tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post2633209168678692011..comments2024-02-11T19:28:27.997+11:00Comments on Personal Reflections: Saturday Morning Musings - The Turnbull Ascendancy? Jim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-70542735537229448462015-11-10T06:47:11.314+11:002015-11-10T06:47:11.314+11:002t, I think that the Greens rather than the Libera...2t, I think that the Greens rather than the Liberals are Labor's natural enemies! Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-35662504032908163202015-11-09T22:50:57.401+11:002015-11-09T22:50:57.401+11:00kvd
Just look at how Labor moved all of its attac...kvd<br /><br />Just look at how Labor moved all of its attacks in NSW to the Greens, rather than to the coalition. They'd sooner lose government than join the Greens. While I think a Labor-Green alliance could definitely have electoral apppeal, I can't see Labor *ever* going for it and I'm not really sure the Greens would have it any other way.2 tannersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-21665728761153299522015-11-09T16:39:11.121+11:002015-11-09T16:39:11.121+11:00Labor's possible 'policy' move might b...Labor's possible 'policy' move might be to join with the Greens. I think a possible Shorten-di Natali (sp?) government would be attractive to the electorate.<br /><br />Major difference btw Libs and Labs is MT is a better talking head. Lord knows there's not much of policy difference. So, it's not a done deal, but my thought is Labor would never countenance power sharing - so maybe it is?<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-54821142986932363552015-11-08T17:08:50.063+11:002015-11-08T17:08:50.063+11:00No, I go back to the relief thing. Australians are...No, I go back to the relief thing. Australians are comfortable with the same-old, same-old, just so long as it is surprise free and wrapped up in flattering (treat like adults) and soothing (fairness, first and foremost) terms. David Pope (Canberra Times cartoonist) has summarised it <a href="http://www.canberratimes.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html" rel="nofollow">particularly neatly</a>.<br /><br />Unless MT stuffs it up, or the hard right decide to take the party on a crash through or crash course, or Labor finds a credible policy (hint: you might have left it at the bottom of the schoolbag some years ago, next to the half eaten apple) then it should be smooth sailing. It won't be as strong as the polls currently suggest, much less the betting markets, but it should be a clear LNP victory.<br /><br />Just as a mild observation, compare Howard's "never, ever" with MT's "everything is on the table". Boy, has he left himself room to manoeuvre.2 tannersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-66264355674649170812015-11-08T09:40:44.240+11:002015-11-08T09:40:44.240+11:00That is a strikingly left field comment from my pe...That is a strikingly left field comment from my perspective, Evan, but one that made me wonder. The run up to the last election was effectively a policy free zone that a variety of non-party interest groups tried to fill. Then, following the election, you had that campaign from business groups supported by the Australian Financial Review among others, trying but really failing to set the agenda. As the Abbott Government unfolded and the surprises started to emerge, people became much more focused. <br /><br />Does this mean that voters were left more focused on policy comared to simply suspicious about policy? You may be right. I would certainly agree that there is a considerable wait and see attitude with Mr Turnbull despite the strength of the polls. Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-30759911502722253882015-11-08T09:07:12.285+11:002015-11-08T09:07:12.285+11:00My sense is that one impact of Tony's time was...My sense is that one impact of Tony's time was to leave voters more focused on policy. And that we are waiting to see what Malcolm comes up with as far as policy goes before we make up our mind.Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13355215688351759230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-83903568464892765832015-11-08T08:50:50.949+11:002015-11-08T08:50:50.949+11:00You would indeed, Michael! Laughed!
You would indeed, Michael! Laughed!<br />Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-45640418277365776372015-11-08T00:43:30.614+11:002015-11-08T00:43:30.614+11:00Turnbull is all.too plausible in the bad sense of ...Turnbull is all.too plausible in the bad sense of the word. Well I wd say that wdnt I? :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14588363137604719078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-63020730260176026992015-11-07T23:25:16.765+11:002015-11-07T23:25:16.765+11:00Laughed at you reference to one word slogans, kvd....Laughed at you reference to one word slogans, kvd. True.Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-10096119271725654222015-11-07T09:56:01.375+11:002015-11-07T09:56:01.375+11:00Thanks Jim. I was thinking while writing earlier t...Thanks Jim. I was thinking while writing earlier that a cynic migth be justified in observing that our present PM has simply replaced the three-word slogan with a couple of one-word ones :)<br /><br />tanners, that word 'reform' could also do with qualification: not all reform provides change for the better imo. But I do agree with you about the case for economic migrants.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-171108310115103652015-11-07T09:38:48.199+11:002015-11-07T09:38:48.199+11:00I was amused to see Malcolm Turnbull essentially s...I was amused to see Malcolm Turnbull essentially say "And if Labor comes up with a good idea we'll steal it". I was relieved to hear him recognise that reform is a process, not a goal, and the goal must justify the process.<br /><br />And yes, kvd, I think a successful Turnbull reform package (and it will be a package, I think he's pretty clearly signalled that) must have taxes and revenue directed to structural reform, to health and education and quite probably, if we are honest, to the elderly of whom we are going to have a lot more proportionally speaking. <br /><br />Side note: It's one of the reasons I think our policy against economic migrants makes no sense at all - don't we want entrepreneurs who will risk everything to come here for a better life? If they pass police and medical checks of course.2 tannersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-51060970031003890882015-11-07T09:37:32.873+11:002015-11-07T09:37:32.873+11:00Good morning, kvd. I am not sure that innovation a...Good morning, kvd. I am not sure that innovation always involves losers, although I would agree that it normally does. The word innovation itself is actually quite a slippery term. In its simplest term, it just means something new. However, Mr Turnbull's usage carries a whole baggage of linked ideas - technology, major shifts, the idea that a constantly changing society or economy is of itself a good thing. I don't think that it is any coincidence that innnovation has become such a popular buzz word and especially in government circles over just that period when Australia has arguably become more self-centered, rigid and less innovative. <br /><br />Fairness does raise some of the same issues. We can think of it in terms of both what is done and how it is done. All government actions involves winners and losers. In tax, it is who pays, who receives, what are the consequential impacts? Mr Hockey's budget was seen as unfair both in the way it was done (broken promises, lack of consultation) and in its specific pattern of winners and losers (take from the poorer, give to the better off). It doesn't matter whether those perceptions are right or wrong, they existed and had consequence.<br /><br />I agree that both "masthead" words require further analysis. <br /><br /> Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24338064.post-36752384682320686062015-11-07T08:09:04.269+11:002015-11-07T08:09:04.269+11:00Jim, just a couple of observations on two words us...Jim, just a couple of observations on two words used here: innovation and fair.<br /><br />I wonder how the carriage builders of old felt about the innovation of the car? Or if Australia Post thinks the introduction of the fax, and email, assisted its business model and service? Or what the last guy to pay $1M+ for a Sydney taxi plate thinks about the fairness of Uber? There are always winners and losers from any innovation; innovation, by its very nature, demands that.<br /><br />And then there's fairness. As MT said of the tax system "Fairness I repeat is absolutely critical". Well, I'd like a definition of that four letter word before thinking about any changes. <br /><br />For instance, we are told that GST is a 'regressive' tax, and I accept the economists' reasoning for that label - but while it may affect lower income earners more than higher, it is also 'fair' to point out that the majority of that specific tax is used directly to support government services which more directly benefit those same people - health, education, social services. So what is 'fair' and unfair in this case?<br /><br />Be interested to have your follow up thoughts on these two 'masthead' words being bandied about.<br /><br />kvdAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com