Darron CharlesworthBoth major parties unattractive to voters
May 31st 2010 23:37
Category: No Category
With an election due later this year the Australian public are, by all appearances, destined to choose between two equally unpopular leaders. In the latest published Newspoll both Abbott and Rudd are floundering at 37 and 36 percent respectively. Both are victims of their own undoing.
Abbott has not done a great deal yet as a leader. Unfortunately for Tony he cannot seem to keep his mouth shut, and that is where the problems begin. Since his announcement last week that he cannot be trusted to tell the truth his wonky popularity is looking shakier than ever.
So far Abbott has been unable to woo voters with questionable policy ideas and a failure to support the Government on policy which stands to benefit the public. While the mining profits tax is still being debated it is true that increasing the tax contribution of these profitable ventures would benefit the public. To argue against such a tax increase casts doubt on Liberal Party loyalties: are they with the miners or the Australian people who voted for them?
Negotiating on the size of the tax and when it is implemented is one thing. To argue against it in its entirety sends the wrong message to the people. Although it has always been clear that Liberals are more supportive of business and individualism the opposition to the proposed tax could lead to conclusions being inferred, true or false, that support for the miners is being brokered by the Libs.
Ordinarily Mr Abbott’s chronic foot in mouth would be a boon for the Government. However, the Government has its own ongoing saga of lies, deceit, failure and unpopularity to contest with.
King Kevin is no longer seen as a saviour of the people. Under his leadership (and I use the term very loosely) there has been little of use seen for two years in office. Very few of the promises made prior to the last Federal election have been implemented. Of those that have they have been catastrophic failures (the insulation scheme), needlessly costly and poorly implemented (BER), shelved (emission trading) or compromised to a point that they fail to do what was intended and promised (Murray-Darling agreement, National Health Plan).
In fact the past two years under Labor have been woeful. Sans spending a fortune of borrowed money on agendas which are seemingly unnecessary the Rudd Government has little to show for its time in power. By failing on their key policy platforms Labor has shown it is unable to deliver on, well, anything.
Moreover, the character of the PM is coming under intense scrutiny from all quarters. King Kevin’s short temper and lack of moral fibre is being seen now clearly by a once blindly adoring public. Rudd’s craving for positive publicity and media limelight is overshadowed by a lack of fortitude and an inability to step-up and accept responsibility for failure. The promises are no longer being believed because our King is unable to fulfil even the most basic commitment to the people.
Labor is fast losing its grip on power however, at this time, the Opposition and its own self-destructive leader may be unable to capitalise on the opportunity being presented. Labor’s failing are a gift to the Liberals is only they could steady the ship and take control from their own contentious leader. Right now the upcoming Federal election could be anybodies.
Abbott has not done a great deal yet as a leader. Unfortunately for Tony he cannot seem to keep his mouth shut, and that is where the problems begin. Since his announcement last week that he cannot be trusted to tell the truth his wonky popularity is looking shakier than ever.
So far Abbott has been unable to woo voters with questionable policy ideas and a failure to support the Government on policy which stands to benefit the public. While the mining profits tax is still being debated it is true that increasing the tax contribution of these profitable ventures would benefit the public. To argue against such a tax increase casts doubt on Liberal Party loyalties: are they with the miners or the Australian people who voted for them?
Ordinarily Mr Abbott’s chronic foot in mouth would be a boon for the Government. However, the Government has its own ongoing saga of lies, deceit, failure and unpopularity to contest with.
King Kevin is no longer seen as a saviour of the people. Under his leadership (and I use the term very loosely) there has been little of use seen for two years in office. Very few of the promises made prior to the last Federal election have been implemented. Of those that have they have been catastrophic failures (the insulation scheme), needlessly costly and poorly implemented (BER), shelved (emission trading) or compromised to a point that they fail to do what was intended and promised (Murray-Darling agreement, National Health Plan).
Moreover, the character of the PM is coming under intense scrutiny from all quarters. King Kevin’s short temper and lack of moral fibre is being seen now clearly by a once blindly adoring public. Rudd’s craving for positive publicity and media limelight is overshadowed by a lack of fortitude and an inability to step-up and accept responsibility for failure. The promises are no longer being believed because our King is unable to fulfil even the most basic commitment to the people.
Labor is fast losing its grip on power however, at this time, the Opposition and its own self-destructive leader may be unable to capitalise on the opportunity being presented. Labor’s failing are a gift to the Liberals is only they could steady the ship and take control from their own contentious leader. Right now the upcoming Federal election could be anybodies.
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