Whether stock market investors like it or not, political developments and government policies often have a major impact on the economy.
This discussion is focused on Australian politics and how the political landscape may alter the outlook for the Australian stock market or economy as a whole.
Comments related to Australian politics in general are also welcome.
A list of all Shareswatch related posts regarding politics can be found also related to the subject can be found listed under the politics category.
Search terms: australian political discussion, australian politics discussion
65 responses so far ↓
1 Greg Atkinson // Jul 30, 2010 at 8:23 am
Well the election campaign is starting to become almost interesting and it seems almost possible that Gillard may be voted out of office. Quite amazing when you remember that around 6 months ago Rudd was still Mr. Popular and could do no wrong as far as much of the media was concerned.
If the Coalition wins the election I would expect this to be good for the stock market since the RSPT/MRRT or whatever the Rudd/Gillard new mining tax is called this week will be shelved.
But maybe an ALP victory would be better for stocks? I don’t think so but I am open to suggestions.
2 Vince L // Jul 31, 2010 at 11:22 am
Well the man that was suppose to be unelectable (Abbott) now seems to have got the Coalition into a winning position. Maybe the removal of Rudd was not such a smart idea after all?
3 Plornt // Jul 31, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Yeah looks like Rudds revenge is in full force. He has every right to be pissed, i’m surprised at how calm he’s been.
Might be a few swings in this poll though if the past is any indication?
4 Plornt // Aug 10, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Looks like the polls have swung back in the other direction. Julia infront again. Labor looks like they will win atm, if you are a gambler you back Liberal, statistically its improbable but not impossible.
If Liberal get in they will cut spending = Oz economy will rollover
I’d rather have misdirected excessive government spending, than very little at all!
All posts by this poster is not financial advice or a reccomendation to do something. Can change my mind quickly on any decision I make, given markets always change. Have positions in instruments discussed unless otherwise indicated.
Be sure to seek and take personal professional advice from someone familiar with your circumstances and needs.
5 Senator13 // Aug 10, 2010 at 2:34 pm
But the spending is useless and paying for overpriced rip offs. I would rather have surplus money returned through tax cuts or invested into a sovereign wealth fund for the future.
It is not the governments money in the first place -- It is the taxpayers.
6 Plornt // Aug 10, 2010 at 2:45 pm
If liberals get in surplus money will go to debt repayment and taxes will likely rise. It will take us another 15 years of pain to pay off 90 billion? in debt. We are no longer in a situation where Liberals would be able to justify tax cuts or investing in sovereign wealth funds.
The alternative is Labor will keep getting us into more and more debt and propping up demand until we are at the point of no return and turn into Greece. But that might be another 10-15 years away.
Rather put off the pain for now and alot of people may say they are ready to handle it -- but when assets start crashing and people start losing their livelihoods people may change their mind. Stimulus is very important right now -- even Soros and Buffet have said this. It is very dangerous to pull it out early.
All posts by this poster is not financial advice or a reccomendation to do something. Can change my mind quickly on any decision I make, given markets always change. Have positions in instruments discussed unless otherwise indicated.
Be sure to seek and take personal professional advice from someone familiar with your circumstances and needs.
7 Senator13 // Aug 10, 2010 at 3:04 pm
We have already reached the point where inflation and interest rates are back on the move in an upward direction. There is still billions in stimulus spending to come in the next year.
Do we really still need to spend more money on school halls?
And what if we do have a GFC mk2. We will be going into it in a worse position than if stimulus is reduced now.
You can’t spend your way out of debt. And we are going to have a debt burden for years. Swan and Co like to talk about us coming to surplus in three years time. But that does not explain when we will come out of debt. I think your right, Plornt -- it is going to take at least 10 years to pay it off.
I would rather surplus to be going into debt reduction -- and I agree that is what the coalition will be doing. But under Labor it looks like stimulus is just an excuse to be lazy and recklessly splash money around that they don’t have. And that is not a good way to govern…
Heading down the Greek path is not a good one. Better to turn back while we can I would think.
8 Greg Atkinson // Aug 14, 2010 at 10:38 am
Senator I fear that under the current Government the big spending will continue and we know this doesn’t work well. Sure government handouts and projects keep some parts of the economy ticking along but at some point the debt needs to be paid off and at that point what happens to all the excess capacity that has been built up to basically just deal with government contracts?
What % of the billions the Government has spent has delivered a clearly identifiable long term productivity boost to the economy? I would say the percentage would be very low.
We could even manage to put money aside for a high speed rail link!
9 Biker // Aug 14, 2010 at 8:23 pm
“We have already reached the point where inflation and interest rates are back on the move in an upward direction.”
What data supports that view, Sen13?
Long-term, I’ve no doubt you’re correct, but I’ve read nothing _recently_ to support either claim… .
10 Vince L // Aug 15, 2010 at 10:49 am
Inflation data Biker. It is still at levels the RBA is not entirely comfortable with. (See RBA meeting minutes)
11 Biker // Aug 15, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Two bob each way, I think.
In volatile financial times we’ll find economists very reluctant to commit. I read more and more reports in which experts acknowledge they could be entirely wrong about a view just expounded… .
There have been some _monumental_ stuff-ups in the last two years. How many poor* bastards relied on one of WA’s top share-market experts tip to back Babcock & Brown, for example?!~
* Well, they are now… .
12 Plornt // Aug 15, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Yeah Biker Babcock and Brown was a disaster. I just had a quick look at its financials just then from my data providers.
The writing was on that wall with that company, far too much debt that was increasing every year. Its weird how a 5 minute analysis can pickup a dog, yet there are these analysts that spend hours and hours and end up being completely wrong.
Time spent on things is meaningless in the equity markets -- the market doesn’t care about your opinion or your rational. Its more important to protect capital and admit mistakes quickly. You can control your downside risk but the upside is unknown.
Biker your 20% entry and exit foray into the XAO last year probably outperformed about ~80%? of people in the markets atm. Buy and hold forever is gambling.
All posts by this poster is not financial advice or a reccomendation to do something. Can change my mind quickly on any decision I make, given markets always change. Have positions in instruments discussed unless otherwise indicated.
Be sure to seek and take personal professional advice from someone familiar with your circumstances and needs.
13 Plornt // Aug 15, 2010 at 8:37 pm
“And what if we do have a GFC mk2″
Senator when you see headlines calling for “mark 2″ or “double dip” so soon after we just had the event its generally just media hype. Remember the media try and sell newspapers so they will try and blowup situations to induce viewers emotions.
Don’t fall into the trap of recency bias, where people look at the immediate past and try and extrapolate that into the future. Have a quick skim of the Art of contrary thinking. Will help.
Statistically recessions occur every 3-5 years. And the event we had in 2008 happens once ever 90-100 years from memory. So if you bet for a GFC mark 2 thats basically betting the 100-1 horse at the race course
All posts by this poster is not financial advice or a reccomendation to do something. Can change my mind quickly on any decision I make, given markets always change. Have positions in instruments discussed unless otherwise indicated.
Be sure to seek and take personal professional advice from someone familiar with your circumstances and needs.
14 Greg Atkinson // Aug 16, 2010 at 7:58 am
Senator I think the UK is a good example where the government spent too much in an effort to keep the voters happy and shore up the economy. Now the UK needs to make large cuts in government spending and you have to wonder if it would have been better to maintain the status quo all through the GFC?
Of course there will be another GFC, it will just have another catchy name, just as there will be more recessions. In Australia’s case it does not seem that logical to me that the Government kept saying our banking system was okay and mining exports would shield the economy but then still borrowed in order to stimulate the economy further.
We are now in a period where the RBA is worried about inflation and yet an economic slowdown appears likely. So whoever wins the election might have to try and allow the economy to cool somewhat and resist the temptation to start spending big again. That could be a tough decision to make.
15 Biker // Aug 16, 2010 at 1:30 pm
NB: Happened the previous year… not last year… .
16 Greg Atkinson // Aug 18, 2010 at 1:56 pm
So is anyone brave enough to make a call regarding the upcoming election? Don’t ask me to make one, I am too far away from the action.
17 Biker // Aug 18, 2010 at 2:27 pm
WA (which will mostly vote Liberal) is actually _punting_ on Labor winning. How’s _that_ for irony… ?
18 Ned S // Aug 18, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Like you say in a recent article, it’s largely about perceptions of who’ll do the more dedicated job of “giving them [voters] something for nothing”. And there really can’t be any prizes for figuring out that that’s the ALP.
I found the backlash over the original mining tax interesting in that regard. Pretty much a case of people being worried Kev just could have been about to overdo it and kill the goose that laid the golden egg were my thoughts at the time.
19 Biker // Aug 18, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Yeah, Kev overdid it!~
Problem his Achilles Heel… his capacity for overdoing it… .
20 Greg Atkinson // Aug 18, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I thought the mining tax was very badly handled and not much of what Rudd and Swann made sense. I thought they hated greedy neo-liberal bankers and not miners? Anyway we still have the problem that we don’t do enough value adding and taxing the miners more won’t help..in fact it might encourage them to source more offshore?
But it seems the Greens are wanting to tax the mining companies more so who know how long the whole mining tax saga will drag on.
21 Biker // Aug 18, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Jeez, Firefox doesn’t like Shareswatch, Greg. Three crashes today. Reported to FF, as the dialogue box requested… .)
The Gang of Four misread Australian sentiment on mining taxes badly. There’s no question this has cost them in WA*… and in QLD, where they were yet to suffer the Ides of March (et tu, Brutus?)
NSW was _always_ going to be a lost cause.
The Greens have shot themselves very badly in both feet, with their anti-fishing / anti-hunting stance. Effects of that policy decision can’t be underestimated. It’s the most frequent and effective political email doing the rounds here in WA.
* Knocked business confidence for six in WA. We figure it has cost the developers bigtime, too; but they had overreached… .
22 Ned S // Aug 18, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Biker I’ve developed the deepest of respect for your thoughts over a couple of years of blogging -- But if the Libs get up in this election a whole bunch of Aussies are going to spew and say I really, really didn’t mean it -- It was only a protest vote! An rather unlikely happenstance for mine?
23 Greg Atkinson // Aug 18, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Firefox doesn’t like a lot of things
Sometimes I feel like going back to IE!
The Greens scare me. They seem to live in some fantasy land where iron ore grows on trees, animals give us meat without getting hurt and they seem to believe modern living is killing us when in fact life expectancies are actually higher than ever.
I wonder how many people who say they will vote green now will actually do that come Saturday?
24 Ned S // Aug 18, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Hmmm … I do note in hindsight that nothing you said indicated a particular inclination to suspect the Libs will get up.
25 Greg Atkinson // Aug 18, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Ned I am too far away from Oz to get a feel for who will win. But for the record I prefer Abbott over Gillard.
26 Biker // Aug 19, 2010 at 7:59 am
“…if the Libs get up in this election a whole bunch of Aussies are going to spew and say I really, really didn’t mean it – It was only a protest vote!”
Who knows, Ned? You may be spot-on. There must certainly be a groundswell of the protest vote happening in both our states.
On Green issues: I’ve never before witnessed a backlash like I’m seeing from the recreational fishing fraternity before. Perhaps it’s a ‘last straw’ response from boaties and shore fishermen who have been under attack from the state Liberal government… and wonder why they’ve even bothered to buy equipment.
With over a third of the world’s marine reserves on Australia’s coastline, maybe the backlash was overdue. The idea of soon having to drive 500kms+ to catch a fish seems ludicrous.
Right in the middle of it all, Greg… but I can’t pick a winner for Saturday.
27 Greg Atkinson // Aug 20, 2010 at 10:06 am
Whatever happens it will not be good for investors if the Greens end up with the balance of power. In that case I will become bearish on Australian stocks and the economy.
28 Ned S // Aug 20, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Had a look at one of the Greens’ policies last night. And must admit they sounded a bit like watermelons to me? -- But either way, definitely not investor friendly. Had never realised they were like that. Calling themselves “Greens” is actually a bit misleading nowadays. Because they stand for a lot more than some hardcore environmental issues.
29 Vince L // Aug 21, 2010 at 7:04 am
The Greens seem to be the far left of the ALP these days. If they get the balance of power in the senate the country will be a mess.
30 Ned S // Aug 21, 2010 at 9:45 pm
It’s become interesting!
31 Greg Atkinson // Aug 22, 2010 at 7:44 am
Indeed it is Ned. But interesting is not good for the stock market. It looks like the Greens will hold the balance of power in the Senate and the Lower House will be held together by a group of non-aligned Independents. Maybe this is good for democracy, but it won’t make investors happy.
I suspect we will see stocks hit Monday with the miners possibly take it a little harder.
32 Biker // Aug 22, 2010 at 9:24 am
“…interesting is not good for the stock market…”
Or _any_ market.
“…it won’t make investors happy…”
Much more to the point.
Will _any_ decision made by any government ever get to fruition again? Will the rubber ever get to the road? On the credit side, we may actually see fewer major stuff-ups!~
Turnbull might have been able to cobble together some kind of coalition, but Abbott?! It will be interesting to see him attempting to be conciliatory. I just can’t imagine that!~
33 Greg Atkinson // Aug 22, 2010 at 10:11 am
Biker not that long ago people were writing Abbott off. I also recall many pundits labeling him as “unelectable”. So I would say anything is possible from here.
But whoever wins, they will need to deal with the Greens holding the balance of power in the Senate and I doubt that will make the business sector comfortable.
34 Ned S // Aug 22, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I reckon a so-called Conservative leader who is happy to push billy carts for votes could bring himself to do just about anything to be PM?
I enjoyed that pic of JG taking her morning constitutional on a Melbourne pier this morning -- Wonder if she’s ever heard of Harold Holt?
Bad for investors -- That’s what conventional theory would have us believe I guess. Although can it be worse than what we’ve had???
There’s a writeup on the Greens here Vince -- Don’t know how accurate it is. But I found it an interesting read regardless. And especially the bit at the end about a Steady State Economy:
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/the-watermelon-party-20100730-10zsb.html
35 Ned S // Aug 22, 2010 at 12:56 pm
“morning constitutional” … Should that have been ‘mourning’???
36 Biker // Aug 22, 2010 at 7:47 pm
“…they will need to deal with the Greens holding the balance of power in the Senate and I doubt that will make the business sector comfortable.”
Yes, that’s my point. We certainly live in interesting times.
The Nats will want superior broadband. The Greens will want all kinds of ‘Green Stimulus’. Don’t mind that myself… solar electrickery, EVs, etc… but I WILL fight them on the beaches!~
Sorry, Greg, but I simply can’t imagine Abbott conceding anything of importance. It’s one thing to promise The Good Folks at Home that the leopard-has-changed-its-spots; it’s quite another to be accountable to your new partners-in-government, who can pull the rug out from under you before three years are up. Colin Barnett, a far superior politician to Tony Abbott, hasn’t found it easy… and he’s working with the Nats, whose ideals aren’t dissimilar to the Libs. Abbott will have to work with a party whose world views he has derided as ‘crap’.
It may well be that the independents see it more politic to work with Labor, a soft touch in comparison to Tony Abbott!~
37 Ned S // Aug 22, 2010 at 9:32 pm
“It may well be that the independents see it more politic to work with Labor” -- You really COULD spoil my day saying stuff like that Biker!
-- Jeez, even THEY must know their world views are ‘crap’ surely???
38 Greg Atkinson // Aug 23, 2010 at 11:57 am
The National Party might be able to live with the old OPEL broadband plan so I reckon this could be dusted off to keep them happy.
You know 6 months ago Abbott was not going to be the opposition leader for long so the experts were saying, then they said he was unelectable, then they moved onto to him losing by a long way..so the momentum is in his favour.
39 Biker // Aug 23, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Well, I’m not at all a political animal, Ned.
My problem is that I recognise the good points of each party’s platform and ideals…!~ It’s a real dilemma.
I’d probably make a good independent in that regard… and I hope that’s where we go next; the independents support the best aspects and initiatives of each of the ‘four major parties’.
You’ll have to excuse that last reference. I actually think that’s where the future may lie: disenchantment with both the Libs and Labor. I think it’s a better explanation for Saturday’s outcome than claiming anyone listened to Latham!~
40 Ned S // Aug 23, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Ms Gillard reckons she should be PM because she’s got a nice personality -- Guess that means she figures she has a bit of a way with people. Wonder what Mark Latham and Kevin Rudd think of that?
But on a serious note, I think Abbott is correct when he says “It’s almost inconceivable that any Labor government emerging from this election could deliver competent and stable government”. At least the Coalition might be reasonably cohesive in what for them pretty much has to be perceived as a win. Compared to the ALP which is already chomping at the bit to tear itself apart with recriminations. And they’ve got elections in NSW and QLD to lose somewhere down the track by the looks. Things could well get ugly in the Labor camp.
41 Biker // Aug 23, 2010 at 2:58 pm
“…the ALP which is already chomping at the bit to tear itself apart with recriminations.”
So true, mate!~
A WA poll now shows 64% want another election. 32% don’t. The rest say to hell with ya all. We’ll vote informal again!
Figure three of the Independents will go LCP. The Green and the Green Independent will go Labor (if Wilkie gets in.)
Looks like 73 seats each at the moment.
42 Ned S // Aug 23, 2010 at 4:48 pm
“64% want another election” -- You blokes in the West are definitely made of stern stuff Biker!!! I was obviously too pessimistic a while back when I made the comment that The good news was that one of them was going to lose. We’ve been given the choicest of treats where they BOTH lose!
What a hoot -- 73 seats each with the Coalition getting nudged over the line by three renegade bush cockies should they deign to do so is presumably a very likely result!
That’ll keep us townies honest -- Except in Hasluck maybe? How the hell does an electorate get a name like that -- Are we talking good luck or bad luck I wonder -- And for whom?
Them most likely -- I can certainly imagine a few nice Commonwealth funded projects being announced there regardless of who ‘wins’. And I’m sure Bob Katter over this way is working on his wish list for Kennedy!
43 Biker // Aug 23, 2010 at 8:35 pm
“Hasluck”
Paul Hasluck, ex-Liberal member for Curtin, Ned. Was also the Governor-General. Amusing in the current context, I admit!~
“…three renegade bush cockies…” This aspect is even more interesting than the Green component. Likely to mean that Mining Taxes go… but it may also mean ‘Royalties for Regions $$$$”.
Grylls (state Nat-Leader) has held Barnett to ransom for $800 mil here. Gotta admire his intestinal fortitude! Crook wants the future government to match it: 1.6 bil (extra) for rural Oz!~
Hey, I’ve run Shoes’ claimed shares profits a coupla times… and can’t make them make any sense, whatsoever. I think he’s B.S-ing us!~ To be claiming the kind of capital gain he reports, he’d have had to get all the shares for FREE!~
44 Ned S // Aug 23, 2010 at 8:52 pm
“has held Barnett to ransom for $800 mil ” -- If it’s for his electorate a bloke probably can’t complain too bad Biker. But SHUTE that IS a lot of money! Any chance of bargaining him down to $8 mil for the electorate and $80K for himself do you reckon?
“I think he’s B.S-ing us” -- Don’t touch stocks for mine Biker -- Me dad reckoned a bloke could lose LOTS of money on those things. And he’s WAY WAY smarter than me!
45 Biker // Aug 23, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Well, Grylls made it work. It has been tough for Barnett, at times… no question; but that’s the cost of sweetheart deals like those we’re about to see federally. It _won’t_ be cheap!
Dad was caught just once: Beach Oil, I think. He made a small fortune on Metals Ex. We were _never_ so wealthy again… !
But y’know, he did it just the way _we_ did, bailing too early.
My kids chaffed me about bailing too soon, but we achieved our goal. Even the missus, seeing the market go to 5100, poked me for quitting at 3800; but when it fell back to 4400, conceded that maybe Gekko might have been wrong… .
46 Ned S // Aug 23, 2010 at 9:59 pm
“I think he’s B.S-ing us” -- You are a hard man brother -- I thank Yesu Christu that I do often try to actively refrain from telling fibs!
47 Biker // Aug 23, 2010 at 10:40 pm
When I first read his accounts of massive wins, I thought I’d misread the Maths. Recently, annoyed by continual barbs, I took another look… and, again, it just didn’t make any sense. (Unless the shares were _free_!
)
I let it go, for the sake of peace, but today’s BS was pretty provocative… and fairly pointed.
Called on it, his comment? “We’re even.”
Whhhhaaaaatttt?!~
48 Ned S // Aug 23, 2010 at 11:26 pm
It’s been a tough market out there playing stocks and bonds and currencies and commodities and other volatile stuff for the last few years I suspect Biker. I just take the attitude of have a bit of Oz housing and a bit of cash and keep my head firmly buried in my shell until I see what the wind might blow!
49 Biker // Aug 24, 2010 at 8:25 am
The wind may yet blow us another election, Ned!~
Having weathered not dissimilar storms in the past, we believe that (some) property will rise dramatically in the next two years. Are we doing anything (more) about it? Nah!~ Are we putting our money where our mouth is?!~ Well, kind of… .
We’re upspec-ing all properties to enhance their desirability as rentals and future sales. We’re holding blocks and watching developers try to flog distant developments. We believe they’ve gone too far too soon. But, as I commented to Steve a few days back, we _may_ all kick ourselves in a few years.
When I consider that we could have owned an _entire street_ in a now-booming suburb, for around $600K, five years ago… I wonder what kind of rise we might see in another five!
50 Ned S // Aug 24, 2010 at 9:14 am
We’ve gotten off topic I notice Biker. Hmmm -- Anyway, the prospect of another election is pretty daunting. I see Oakeshott is stirring them up though. Not at all sure Oz is ready to move away from party politics!
51 Biker // Aug 24, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Well, as predicted, it’s affecting the markets and the Ozbuck, Ned.
Noticed Abbott addressing the very issue I mentioned, on today’s ABC News just now: “I’m really a very nice flexible person who is very easy to get along with..”
Selected as a headkicker, which may be highly appropriate in other circumstances, but disastrous in coalition(s).
Can’t see it lasting, either way… . And I’m an optimist!~
52 Ned S // Aug 24, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Our pollies have got a lot to answer for Biker. There was a reasonable little recovery cooking. But Rudd just couldn’t help himself -- He had to look around for a big bunch of new loot to give away.
The miners would have paid more -- They were expecting to -- No big deal. But the government got just too damn greedy. And lots of Aussies knew it straight away -- With it showing up it his popularity rating. Then the election prelims told the world that regardless of who got in, fiscal responsibility is not part of the plan.
At the moment of course, I wouldn’t imagine any of them are giving a thought to the economy. Way more interested in what the size of their next pay cheque might be.
53 Biker // Aug 25, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Well, Abbott just self-immolated on late-night television, Greg.
Don’t know if you’ll ever see it in Japan, but Tony A just made his first real misstep in the 2010 campaign… .
54 Ned S // Nov 2, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Totally off topic but interesting info for anyone else like me who thought Lindsay Tanner was one of the few ministers in the Rudd government worth feeding:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/out-in-the-cold-rudd-held-fake-budget-meetings-to-stop-leaks-20101101-17agh.html?autostart=1
Ned your comment is not off topic now, because I moved it here
-- Greg
55 Senator13 // Nov 2, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Yes I saw that article this morning… Underneath it all the ALP are not all happy little Vegemites… But they are all trying not to rock the boat because they managed to get back into Government. They just creep from election to election with out actually doing anything.
56 Greg Atkinson // Nov 2, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I always thought pretty highly of Tanner except when he talked about the NBN being like the advent of electricity! Maybe they could do a prisoner swap and exchange Tanner for Hockey..that would really sink the ALP
57 Ned S // Nov 2, 2010 at 6:08 pm
Fair comment Greg! But who are the Libs gunna exchange for Tony A -- I struggle a bit to see Wen and Obama and Merckel lining up to do to billy cart races with him -- Thought briefly that Putin might oblige? But figure he’d really rather be shooting at something!
58 Greg Atkinson // Nov 2, 2010 at 6:16 pm
I am a bit of a Tony fan Ned. He seems like a straight shooter to me. Sure he puts his foot in it sometimes, but heck we all do.
I reckon he would be great pals with Putin, they could take off their shirts and shoot darts at some whales
At least Arnie isn’t likely to call them “girly men” 
In any case, I reckon I would cringe less up here in Japan with Tony as P.M as opposed to Rudd and Gillard. Why does the ALP seem select leaders recently that appear to come out of the cast of South Park?
59 Ned S // Nov 2, 2010 at 6:33 pm
I have a secret soft spot for The Mad Monk as well Greg. Though I do wish he wasn’t such a loose cannon. Or inclined to take such big home equity loans out perhaps? And yep, I figure him and Putin could find considerably more common ground than any of the others I mentioned.
I had to google ‘South Park’ -- Do ALL the characters have ‘the lights are on but no-one is home’ type eyes -- Except when their most basic animal hopes and fears show through on occasion???
PS: I reckoned Rasputin was a pretty ‘hip’ sort of dude as well!
60 Greg Atkinson // Nov 2, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Ned -- Tony certainly has some rough edges but I reckon I would rather have a beer with him than Rudd, Gillard or Turnbull for that matter. I think he sometimes speaks from the heart more than other politicians which is what people say they want, unless it isn’t exactly what they want to hear.
Watch some South Park clips on YouTube Ned and think how easily a Rudd or Gillard character would fit in
61 Ned S // Nov 2, 2010 at 7:07 pm
I wouldn’t want a beer with any of those three even if they were shouting Greg. Though I do agree about Abbott. There is a fundamental honesty about the bloke perhaps? Could even actually be LOTS of fun to see him let loose to run riot on the world stage!
Don’t get to watch YouTube on my dial-up connection mate. Or animated stuff of any kind. The story of my life I’m afraid -- Everyone else gets to be depraved whilst I’m deprived!
Geez, me latent Socialist leanings will come through soon “Tis the rich what gets the pleasure; And the poor what gets the blame”, me ole Granddad used to sing!
62 Senator13 // Nov 2, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Judging from the primary vote at the recent election I think a lot of people have a soft spot for Tony. Ive always been a fan. He seems a good bloke and just wants to get back to the basics.
None of these grand visions that get us in debt with nothing to show for it.
Would be a sight to see -- Arnie, Abbott and Putin!
63 Ned S // Nov 2, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Their discussion on climate change in Copenhagen would have been interesting Senator!
Yawn, where around this place can we find ourselves some fun?
64 Biker // Nov 2, 2010 at 8:30 pm
“Rasputin was a pretty ‘hip’ sort of dude as well!
”
Missed this previously. The Old Rasp might have made an insane biker.
Tony Abbott? He’s an embarrassment to the Liberal Party.
Joe may be able to save them… .
65 Greg Atkinson // Nov 3, 2010 at 10:10 am
Sadly Joe Hockey was my local member when I lived back in Sydney and for the life of me, I fail to see why he is able to hold a job on the front bench. If Turnbull wasn’t such a dummy spitting egomaniac I reckon Abbott would line him up against Swan.
As it is now we have a Treasurer who has no clue debating Shrek on economic issue. The talent pool is certainly shallow at both ends!