowl seeking food from the world. Ask our farmers, and the orchardists, and why are we buying Pork, and apples from China whilst our growers are going broke. Enough is enough, time to roll up the sleeves and put Australia back to where she was before, and that will only happen with a good strong Liberal Government led by a Good leader, that I believe Tony Abbot is and can be.

Carline of Lennox Head 17/07/10 06:54 PM Report Abuse

Good on you Tony, Great message and great tune. Hope you win,YOU CAN DO IT - and we will be donating to help.

betty 17/07/10 06:55 PM Report Abuse

Seriously instead of talking about personalities we should be focussing on the fact we are in huge debt, the transport system promised in NSW Hills District hasn't happened, nor is it likely. Money is being wasted everywhere and guess who provides the money???? All the hard-working people (not just the ones who are poor), the ALP doesn't like people who earn "too much" because they are tooo lucky. Piffle, they have what they have because they work hard, do without, pay taxes only to have it squandered.

This country had a surplus to keep us from having to borrow elsewhere so where is it?? Oh that's right, like kids the ALP spent it all without restraint and what is more they have wasted it mostly on lots of ummm...................... nothing that we can see of any use one example being," the wisdom of years of knowledge on what a school needs" Please, give us credit for more brains than that ALP.

Anthony 17/07/10 07:06 PM Report Abuse

Go Tony. Excellent presentation and you look terrific. I'll be helping.
Never has a government deserved to be thrown out on their backsides more than this bunch of spin driven mobsters.

Jennifer 17/07/10 07:12 PM Report Abuse

Colin, you know nothing about history if your post is anything to go by - you Liberals cannot see the truth if it slaps you in the face.

While we had a notional surplus, we actually had a debt larger than ever when Costello left office.

There has been years of drought -- thus your food-bowl fell apart.

There was a GFC -- which we survived and even prospered theough because of the past 3 years.

Wake up to yourself. Abbott would have had us in recession, with 100s of 1000s of unemployed right now if we followed his ludicrous advice.

Obviously intelligence does not figure strongly in the Liberal party.

betty 17/07/10 07:14 PM Report Abuse

in relation to Nico's comments, don't people realise that Mr Turnbull's climate change policy is why he had to go?

Mr Rudd apparently had lost his way and the ALP may have been staring down the road of defeat so what does any good Labour Party d........., oh yes just change the leader and everyone will be conned, yet again,

Dolores of Toodyay 17/07/10 07:14 PM Report Abuse

Australia cannot afford labour, they must must get out!! Dillard is a backstabber and deserves what is coming to her. I cannot stand Krudd but the Aus people voted him in and they should have voted him out!
To the person who said that Dillard hasn't a family how can she know what a Mother does, true, and more to the point what morals is she setting a PM who is living defacto!!
Move on to what more debt more terrorists do I need to go on! Krudd sold us out to China and she would continue!

Caprizant 17/07/10 07:25 PM Report Abuse

Good message Tony. How good it to see the extreme lefties cringe'n shrink'n gnashing their blunt teeth.

Hey Tony, you are on the roll here. It is obvious from some of the above messages that the lefties are poping themselves in despair. They know their days are numbered - freedom is coming to town - and that frightens the hell out of them; it's socialists' worst nightmare.

Imagine, Australians will be able to throw the yoke of collectivist mentality off their backs, spread their shoulders and stand high and proud again.

Imagine the upright and hard working Australians once again will be able to reap the rewards of their labour, build prosperity, help the needy and the frail and lift up the fallen and the stumbled because of the goodness of their hearts. That's the quintessential Australian character!

The manipulative left elite and their socialist brutes like Alan, Bryce, Nic_off, Jennifer and the likes are groaning in pain and fear, now that Freedom and Justice have a real chance to triumph over brutes' dark desires.

It is so sweet to see the darkness is retreating back into the depth of its Marxist cave. Hey you, Marxist cavemen, move over! Justice, Liberty, Free Enterprise, Independence and the genuine Australian larrikin characters are reclaiming the centre stage of Australian life.

Tony, we are shoulder to shoulder with you man. It's time to restore freedom for all men and women of free will. We know it won't be easy to break the left's stronghold, but the light of free is cutting through the heavy darkness of extreme left!

NO! THE LEFT CAN'T HOLD ONTO POWER FOR MUCH LONGER!

And

YES! THE LEFT CAN CRAWL BACK INTO THEIR CAVES! We won't pursue them there.

grahame maxworthy 17/07/10 07:28 PM Report Abuse

jessie sydney 17.07 10

people! please! let's get rid of the idealogody .

australia currently needs cool heads,unbiased evaluation,and perhaps a difficult

personal decision. be ethical ,honest ,drop the rhetoric .

dave C 17/07/10 07:54 PM Report Abuse

Man, that's a bad song.

Mark B 17/07/10 08:14 PM Report Abuse

I think you should start putting your Family out there with you to show the punters you are more like them than a ex lawyer making a speech that sounds more like a prayer. She keeps bringing up & using her Parents to compensate for her lifestyle, choosing a career over having a family.

Kim 17/07/10 08:47 PM Report Abuse

I thnk I just spewed a bit in my mouth

Clive 17/07/10 09:11 PM Report Abuse

Fantastic speech Tony! You have my undying support.
This election, I will be volunteering my services to help the Coalition cause. I hope other conservatives will do so as well.
Say NO to another 3 years of ALP deceit!!!!

Daniel Fierro 17/07/10 09:51 PM Report Abuse

If you stick to the big 3;

1 - Strong Fiscal Policy
2 - Border Protection & Illegal Immigrants
3 - No ETS (coz Aussies are not gulliable sods for AGW)
Liberal should win in a landslide.

But what Tony & Liberals really need to do is bring down Gullard on the BER fraudulent scheme, and demand a judicial inquiry to the fraudulent contracts, spending and incompetent design of the buildings, who signed off on them and why!?

Gleuto Serafim 17/07/10 10:48 PM Report Abuse

Good on you Tony!!! all the way! you've got my vote

Michael Giampino 18/07/10 05:54 AM Report Abuse

Tony, good luck with the coming election and don't forget to stop off in Townsville us defence members would love to see you even the ones at Ross Island Bks.

Penny 18/07/10 06:41 AM Report Abuse

Labor seems to think the most important thing for families is a good education. While the Coalition knows that is very important, the most important thing for families (and all Australians) is the ability to be able to pay the bills - this is first and foremost what families rely on - indeed all Australians need secure jobs and cost of living pressures reduced first before things like superannuation are tackled. We need real wage rises to pay our increased bills, not wage rises that see our money go into superannuation. Wayne Swan our current Treasurer still does not see how his original mining tax would have killed our jobs. He thought and still does think there is nothing wrong with a 40% head rate. And if the Greens get the balance of power in the senate there is nothing to stop Labor bringing in the original tax. Indeed the Greens may well demand it. We would be powerless as Australians to stop the Country being wrecked. Can we afford the risk Wayne Swan presents as Treasurer? He is economically clueless and can't even recognise a bad tax when he sees one. - what hope do we have for a steady hand with Labor in control?

Andrew Gauci 18/07/10 08:58 AM Report Abuse

Its a shame in Central Queensland the locals have such a short memory when it comes to Labour blunders and sloth politics. Does anyone know where the Federal Member Kirstin Livermore is oh thats right she goes into hiding until the ballott day. The highest paid longest serving maternity leave in the country. what a life, what a superplan to look forward to. When will finaly see politicians held accountable for doing nothing

Spanners 18/07/10 09:05 AM Report Abuse

Excellent delivery Tony! Compared to the Gillard "megaphone" video, this is a clear cut plan and a great call to action!

Tom 18/07/10 09:21 AM Report Abuse

Certainally on the right track... I know many of my friends (30-40) struggle with your 4th commitment.

Refugees deserve a fair go... Fear is no way forward and stopping the boats not addressing our responsiblity in the global community.

Jeannie 18/07/10 10:23 AM Report Abuse

Moving forward with Julia Gizzard and Labour would be akin to one step forward and two steps back. Back to big Government, big taxation, overspending and soft policies on illegal immigration.

Felicity Hill 18/07/10 10:25 AM Report Abuse

The election can't come soon enough ! I cried when Labour got in and seriously considered leaving the country as I knew that they would destroy one of the worlds best economies and I was right - they did in record time !!
Clear, concise policies will win the day for Liberal just stay on topic and leave the "politicking" antics out of it, Australians aren't stupid we know who will get the job done and it's not someone who has zero character or ethics. You have my vote Tony- just get on with it!!

Margaret Connolly 18/07/10 12:27 PM Report Abuse

Thank you. I am counting on you to take us out of the mess Labour has delivered to our Country and her people.

dee 18/07/10 12:52 PM Report Abuse

Great speech Tony just a little thing - you are keeping Labors Work Relations Policy but do you think that within that policy there is space that you could argue for better conditions for students wanting to work a couple of hours a day as now they can't because of Labors changes and also help small business within that policy without fear from Australians that you are going back to Work Choices.

Di Greene 18/07/10 01:09 PM Report Abuse

Hi, Tony good luck I wish you all the very best and you have my vote. However, the add is the worst I have ever seen. Please, please stop now before we lose votes.

Bryan Staples 18/07/10 01:11 PM Report Abuse

Game On Tony,


Please, please push out the message that a vote for Julia today does not mean she will be there in 3 years time. If you vote for Labor you are probably voting for Bill Shorten or some other Union puppeteer., You will never know,until the Labor Power Brokers tell you what they have done.

Bryan

Charles F Bassett 18/07/10 01:30 PM Report Abuse

Tony, you are selling the salvation of Australia and as any good salesman knows image is everything, so immediately sack the bloke that chose the picture of you at the heading of these comments and in future, if your photo is require use that of a family man like the one in your profile.

Geoff Hare 18/07/10 02:38 PM Report Abuse

...Kerry O'Briens mouth must be watering at the mo - watch out for those tricky questions T.A..

Gershon ben David 18/07/10 02:46 PM Report Abuse

Gillard changed Rudd’s old slogan about “working families” to “moving forward”. The same Labor spin doctors who conned the Australian people with promises about climate change, fuel watch, grocery watch, housing affordability, economic conservatism, free laptop PC for every student, education revolution, health care and the lot try to con us again with a shallow slogan “moving forward”. Labor leads us to economic disaster with huge deficit and debt. That is not a move to the right direction. The right direction is the Liberal way with real fiscal discipline, strong border protection and real political vision with a competent, honest Coalition government. We should remember at the old Middle Eastern proverb “If you cheat on me once shame on you. If you cheat on me twice shame on me.” On 21 August we should judge the Labor party on the real issues, not on the gender of the candidate for the top job. Gillard was part of the Rudd team which promised the lot but delivered nothing good. Hence it is time to move forward towards a new Coalition government.

Toby Botha 18/07/10 03:54 PM Report Abuse

What I really find very frightning is the role and power of the Unions in ousting Kevin Rudd. Look what is happenening in America and be warned. America is heading for serious trouble because of the radical power of the unions. Don't let it happen to Australia.

Toby

studying 18/07/10 04:09 PM Report Abuse

tony you looked so nervous yesterday when you were making you speech after the election was announced. need to overcome those nerves.

is anyone in the coalition going to be game to bring up the pm's treason charges during this election campaign. would be good to know what happened and should such a person be running our country.

studying 18/07/10 04:12 PM Report Abuse

rob boundy you obviously don't listen to the news - the centre in naru is a school at the moment but the government there said it could be changed quickly enough. gillard and abbott both know this but won't say what either party is going to do with off show processing. problem with naru is they are not part of the un treaty on refugees though they have said they will sign that so they can start processing again. naru though is depressing, hot and leaves little to do for refugees so the government who ever gets into power will have to review that.

studying 18/07/10 04:37 PM Report Abuse

i want to know why emails to labor ministers go unanswered for months. chris bowen cannot seem to answer any emails about centrelink.

also what is happening under the coalition about the carers payment each financial year and increasing pensions each year so people can better survive and afford things.

studying 18/07/10 04:39 PM Report Abuse

i am not in any way interested in why gillard is childless or in a defacto relationship. this is not relevant to the election. her treason charge is much more relevant as i am sure under the constitution a pm should have no criminal charges against them. what is the coaltion going to do to answer why she was charged with treason???

studying 18/07/10 04:41 PM Report Abuse

tony you need a better ministry as chris pyne does not answer questions put to him either via email or takes ages to even acknowledge them. hope you rethink the ministry if you win as there are current people in opposition positiions who should lose those jobs.

steve 18/07/10 05:09 PM Report Abuse

well done tony and good luck people cant afford for you to lose

labor =

carbon taxes

congestion taxes

Mining taxes

higher costs on everything you can think of because of these new taxes

control of freedom of internet

They must be stopped

If i was labor i wouldnt want to look back either absolute disaster

Wallace Devlin 18/07/10 05:09 PM Report Abuse

Tony, great speech, we cannot afford another term of labor the damage which has been done will take many years to undo. We will be supporting a conservative government. Good luck God bless.

James 18/07/10 05:21 PM Report Abuse

Great Speech, Lets hope is appears on TV alot to counter 'Moving Forward' 'Moving Forward' ... It never ends. Good Luck Tony !

Joe 18/07/10 06:53 PM Report Abuse

The way Gillard backstabbed Kevin Rudd then goes on to promise loyalty to the Australian People is sickening. She is a filthy liar and backstabber and dangerous and we won't be voting for her.

Joe 18/07/10 06:57 PM Report Abuse

We have always struggled when Labor is in power. Food is always more expensive and on a pension life is so hard now. We had a great few years when Howard was in power. Grocery prices were so cheap and we could even eat legs of lamb then but now just can't afford it. Everythings gone up under Labor. Our quality of life has really bottomed and my wife and I both notice it very much when going shopping.

Chris 18/07/10 07:01 PM Report Abuse

Good luck Tony.

This is very important for Australia that you make Labor accountable for the position they have put us in. It is time for serious people to step up and give Australia a safe future.

We must remember that Federal Labor is the same as State Labor on a National scale

GBH 18/07/10 09:07 PM Report Abuse

The basic principle upon which all of the ALP's policies are based is "If you can't measure success, you can't be blamed for failure."

That's why they claim that the wasteful splashing of OUR money saved us from the GFC.

Now to show us their "economic credentials" they tax the biggest mining boom in our history to pay it all back. All those dollars wasted and what do we have to show for it - more wasted opportunities to make this country as great as it can be.

Shame on you Julia - your a fraud!

Gomer 18/07/10 10:39 PM Report Abuse

I believe in the separation of powers of church and state.

David 18/07/10 10:45 PM Report Abuse

What is Tony stance on the wasteful $42 Billion NBN

Will the NBN be 'canned' if the Liberal's are elected?

Moving Forward 18/07/10 10:52 PM Report Abuse

Read the Australian ?

Labor's primary vote is unchanged on 42 per cent while the Coalition's has dropped below 40 per cent, to 38 per cent, for the first time since March. Greens' support has risen since the election was called from ten to 12 per cent.

Based on preference flows at the 2007 election the two-party preferred support for Labor is up to 55 per cent and the Coalition's is down to 45 per cent.

Ha Ha Ha

D Jurgens 18/07/10 11:14 PM Report Abuse

Yes! I want WorkChoices back! My employees are worth $8/hr tops, no penalty rates and that sort of crap and if they don’t like it I want to sack that idiot and hire someone who will work for that pittance!

i have two shops and will send a big fat cheque soon!

Joe 19/07/10 07:03 AM Report Abuse

Labor keeps talking about Moving Forward. ...Except people don't realize that Julia Gillard means to take all of us over a cliff.

Bernie Gee 19/07/10 07:54 AM Report Abuse

Here's a couple of slogans Tony might like to take up.

"LEARNED OUR LESSON BACK IN O7"
and
"NOT AGAIN IN TWO O TEN"

What do you reckon Tony?

jeannie 19/07/10 08:26 AM Report Abuse

Tony can you please emphasise that it's not just Labor's debt that keeps growing, but more importantly, that it's our country's debt, which makes it our debt and our children's debt that keeps growing.

Labor must never be allowed to spend our children's and grandchildren's inheritance.

Pia 19/07/10 08:29 AM Report Abuse

You have my family's full support. Go for it Tony....just remember to smile more! You silenced the panelists on Sky's Australian Agenda...impressive.

Peter Percy 19/07/10 09:25 AM Report Abuse

Tony where are your PR people?

It is not when I win the election it is when our party the Liberal Party wins the election. Do not make it personal as soon as you say I, we are forced into making a choice based on your face and personality alone. Remember, when our, not my, not I, but When our Party, the Liberal Party wins the election.
Then again what would I know?

Good luck

John MacDonald 19/07/10 10:13 AM Report Abuse

best of luck in the election from a Canadian supporter of the principles of the Australia Liberal Party

Stephen Hunt 19/07/10 11:05 AM Report Abuse

Go Tony, you have my full support!! RE: the ad - not a bad start, but you really do have to make the ads more effective. You need to show an ad featuring Kevin Rudd making his promises with Julia Gillard nodding in agreement in the background. You then have to have a message about trust and broken promises to appeal to the massess as these are core values (irrepective of how you vote). So many people are going to vote for Julia just because she is a female (how stupid!!). If you can get across a simple message such as "Trust Labor again...no way!!"; or "Trust Labor again...yeah right!!", these simple messages appeal to simple people. Or even a play on "Moving Forward" such as "Moving forward...from the broken promises of the past" or "Moving forward...more like running away". I really hope the average swinging voter isn't going to be as gullible as in 2007.

Dennis & Audrey Hughes 19/07/10 11:26 AM Report Abuse

We fully support you Tony, good luck to all the Liberal members in the campaign

Brendan 19/07/10 11:47 AM Report Abuse

Any person that can watch that facetious empty scaremongering without feeling sick and deeply scared that such a person could get any votes of leadership in a democracy is in deep trouble. It's fascinating that the liberal party created and endorsed an ad on their home base website that calls for support of the COALITION. Answer, the liberal brand means nothing but privileged empty headed fools mouthing right wing crap to the same demographic and their spin doctors have advised stepping away from their odious name - hopefully this means the death of the liberal party and the emergence of a new more thoughtful, engaging oppostion party - they might consider re-enlisting in politics under the Greens.

Lynne Strahan 19/07/10 12:17 PM Report Abuse

You have my support

BODZY 19/07/10 01:00 PM Report Abuse

boat people are people as well!

Tom 19/07/10 01:26 PM Report Abuse

I consider myself a strong liberal voter. However, I have a strong interest in the technology sector and if the Liberal patry's plans to scrap the NBN isn't changed I am going to have to vote Labour. Please reconsider this policy. I know quite a lot of people will decide their vote on this policy.

Working Mum's of Australia 19/07/10 02:45 PM Report Abuse

You have our support Tony - Good Luck it is going to be hard work but I do hope you and the team can pull it off

ryan 19/07/10 03:24 PM Report Abuse

Stop the boats?? are you serious. these people need our help and it is a very insular mindset to reject their needs. Human rights cross international borders and should be respected, they come from war and poverty and are seeking sanctuary for a better life.

dee 19/07/10 04:47 PM Report Abuse

Just great Labor have done a deal with the Greens for their votes - here comes another BIG NEW TAX on everything so the Greens can get the ETS they want.

Hey Tony can Labor guarantee that there wont be any changes to the Work Place Relations Policy.

Anon 19/07/10 05:00 PM Report Abuse

Good Luck Libs. You're going to need it - you have a madman at the helm of your crazy party. Tony, you haven't got a snowflake's chance in hell of winning my vote, I don't care what you say. I don't know why you are the leader now, you failed before and you will fail again, it is inevitable.

GILLARD FOR PM.

Stephen Hunt 19/07/10 05:15 PM Report Abuse

Idiot's like "Anon" are the reason why Labor won the last election and why the country is now stuffed. They're happy to take the welfare and as long as they get their beer and ciggie's money, they're happy. Here's an election slogan "Labor...pandering to the lowest common denominator".

Meg 19/07/10 05:19 PM Report Abuse

APATHY
This is what Julia Gillard is counting on to win the election.
In here own self denial of God, she has set aside her God -given senses of what is right and wrong. So all she is left with now, is what she thinks is right and wrong.
Lying out-rightly on national television and betraying Kevin Rudd, Julia is counting on the people of Australia being APATHETIC to her behaviour.
Lets stand up and be different.
If I was able to vote, I would vote Tony Abbott.

J. Walker 19/07/10 05:28 PM Report Abuse

Mr Abbott will you stop the buy up of Australian Farms, assets and properties by
foreign Governments and foreign individuals who are not residents?
Will you stop the import of produce that has a real risk of bringing in disease that could wipe out our agriculture and native flora and fauna?

Barry Ditchburn 19/07/10 07:18 PM Report Abuse

Please get your thumbs out of your bums,you will not get any where taking from people and creating insecurity.take the focus off work choices (the worst thing Howard did) and focus on giving superannuation 3 % in the next 3 years as a part pay increase,focus on the price of petrol labor said they would do something .did nothing
supermarkets prices nothing done as promised by Labor,you must remember that Australia has been migrated out of people who will follow the old liberal tradition You have to change , repeat you have to change or be sent to the opposition forever focus on what was not delivered that got labor into power for goodness sake you have been handed a unstable party on a platter kill it off.
I have voted liberal since 1957 never wavering.Tell the people how your looking after the Servicemen by changing the DFRDB scheme and look afgter them they are overworked and taking drugs under the Rudd Goose Gillard government

Brendan 19/07/10 07:21 PM Report Abuse

I'm just voting against an ETS....
You get religious on me and i wont vote for you!

Margaret Bartlett 19/07/10 08:16 PM Report Abuse

Did anyone watch the 7.30 Report tonight? Kerry O'Brien asked the question... a vote for Julia Guillard? If she doesn't come up to scratch, will the labor party heavies replace her just like they did with Kevin Rudd. Will they wait till she has won the election on the female vote tag. Is this democracy? Talk about John Howard's Workchoices? Was Rudd given a warning in writing? What I find amazing is that Kerry O'Brien is asking these questions - as he has presented himself as a labor supporter in the past - is it that he has no respect for his preferred party anymore? or does he prefer the old guard who showed some dignity and respect for their elected leader? Marg B

may 19/07/10 09:11 PM Report Abuse

Do someting for this great country. Dont follow the rest they havent learnt make a stand. Help working class with familys so we can ge some where intead of just week to week. Stop te boat people a really get hard I am sick of it. You all do nothing promise it all do nothing. Its about tie you hep the people who help you. good luck

Fergo 19/07/10 09:12 PM Report Abuse

It's downhill from here Tony

Brett T. Ritson 19/07/10 09:17 PM Report Abuse

Please consider the following comment: with respect to the MSM's attention to IR, WorkChoices, and whether a Coalition Gov would 'tweak' any aspect of the statute, or guidelines etc, WHY is not Abbott ramming home the factual point that Gillars herself has had to 'tweak' her laws.
WHY arw you not arguing "well look, i have given a commitment to not change the laws, nor will i bring back WC". Furthermore "when Julia Gillard accuses me of having some kind of secret agenda to change her laws, it is actually she, the PM, who has tweaked her own laws"."how come when the PM changes, or makes alterations, it is ok, but when i am asked whether i will change the laws, well the rules change"."talk about double standards from the ALP".
I mean, this issue being raised, by the sheer ineptness of Abetz, at least can be dealt with early in the campaign. But, deal with it, and move on, otherwise the MSM will 'define' Abbott for the whole campaign over this one issue.
When a journo asks about WC's coming back in years ahead, Abbott needs to answer like Howard would, and say "listen, i dont deal with hypotheticals, simple, i deal with the facts now".
It is so simple to deal with this issue, if Tony just KISS.

Erg Nelson 19/07/10 09:25 PM Report Abuse

How does one actually prove that interest rates will always be lower under a Liberal National Government ? Really test the assumption. How would you you declare it a TRUE statement ?

Jeff Taylor 20/07/10 09:22 AM Report Abuse

To you Labor clowns on here bagging Tony Abbott & his party, it's sad how you have nothing better to do than to spend your time on a liberal website! Fools!

patricia 20/07/10 09:46 AM Report Abuse

Awwwww Tony,Tony,Tony-when I heard the workchoice fiasco my heart sank.I thought "there goes the election".The "blue believers" out here in voter land are relyin on you guys to save Australia from this incompetent Rudd/Gillard/Swan disaster and we feel let down when this sort of thing happens.Can't you guys get together and have a consistent message-it's not as if this issue came out of left field you should have been expecting it AND been prepared for it.Please try to do better.There is a lot riding on it.Thank You,Patricia

Ian 20/07/10 11:33 AM Report Abuse

For g.ds sake Break the current stupid mold

1. reveal your team members advertise/list their experiences against the faceless mob of labor assassins.....

2. Let em speak....meet the press/comment.... eg Joe can handle himself

3. Tony have a holiday and learn your lines.... stupid contradictions are killing us.....

4. Build the positive .... kill the negative comparisons.....

We need a change but after the first two days I'm becoming despondent that its not going to happen.....

Ian 20/07/10 11:38 AM Report Abuse

What about as good run of advertising....

A VOTE FOR THE GREENS IS A VOTE FOR LABOR........

Hit the airwaves while the issue is hot.... Julia's sell out of the labor-ites votes to greens

Bd 20/07/10 01:09 PM Report Abuse

I agree we need Liberals back in power but not sure if Abbott is the right choice, I think he is weak, we need a strong leader that will show the illigals that if they try to come in we will kick their butts and send them back, no more Mr nice guys, if he cant do that then is the wrong man for the job, dont we have another Bjelke Petersen, now that was a REAL MAN...enough is enough lets get rid of the goody goodies, if they like the illigals so much why dont they immigrate there and try to better their life there but not here...

carol 20/07/10 02:06 PM Report Abuse

MessageTony Abbott believe in yourself,believe in each other,be united so a Liberal Coalition Federal government,can once again Govern Australia.
It is imperitive to address the fact that a vote for The Greens is a vote for Labour.
People are sick and tired of the Rudd/Gillard truckload of broken promises,they are
fed up with how pathetic labour has been in the past three years.
Since 2007 everything that Labour has touched has turned to dust.
But if they Vote Greens,the dust storm will continue,and Labour would return to Power.
Please tell everyone, make it clear that if you vote for The Greens you are voting for Labour more of the same,high Interest rates,high Unemployment and no growth.
Good luck Tony.

Wallace Devlin 20/07/10 02:55 PM Report Abuse

Tony; Australia needs a Liberal/Nationals Government. make sure your team sticks to the policy, Work Choices Is Dead, don't let them goad you into talking about next term or whenever, this is now what may happen after your first term is then. It is most important that nobody in your team gets carried away and makes rash statements. You are up against the left media and the ACTU. Think before you talk. Make it clear that a vote for the greens is a labor vote.

Karen Currie 20/07/10 06:12 PM Report Abuse

Mr Abbott, your speach was excellent. Please you need to get on the attack though. Australia cannot afford another Labor government. Unfortunately I live in Blaxland, a Labor heartland, and all I hear is how good Labor is. These people have not heard about the millions of dollars in debt, the Work Choices scare campaign,the Mining Tax, the cost of what an ETS will cost our country, the lies regarding Health Care Funding. The liberal Party need to get on the attack and very loudly.Please Mr Abbott become a lttle more assertive, you have the ammunition we need to fire these bullets and quickly.
Regards and good luck. Karen

Penny 20/07/10 07:11 PM Report Abuse

Mr Abbott,

Despite seeing you on the television and hearing you talk on the radio I very quickly ignore what you are saying because every time you are asked a question you seem to twist the answer around to tell everyone what the Gillard / Rudd Government has done or what the Gillard government is going to do . You rarely say much at all about what you and your Party are going to do.

Jane 20/07/10 07:56 PM Report Abuse

Abolish luxury tax on tampons and women will vote for you.

Gershon ben David 20/07/10 08:50 PM Report Abuse

More and more people are disillusioned with Labor, but still hesitant to vote Liberal. They believe in the third alternative, which is the Greens. We have to tell people that due to the dirty deals behind the scene a Green vote is a vasted Labor vote. The Greens supported all the bad policies of the Rudd government and would support the Gillard governments madness. People must be aware that the Labor slogans are just pie in the sky, while the Coalition has policies to stop the tax increase, stop the recless spending and stop the unauthorised arrivals. During the debate with Gillard, Mr Abbot should list Labors broken promises, reckless spending and unspecified claims about budget surplice. Swan and budget surplice is like the North Pole and the South Pole; an Earth apart.

Ash 20/07/10 10:03 PM Report Abuse

Tony,

I will be voting for you cos of sound economic management skills lilberal party has a history of. Just one concern that I have is do you have any plans to wipe out racism in Australia

Penny 20/07/10 10:34 PM Report Abuse

The Liberal party advert on the TV tells me nothing about what they are going to do. All it focuses on is what the labour party has done.

You cant expect to get voted in unless people know what you intend to do.

Sorry to say but you dont seem to show any passion , you appear to be "wooden" to me. I am not necessarily pleased with the ALP but at least they appear to be positive rather than negative.

spivman 21/07/10 01:16 PM Report Abuse

Tony,
I want to vote for you but by canning the NBN i think I might have to vote labour..... This project is the most important infrastructure project in Australia's history ... we are losing 30,000 jobs a month in manufacturing so Australia needs to become the brains center on the world with INFORMATION.... If you are not going to build the NBN how are you going to provide low latency, fast INTERNET for future?

Jon

carol 21/07/10 02:18 PM Report Abuse

MessageTONY Abbott make it clear that a Vote for The Greens is a Vote that will be passed onto Labour,as all their First Preferances will flow back to Labour,as all The Labour's First Preferances will flow onto to The Greens.

The Greens will not give First Preferances to The liberal Party.

This will give balance of Power to The Greens in the Senate.

If the trend to Vote Greens is similar in the House of Representatives,The Lower House,after Distribution of First Preferances to the Labour Party ,then this Election would be all for nothing,we would then be stuck with Julia Gilliard who has no foresight and no knowledge of how to go forward.,they are just empty words.

Wake up people Labour has sealed the Deal,when it agreed this week to swap Preferances with The Greens.

Labour is helping into Power a Party that demands we scrap our Power Stations,and close Coal exports,to end mining and export of Uranium,oil and mineral exploration in parks and Wlderness,and new Coal Mines of any kind.

You will be Voting for Policies with deliberate intent designed to make us poorer.

Think before you vote.

1. IDD 21/07/10 03:59 PM Report Abuse

Do the liberal back office guys monitor anything thats said on this site..... can't see much evidence..... Is the liberal party becoming so arrogant that it doesn't need to follow some grass roots advice???????

Please run a series of tv adverts

eg featuring the faces of shadow cabinet vs the faceless assisns....

eg .Asking where is Penny Peter etc etc etc ??? where is everyone except Gillard and Swan

3. Julia in bed with Bob

Lets get on the attack in a way people can relate to reality

Trader 21/07/10 04:05 PM Report Abuse

This link makes great viewing!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMII_3_4Fr4&feature=related

Maybe the libs should use a few of Rudd's promises against them!!!

Trader 21/07/10 04:10 PM Report Abuse

Tony

Please get on the front foot and get stuck into this mob.

Deflect the questions about workchoices. "I have already stated the position, now why don't you ask me about ......................"

"I notice that you have not promised that no worker will be worse off under your policy Mr Abbott" Answer "I notice that Julia hasn't either"

Fight or we will be lost and recovery will be slow.

Greg 21/07/10 07:00 PM Report Abuse

So if you get rid of labor's National Broadband Network what are you go to replace it with and when? I need to know; it will definitely have strong influence over my vote.

Sergio 21/07/10 08:02 PM Report Abuse

Mr. Abbott needs to fight not only to convince Australians that economic liberalism is what brought and will continue to bring prosperity to our country, but also against the notion that:

1.- Being an atheist somehow shows an independence of thought - as if not having faith was very 'cool' and 'modern'

2.- Traditional values (loyalty, honesty, respect, etc) don't matter anymore - they're an old-fashioned thing

3.- Replacing Kevin Rudd was right - which is correct from a legal perspective, but hardly so from an ethical/moral one, and that's where the debate should rest

4.- Having our first female PM is so appealing - regardless of her being the right person for the job or not

5.- The past is quickly forgotten, especially the last 3 years of Labor rule - move forward !!!

Plus, the fact that specific policy details are demanded from the Coalition (which is understandable and absolutely correct) but the same standard doesn't seem to apply to Labor.

Raelene Dockrill 22/07/10 12:01 PM Report Abuse

Sorry Guys, but you need you hit harder than what you are. You need to run a stronger campaign based on Labors undelivered promises and waste. Please review what you are putting out there as Labor are reminding everyone of the 2007 Election campaign on Work Choices , because that scared the average Australian. You really need to remind everyone just how much money Labor has wasted.

Can we trust Julia, just ask Kevin Rudd ?

Kruddy Rudd 22/07/10 12:01 PM Report Abuse

Seriously tony. beat the ranga.

carol 22/07/10 12:39 PM Report Abuse

TONY Abbott .

make it clear that a Vote for The Greens is a Vote that will be passed onto Labour,as all their Preferances will flow back to Labour,as all The Labour's Preferances will flow onto to The Greens.

The Greens will not give Preferances to The liberal Party.

This will give balance of Power to The Greens in the Senate.

If the trend to Vote Greens is similar in the House of Representatives,The Lower House,after Distribution of Preferances to the Labour Party ,then this Election would be all for nothing,we would then be stuck with Julia Gilliard who has no foresight and no knowledge of how to go forward.,they are just empty words.
we dont need another puppet.

Wake up people Labour has sealed the Deal,when it agreed this week to swap Preferances with The Greens.


Think before you vote.

Trader 22/07/10 12:47 PM Report Abuse

Can ANYONE tell me what a sustainable Australia means?

If it is about limiting population, then HOW does Julia plan to do it?

What is the population numbr that is considered sustainable?

Are you going to limit migrant intake or limit birth rates?

WHAT is the PLAN Julia? HOW are you going to achieve whatever your outcome is?

If you want us to buy these slogans, then they have to be backed by POLICY.

What is that policy and how do you intend to implement it?

Or is it just another motherhood statement?

ATTACK TONY .................................... and ATTACK HARD.

The ALP for too long makes statements without ANY plans or policy but is NEVER asked the very simple question HOW.

samuel.y 22/07/10 02:57 PM Report Abuse

Tony thanks for being a just and the leader of the Just and Equality, get us out of high interest and tax rates and impower us Morally as well as life quality, and I will vote for you and join you starting NOW!

Jodie Davis 22/07/10 03:57 PM Report Abuse

So tired of the media only showing one side, Wish you all the best.

Susan 23/07/10 07:45 AM Report Abuse

What about some scenario ads illustrating what will happen if labor gets in with an increased green presence. The price of everything including utilities will increase. The video used on election night depicting the red and blue seats should be a powerful wake up call to all

John Neeting 23/07/10 10:20 AM Report Abuse

Heard Gillards speech at university this morning. She fell into the big hole that most Australians fall into. For gods sake Jillian STOP associating Pollution - ETS - and CARBON in a magic triangle. Has she watched Professor Bob Carters video ' 7 Torpedoes' on the net ?. CARBON IS NOT A POLLUTANT!!!. Does she know that the more electricity we use off the grid the CHEAPER/KWH it should be ?. If private health funds disappeared tomorrow, Medicare would COLLAPSE!, They fund Medicare's losses by taxes.

John Neeting 23/07/10 10:35 AM Report Abuse

BROADBAND. As long as Telstra denies anyone one else from using their EXISTING high speed infrastructure [Co-axial cable ] its a perfect excuse for labor to pretend we don't have the speed. How fast do you want to go beyond 100mbs ? until we upgrade naturally with upcoming NEW technology. Telstra even denies access to some exchanges by other companies with ADSL2+ which is cheaper. They charge for upload; something NO other company around the world does for domestic use. HSB upgrade is crap if Telstra denies all from taking an intermediary step and use their high speed co-axial cable. What a con.

John Neeting 23/07/10 10:49 AM Report Abuse

ILLEGAL BOAT PEOPLE.
Whats so hard about this ?. Boat to port to bus to Air force plane to OUT to back to the port they came from all in a few hours. Problem solved.
ELECTRICITY. We have enough generators to power Ozz, New Zealand, and New Guinea and then some. What we DON'T have is the lines to get it there [ Infrastructure ] the money for which was LOOTED by labor over the last 20 years. To pay for THIS NOW, labor has to fund a total scam [ sorry - I mean WE have to fund it ] to get back the money to build the infrastructure to get the EXCESS generating capacity to where it's needed. Industry accounts for the majority of usage NOT domestic. Very close relative is a power station engineer. The more you use your OWN power [ solar ] the dearer grid power gets. You can't store electricity and it costs nearly the same on 'NO LOAD' as 'MAX LOAD' so efficiency of cost DEMANDS you run generators at 95% or greater. Something we CAN'T do because the lines won't TAKE IT!

Trader 23/07/10 11:55 AM Report Abuse

The ALP needs to be renamed ALPS

Another Labor Party Slogan.

WHAT a JOKE!!!

Wake up Australia. You are being CONNED.

KEVIN 07 did it and now his reincarnation is doing it as well.

Remember the 20/20 summit??? Can anyone tell us about ANYTHING that came from that??

Now we are going to have a 150 person, 12 month long summit on the greatest moral challenge of our time!!!!!!!! HA HA HA.

150 people to decide OUR future. In 4 weeks there are 10 million or so who can decide the future.

The question that needs to be asked is "WHY wont you tell them the policy Gillard BEFORE the election so the REAL people can make a decision?"

Domenic 24/07/10 10:30 AM Report Abuse

Tony you still let the jounos bring up the work choices and why can't you say " how many times do you want me to say its dead, do you think if I am PM I will bring back work choices because If I did , the party will have the same fait as the last time, we will be kick out again. We are nnot interested in only one term Australia cannot afford Labor back in and thats why workc choice is dead and please for the good of Austraila lets move on and not waste time on on this tpoic that won't ad will not happen because thats what Labor wants us to do.

JB 24/07/10 05:22 PM Report Abuse

We hear today that 58% of females will vote for Julia. Why isn't the Liberal party using Julie Bishop more in getting the party's mesage across. Her last 2 appearances on Q&A have been stunning. She has handles herself well in tricky situations and has very cleaverly showed the stupidity of many of Labor's claims.
The majority of voters I'm sure would not even realise thatn she is the deputy leader.
She is a wonderful asset - use her!

may 24/07/10 06:14 PM Report Abuse

I have been considering an idea for a while, that involves true innovation in motor transport. I believe it has possibilities even though I'm not a scientist myself. The idea is to drive cars by electromagnetism, ie using the dynamo effect of rotating magnets, in the style of a perpetual motion machine.

Naturally, it would need a starter motion like internal combustion engines do currently, but apart from that, it would require no electricity top ups, nothing. Each individual car would be self generating.

I wonder if the lack of interest in such a vehicle is because of the problem Nicola Tesla ran into 100 years ago, that Electromagnetism was rejected because it was FREE ENERGY.

Nicola Tesla is regarded by many as the most brilliant scientist of the 20Th Century and the failure to take up his ideas is seen by many as setting back science potentially 100 years.

There is renewed interest in his ideas, which involved simple CLEAN, FREE ENERGY,

When we talk about saving the planet, surely we can put aside the desires of some to make money out of energy and embark upon a program of "clean" FREE ENERGY.
This way, we would never need to mine Uranium etc.

Surely, the time has come for utilizing Tesla's ideas.

The only thing stopping it, then as now, is powerful people refuse to give cognisance to ideas involving free energy production.

I welcome comments, if anyone considers I am naive about this.

Tesla seems to be very much back in fashion these days.

geoff mallett 25/07/10 08:36 AM Report Abuse

A VOTE FOR THE GREENS IS A VOTE FOR LABOR. Don't waste time and money advertising the flaws of the Labor party,no one wants to here that! Tell the people things like, a vote for greens is a vote for labor, that work choices is dead and buried, boarder security will be fixed, there will be no carbon tax, the health system will get the boost it needs! These are just a few things i feel will cruel you in this election if you don't get it right. So far, from what i am listening to through the media, you really don't have a firm handle on any of these issues. Everyone knows what Labor has done in the past three years. They don't have to be reminded. Now convince the people of Australia who may vote independent or Greens to vote for the Lib's. This is where you have to put your time and energy.

May 25/07/10 12:53 PM Report Abuse

I am very passionate in my desire for the coalition to get back into power. One of my main reasons is to stop the prospect of carbon trading.

I have posted once in the "Stand up for Australia section.

I wanted to post about the Labor party Climate iniative. I tried and tried about 20 times. The prompt came back repeatedly telling me to re-word my piece without profanities. THERE WERE NO PROFANITIES. I removed the names of all living entities, I tweaked it here, I tweaked it there. I tried to adjust the tone because I'm very suspicious of their Climate proposal. But nothing I did made my post acceptable.

This is distressing because I want the Coalition to win. But your website is so inferior to the Labour party website that I fear you are driving people away.

May 25/07/10 12:56 PM Report Abuse

continued.....

Let me list a few problems.
Once a person's post is longer than 10 lines, it is no longer visible on my browser setting.
Secondly, the Labor party blog topics are now moving into discussion. Once registered, there is no problem making a post.
Thirdly, they have trained people there leading the discussion. They have been training continuously since before the last election. I know, because I have encountered them elsewhere on the web. They are very knowledgable in Labour policy and very skilled at being in a sense "hidden persuaders".

I have now, inspite of wanting the Coalition to win transfered my blog activity over to the Labour site. It certainly beats trying to post unsuccessfully twenty times.


I hope someone reads this and that you can effect improvements before its too late.

***

Deniser 25/07/10 06:29 PM Report Abuse

Great TV Ads tonight during 7s news........................shows the despair on the faces of the peopel of Australia.....................keep rolling ads along these lines

Snoopy 25/07/10 07:43 PM Report Abuse

Tony, You were great on the debate tonight, you won hands down , for your first time , you did so well, hope this gives you the confidence to win this election, go for it. and congratulations

jane 26/07/10 04:13 AM Report Abuse

well having taken the time and thought to make a contribution here, i see that you haven't thought fit to include what I posted. I thought carefully about everything I offered but you obviously aren't interested or don't care. Clearly my opinions or suggestions are of no value and not needed by the Liberal Party.

So i won't bother making any further contribution, and that includes monetary.

Good luck in the election. You need a lot of it.

You won't post this email. It disappoints me because I thought that lies and propaganda belonged to the Labor party

Kenneth Taylor. 26/07/10 04:21 PM Report Abuse

Hi Mr Abbott,
I once spoke to you at Mosman and we had a small discussion on DVA-TPI pensions. I know you have been bombarded about this, how ever can you out line just what the Liberals are planning for a fare and equitable pension for T.P.I's and Retired Veterans from the Armed Services? Will they be brought into line with the Old Age Pension? or remain as they are 4.5% behind the Old Age Pension?
Regards,
Kenneth Taylor.
PS, you once told me it took a brave man to take a bullet for a Politician. Mr Abbott that is part of the job, we wouldn't do it if we weren't patriotic Australians.

Disgusted 26/07/10 04:23 PM Report Abuse

Stop the boats? I'd rather stop the scaremongering.

Cynical 26/07/10 06:35 PM Report Abuse

I've tried posting various comments on this website but have been knocked back by the computer asking me to remove my "profanities", of which there were none.

By the way, it's obscenities, not profanities.

Cynical 26/07/10 06:39 PM Report Abuse

Seems as though the word "policy" is a profanity. Sigh.

Cynical 26/07/10 06:40 PM Report Abuse

Disability and education, and those two combined. What are you going to do about these if elected? Nothing on this website of any substance.

May 26/07/10 07:03 PM Report Abuse

Moving Forward, its so reminiscent of that slogan, the American Democrats used during the Clinton administration, after the Lewinsky affair. MoveOn.org: Democracy in Action. Are the Labor party trying to suggest Kevin Rudd was one great big indiscretion, like Clinton: I thought that was Bob Hawke? The idea is that we don't look back, we go into a "deep sleep" on the trail behind, littered with ALP service disaster. I think instead of "forgetting" we should look back, even further, to the Dawkin's revolution. The Dawkins Revolution was a series of Australian tertiary education reforms instituted by the then Labor Education Minister (1987–92) John Dawkins in the Hawke and Keating administrations. The idea was to forget about what might be good for Australia and focus on how to keep the Labor party in power, forever. Some bright spark, must have been Barry Jones ( fall guy for everything ) decided the population had to be more educated, then they would vote Labor? Well how did that one go guys? They closed down all the tertiary training colleges and turned them into Universities. They applied slash and burn to Trade schools. Yes that's right, good excuse for skilled immigration, hey, because they decimated the skills base of Australia. They now are talking about skills training again, as if they invented it. You can do that sort of thing in fairy tales. I was reminded last night, in the debate, when I heard Julia Gillard's insincerity, laid on with a trowel, of the croaking witch in Snow white and the seven dwarfs, trying to coax snow white into eating the apple that would make her sleep for a hundred years. Similarly, the serpent in the Garden of Eden........I wonder if Tony Abbott, could be that Prince, who might waken "Australia" again to a new and better future?

Rachel 26/07/10 07:50 PM Report Abuse

All I can say is that no-one has mentioned the housing bubble. Housing in this country is at crisis point. Rents are massive and purchasing a home is obscenely expensive. In fact I work in retail and am going to loose my job in a few months. Our company is winding down and shutting down many shops around the country. This is because housing now sucks the blood out of every other industry except maybe the banks and real estate agents. I work in a massive Sydney plaza and many many retailers and food shops are in the same boat. The customers tell me that after the mortgage nothing is left. If this continues we will have to increase immigration to keep house price growth forever rising. We will have to say goodbye to retail and decent food. This bubble is making our country financially unstable and I don't really understand why it has to be this way because if we have a lot of anything in this country it is land.

patricia 27/07/10 07:47 AM Report Abuse

Regarding Gillards promise to build a rail line to Redcliffe:Ah ! those Queenslanders are jokers.She probably identified the rail line from one of her favoured "focus groups".This has been promised by different politicians for decades.In fact,in local parlance (if something is highly unlikely)-"as likely as a rail line to Redcliffe"It will never be built.Patricia

mail 27/07/10 09:59 AM Report Abuse

you suck

Steve Edgtton 27/07/10 05:13 PM Report Abuse

One thing I noted from the great debate on Sunday night was that Tony Abbott was "Fair Dinkum" since he did actually say such a number of times during the debate
but don't get me wrong I am being quite serious and complimentary here.
Every time Tony Abbott mentioned "Fair Dinkum" and a "Fair Dinkum Go" it was a positive.
Even Julia Gillard upped the ante and raised Tony Abbott, by throwing in her own "Fair Dinkum" but to me that was just straight plagiarising.
I truly reckon Tony Abbott is onto something with a "Fair Dinkum Go" (seriously).
You never know but some sort of "Fair Dinkum Go" slogan for Tony Abbott might just work like the "It's Time" slogan did for Gough Whitlam ??
I'm not saying quite to the effect that "It's Time" had on that election back in the '70s but certainly I think that a "Fair Dinkum Go" is a definite vote winner.
Especially with a current Labor Government that have NOT giving the electorate a "Fair Dinkum Go" ever since 2007 !!
That's my thoughts from the debate, anyhow.
So I'm saying this for the cause because I don't want another 3-4 years of Hard Labor !!

Patricia 27/07/10 05:38 PM Report Abuse

Further to my previous comments on the "redcliffe" rail,I have just realized that Ms Gillard was actually very clever (?tricky) in her empty promise.She managed to include 3 marginal seats.The pigs are certainly flying in Queensland-hope the electorate isn't "conned" like it was with Ms Bligh in the State election.Patricia

Sparky. 27/07/10 05:53 PM Report Abuse

I can go back a few years to when Old Man Gogh, said "We will build a rail like to Red Cliff when elected." I think, but could be wrong, that people are still waiting for he train.
Come on Tony do the right thing by the people.
"Be a Man and Defend the Land. Vote Liberal!"

patricia 27/07/10 08:19 PM Report Abuse

Oh my goodness Ms Gillard,I can't believe you're playing the gender card by proxy-like a "dorothy dixer".You even have Uncle Bob (Brown) coming out-no offence intended-in your defence.I understand you're "in" the upcoming Australian Womens Weekly with quite a "spread"!Shades of Cheryl Kernot.Pleeeease spare us.Such hypocrisy.You can't have it both ways, or can you?

rod cuevas 28/07/10 03:28 AM Report Abuse

Good work and please note that Arcadia School NSW does not have a hall, however two classrooms were replaced instead at the same cost of a hall.

patricia 28/07/10 11:44 AM Report Abuse

Details of the Redcliffe rail have emerged.Anna Bligh has pledged $300,000,000.00.I thought she had to sell assets because Qld is broke.The Moreton Bay Council will have to cough up $105,000,000.00-don't know if they've agreed to this.Guess where the majority of council money comes from?RATES! I was initially disappointed with the coalition "me too"ing on the issue but then I remembered that "me too"ing worked very well for Rudd in '07.Patricia

Jack. 28/07/10 03:10 PM Report Abuse

Ok. how are you going to stop the boat people? move them at gunpoint back to their country? shoot them when their in our waters? seriously. There isnt a logistically reasonable solution to this problem.

Wallace 28/07/10 04:33 PM Report Abuse

Tony, I think it is about time you made a commitment to transport infrastructure in regional areas. We suffer heavy transports carrying goods which should be transported by rail, but the NSW Labor party has seen fit to 'suspend' most of our branch lines so in the absence of rail we have trucks, hardly a day goes by without some truck related accident. Labor is going to introduce a carbon tax which will damage the economy, a good start to reducing emissions would be to get freight back on the rails. Trucks contribute 12% greenhouse gases per Km Tonne rail .3%. Politics gets in the way of common sense every time. Over to you

Spencer Moss 29/07/10 11:59 AM Report Abuse

well im voting labor.

Arthur Baker 29/07/10 12:27 PM Report Abuse

Your slogan "turn the boats around" is just empty rhetoric. Your spokesparrot Morrison says three conditions would need to be fulfilled before you would turn boats around: (1) the boat must be seaworthy (2 and 3) the country to which you are returning them must be willing to receive them and promise not to refoule them to the country they fled.

You know as well as anyone that these three conditions would almost never be fulfilled. Even in the unlikely event that the occupants didn't disable the boat, good luck persuading Indonesia to take them back and promise not to send them back home. Why would Indonesia accept your dictating terms to them, any more than Australia would allow Jakarta to dictate policy to us?

Stop trying to make yourself look tough when you are fully aware of the unlikeliness of ever really turning a boat around. Face up to your responsibilities under the UN Refugee Convention and start treating refugees like the human beings they are. Your stance on this matter brings shame on Australia.

Richard 31/07/10 04:54 PM Report Abuse

Do I have to join the armed forces to get my teeth fixed?

Mr Moriarty 31/07/10 05:00 PM Report Abuse

Some of the comments on this site suggest that - having some sort of IQ test before people are allowed the right to vote, would be to of great benefit to Australia's future.

Christine 31/07/10 05:15 PM Report Abuse

I think Liberal voters just don't the idea of a woman running the country.
Women may get the number 2 job - but not the position of Prime Minister.

Snoopy 01/08/10 07:41 PM Report Abuse

Tony, At long last we have a politician who has some morals and respect, your comments about using the F word are long overdue, as our society seems to lack morals and respect , you have started the ball rolling , thank you so much, please keep it up
Christine, I resent your comments about Liberal voters, I would vote Liberal no matter who was leader, male or female.

David 01/08/10 08:09 PM Report Abuse

Excellent message and great plan. We simply can't afford another 3 years of Labor. For my grandparents on the pension, for my hard-working colleagues and for everyone who pays tax, I'm Voting Liberal. Great campaign Tony - you're making me very proud to be Australian. Good luck!

may puttock 01/08/10 08:51 PM Report Abuse

Kevin Rudd is an honourable man !

I wish Kevin Rudd a speedy recovery, but one must deal with facts in a timely manner and clearly, the form of words, uttered by Wayne Swan, Julia Gillard and Tanya Plibersek this week are a reference to the Mark Anthony speech in Julius Caesar. Brutus has been persuaded by the more malevolent conspirators lead by Cassius, to be the one to knife Caesar.

Mark Antony:
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him;
The evil that men do lives after them,
The good is oft interred with their bones,
So let it be with Caesar ... The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answered it ...
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest,
(For Brutus is an honourable man;
So are they all; all honourable men)
Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral ...
He was my friend, faithful and just to me:
But Brutus says he was ambitious;
And Brutus is an honourable man…

The brilliance of the speech is that Mark Antony is both able to express his grief while confronting a crowd that is against him and on the side of the conspirators who killed Caesar. I personally detect in this that some people are positioning themselves if Kevin Rudd is able to make a return.

In literature we see the basic plot line of the innocent victim being
wrongfully harmed and eventually, often with considerable effort and ingenuity, either the victim himself or some third party finally succeed in punishing the perpetrator. This is a plot device used by Shakespeare frequently showing how the victim becomes perpetrator in an endless cycle of violence.

It is the theme of just war theory, and the psychology of revenge that, “hurt people, hurt people”.

Trader 02/08/10 09:10 AM Report Abuse

Please Tony, Tell the people of Australia, that even if (HIGHLY doubtful) the ALP bring the budget into surplus in 2013 the DEBT will still be there. The average ALP voter seems to think that if the budget is in surplus then the debt is paid off. THIS MUST be explained in the simplest of terms

may puttock 02/08/10 10:53 AM Report Abuse

The Political parties, especially the ALP needs to get up to speed with the current Social Theory:

Ilya Pri.go.gine won the Nobel prize for Che.mistry in 1977. So what you might say? Well, the point is it completely tra.nsfo.rmed all social theory, the tran.sformation is a work in progress. Whether you realise it or not, the slogan, "Moving Forward" is an exemplar of Prigogine's opus! "Moving Forward" is to Prigogine, what E=MC2 is to Einstein.

Prigogine's book, "The End of Certainty" explains that deter.minism is no longer a viable scientific belief. He re-introduces the arrow of time to physics and prog.resses to chaos theory and the concept that we are always making order out of chaos. This theory has had a huge impact on all social sciences, systems and theory.

Under this theory we know the ire.lev.ance of pointing to a person's beliefs in the old epoch, we are in tran.sition out of that epoch. Tony Abbott's religious beliefs 20 years ago, do not and can never define him in the current context. He has "moved on" to a new gestalt. We are all collectively in social evolution and it is absolutely "correct" that we change our minds and that we tran.sform over time.

The point that I have been making about the Dawkin's Education revolution is that, Prigogine's ideas were
" PEAKING" in fashion-ability then. The ALP set out to capture the future vote with the Dawkins plan, to destroy manufacturing and trade training and set in place the building blocks of univ.ersal University education, seeking to ride a wave into the future. But, as Prigogine war.ned the future cannot be deter.mined, just as Climate cannot be determined by models, the World is a chaotic system and any ordering is time dependant and will inevitably collapse.

christine 02/08/10 03:35 PM Report Abuse

Snoopy only the Labour Party has made a woman Prime Minister.

Div2010 02/08/10 03:47 PM Report Abuse

Despite his rise Tony had trouble sleeping - his dreams were filled with nightmares of a Brown man with a Green hat controlling his beloved Senate.
"The best laid plans of mice and men!"

Richard 02/08/10 04:26 PM Report Abuse

Mr T - In your first term why not raise a "brown army" from the unemployed to fill in the holes left by the miners - after they have sold all the minerals to China?

Garry 02/08/10 09:01 PM Report Abuse

Tony,
Why don't you make more of the fact that Labor (along with the Greens) are planning to close off virtually the whole Australian coastline to fishing. I'll bet that the Labor voters who like to fish will change their minds in a big hurry if they know this is coming

may puttock 03/08/10 12:23 PM Report Abuse

Asylum Seeker Issue:

The Four Corners program, Monday 2 August, 2010, at 8.30 pm highlights that people smuggling has once again become big business in Indonesia with corruption at all levels of the Indonesian Government and criminals facilitating the people smuggling business. I think this timely program will show that siting a UNHCR hub in East Timor will be a disaster for the region. The UNHCR has currently given approval to two Iraqi People smugglers to be accepted by Australia. They are just waiting in Indonesia for resettlement. The development of the East Timor solution would make East Timor a magnet in the region for economic refugees and take all decision making out of Australia’s hands and give it to the UNHCR. It would further promote the corruption that Sarah Ferguson has uncovered.

Please refer to this article in the West Australian Newspaper: Labor and Liberals in same boat on asylum By Andrew Probyn July 30th, 2010, 12:41 pm http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/opinion/post/-/blog/theburningissue/post/1272/comment/1

Four Corners:
Smugglers' Paradise: 8:30pm Monday, August 02 2010

Sarah Ferguson reports on Australia's border security, and exposes corruption inside Indonesia's immigration system.
Repeats of this program • 11:40pm Tue, August 03 on ABC1 • 10:00pm Fri, August 06 on ABC News 24 • 2:00pm Sat, August 07 on ABC News 24 Also available on iView for four weeks at abc.net.au/iview.

Mental health, infrastructure, overcrowding is obviously a part of this, when immigration, from people smuggler's has increased by 800 % in the last year and immigration has been running at 400,000 for many years. I am not seeking to trivialize any of these issues, everything is connected, of course.

One has to consider, the devastation of the Dawkins Revolution, plus the effects of too too rapid immigration have wrought on our communities. Particularly for young people, resulting in unemployment, homelessness and drug and alcohol abuse.

Keeping these issues off the table, so they slip by the gaze of the Australian electors is no way to begin solving the problems.

may puttock 03/08/10 02:29 PM Report Abuse

THERE WAS BI-PARTISAN AGREEMENT TO A FREETRADE AGREEMENT WITH AMERICA.

Kenneth Davidson wrote in 2004 that a free trade deal with America would stunt Australia's growth in matters of intellectual property rights, agriculture and intrusion into our pharmaceutical benefits scheme. He says: It might be more accurate to describe the deal between the Howard Government and the Bush Administration as a bloodless coup rather than a free trade agreement. The agreement involves a voluntary surrendering of a large chunk of Australia's national sovereignty in policy areas such as investment, intellectual property rights, services and government procurement, for very little return in terms of opening the US market for Australian goods where Australia has a clear competitive advantage.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/08/11/1092102518345.html

Well, the results are in: These FTAs are never about free trade from an American point of view. They are about creating another opportunity to strong-arm smaller countries into granting trade concessions to large American businesses. You only have to ask the Australian sugar farmers about the Australian FTA with America to find out how good that was. American sugar interests blocked sugar from the deal. American drug companies tried to shut down Australia's version of Pharmac. Australia's exporters have hardly benefited from the deal. Australian Bureau of Statistics trade data shows that Australian exports to the United States rose 0.9 per cent in the first five years of its FTA with America. That compares with export growth in the previous 10 years of 105 per cent and import growth from America of 8.5 per cent in the first 5 years of the deal. Get the picture? The Australian FTA with America failed to significantly increase exports to America. In fact, export growth already happening was stunted to almost nothing. But on the other side of the ledger, American imports to Australia continued to grow.

Bernard Hickey http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10633801

may puttock 03/08/10 02:57 PM Report Abuse

The AGE, keeps us up-to-Date, from time to time, on the secret trade free-for-all. The new glo.ba.li.sa.tion wave in the form of free trade in production, where even labour is treated as a commodity, is promoted by leading industrial nations - Japan, the US and Europe - according to how it advances the interests of their trans-national corporations…..The new trade agreements are fundamentally undemocratic. This is a long quote, but people should be aware. It is similar to how Climate change legislation will be structured, but more secret.

The negotiations are conducted in secret and the agreements are structured in a way that will make it virtually impossible for future governments to rescind agreements that are found to be unpopular. Hence the secrecy surrounding the negotiations of the new Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), which began in Melbourne two weeks ago.

The agreement is designed to replace a number of individual bilateral free trade agreements with an agreement embracing Australia, the US, NZ, Chile, Singapore, Brunei, Peru and Vietnam. As the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network - which represents a wide range of union, church, health, environment and pensioner groups - points out, US business wants to dismantle the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, local-content rules for the media, labelling of GE food, regulation of foreign investment and government purchasing policies that support local employment.
They also want an investor complaints process that will give special rights to international corporations to sue governments for damages if legislation to protect the environment or human health undermines profitability.

The government says that all these issues ''are on the table for negotiation''. Why? Well, that's a secret. Further, any agreement made under this process will be signed off by cabinet before it is presented to parliament as a fait accompli apart from ''procedural'' matters requiring parliament legislation.
The Howard government put Australian conditions restricting the right of employers to bring to Australia temporary skilled and semi-skilled workers on the auction block to be negotiated away in return for market access for Australian exports at the Doha round of multinational trade negotiations in 2005. These negotiations are now in abeyance. Specifically, the official position is that Australia is prepared to remove the requirement for employers to search for skilled and semi-skilled labour before seeking 457 temporary visas for this kind of labour.

The unions justifiably saw this as a union-busting exercise and extracted a promise from the then Labor opposition to remove this proposal from the Australian offer to the stalled Doha round. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd agreed to this request and it was written into the ALP platform before the election.
Under the influence of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the government has made a policy decision that it will not withdraw the offer on the grounds that it would amount to ''bad faith'' if it were to do so. A former Australian prime minister, John Gorton, said that the department was infected by the puppy dog syndrome, that is: roll over and get your tummy tickled. It still is.

As this assault on national sovereignty continues, the question is whether the ''market system'' can fill the vacuum as the power of the state withers away. Certainly markets require the rule of law to function otherwise they become mafia systems, as has occurred in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, there's an uneasy feeling that nobody is in charge. The global financial crisis occurred for this reason
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/democracy-a-loser-in-trade-freeforall-20100328-r536.html

Anthony Donmall 03/08/10 02:58 PM Report Abuse

I've just read an article by Terry McCrann in today’s Courier Mail in Queensland and believe it is worthy of making more of what he says to help defeat Labour on Election Day .

Article: 'Real Julia' more than a real worry

I tried to send it to you, but wasn't allowed to post it.

You can read it on page 25 of today's Courier Mail ( August 3 )

It has some great suggestions to assist in defeating Labour at the coming Federal Election

Regards,

Anthony Donmall

Steve Sitcheff 03/08/10 03:20 PM Report Abuse

Tony mate you are doing a fantastic job I run a small engineering buisness in murarrie in brisbane KEVINS electorite mate we are doing it realy tough the worst is the last 6 months we as australians have to get rid of this Union based labour government to free up this country and get things going .Look at wet happened i W.A libs are in and going full steam ahead and in QLD we are going backwards at a rate of Knots. I honnestly believe if this mob get in i will be closing my doors as have a huge number of engineering buissness have already and are still closing weekly. I dont want to be sitting at home being paid the doll by a incompetent labour government.Keep up the great work mate and looking possitive hopefully we can all celibrate on AUG 21.

may puttock 03/08/10 05:58 PM Report Abuse

This is a long but very important quote from the AGE. It’s very important that our Leadership has the courage to stand up for Australia's long term interests.
Why is the Gillard/Rudd government entering into new fr.e.e t.r.@de negotiations with the Ob.@ ma a.dm.inistr.ation? Australia has nothing to gain except a further erosion of our sovereignty …… The U.n.i.t.e.d….S.t.@t.e.s wants to open up the rest of the world to U.n.i.t.e.d..S.t.@tes investors on a privileged basis, sanctioned by binding international agreements, and backed up by domestic laws (including cr.i.m.i.nal laws to protect intellectual property rights)…..

One way or another, the U.n..i..t.e.d…S.t@.t.e.s has been trying to shape the world along the lines of the North @m.e.r.i.c.a.n Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the US and Mexico, even though this agreement is electoral poi.son in all three countries. O.b.@. M.a was ele.ct.ed on a promise to a.b.an.don the B.u.s.h administration's free trade strategy and even roll back some of the more obnoxious provisions in the North American template for the rest of the world……

"The ce.ntral aim of the strategy (insofar as W.a.l.l.. Street and "big pharma" is concerned) — to get C.h.i.n.a, Japan and ASEAN countries to come on board in North American-style fr.e.e tr@de agre.ements — seems likely to fail. In all these countries, govern.ment plays a stra.tegic role in econ.omic development, and while export-led growth has been a ha.ll.m.ar.k of the A.s.i.a.n economic miracle, opening up their domestic economies has been very much on their terms.

These co.unt.ries haven't forgotten that the ones that did best during the A.s.i.@n finan.cial crisis in 1997 were the ones that resisted pressure from the US and the Inter.na.t.io.nal Mo.ne.tary Fund to open up their financial markets.
So why is the Rudd government on board this latest bandwagon?


c.o.n.t.i.n.......

may puttock 03/08/10 06:15 PM Report Abuse

It is only six years since the f.r.e.e tr@de agr.e.e.ment with the U.n.i.t.e.d…S.t.@t.es was made.

Where is the evidence that it has made Austr@lia better off?

There is none.


C.O.N.T.I.N..........

may puttock 03/08/10 06:17 PM Report Abuse

And what are the chances that Austr@lia could renegotiate the agreement to get better access to the U.n.i.t.e.d…St.@.t.es market for agri.cu..l.t.r.al com.mo.dities such as sugar, beef or dairy products?

The realistic answer again is z.i.l.c.h, unless Australia is prepared to erode its sovereignty even further.



CONTIN.............

may puttock 03/08/10 06:19 PM Report Abuse

The prime responsibility for negotiations lies with Australia's amb@s.s.ador in Washington, Kim Beazley, and Trade Minister Simon Crean;

they are all at sea.

Both said last week ''everything is on the table for negotiation''. R.u.b.b.i.s.h.


CONTIN........

May 03/08/10 06:32 PM Report Abuse

Even the H.o.w.@rd government refused to..go all..the..way with the

U.n.i.t.e.d..St.@.t.es and sign an agreement allo.w.ing companies to directly s.u.e the

Australian government if it intro.duced health or environme.n.tal regulations that

affected their pro.fit.ability, or to effectively de.s.troy the Pharma.ceutical Benefits

Scheme, which keeps the price of d.r.u.g.s in Australia to a third to a tenth that of the

same d.r.u.g.s… in…..A.meric@.



c.o.n.t.i.n.........

may puttock 03/08/10 06:53 PM Report Abuse

It... isn't.. in... @u.s.t.r@.li@'s... i.n.t.e.rests... to.. put... these...so.ve.r.e.i.gn.... i.s.s.u.es.... up........ for...a.u.c.ti.o.n.... s.i.x.... y.e.a.r.s...l.a.ter.

The p.u.b.L.i.c interest doesn't cha.nge that qui.ckly.

may puttock 03/08/10 06:54 PM Report Abuse

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/weve-nothing-to-gain-from-us-trade-deal-20100321-qo2v.html

may puttock 03/08/10 06:57 PM Report Abuse

Anthony Donmall ,

Anthony I loved the article. I can understand the p.r.o.b.l.e.m.s in posting anything p.o.l.i.t.i.c.@.l here...........I have been here for ages again trying to finish my post.

I might try for you......but????

may puttock 03/08/10 07:00 PM Report Abuse

Spotlight on the 'real Julia'

Terry McCrann

From: Herald Sun August 03, 2010 12:00AM

Amusing article, and ab...so.lu...tely "c.o.r.....r.e....c.t" in my view...


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/business/terry-mccranns-column/spotlight-on-the-real-julia/story-e6frfig6-1225900257700

Anthony Donmall 03/08/10 08:49 PM Report Abuse

Thanks May...

If you want to read the Article by Terry McCrann, there is now a link on the Liberal Party website homepage. Look for the ""W.HAT O.THERS A.RE S.AYING" heading and follow the link to the article.

It's well worth reading... if you are concerned about the direction that the A.ustralian L.a.b.o.u.r P.a.r.t.y is taking A.ustralia.

may puttock 04/08/10 10:23 AM Report Abuse

Ross Gitten's today, comments on the "big Australia".

One thing he praises Kevin Rudd for, is that he has revealed the "big secret", shrouded in mystery, to the elites in the City, but no longer capable of being hidden in the Western suburbs.

c.on.t.i.n..........

may puttock 04/08/10 10:26 AM Report Abuse

I quote from G.it.ten's article today in the AGE.

Something significant has happened in this hollow, populist election campaign: the long-standing bipartisan support for strong population growth - Big Australia - has collapsed. Though both sides imagine they're merely conning the punters, it's hard to see how they'll put Humpty Dumpty together again. Which will be no bad thing.

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/stop-beating-about-the-bush-and-talk-about-big-australia-20100803-115bg.html?autostart=1

c.o.n.t............

may puttock 04/08/10 10:29 AM Report Abuse

SORRY

READ THE ARTICLE YOURSELVES..............I keep getting the posting problem.

Georgia 04/08/10 04:51 PM Report Abuse

A major issue facing Australia is the serious threat to our land and resources from overseas interests, especially those linked to the Chinese Communist Government. Young people are very worried about access to housing and land. ASIO is warning about dangerous cyber attacks by people working for the Chinese Government.

First let me assure you - these concerns do not involve discrimination or bias against Chinese culture or individual Chinese people, many of whom have made a significant contribution to Australia throughout their lives, and often their parents and grandparents before them.

We naturally support the growth of the Australian economy and overseas trade and especially recognise the importance of China as an international trading partner. But in Australia the relationship has gone steps too far:

 Mainland Chinese business interests, which are generally state-owned or closely linked to the Chinese Communist Government, have been paying inflated prices for Australian land, residential and commercial properties and direct investment in Australian businesses, especially mining, agriculture, timber and even stealing our precious coral. Escalating land prices have seriously impacted the property market, putting home ownership out of the reach of several generations of young Australians.
 Food security is very high on the Chinese agenda. It has established large agricultural parks in Cuba, Laos, Mexico and the Philippines in which the food is grown overseas by Chinese interests and sent to China. It has targeted Australia and New Zealand as important food sources with little, if any, direct benefit for the local economy.
 Our food quality is being threatened following the successful influence of Chinese interests. The decision to allow the import Chinese apples is very perplexing.
 Vague guidelines for the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) are exacerbating these problems. Read the interview with John Phillips and Ali Moore on Lateline earlier this year. It is very worrying how loose the rules are.

These concerns are specifically about the well documented and rapidly growing influence of a non-elected Chinese Communist Government on Australia economically, financially and politically.

Please make protection of Australian land, food and resources a very high priority. My vote and that of a significant number of acquaintances, especially young people depends on your approach.

may puttock 04/08/10 05:32 PM Report Abuse

Georgia,

This is very topical and you are absolutely correct to fore-shadow these developments, in my opinion.

On Lateline business, the last week, they had a series, highlighting Food Security.

They said the Foreign Investment Review Board does not look at any foreign acquisitions under $235 million, from memory. Most Australian farms, are not Cubby Station, they are small holdings, according to Liberal Senator, Bill Heffernan, Australia may become the target of other countries, such as China looking for good agricultural land holdings adjacent to water courses to boost their own food security. Monsanto has already bought large tracts in the Kimberly and elsewhere.

Monsanto and Dupont have also bought up huge tracts of arable land in Africa for GM agriculture. The Bill and Melinda Gates foundation through AGRA (including Monsanto, Dupont, David Rockerfeller, George Soros, Ted Turner, Bill Clinton and trump card Kofi Annan ) are set to basically, neo-colonize AFRICA, for a new Green revolution.

This is something Australia should be more alert to. It was suggested on Lateline business, the limits for the Foreign Investment Review board should be reduced, way down, to say, 1 million because most farms are valued around this level.

may puttock 04/08/10 06:30 PM Report Abuse

This is a separate question, but it is interesting to note, that the highly reported changes to foriegn investment in Australian residential property was only a curtailment of second hand houses, ie existing dwellings.

Although the foreign investment rules for residential real estate were tightened for existing houses on 28 April, 2010, because higher foreign purchasing power was creating a rapid increase in house prices, it is largely unknown that Off-the Plan sales to foreigners was not affected, as long as only 50% of the units are sold to foreigners.

A developer of residential units and houses can obtain approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board to pre-sell such properties without the need to obtain the Board’s specific approval to each purchase in the following circumstances:


http://www.rs.realestate.com.au/review/may06/article3.html

may puttock 04/08/10 06:35 PM Report Abuse

I know this will be unpopular thing for me to say, here but I think Tony Abbott’s paid parental leave is a potential vote changer, in favour of Julia Gillard. My reason for considering voting Liberal is because of the Climate change issue, in that, I think it is a beat up, to achieve ends, unrelated to Climate.

Tony Abbott’s dealings with the CapeYork peninsular aboriginals makes him appear compassionate and as The Australian, would have it, a conviction politician. The paid parental leave scheme and a few of the recent gaffs, however, make Tony Abbott seem like a complacent middle class person, who would not have a clue about the so-called, “Howard battlers”.

The reality of a “centre party” today is that it has to appeal across all classes. Paid parental leave is, in so far as I understand it, almost universal in European countries and certainly in the Australian context, seems desirable to encourage all women to have children , that want them. However, it is said that most big corporate workplaces already have it. Talented women on high salaries, in other than big corporate situations, who have high commitment to their jobs are unlikely to take the full 6 months, anyway, even if it is paid ( consistent with their salary ) out of loyalty to the company. The reality of high salaries is a two way commitment, high pressure to keep up and remain committed to the job.

Further, it looks like “middle class welfare”.

The John Howard Government became very unpopular for looking after the top end, with middle class welfare. I think there could be a lot of resentment to paying top end salaries to women to have 6 month paid parental leave, out of general revenue, which is the proposal , I understand, once the budget is back in surplus.


I have not looked at the complaints of business yet, but it could erode opportunities for women of child bearing age and is a policy that will play into ALP calls of the resentment for lower paid women.


What do others think?

Roger 04/08/10 11:11 PM Report Abuse

Mr A- Big Ears Looking for Noddy in Toyland.

penguin 05/08/10 11:22 AM Report Abuse

i read most off the comments in this page and i belive you ppl are more worried about who get in and who gets out
we have a bigger anemy on australia and thats the anemy within masqarading as a religion that wants to take over australia with the sharia law and most of you ppl are asleep
we have an enemy within do something about that please before its too late

may puttock 05/08/10 01:07 PM Report Abuse

J.U.L.I.A Gilla.rd will ra.id $448 million to help pay for ele.ction com.mitm.ents from a savings sch.eme ea.r.ma.rked for IT projects.

c.o.n.t.i.n...

may puttock 05/08/10 01:10 PM Report Abuse

L.a.b.o.r said it would save more than $1 billion over four years from a bold plan to

c.o.n.t........

may puttock 05/08/10 01:14 PM Report Abuse

d.r.i..ve... ef..fic.ie..nc.i.es in... p.u.b.l.i.c.... se.ctor I.C.T

p..r.oc.ur.em.ent.... and.. op.era.tio.nal..... reform.



c.o.n.t..........

may puttock 05/08/10 01:16 PM Report Abuse

British effici.e.ncy expert Peter Ge.rs.h.on was en.ga.ged in 2008 to sp.e.arh.e.a.d the program. Following his recom.mendation, more than half of the money saved was fun.n.el.led into an IT business-as-usual rei.nve.stm.ent fund.

The Prime Minister will divert $447.5m of the money being set aside over the four years to help meet Labor's com.m.it.ment to returning the budget to su.rpl.us.

c.o.n.t...........

may puttock 05/08/10 01:17 PM Report Abuse

The balance of the fund, around $557m, will be used as expected; Labor will not ren.ege on its budget ple.dge giving 20 agencies funding for 44 tech.nol.ogy projects.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/government/gillard-raids-gershon-it-fund/story-fn4htb9o-1225901276850

This in addition to the Dividend from Medibank Private?

One wonders if the haste to manufacture funds may do more harm than good?

may puttock 05/08/10 01:20 PM Report Abuse

That is the $300 m.i.l.l.i.o.n......dividend the Lab..or party has ra..i..ded from Medibank

Pri.va.te for Ele..ct.ion pl.ed..ges.

Betty 05/08/10 07:05 PM Report Abuse

Penguin is right. We have to preserve the Australia that our ancestors fought for and protected from destruction. The way this country has developed is thanks to battling Aussies and those who have come here and love Australia as their home. Please make sure the people who sacrificed their lives and their health to protect Australia didn't do so in vain. What shame and sadness they would feel to think they put their lives and health in jeopardy for this country to be in control of those who want to change our freedom and way of life. If people want to come here and have a better life then embrace what is here. If it is not good enougt, go back from where you came

may puttock 05/08/10 09:09 PM Report Abuse

Betty I am sorry to change the subject. I am concerned the Labor party will ramp up pressure on the ABBOTT campaign in the last week.

In my opinion Kevin Rudd’s return to the campaign indicates that the drama will continue with a lot more pressure and theatrics being put on Tony Abbott. The constant mantra is that Tony Abbott should not “slide in” to the Prime Minister ship without “ SCRUTINY”, on his plans for the economy. It looks like backroom people and Labor friends have convinced Kevin Rudd that he is the only thing that stands in the way of ALP Defeat. The ego boost has worked. I think Labor HQ will welcome Rudd taking the spotlight off Gillard, the more she is exposed, the less she is liked. In my view the ganging up on Tony Abbott by the media will only grow now. I noted today that Paul Kelly of the Australian is calling for Tony Abbott to debate the ALP on the Economy. Further Rupert Murdoch is reserving his opinion at this stage. It seems to me that pressure will be brought from all quarters for further debates. Kevin Rudd, being asked to save the day will no doubt be turned into a kind of “honeymoon” by the media, in the week before the election, if they can get away with it. If he does not return to the Leadership, he will no doubt take on a Secretary of State, type of up-graded, Foreign Minister.

John McLennan 05/08/10 09:58 PM Report Abuse

Labor keeps talking about its economic credentials during the GFC. But most of this was made possible by the surplus left by Howard/Costello. However, I am surprised that the LNP is not pushing this point harder to correct the false picture being painted by Labor

Nico 06/08/10 12:36 AM Report Abuse

Run for your lives my pretties - the Ruddbot is back!
Heh! Heh!

Trader 06/08/10 09:44 AM Report Abuse

So the audit into the BER comes out today.

I'll bet London to a brick that they find NOTHING wrong.

Why??

Because an auditor will look at whether the contract was fulfilled. i's dotted and t's crossed nothing more nothing less.

Its a little like your $10,000 carport.

It was built. It was built to a standard. It was inspected and signed off on. Parties were paid. Contract was finalised.
Finished!!

The problem with that is that you just paid $50,000 for the job.

An audit does not check VALUE for money. It will check contractual obligations.

Gillard will come out looking roses, that is why she is keen for it to be released.

The Libs need to attack the VALUE aspect of the projects and use simple comparisons (like the carport) and how because you were stupid enough to pay $50,000 for a $10,000 job, your mortgage has just gone out for another 25 years.

may puttock 06/08/10 12:25 PM Report Abuse

I don't think you could say its Gameover!!

the ALP is shoring up its defences and bringing in the metaphoric "Gun boats".

Now we have two Prime Ministers fighting the feisty Lycra clad Tony ABBOTT, they must think he is superman, fighting for truth and justice and the Australian way.

No sucking up to foreign leaders and selling Australia down the proverbial gurgler for Tony. Tony is no soft touch, for those Globalist boosters and tax grabbers. He won't sell off our "peripheral economy" for the sake of 5 minutes of fame on the World stage like, Kevin Rudd and Tony Blair. Nor, mis-manage programs that result in deaths and rip-offs like Julia. So the ALP is now bringing in the Blair spinmeister extraordinaire to run the election campaign. Maybe this is why they are raiding the IT fund and Medibank private? But will this British spinmeister, who could not prevent Blair being chucked out of UK Labor, hold the tide against Tony, our own Aussi superhero?

may puttock 06/08/10 01:19 PM Report Abuse

If Tony Abbott can take a step back from the Global Compact/ the UN, control of everything, if he can keep us out of the Climate Change political program, he would be doing super human feats. Nobody else has had the courage. Every other leader has had the frighteners put on them with the old line-----you will get left behind.

Do you know what the truth is?

Spain jumped in early and has been the most innovative country and now it is a basket case, next on the list for Sovereign debt after Greece. DON'T be fooled by the UN GLOBALIST agenda of the Climate changers. it is JUST ONE PART of a political program to unify all countries under Global Central control. If China and Russia accept this, it indicates how it will work! Know what I mean?

Tony is no soft touch, for those Globalist boosters and tax grabbers. He won't sell off our "peripheral economy" for the sake of 5 minutes of fame on the World stage like, Kevin Rudd and Tony Blair.


Picking the low-hanging fruit first

by Brian Bahnisch

The distinguished American scholar Immanuel Wallerstein sees multilateral trade negotiations as a means for the core economies of the world, North America, Europe and North Asia, to open the peripheral economies to trade and investment, while protecting their own.

The US FTA - always a silly idea

Returning to Wallerstein, it is interesting to contemplate whether we are truly a core country, commanding the heights of capitalist power. I tend to think that even now we are just across the border in Wallerstein's intermediate category, the semi-periphery. If we enter the FTA there is no doubt in my mind that we will lose some capacity to transact or to exert influence (let alone power) across the board.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/29/1091080379622.html

This has happened, in the five years of the FTA, Australia's trade with America has grown 0.9% compared with growth of 105% running up to the 2004 FTA. America's trade toAustralia has grown significantly.

BE AWARE!

may puttock 06/08/10 01:23 PM Report Abuse

Oh dear,

Left a bit out:

This has happened, in the five years of the FTA, Australia's trade with America has grown 0.9% compared with growth of 105% in the Ten years running up to the 2004, when the FTA, was signed.. America's trade to Australia has grown significantly.

BE AWARE!

may puttock 06/08/10 01:55 PM Report Abuse

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is unrepentant about her government's Building the Education Revolution (BER) scheme, despite a finding it inflated building costs by up to 12 per cent.

-------------But Ms Gillard is unapologetic about the program, saying she would do it again to save the country from recession.....

AAP

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/national/7718884/gillard-would-instate-ber-again/

Looks like she has not read the economic accounts that it was the flexible currency and lowering of interest rates that saved Australia from ANY? GFC effects!

I guess it is in her interests to remain in denial, that the stimulus packages were pretty much irrelevant......

may puttock 06/08/10 10:24 PM Report Abuse

It is not my position to second guess Malcolm Fraser and his comments today but I have studied his position before and I would say his involvement with CARE Australia places him firmly in the NGO movement. I would guess his position is not far remeved from Tim Costello. These people believe they are the spearhead of the humanitarian movement BUT they don't realise that they are being corralled and used.

To belong to an NGO does not give one superior status in the humanitarian stakes, although these people think it does. I would suggest reading Christopher Hitchen's Mother Theresa, or just being observant about where the tentacles of the NGO'S, the UN and power stuctures collide, is a beginning to understanding.

I welcome Tony ABBOTT'S conservatism, only those who are suspicious of Globalism can chart our way out of the impasse we are in.

See Malcolm Fraser's comments:



http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/liberals-not-ready-to-govern-malcolm-fraser-says/story-fn59niix-1225902025333

Tony 06/08/10 11:41 PM Report Abuse

Any other Liberals out there with a point of view besides May Puttock?

Nico 06/08/10 11:47 PM Report Abuse

Big Ears was happy! He hadn't found Noddy - but his friend Little Johnny had come to help him battle Joolia and the Ruddbot

Bill 06/08/10 11:53 PM Report Abuse

I think Tony will win because he is just what Australia deserves!

JC 06/08/10 11:57 PM Report Abuse

Looking at the lack of compassion shown by most Australians I really don't understand why the boat people would want to come here at all?

Nico 07/08/10 08:27 AM Report Abuse

The unemployed in Toyland were becoming increasingly nervous. It was a well known fact that Big Ears had a history of head- kicking the socially disadvantaged. His friends loved the idea of being ultra strict and punishing those without jobs or money.
The only things that mattered to Big Ears and his friends was self and wealth.
Once he became mayor Big Ears was determined to bring back the stick - the poor did not deserve carrots.

Dingo Dan 07/08/10 08:55 AM Report Abuse

Tony - all the Twits are Twittering on Twitter. The combination of fluoride in the water, chemicals in the food and pollution in the air has succeeded in lowering the national IQ
levels to double digit figures.

Nico - I think your slogan is great for the Liberals - "Self and Wealth" - sums them up in three words.

I look forward to a hung parliament _ Bob Katter will be like a breath of fresh air in that dreary place.

Darryl 07/08/10 10:29 AM Report Abuse

If the government of another country had been overthrown, as was Kevin by Gillard in her bloody coup, our current unelected priminister would be up in arms as it being a slur on democracy.

I trust Kevin had the knives removed from his back when he was in hospital. If he is to support her in her campaign I hope that he stands beside her and not in front of her. He must still be under the infuence of the anesthetics to support her nyway.

Good luck Tony. It will be good to have a Priminister elected by the people for the people

Ruth 07/08/10 11:11 AM Report Abuse

Why not rename the Liberal party and it's supporters "The United Whingers Party of Australia?"

Ian Rhodes 07/08/10 11:11 AM Report Abuse

Your party is partly funded by money donated by tobacco companies.
Cigarettes kill you - full stop. The acceptance of money from scum that push harmful addictive products like this has permanently tainted your brand. You deserve to stay in opposition.

Victim of hate crime 07/08/10 03:39 PM Report Abuse

What can the Liberal's do to stop hate crimes in Australia? Can they make a law to stop White Power types before they become national problem? Can they put these jokers who hide behind the white struggle political banner (possible with arm struggle-Racial Holy War-this is what people like Dr.Jim Saleam is teaching young kids on www.stormfront.org) in some sort of terrorist list.
I’m speaking on behalf of hate crime victims of all color and sexual lifestyle in Australia. Go on Mr.T.A...
Stop the boats...i agree...but keep the ones that been here for generations safe...Fair Dinkum deal!

Digger 08/08/10 11:58 AM Report Abuse

Now TA going to jail everyone connected to boat people?
Sounds a bit like the policies of East Germany during the cold war?
Not the sort of thing we fought for during the last century.

may puttock 08/08/10 12:01 PM Report Abuse

The fact is this, the ALP has taken Australia into DEBT. The surplus will be returned around 2013, which ever Party is in power. It is not the surplus that counts. It will take until roughly, 2030 to pay off the ALP DEBT, that is without the ALP taking on any more debt during the interim----is Debt abstinence likely with the ALP?

They can argue till their blue in their faces that this DEBT was necessary---The economic historians will argue that one. It is in the past now, it has happened>>>What we need to get our heads around is the future.

We have a two speed economy, the Mining sector is the only part making money. The resulting high dollar makes everything else uncompetitive. The Rudd Government is rushing around trying to sign Free trade Agreements with everyone in Asia etc because it has been “ lured ” into the Globalist trap. I might use the word mesmerized because that sums it up, perfectly.

The FTA was a disaster for Australia, but the Rudd Government has been conned into re-negotiating it, because Rudd is desperate to walk the World stage.>>> Since the FTA was signed in 2004, Australian Bureau of Statistics trade data shows that Australian exports to the United States rose 0.9 per cent in the first five years of its FTA with America. That compares with export growth in the previous 10 years of 105 per cent and import growth from America of 8.5 per cent in the first 5 years of the deal. Get the picture? The Australian FTA with America failed to significantly increase exports to America. In fact, export growth already happening was stunted to almost nothing. But on the other side of the ledger, American imports to Australia continued to grow Bernard Hickey .

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10633801

Ross Garnaut came out last week and said Australian productivity has fallen since 2005. I wonder why? We need a much smarter Government, a Government that will put Australia first.

may puttock 08/08/10 12:04 PM Report Abuse

Picking the low-hanging fruit first
by Brian Bahnisch

The distinguished Am.eri..can scholar Immanuel Wallerstein sees multilateral trade negotiations as a means for the core economies of the world, North A.me.ri.C.a, Europe and North Asia, to open the peripheral economies to trade and investment, while protecting their own

The U...S.... F..T..A - always a silly idea

Returning to Wallerstein, it is interesting to contemplate whether we are truly a core country, commanding the heights of capitalist power. I tend to think that even now we are just across the border in Wallerstein's intermediate category, the semi-periphery. If we enter the F..T..A there is no doubt in my mind that we will lose some capacity to transact or to exert influence (let alone power) across the board


http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/29/1091080379622.html

Belinda 08/08/10 12:14 PM Report Abuse

The sad truth is no politician can stop hate crimes. They may give lip service to the idea but no matter what laws you have serial nuts are going to do their thing.

A lot of the policies are designed to create divisions - by doing so politicians get votes.
"Stopping the boats" policies are just making another group of unfortunate people potential victims

Apart from frontal lobotomies for the nuts- there is not much one can do except to be more alert and stay away from dangerous situation.

Jeff Wilson 08/08/10 01:17 PM Report Abuse

Typical conservative cr@p. Every policy will pour money into the pockets of the wealthy, and take it from the pockets of the poor. Attack boat people and immigration to get some cheap votes from the redneck set. We've been very lucky for the last 3 years, that during the worst financial crisis in history, we had a government prepared to take action, instead of sit on it's hands and "feel our pain" as they shared a $200 bottle of wine with the trustees of a private school they'd poured money into. Tony Abbott is a perfect conservative. A liar, a cheat, a racist, redneck piece of scum, and like ALL conservatives, a snivelling spineless coward. God help the ordinary workers of this country if this putrid slimy maggot gets in.

Naomi 08/08/10 02:01 PM Report Abuse

Well said Jeff - totally agree with all your comments. Good to see someone talking truth for a change.
Liberals - for self and wealth.

Betty 08/08/10 04:06 PM Report Abuse

It is interesting that the unemployed (many of whom seem to get along okay from some I have seen) can be chronically unemployed unless they have a disability that prevents getting jobs. There seem to be many jobs in the papers when I have looked through from time to time. Unemployed people don't pay taxes (except GST) as they don't have income except the dole which is paid for by the people who do work. Politicians are paid for by us. We need to think about value for money. What a waste the last three years has seen. and IT WAS OUR MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wAKE UP PEOPLE WHO LOVE TO BAG MR ABBOTT, AT LEAST HIS PARTY PUT US IN A GOOD PLACE SO THE LABOUR PARTY COULD JUST THROW IT AROUND TO "SAVE" US IN THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS. WHAT WOULD THE ALP have DONE WITHOUT THAT TO MENTION EVERY TIME SOMETHING WENT WRONG. BAGGING POLITICIANS FOR THEIR LOOKS IS A WASTE OF TIME, WHAT ON EARTH HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH ANYTHING ABOUT RUNNING A COUNTRY. LOOK AT THE WAY THEY LIVE, AND ACT, AND CONTRIBUTE TO COMMUNITY LIFE. LIFESAVING IS A VERY HONOURABLE DONATION OF TIME AND BAGGING MR ABBOTT'S ATTIRE IS DENIGRATING ALL THE VOLUNTEER LIFESAVERS AROUND THIS GREAT COUNTRY.

Snoopy 08/08/10 05:36 PM Report Abuse

Good heavens, so glad we liberals havent got someone like you on our side Jeff, your comments are pretty disgusting , I dont like Gillard or Rudd, but still have respect for them as human beings, maybe you would be a better person if you did the same. The Labour party is all about Socialism , maybe you should learn what that really means.

Jeff Wilson 08/08/10 06:32 PM Report Abuse

There's lots of jobs in the papers. But as my sister-in-law who worked for a job placement service told me, they will send 10 people for interviews, which the employer promptly rejects, and then complains in the media that they can't fill positions.

Put this country in a good place? What they did, was rode on the back of the Chinese boom, with absolutely no planning for the future. They strategically doled out the excess money in specific vote buying areas. Because all conservatives care about is power for power's sake.

Tony Abbott doesn't deserve respect. He is SCUM. A putrid, self serving piece of slime.

I would probably be better off financially under the maggot. I already earn over 100k. But the difference between Labor voters, and the stinking filth on the right, is that I actually care about the lot of my neighbour. You worthless parasites only care about yourselves. And I don't want my Asian wife reduced to the level of second class citizen, which is what you redneck scum want.

leon 09/08/10 09:00 AM Report Abuse

Enjoyed Tony's launch - Lots of attempts at stand up comedy by bad performers.
A competition on who could do the best rubbishing joke. - No real policies.
The tough talk on boat people was a hoot - seems like gulags are making a comeback.
Under Tony's regime jails will become a growth industy.

Trader 09/08/10 10:14 AM Report Abuse

Where are the TV commercials?????

I haven't seen a Lib ad for yonks. Do you want to win or not??!!! Get with it and start hammering the ALP for everything they have done to this country.

They have ZERO credibility. Given what they have done in 3 years, there should be NO votes for them.

Wake up and start campaigning.

Trader 09/08/10 10:20 AM Report Abuse

Jeff

If you and your wife have 2 children, the ALP is putting you and your family into debt at the rate of $17 a DAY. Everyday. That is $6200 a year of debt. You have zero for it. Not a new car, TV or computer. Just DEBT.

Glad you can afford it mate. I can't.

If the ALP are re-elected, expect that figure to continue to rise. Nearly $20,000 in the next 3 years and still nothing for your family.

Good luck.

may puttock 09/08/10 11:59 AM Report Abuse

This is a post I prepared for the ALP, but it is important that we remind ourselves that voting Coalition is more important than just for the economy.

How timely were my remarks on Globalization yesterday?

Well, you may not know that Bruce Grant, co-author of Gareth Evans book, AUSTRALIA'S FORIEGN RELATIONS, gets a guensey in the Faifax press today. ie This is the ALP view, front line and centre. This is the Kevin Rudd, Stephen Smith, Julia Gillard view: The crux of this article is here:------ “The cluster of global institutions such as the United Nations and its agencies do not have direct access to the world's people, who remain under the control of 200 or so national governments.”

The significance of this, is that the UN Rights cabal want to displace STATES, altogether, they want to Institute, by Treaty, Legislation and sanctions, UN Rights over everything.

-----We the people don’t want universalist, one size fits all, UN Rights displacing our responsibility to be descent people, descent human beings. We do not want to be treated as children------The more Human RIGHTS, as Legislation displaces the Individual’s personal responsibility to do the RIGHT THING, the more the community will breakdown.

Personal responsibility is at the heart of what it is to be human, it is at the source of all great Literature and Art, take that away and the creative spirit of humanity is broken, it dies. You have taken away, what it means to be human-----We cannot let this happen.

------We must fight against these universalist and Absolutist bodies like the UN. We must fight against hollow people like Kevin Rudd et al. We have been fighting the simple, one size fits all mentality, throughout the whole 20th Century. We fought off communism and we must continue the fight. The Absolutist tendencies, of Communism are alive and well in the new UN inspired Rights Bodies.



http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/turning-our-backs-on-the-world-20100808-11q5z.html

Adrian 09/08/10 01:03 PM Report Abuse

Stand Up for Australia Tony, because someone has to stand up for women!

https://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Australia_GetsUp_2010&id=1282

Ken.T. 09/08/10 01:18 PM Report Abuse

Come On!!! Lets get the Labour Mob cringing with shame for the things they have stuffed up. There are many things which should be pointed out on the TV adds. School Buildings debarcle, The Insulation mess. More boats coming. Give them a pasting Tony. We Need to get them onto the defensive. They can't explain how and why they had to pull Kev the Dudd out, dust him off and wind him up again. My Goodness, even Bob Hawk has gone on holidays to avoid the idiots. Paul Keating is hiding under his bed, so he can't be called on, lets do it. Tony PLEASE GIVE THEM HELL!!!

Rose barbaro 09/08/10 06:02 PM Report Abuse

Rose o9/08/10 5.55pm
you got my absolute commitment and support you are the one you'll make a great pm.

Betty 09/08/10 06:15 PM Report Abuse

the list of problems caused by this particular ALP is endless. Wake up Jeff.

Betty 09/08/10 08:14 PM Report Abuse

The ALP has stooped to new depths with the latest ad campaign, twisting conversations to suit themselves. Shame on them.

By the way, there is no need for crude comments on this site, they are unnecessary and unwanted

JIM 09/08/10 09:06 PM Report Abuse

For goodness sake Tony, Gillard has stated on varies media how she was 100% behind so many leaders of labor leaders but she was always the deputy when the leader fell. Keep up the pressure on BER and the gang of four now two and the fact that she is doing a RUDD promising the world but always after the 2013 election. They never delivered on this term how can anyone trust them on a second term. This PM is all lawyer style spin and talk no substance. You must highlight Gillard involvement as member of gang of 4 who approved all these failed, costly, ill thought out programs that has cost lives and billions of dollars. Sand bagging is in full spin and you can highlight the Labor preference to spend spend spend anything for PM to get into power. If you dare highlight how the PM came to power, the unions over throw of Rudd with Gillard a left wing member. Who is seekng to run this country Gillard or her masters the unions.

John Burger 09/08/10 11:00 PM Report Abuse

Tony,

I would really like to see you take the blowtorch to Gillard and Labor on their ETS. You will not be able to convince the hard-core Labor and Green supporters on your stance, but you can convince the swinging voters by letting them know how Labor's ETS will hurt their hip pocket. Challenge her to have the guts to tell Australians how her beloved ETS will impact on every person every day. Here is the text of a letter I have just sent to the Melbourne Herald Sun:

"Julia Gillard says that she will spend the rest of the election campaign ‘fighting for what she believes in’. Well we all know that she believes in an emissions trading scheme (ETS). So Julia, tell us voters that you will get rid of the citizens’ assembly, tell us that you will give us an ETS, and also tell us what the increases will be on our power, gas, water, fuel, food, car registration, council rates, bus, tram and train fares, air fares, white goods, clothing; in fact everything. And tell us how an ETS will effect every industry and small business, how much more will their goods and services cost, how these cost increases will adversely effect employment and interest rates, and ultimately your ‘working families’ mortgages."

"Will the emissions from vessels carrying the all of the imports that stock our shelves be added to their cost? Or will you exempt these emissions, and place our own primary and secondary industries and manufacturers at a disadvantage? Have you heard about the massive frauds associated with trading of carbon credits in Europe? Frauds that, under your half-baked schemes, would push up the price for our industries, and the goods and services they produce?"

"Or are you too scared Julia to really fight for what you believe in, and continue to pretend that voters can't see you and Labor for what you really are?"

Good luck Tony - you've got my vote!

John Burger

Gerard 09/08/10 11:10 PM Report Abuse

As a person with cerebal palsy I am disgusted with Peacock statement on handicapped people. Tony will you publically distance yourself and the Libs from Peacock's disgraceful statement

Trader 10/08/10 09:07 AM Report Abuse

Surfing around the TV last night I saw 9 ALP ads and 2 Lib ads.

Do we want to win this or not?

This is my future, my childrens future and their childrens future.

The Libs campaign is awful.

ATTACK !!!

There has never been a worse Govt in the history of the country and yet they still have a chance of winning because of TOTALLY INEPT MARKETING from the Liberal Party.

The ALP ads are to the point, catchy and damning. Inaccurate, sure, but they are working.

Use the fight between Gillard and Rudd against them.

Talk about waste and debt more but in terms people can understand. Hip pocket stuff. List the promises and show the failures. But link them to family promises. "But you promised we could do ... dad. You broke your promise."
Show the family trying to pay back debt they can't afford.

The Libs MUST start playing the emotional game or they will lose.

They chucked out an elected PM because they were losing, THIS MUST be EXPLOITED.
Wake UP and start campaigning or WE WILL LOSE another unlosable election.

Div2012 10/08/10 01:07 PM Report Abuse

Looks like Oz is full of serial whingers - we are the envy of the developed world as far as
the economy and employment is concerned. We should be grateful - but it appears we are not?

Any tiny inconvenience becomes a major drama. Why is fear creation the driving force behind policies? Shock Jock politics is the name of the game.

Wake up and start looking for policies that help people - and stop slagging each other.
Learn to treat each other with respect - and realize that no politician can make your life better - only you can do that.

We are all Australians - in a very short time we are going to need each others support if we are to survive.

Grow up - and stop acting like spoiled brats.

Darryl 10/08/10 01:13 PM Report Abuse

I must be missing something here. If all these so called "jobs" have been created then why is our unemployment rate up from 4.2% prior to the GFC to 5.1 today.

How can anyone say that all these jobs have been created when we haven't got back to where we were in June 2008 yet.

Poor Jeff Wilson, he has to be living on a surfboard and living in the 1930's not to see what will happen under labor.

If you want to blame someone look in the mirror Jeff.

Keep up the good work Tony and the crew.

Terence Shanahan 10/08/10 02:15 PM Report Abuse

Broadband. Labor compares us with Japan Korea and Taiwan and says 'why not'. I suggest you compare country sizes and show the cost to our tax payers simply to overcome the tyranny of distance. They are not comparable and cost is the reason it should be left to private enterprise especially when technology is evolving so rapidly that fibre could be extinct by the time the rollout is completed.

Policies: Labor is said to have signed up with the Greens for their preferences and to get legislation throught the senate. This makes Greens policies Labor policies. It is time to point out to the electorate just how flakey these are, what they would do to power supplies in this country and what a carbon tax will do to power costs and the prices of virtually everything else in this country. Labor must be forced into revealing just what Greens policies they have signed up to supporting.

Terence Shanahan 10/08/10 02:21 PM Report Abuse

People voting Green as a protest vote against Labor have to be held accountable for
what they are doing. It is vital that the Greens be attacked and made to defend their policies because so many voters this election are said to be voting Green for this purpose. These voters have to be made aware of what their votes may mean to everybody should they elect Greens to the House and a big number to the senate.

The time is passed when the greens could be ignored. This election looks like sending a lot of them into the parliament if the polls are to be believed. Their policies therefore take on full meaning.

Dailerdan 10/08/10 02:23 PM Report Abuse

Broadband is too confusing - bring back dial-up.
It will create consensus - we can all be united in whinging from the same page.

Bpeopleperson 10/08/10 02:36 PM Report Abuse

Look out! - I am an angry boat people person - be very afraid Liberal people persons - if you wait 20 or 30 years there may be enough of us to take over your local football oval.
In 10,000 years Tasmania will be ours.

Darryl 10/08/10 03:06 PM Report Abuse

Tony,

When you get people like poor Jeff Wilson making such vulgar comments then you must have the ALP and its supporters rattled and running scared.

Keep up the great work Tony.

Snoopy 8/8/10 you certainly upset Jeff, you keep up the good work too.

Think I will turn on the TV, may even have a laugh watching some of the Labor policy / promises on the comedy channel.

mel 10/08/10 05:40 PM Report Abuse

Labour did this,Labour did that,is all i hear and no real Im going to.......doubt i could trust either of you.
Less bagging each other and more
'I'M GOING TO.........'
I've never known an election to get so down right childish and purile.

Betty 10/08/10 06:04 PM Report Abuse

It is about what Labor did and DIDN't do really, last time they were in it took years for the Howard/Costello govt to get us back. If you look at BER, ETS, BIC (BATTS IN CELINGS), just to name a few, we have been very badly let down. WE NEED TO GET REALLY ANGRY WITH THEM AND NOT PUT IT ALL BEHIND US AS THEY WOULD LIKE US TO DO.

TONY, PLEASE GET ANGRY ON OUR BEHALF. IT IS WAY TOO IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T LET THEM CON THEIR WAY BACK IN WITH THEIR CONDESCENDING WAYS.

Kim Williams 11/08/10 08:09 AM Report Abuse

Dear Mr Abbott,

We watched Kerry O'Brien belt you around the NBN court last night (10/8/10), I agree with you that YOU dont have to be a techo, but that said please"bone up" on the basics for your next round.

Following on ( the same topic) I think Kerry is Ok to ask you twice on the same matter and you answered (of sorts) twice, you should have on the third occasion asked Kerry to move onto other topics and give his viewers some value for their money, in other words go on a discrete attack and turn it back on the interviewer
a la Bob Hawke style, this may look agressive BUT it also makes you Prime Ministerial

Julia is winning in the spin stakes but your coalition will be better for Australia so
Mr Abbott free your inner personality up ( cheeky and winning I suspect) but
no "smart a---" glib comments.

Dont take grief from interviewers stand up ( not in anger but with firm conviction)
and start to manage them and push your other messages................Good Luck




Time Time

Ti

Richard 11/08/10 10:28 AM Report Abuse

Watching Kerry O'brien it seems that Forrest Gump has a twin brother!

Graham Ward 11/08/10 10:55 AM Report Abuse

Hi Tony,,Please keep your head down , last night 7.30 Report not good, what about giving us positive input till 21st, let Labor destroy itself. You have a huge responsiblity to defeat Labor, 3 more years of them will set us as a Nation back 100yrs. Be a WINNER for the NATION

Darryl 11/08/10 11:23 AM Report Abuse

Tony,

I couldn't agree more with Graham Ward.

The nation needs you more than ever now so keep your head down..

The ALP is quite capable of destroying themselves, as soon as they open their mouths appears to work well.

Deborah 11/08/10 11:59 AM Report Abuse

A blinded study of speeches of contenders in US Presidential elections going back well into the 19th Century as reported in Professor Martin Seligman's book "Learned Optimism" found that almost without exception the candidate with the most positive speeches was the eventual victor. As reported on Radio 702 yesterday morning, an analysis of the election speeches given by Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard by Dr Richard Glanville rated Gillard's speeches as warm and inclusive and Abbott's as negative.

It is probably too late and would be regarded as a backflip but the evidence shows that Coalition's electoral acceptability would be increased if it messages were more positive, i.e.

End the waste: Positive = Spend taxpayer's money wisely;

Pay back the debt: Positive = Restore Australia's financial reserves;

Stop the big new taxes: Positive = Affordably and effectively address climate change without disadvantaging Australia's international competitiveness;

Stop the boats = Secure our borders;

Help struggling families is good

Julia 11/08/10 01:07 PM Report Abuse

Good comments May - the Liberal Party does seem to have a problem in presenting things in a positive manner. Obviously those running the campaign are fixed on negative attack rather than getting a positive message across. Informed and intelligent voters are turned off by negative spin doctors. Instead of attacking Labor why not remind things of all the good things the Liberal party has done for this country?

You do catch more flies with honey than vinegar

Marie 11/08/10 01:17 PM Report Abuse

Julia - I think you mean "good comments - Deborah"
I agree I am right up there with the Liberals until they start the old rubbishing line.
Leaves me cold.

I know that they have to push the party line - so why not make it a positive one?

Graham W 11/08/10 01:26 PM Report Abuse

Comments above are very good, Liberal Party is a great party, Tony can be a great PM, however you must be in Govt to steer this Nation. Why not give the people of Oz positive election input, Labor wont understand it but the people will. Turn the peoples heads with positive statements & get their votes.

may puttock 11/08/10 02:19 PM Report Abuse

There was a really helpful Interview about the Government's $43 billion, NBN Broadband, today compared with the Coalitions $6 billion proposal. The Interview of Henry Ergas, speaking on behalf of the Coalition's proposal and Peter Coroeous speaking on behalf of the Governments NBN on the ABC, RN, World Today program was very interesting. The podcasts and Transcript are not up yet. It should be up later this afternoon or tomorrow-------------------------->. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/

CONTINUED...........

may puttock 12/08/10 09:26 AM Report Abuse

ABC Radio National- The World Today
12:26:00 11/08/2010
Experts compare broadband policies

Peter Coroneos from the Internet Industry Association and regulatory economist Dr Henry Ergas join The World Today to debate the merits of the major parties' broadband policies.

HENRY ERGAS: I think the real issue is whether the $43 billion was ever justified. Here you had $43 billion which is a staggering amount - $43 billion being invested, committed without a business case, without a cost-benefit appraisal, shifting enormous risk onto taxpayers in a program that costs five to 10 times more than what is being done anywhere else in the world.
HENRY ERGAS: I don't believe there's very much evidence that says that there are substantial gains to having government investment as against private investment. What there is is there's some evidence that making broadband available yields economic gains.

The weight of that evidence suggests that the gains are significant in going from slow speeds to the sorts of speeds we now have. There is much less evidence that in a robust way suggests there are big gains to going from where we now are to 10 or 20 times where we now are.
As the implementation study itself emphasises Australia is virtually unique if not unique in adopting this nationalised broadband approach.

The implementation study points out that in virtually every OECD country it is private investment that is taking the lead. We need to have a regulatory policy and a regulatory framework that makes that possible. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/sunearthsystem/main/News080210-HENRY ERGAS: Look fibre optic is an extraordinary technology and it has huge potential. But there isn't at this point in time any kind of economic case for building four-lane highways to every premise in the country at a cost of $4,000 per premise.

Bear in mind that in large parts of the world and particularly in the most rapidly-growing economies in the world which are in our region wireless is the technology of choice. And because it's the technology of choice huge resources are being devoted to future-proofing that technology, to developing it further, to taking it as far as it can go.
We have to have a framework that allows ------competition to occur, that does so to the benefit of the user without imposing huge, unjustifiable risks on taxpayers.

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/

may puttock 12/08/10 01:21 PM Report Abuse

The population issue was discussed YESTERDAY on the ”By Design” program on ABC RN . Melbourne Beyond 5 Million, a two-part report by the Committee of Melbourne.

In this report density, the size of Melbourne, is discussed in detail. The report argues that bigger will be better, and imagines Melbourne thriving with around 8 million people in 2050. Andrew McLeod from the Committee of Melbourne said we, in Australia are in competition with cities like Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York for talented professionals, so we must have big cosmopolitan cities.

We must disadvantage our own EXISTING population just in case we can win a few people from an International talent competition? What sort of contorted logic is this?

Australia rejects its own talented professionals in favour of overseas professionals. Thus, local talented individuals are pushed out, forced to get a job overseas and leave Australia: families are torn asunder. Why does Australia think its own people are not good enough?---->


http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bydesign//----->

may puttock 12/08/10 01:43 PM Report Abuse

Pity the PM didn't hold broadband to the light, then oppose it

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD QUESTIONS THE NBN DECISION.....!
Did Kevin Rudd have his mind on the International Stage, rather than on what was best for Australia........?

August 2, 2010

The real question is why she didn't apply the same critical approach to the cabinet decision to approve the $50 billion (including the government payment to Telstra) rollout of the national broadband network, which went to cabinet the night before it was announced on April 7, 2009.

It was approved without any cost-benefit analysis or even a rudimentary business case to support it.

The plan was based on conversations between Communications Minister Stephen Conroy and the then prime minister, Kevin Rudd, over a couple of days flying between Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The proposed rollout is the biggest infrastructure project in Australia's history. Proper process requires written submissions from the initiating department to the Cabinet Office in sufficient time to have the relevant documents circulated to other ministries - especially Finance and Treasury - so their officials can provide cabinet briefings for their ministers on the worth of the proposal.
There was no urgency for the decision, no white paper setting out the pros and cons. Clearly the cabinet was dysfunctional. Even the most superficial understanding of ministerial responsibility shows that the members of cabinet weren't doing their job, especially then deputy prime minister Gillard, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner.


http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/pity-the-pm-didnt-hold-broadband-to-the-light-then-oppose-it-20100801-111c5.html

may puttock 12/08/10 06:48 PM Report Abuse

Broadband network will be $43bn white elephant
Malcolm Colless
March 16, 2010 12:00AM

What has emerged from the Rudd/Gillard Government multi-billion-dollar spending splurges is an absence of good governance. Political rhetoric and spin have taken precedence over economic common sense.

The NBN is no exception. It is just that the financial cost of failure is so much higher. The project's operating body, NBN Co, is flying by the seat of its pants on a mission from Kevin Rudd to deliver a national high-speed fibre-optic broadband network at the cutting-edge of world standards.

But cost to the consumer is a critical and as yet undefined factor in the success of the NBN and it is not confined to the cable, which the government wants connected without needing permission to more than nine million homes, schools and businesses across the country. Once NBN lays the cable a retail service provider will install a set-top box inside or outside the premises. This box, which will cost several hundred dollars, will be the gateway for broadband, phone, television and other services into the home.

WHO WILL BEAR THE COST OF THIS BOX, which has a shelf life of no more than four years before it will need replacing, is not clear.
But what is clear is that THE COST OF INTERNAL RE-WIRING required in most established homes to operate this new system will have to be MET BY THE HOUSEHOLDER----!----- And this is before the regular bills for using the new broadband and wireless services start flowing in.

The NBN is another example of the government's "father [Kevin] knows best" approach to the country's administration.

But it could end up as one of Australia's biggest and COSTLIEST INFRASTRUCTURE DEBACLES.

It would be hard, in a democracy, to mount a compelling business case for a government owned or controlled organisation to wire up most homes in the country, at the taxpayer's expense, to deliver a broadband service that MANY PEOPLE DON’T WANT..

Or, as one industry expert predicted : "Within 10 years at the latest the use of 4G wireless services will show that Rudd's decision to extend the broadband rollout from the node into the home was just plain stupid."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/broadband-network-will-be-43bn-white-elephant/story-e6frg6zo-1225841083908

Mary French 12/08/10 09:52 PM Report Abuse

OK. How would you all feel if it was you and your children in those boats? They're not coming here to steal our land and our jobs. They just want a better life. And judging by the thoughts and amount of comments on this post, you are obviously trying to make the same decisions. You're trying to decide on who to trust to make YOUR lives better, but by being scared of other human beings for difference and disadvantages, you're taking away any chance that they would have at improving THEIR lives. Yes, think about yourselves. But think about others too. Please. Give me a little bit of hope in humanity.

Betty 13/08/10 10:06 AM Report Abuse

It is fine for people to settle in other countries in order to better their life, but, is it fine for that new country to change their culture to suit everyone else coming here? Most adapt to Australian way of life and love this country. There are some who are hostile and refuse to change what they want to do. Then they say Australians are racist or bigots, whichever suits them at any given time. It is sad that this happens, but why can't we protect ourselves from this kind of trouble. We don't want to end up like the countries that people are leaving for a better life here.

Stephen Shepherd 13/08/10 04:11 PM Report Abuse

Hi Tony, may I suggest that you look at this. It could be your tipping point. http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

Stephen

Pudge 14/08/10 11:13 PM Report Abuse

One good thing about boat people - as more come they will lift the average IQ levels of Australia. Judging by a lot of the comments on this site the country is full of educated idiots. Lots of book learning - but no common sense.

Betty 14/08/10 11:42 PM Report Abuse

commonsense, where did it go? where was it when the batts in the roof debacle resulted in such tragedy. where was it when all those people went to talk about the 'global warming'. where was it when schools were having wickedly excessive amounts of money being paid for their buildings. where was it when pensioners were being targeted, where was it in the global financial crisis hit, where was it when Mr Rudd was so dreadfully treated (not that I think he was so good but that definitely shouldn't happen to a Prime Minister at the hands of a Deputy and her gang). commonsense, where did it all go? where......maybe Pudge knows. But let's hope it is in the hearts and minds of the voters of Australia and they won't be duped again.

Trader 16/08/10 11:53 AM Report Abuse

Highlight this in a few adds while there is time.

PROMISED: A computer for every year 9 to 12 student
DELIVERED: 1 in 3 delivered and operational

PROMISED: 2,650 Trades Training Centres
DELIVERED: 22

PROMISED: 36 GP Super Clinics
DELIVERED: 3

PROMISED: 260 Child Care Centres
DELIVERED: 4

ALP High on promise Low on delivery

Snoopy 18/08/10 07:05 AM Report Abuse

Well Tony, this is it, you have run a fantastic campaign , it is very refreshing to see a very honest , caring person as yourself running for PM, I think you have done all you can, and now it is up to the people and I thank you giving australia a real alternative . Good luck.
Just a thought...
What was right is wrong now, what was wrong is right now , the minority rules , its about time the majority stood up and were counted .
Go Tony Go......

Eleanor 18/08/10 09:51 AM Report Abuse

Tony if you become Prime Minister will you withdraw the troops in Afganistan.? Thanks

Snoopy 24/08/10 05:32 PM Report Abuse

Congratulations Tony , you have done a remarkable thing, and I am very proud . We will all keep our fingers crossed the end results go your way, but if not I know you will keep fighting till we finally remove this socialist Government from power. They do not deserve a second chance , and I pray they dont get one. Good luck

Betty 06/09/10 12:12 PM Report Abuse

let us all pray that the Independants are reliable, forget the Greens ? who knew what they stood for before the election?? not us. they have lots of ideas but to have them having a say in running an economy?? are we in for hard times if ALP gets in!


Tony, stand firm, trust God and fight for the backbone of Australia, 'HARD WORKING FAMILIES", PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR COUNTRY AND WANT IT TO PROSPER FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS - YES ALL US MUMS AND DADS out here on our knees praying every night for sanity to prevail. The waste, the uncertainty, and all that ALP spin need to go.

TheTruth 28/08/11 09:38 PM Report Abuse

He didn't make that speech you idiots. There are people called speechwriters who write it for him. Anyway, the media is making too big of a fuss on Boat People. Let them in. They only account to a VERY SMALL fraction of the number of people migrating to Australia. You people are becoming brainwashed by the media.

Jock 29/08/11 05:49 PM Report Abuse

@Betty:

"Tony, stand firm, trust God and fight for the backbone of Australia, 'HARD WORKING FAMILIES", PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEIR COUNTRY AND WANT IT TO PROSPER FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS - YES ALL US MUMS AND DADS out here on our knees praying every night for sanity to prevail. The waste, the uncertainty, and all that ALP spin need to go."

Tony Abbott is the new king of spin, and he does it quite effectively.

But ultimately, a lie is still a lie, and everyday, Tony Abbott tells more and more lies.

For example, he claimed recently that he's never supported a carbon tax nor an ETS.

Except, he has.

He forgot that he once pleaded for everyone in the Liberal Party to support Rudd's ETS.

And now he claims he didn't.

He's also on record - video and speeches he's written - that a carbon tax is the best and most efficient way of carbon reduction.

So, was Tony Abbott telling lies back then, or is he telling lies now?

gershon ben David 29/08/11 08:47 PM Report Abuse

To Jock,

Tony Abbott is a decent politician, NOT a deceptive liar. It could be that for various reasons the Liberal Party and Tony Abbott changed a few things, but that is part of every day life. The Liberals never deceived the Australian community with missleading information about fuel watch, grocery watch, education revolution, free laptop PC to the kids, housing affordability, budget surplace, border protection, refugee policy, national broadband, health reform and the lot. Labor promised everything like a snake oil salesman and what they delivered is just as useless as the snake oil.

Julie 30/08/11 05:07 PM Report Abuse

I agree , Tony Abbott is very down to earth and very decent, I would rather believe Tony Abbott any day or any Liberal Politician for that matter than any one in Labor, they are a socialist Government no matter which way you look at it, and it really worries me what Labor are doing to Australia, also I'm am sick of been taken for a fool by Julia Gillard, she can fool people some of the time but she can't fool people all of the time.!!!!!!!

LiberalComplete 10/09/11 11:00 AM Report Abuse

I want to know how much tax payers money has already been spend on refugees and assylum seekers and detention centres. Secondly, I believe its time Australia make amendments to the United Nations policy. This policy was created during the Vietnam war and we should not be bound to this. Countries like NewZealand and Canada have already closed its borders to refugees and so must we. I am more concerned about the safety and security of Australian people and the influx of refugees from Islamist countries will only make the situation far worst. Nothing against Islam, but where these people go there is some problem or other in the name of human rights. This multi-culturism started in UK and Europe is a complete farse and now these countries are repenting opening there boarders. STOP THIS INFLUX AND SAVE THIS GREAT NATION, PLEASE. I would appreciate it if the money is spend on services such as Pensioners schemes, Drug rehab, Police and internal security. Labour is a mess and Bob Brown, well lets just say HE IS A NUT.

Gershon ben David 10/09/11 03:14 PM Report Abuse

I think the people know already that the biggest problem for the working people is the corrupt union movement, not WORKCHOICES. We can ask the question that why the Healt Services Union has the head quarter in the most expensive area in Sydney, while they represent the lowest paid workers. North Shore, Epping, Parramatta would be much cheaper than Pitt Street in the CBD. Craig Thompson is just one of the corrupt union bosses who milks the system and live high on the low income workers union fees. Gillard has no courage to fire him, because shee needs every vote on earth to stay in office. Lies and deception, corruption and cover up are the trade marks of this incompetent government. Tony Abbott is at least a decent person, who could lead the nation back to real prosperity and dignity. Gillard has to go before she causes more damage to the nation and before we get another influx of dubious figures by the armada of boats.

Trader 14/09/11 02:43 PM Report Abuse

How about the Libs moving a vote of no-confidence in the house based on the proposed media enquiry. Government could be in the poo if Wilkie was to support it!

ella 17/11/11 12:18 PM Report Abuse

hi

gerry bossley 24/12/11 12:10 PM Report Abuse

Merry Christmas,

Why not forget the bullying and ignoring of other soverign countries.
I refer to N. Korea and the death othat terrible leader, go and offer sympathy show we want to be friends you may be surprised at the positive outcome.
While you are at it fly to Fiji and make friends there look at the Chinese influence now, having a USA base up North ain't going to make no friends. We need diplomacy which has been lacking for some time. Please make friends with Fiji it may be too ,late even now.
gerry bossley