Newspoll now has Abbott ahead of Shorten 41-37 as better PM. Michelle Grattan says that back in February Shorten had an 18 point lead. Continue reading Poll stuff: Abbott edges ahead of Shorten
Category Archives: Politics & Government
Gittins on the budget and sundry matters
Phillip Adams in interviewing Ross Gittins recalled that Paul Keating described Ross Gittins as the only economics commentator worth feeding. Continue reading Gittins on the budget and sundry matters
Stripping citizenship is simplistic and dangerous
Abbott has been in several kinds of trouble over his latest idea about stripping terrorists of their citizenship. Continue reading Stripping citizenship is simplistic and dangerous
Budget 2015: the environment
Ironically one of the biggest benefits to the environment could come from “Tony’s tradies” in the form of rooftop solar. One of the benefits to small business is the ability to write off immediately as a tax deduction business expenditure to the extent of $20,000. Continue reading Budget 2015: the environment
Abbott back in the game after the budget
Newspoll, which is the poll pollies are said to take notice of, moved from 52-48 in favour of Labor to 53-47 after the budget. Not that you’d know from ABC radio, which was spruiking the Fairax/Ipsos poll which came in at 50-50. A month ago it was 54-46 in favour of Labor. Continue reading Abbott back in the game after the budget
What people want from politics: Shorten’s budget reply
Listening to Bill Shorten’s budget reply speech, I was reminded on my son Mark’s statement of what people want from politics in his book Queensland: Everything you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Continue reading What people want from politics: Shorten’s budget reply
Politics trumps policy? Budget 2015
Judith Sloan said the budget was “a classic case of politics trumping policy”, with a focus on the Coalition’s core constituency. Paul Kelly is on a similar theme: Continue reading Politics trumps policy? Budget 2015
Joe’s big-spending budget
In this post I’ll highlight some of the features of Joe Hockey’s big-spending budget. Tonight our little family celebrates a birthday. After that I might try to round up some of the commentary. Continue reading Joe’s big-spending budget
Cameron to govern alone
In a stunning UK election result, David Cameron and the Conservatives will have the numbers to govern alone: Continue reading Cameron to govern alone
Greens go for Di Natale
Michelle Grattan says that the change is more than generational – “it marks the end of the Brown-Milne era, that was born out of the environmental cause and centred in Tasmania.” Continue reading Greens go for Di Natale
Positioning the budget sales pitch
No doubt the focus groups have been consulted and the slogans are already upon us. Tony Abbott:
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“I am absolutely convinced that on budget night it will be seen as responsible, measured and fair. It is a budget which is going to deliver jobs, growth and opportunity. Continue reading Positioning the budget sales pitch
Saturday salon 25/4 (Anzac Day)
An open thread where, at your leisure, you can discuss anything you like, well, within reason and the Comments Policy. Include here news and views, plus any notable personal experiences from the week and the weekend. Continue reading Saturday salon 25/4 (Anzac Day)