Holding the government to account is the job of the opposition, but blocking them at every turn is not the same thing. Blocking good policy is just obstructionist. It places us in a very damaging holding pattern... the world doesn't stop because Tony Abbott wants it to.
Let's examine the rhetoric... and the outcome.
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The Carbon tax... wasn't a big new tax on everything, it didn't wipe out Whyalla, it wasn't the key driver of electricity price increases, it hasn't wiped out the export industry and the economy with it, and it hasn't caused petrol prices to rise (because it isn't applied to petrol). Since its introduction, price rises have been in line with the modelling, even if that is not the general perception
As we have posted previously, the price on Carbon is having limited impact on the economy, so that the coalition's claim that removing the tax is their big plan for productivity growth is pure fantasy.
The Direct Action plan - it won't work as well as a price on Carbon, and it will likely be much more expensive, especially if they want to reach the 5% reduction target. And that analysis is based on making every possible positive assumption in the plan's favour. The bottom line is that the Coalition doesn't intend to reach the 5% reduction target.
According to the Coalition the NBN is a white elephant Australians don't want - well actually they do. Take up rates are accelerating, the majority support Labor's plan for the NBN over that of the Coalition, and even Mike Quigley was indicating that the Coalition plan to save money by taking fibre to the node was short-sighted, highly problematic and likely to cost us more in the long run.
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The Coalition's paid parental leave scheme (well actually the thought bubble Abbott had.. which he's sticking to) is ti be financed by levying (Coalition code for taxing) private enterprise. It will in fact be a significant drag on business. The current Labor plan is working well, and ensuring that parents can afford to be with their children during the important early months and years, and children are likely growing up feeling secure and supported.
Abbott's scheme gives higher paid workers greater incentive to delay a return to work, and makes employers foot the bill. While removing the carbon tax will have no effect on productivity, Abbott's paid parental leave scheme will have a big impact... a big negative one.
And why does Tony Abbott want to stick with this policy dog... because he's stuck in the primary school mentality of mine's bigger than yours, and bugger the consequences.
As far as actual policy goes, I probably need to stop there. There isn't much else to speak of. Sure headmasters will have more autonomy and 'bad' teachers will be punished, but the funding inequities in Education will not be addressed. The boats won't stop, only the rhetoric will, and the total number of boats turned back will be... zero, because it will never be safe to do so.
Should Abbott ever be elected PM, we will be stuck with dud new policies, the bastardization of good Labor policy, and a large pile of 'non core' promises.
And of course we'll have 20,000 public service sackings... the number Tony dreamed up one night while he was wearing his magic underpants... or were they dusty red speedos.