2013 Federal election - Rudd sets date as 7th September

[Gozu]

I expect Rudd will either bow out at this election or shortly afterwards. He's not stupid and knows the Libs/Nats will get at least two terms in govt and he wouldn't last that long as opposition leader.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I expect Rudd will either bow out at this election or shortly afterwards. He's not stupid and knows the Libs/Nats will get at least two terms in govt and he wouldn't last that long as opposition leader.

why would rudd or anyone with ambitions to be PM go straight into the opposition leaders spot???

surely they would just hang back and let the first leader stuff up at hopefully an opportune time to pounce on the job when the timing is right

[Roxy the Rat Girl]

Labor should dis-endorse Rudd to finally rid themselves of the leech ...

Also, I'll boldly predict that Abbott will be rolled and may not last the Coalition's first term.

The Coalition will squabble violently with the spoils of victory.

Agreed, Abbott is certainly doing his job well at the moment as an opposition leader but it is a completely diffent ball game once you are expected to develop and deliver policies and programs that improve the economy and set and build a vision for the nation whilst at the same time reducing the tax base and not cutting services. Unless he can grow a money tree (or forest) I think he might be exposed after the election and the media will have a picnic with him.

[Q.]

Labor should dis-endorse Rudd to finally rid themselves of the leech ...

Also, I'll boldly predict that Abbott will be rolled and may not last the Coalition's first term.

The Coalition will squabble violently with the spoils of victory.

Agreed, Abbott is certainly doing his job well at the moment as an opposition leader but it is a completely diffent ball game once you are expected to develop and deliver policies and programs that improve the economy and set and build a vision for the nation whilst at the same time reducing the tax base and not cutting services. Unless he can grow a money tree (or forest) I think he might be exposed after the election and the media will have a picnic with him.

Getting rid of the Carbon Tax is going to blow a hole in his budget, so it will be interesting to see how they patch that one over.

And how do they sell cutting penalty rates. Will a cooked productivity crisis be enough?

[The Sleeping Giant]

They will cover it by slashing the NBN.

[Q.]

They will cover it by slashing the NBN.

True dat.

[Roxy the Rat Girl]

Good call, I'd forgotten about the NBN. Hopefully we still get something in the way of better internet connection, I am on satellite and although it is better than dial up, it is absolutely shizen-housen when accessing video.

[Grahaml]

Good call, I'd forgotten about the NBN. Hopefully we still get something in the way of better internet connection, I am on satellite and although it is better than dial up, it is absolutely shizen-housen when accessing video.

The internet is such big business that I expect private enterprise to eventually find a way to provide the sort of service you're wanting. Ideally the government would set it up then sell it off down the track but this is just simply the wrong time to be undertaking such an expensive project. Had the Ruddard government not messed up halls for schools and the insulation scheme the NBN would have actually been a good thing to have done back then if they were indeed going to engage in a stimulus package. As Downer said at the time, spending money for the sake of it doesn't help the economy one bit. Spending it to help businesses modernise and compete, allowing home users to access more information to reduce their cost of living would be good long term projects that the same money would have brought about sustained assistance.

[dedja]

We wouldn't have required the NBN if Telstra hadn't stifled competition and manipulated the market so much over the years ...

[Grahaml]

Overall, the whole Rudd issue has been such a convincing Gillard win that Cream must have been put up to it by Gillard. Cream is far too experienced to suddenly throw his support behind the other side without consulting anyone. It was too early for Rudd to win, too late for Rudd to challenge again. Cream finished what he was doing before and probably decided it was his time to retire and took one for the team.

Abbott will still win the election by a mile. He isn't popular and I can understand why, but so much of the reasoning people have is based on perception. It's no different than Gillard really. She's a much better PM than Rudd was in every aspect you measure besides selling herself. In terms of governing the country (which is her real job, not being popular) she was miles ahead of Rudd. My hope is that when Abbott becomes PM he proves as effective doing that as everything else he did. He sorted out the unions when they threatened to cause trouble (no easy feat for a Liberal minister) sorted out health which was in strife and a totally different kettle of fish and then finally took over as opposition leader when Rudd was destroying all other candidates. So well did he do that he very nearly/possibly should have won the election from a near impossible position. Now he has the election wrapped up months in advance and might well demolish Labour to a point where they need to position their talent carefully to keep them in parliament. The man just succeeds. Fingers crossed he does so as PM.

[Gozu]

Peta Credlin is that you?

The man just succeeds.

Except for failing miserably to win over a couple of ex-National Indpendent MP's from conservative electorates.

Good opposition leader though but I'd be surprised if he lasts a term as PM.

[mick]

Peta Credlin is that you?

The man just succeeds.

Except for failing miserably to win over a couple of ex-National Indpendent MP's from conservative electorates.

Good opposition leader though but I'd be surprised if he lasts a term as PM.

Think I might have to agree with you again, however when Howard took over as Lib leader and eventually PM in the mid nineties I was convinced he would not last given his previous track record. So anything can happen

[Leaping Lindner]

They will cover it by slashing the NBN.

Ssssshhhh. That's a secret.

[Q.]

Had the Ruddard government not messed up halls for schools and the insulation scheme

Only, they didn't.

She's a much better PM than Rudd was in every aspect you measure besides selling herself.

This.

[Sky Pilot]

Gillard is an ineffectual screeching banshee who will be known as Australia's worst ever PM. Gough is breathing a sigh of relief

[Q.]

Gillard is an ineffectual screeching banshee who will be known as Australia's worst ever PM. Gough is breathing a sigh of relief

[scoob]

Gillard is an ineffectual screeching banshee who will be known as Australia's worst ever PM. Gough is breathing a sigh of relief

**** she is hot!

[Q.]

A heavenly blessed beauty. Would plow with force of a 1000 virgins.

[tipper]

A heavenly blessed beauty. Would plow with force of a 1000 virgins.

so you wouldnt last long then?

mind you , i dont blame you

[Bully]

who is that?? The next in line for labor leader ???