If Indy's back labor, what happens to abbott

Doctor Jolly

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Thread starter #1
How will Abbott be judged if the National/Country independents allow a labor government to form ?

Positively, He brought down a majority labor government.

or

Negatively, The major swing was away from labor, but not to liberals. It will be seen as a massive vote of no confidence if the right-leaning indy's go against the grain and abandon the liberals.
 

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CAS79

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#2
Abbott took over the leadership when the Liberal party looked like a basket case and took on the ALP who shit themselves and changed prime minster weeks out from an election, nearly took victory and is one no confidence vote away from bringing the whole ship down and sweeping power during a Labor low point during the this term.

Abbott's stays in the gig.
 
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#3
Abbott's been like Gus Hiddink in the way he's galvanised the Coalition, has brought in the Coalition from a long way back

Probably stay in, but if it's a minority Labor government the whole "black hole" budget thing could be pretty damaging if it seems like he cooked the books & was deliberately dishonest to the electorate.

He's an interesting politician - only seems to go one way, attack the other side and minimise their ability to attack on you. That can be good in opposition, but as PM of a nation? His policies have never really been examined, it was all slogans "Stop the Waste," "Stop the Boats."

Then again, that's the sad state of Australian politics that both major parties engage in. Hopefully, if these Independents get what they want we're entering a "new paradigm" of policy debate and not this cesspool of unrelenting negative spin
 

TheGreatBarryB

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#4
Abbott's been like Gus Hiddink in the way he's galvanised the Coalition, has brought in the Coalition from a long way back

Probably stay in, but if it's a minority Labor government the whole "black hole" budget thing could be pretty damaging if it seems like he cooked the books & was deliberately dishonest to the electorate.

He's an interesting politician - only seems to go one way, attack the other side and minimise their ability to attack on you. That can be good in opposition, but as PM of a nation? His policies have never really been examined, it was all slogans "Stop the Waste," "Stop the Boats."

Then again, that's the sad state of Australian politics that both major parties engage in. Hopefully, if these Independents get what they want we're entering a "new paradigm" of policy debate and not this cesspool of unrelenting negative spin
I think this needs an inquiry. Clear deceit. I think Abbott stands for nothing and always has. Put Turnbull back in or plead with Costello to come back. As much as I dislike Costello he's far better than Abbott.
 

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#5
He has to change if he is in opposition for the next 3 years or he risks becoming irrelevant. His attack dog style of politics is finished, well at least in the short term. The Indies are demanding a new way of looking at developing legislation which involves consensus instead of combat. Don't know whether either side can change but Gillard is making a better fist of negotiating than Abbott. Abbott has to change or force an election so he can continue his style of combative politics that clearly appeals to certain states of Australia.
 

Last of the Roys

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#7
He has to change if he is in opposition for the next 3 years or he risks becoming irrelevant. His attack dog style of politics is finished, well at least in the short term. The Indies are demanding a new way of looking at developing legislation which involves consensus instead of combat. Don't know whether either side can change but Gillard is making a better fist of negotiating than Abbott. Abbott has to change or force an election so he can continue his style of combative politics that clearly appeals to certain states of Australia.
Just because someone wants consensus doesn't mean you give it to them. Especially if you are in opposition.

What does consensus really mean in Westminster politics anyway????????? You agree with me and everything will be fine!!!!!!

Should we all have a group hug and start signing love songs to each other???? Stary eyed naive Green B/S!
 

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#8
I think this needs an inquiry. Clear deceit. I think Abbott stands for nothing and always has. Put Turnbull back in or plead with Costello to come back. As much as I dislike Costello he's far better than Abbott.
Come on - the hole black-hole thing was nothing like deceit. The ALP had their policy's costed by Treasury, probably before the election was even called. That isn't available to the Opposition. Every Opposition will make some costing mistakes because of that. Some are real mistakes, while others are just differences in assumptions / and beliefs on what should be done - for instance Treasury wanted to keep a certain amount of contingency expenditure, but the Coalition is well within its right if it was in Government to reduce the amount that is kept in contingency. Another example was apparently a slight difference in an interest rate used, with credible suggestions that the Coalition's interest rates was actually more likely to be accurate than the one Treasury used.

These are the same people that so spectacularly stuffed up the mining tax and its forecasts, their own budget forecasts (in just a few months wasn't it???) and never costed the NBN (all $40 billion worth). Their word is hardly gospel.

$7-$10 billion over four years, when Treasury still admits your cumulative surpluses are bigger than the Government's is not the issue people make it out to be.
 

Metal

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#11
Just because someone wants consensus doesn't mean you give it to them. Especially if you are in opposition.

What does consensus really mean in Westminster politics anyway????????? You agree with me and everything will be fine!!!!!!

Should we all have a group hug and start signing love songs to each other???? Stary eyed naive Green B/S!

Yep, the Coalition still don't get it.
 

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Big John

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#13
He will stay in the medium term at least. Although i think the past 2 weeks have shown he is much more comfortable attacking and being an opposition leader. IMO his performance has been pretty poor since the election.
 

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#15
of course he'll stay. The base would go nuts if they dumped him
True - he will stay but it will be up until the mid-term. Whilst the coalition should take some pride out of the result - really - it was an election which labour lost, not which the coalition won. As soon as Labor get their act in order - the result of 73-73 will look more like 77-69 in favour of the ALP. New blood by the libs will be needed.
 

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He will stay in the medium term at least. Although i think the past 2 weeks have shown he is much more comfortable attacking and being an opposition leader. IMO his performance has been pretty poor since the election.
He was an effective attack dog (you could imagine him railing against sin and evolution in front of a packed house of fundies), but sort of got out of control and attacked the party leader. Since then he has been a bit rabid, attacking and snarling at everyone and everything he thinks is in the way of his rightful position as Prime Minister.

Get him back in the kennel and keep him on a short leash. Put someone sensible in charge.
 

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#17
Could not of said it any better myself Big John and Chief. Labor had a terrible election campaign but post election they have got their act together.
 

KUNG FU

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#18
I agree, Abbott is safe until mid-term at least. No doubt he has lost a lot of traction, could well lose this election against one of the most inept governments (not to mention the ludicrous campaign) in living memory, but he is their best option at the moment. Gave the Liberals direction and purpose. Benefitted magnificently from the timing of Rudd's demise at Copenhagen etc, dropping the political momentum and drawing questions as to the ALP's convictions. On the other hand, Abbott suffered from his inability to sell the Liberals' economic credentials, actually giving the ALP the advantage in the polls on the economy, the costings and the 'economic debate' melodrama etc. Big government conservative trying to push a small government liberal case just seemed awkward. He only won the leadership through the Turnbull/Hockey split, so the question is (when) will Hockey build the momentum to knock over Abbott? But Hockey's campaign was pretty poor and there are serious doubts about his capacity. Turnbull might have the balls for another catastrophic run. Robb, Bishop, Pyne? Looooong shots.
 

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#20
He'll stay on but won't face another election. Once the Libs realise they need to change their act to cope with a Leftist senate, it'll be back to Turnbull.
 

KUNG FU

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#21
I had a bit more of a think about this yesterday. If Abbott loses, he will most probably be in his element. An opposition leader against a minority government. Plenty of ammunition for head kicking. He could be around longer than we expect.
 

volcboy

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#22
Now it is a reality, I expect Abbott to conveniently forget everything he said about a 'kinder and gentler' government and go for the jugular of Gillard, the independents, the Greens, and anybody else in his path (after having a good, old fashioned whinge).
 

Dean3

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#24
I had a bit more of a think about this yesterday. If Abbott loses, he will most probably be in his element. An opposition leader against a minority government. Plenty of ammunition for head kicking. He could be around longer than we expect.
Abbott is a conundrum, isn't he? He's at once the reason the Coalition nearly snatched government, and the reason they didn't.

And after keeping his head-kicking self on a leash for the duration of the campaign, and thus nearly making himself electable, does he return to the head-kicking?
 

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#25
I've barely heard anything from Abbott the last few days. It's all been Andrew Robb.

Surely Robb's a chance for leader at some stage?
 
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