What do Labor need to do to turn it around?

[Sojourner]

Plenty of focus has been on the various problems of the Federal ALP and the issues over Craig Thomson and the poll rating suggested to be plummeting.

My question is what do the ALP do to turn it around?

One suggestion could be to simply dump the Carbon Tax, yet its pretty obvious that Gillard has painted herself into a corner over that issue and even if she wanted to I don't think it can be turned backwards and will go full steam ahead. With the second phase of the GFC suspected to be on the way and the prospect of interest rates having to be cut its a pretty difficult sell to introduce a new tax irrespective of what the compensation is, it seems to me that many have made up their mind and have switched off when its brought up.

One interesting suggestion is for Gillard to agree to step down from the role and for Kevin Rudd to take the position in a bloodless coup. The media report that the factions don't like Rudd, yet the punters seem to favour him, the same likely for the coalition if Turnbull took the role of leader. Clearly the ALP are at the level of only the rusted on Labor people left, so any bounce upwards towards Rudd would at least be the first step in getting the parties primary vote back up on track again.

Clearly what needs to happen is that the ALP need to get some runs on the board in terms of people seeing things accomplished and real tangible outcomes where the impression is that the party have leadership and value. My suggestion is for Julia Gillard to look back in history at the greatest ever ALP Prime Minister Ben Chifley, and model herself on Chifley, the comparisons are not so different. Chifley inherited the Prime Ministership after the death of an incumbent and a year later was democratically elected by the nation because people believed in his vision. He took the job at a time when the world globally was in a huge recession and depression after coming out of the war, people in Australia had shortages of various things and things were pretty tough all round for most people financially. Chifley responded by building the Snowy River Mountain Scheme and investing in the infrastructure of this nation, this investment saw jobs created and our economy became strong and we became the nation that we are today.

Plenty of talk about the Steel Industry in this nation and steel working jobs, What a great time for Gillard to sweep in and announce that we are to go ahead with a high speed bullet train across Australia? Jobs aplenty for the mining industry to mine and refine the Iron Ore, The steelworks at Whyalla and Port Kembla shouldn't have to many problems in manufacturing the various rails and metal sleepers and even the various components for the actual locomotives. We have heard plenty about new jobs in the Environmental industry, by making the line run on a % of Green power with the infrastructure specified to be made here, companies can make the various solar and wind facilities to power the trains or even shock horror use Nuclear Power to run it and open up thousands of jobs in that industry.

The possibilities are endless of what a modern day project the equivalent of the Snowy Mountain Scheme could do, I would use the funds from the carbon tax scheme to pay for it. Why buy "carbon credits" when you can create a rail network that is carbon neutral, invest our money into our own green infrastructure and reduce the number of planes and cars creating emissions going up the coast at the same time?

If the ALP seriously want to win the next election I think they can actually do it, but it will take a pretty brave and bold step with something that people can believe in and something that people can see happening as a result of the carbon tax. The carbon tax could actually become a winner if people see something tangible for it in return.

Thoughts?

[Squawk]

I think they're pretty stuffed right now and potentially until the next election.

If I was them, I'd be working up a 5 year plan right now and rolling it our to the public, with the message that if they are elected in their own right (not as a minority govt like now), they will be doing x, y and z.

That would get people looking forward and put pressure on the Libs, Greens and Independents to start rolling out their own visions, well before they thought they'd need to.

I also think Julia needs to make a shift and be seen to actually have some focus on core areas other than just her favourite flavours - education and industrial relations. She should go to visit the troops in Afghanistan, re-visit victims of the bushfires, floods and cyclones etc and see how they are going and reassure them they are not forgotten and will continue to be supported; Do something neighbourly with the Kiwis who have been smashed from pillar to post with natural disasters and mining accidents (just dont mention apples ); Spend more time in regional Australia; and most importantly, recognise that plenty of people are struggling and do something about it that doesn't involve raising more revenue from taxpayers to pay for it.

[Squawk]

Well this is a busy thread. Many have criticised Tony Abbott for being critical all the time and not coming up with his own proposals - yet a question is asked about how Julia can turn things around and no one seems to have any answers? No wonder she is struggling.

[Q.]

Pray that American and European economies stabilise.

[Squawk]

Pray that American and European economies stabilise.

That would please everyone, regardless of their politics. The PM has far more problems than just this matter. C'Mon Quichey - what's your analysis?

I think Sojourner has asked a good, decent question and I cant fathom the lack of interest in answering it! It seems it is far easier on here to spectate and/or criticise, than to propose and initiate!

[bulldogproud2]

One thing that would help is to get more balanced media reports.
Also, to really explain how the Mining Tax is beneficial for the economy by taking money from areas that are performing extremely strongly in the economy and distributing it throughout the rest of Australia so that the whole country benefits rather than 5% of the country.
To inform the Australian public that Australia is the best performing Western economy at the moment, a feat that alone should really guarantee re-election.
To broadcast Tony Abbott's statement at the time of the GFC that there was no way that Australia could avoid a decade of double-digit unemployment. On the contrary, we never went above 6%.
To wait for the Liberal Party to actually release some policies (costed ones) and to then compare them to Labor's.
I think that the above could help.
Cheers

[Dog_ger]

1. Start thinking about and looking after the people that voted for you, especially pensioners.

Shame Labour. History states you forget your roots.

And once in power you only think of yourselves.

Shame.

[bulldogproud2]

1. Start thinking about and looking after the people that voted for you, especially pensioners.

Shame Labour. History states you forget your roots.

And once in power you only think of yourselves.

Shame.

Pensioners did not receive ONE single rise (other then CPI increases) under the previous Liberal government. Labor has looked after them darn well in comparison, Dogger.
Cheers

[mick]

I reckon they are doing well. I wouldn't change a thing

[Q.]

RSPT + stimulation of non-resource sector.

[Rik E Boy]

Legalise it.

regards,

REB

[Sky Pilot]

I don't think Labor can turn it around.

[Media Park]

Instill Stephen Smith as the new leader.

[Sky Pilot]

Yeah that'll fix it - not! Smithy's a good bloke I reckon but lacks the aggression to take it up to Abbott and his wolf pack. Despite Labor's best intentions most projects they have embarked on - no matter how noble they appeared to be at the time - have failed big time. Why? Just piss poor planning, inept management, failure to read and heed the warning signs of impending disaster, failing to act, sitting back listening to rabid lefties like Doug Cameron and Bob Brown telling them what they should and should not do. I believe most Labor voters these days are centre right and although that has not escaped the policy advisers, the elected members themselves at sh1t scared at upsetting Paul Howes and his union mates.
Labor threw the Ruddster under the bus, installed Gillard who still thinks she is practicing law in Altona and slowly but spectacularly the nation has been pushed over a cliff.

[Bat Pad]

Instill Stephen Smith as the new leader.

Appears to be a decent person, and competent if not outstanding.

But would get eaten alive in the top job, reminds me a lot of Brendan Nelson.

[Sky Pilot]

Instill Stephen Smith as the new leader.

Appears to be a decent person, and competent if not outstanding.

But would get eaten alive in the top job, reminds me a lot of Brendan Nelson.

Without the ear stud and medical degree! Nelson was dudded and really should still be there I reckon

[bulldogproud2]

Yeah that'll fix it - not! Smithy's a good bloke I reckon but lacks the aggression to take it up to Abbott and his wolf pack. Despite Labor's best intentions most projects they have embarked on - no matter how noble they appeared to be at the time - have failed big time. Why? Just piss poor planning, inept management, failure to read and heed the warning signs of impending disaster, failing to act, sitting back listening to rabid lefties like Doug Cameron and Bob Brown telling them what they should and should not do. I believe most Labor voters these days are centre right and although that has not escaped the policy advisers, the elected members themselves at sh1t scared at upsetting Paul Howes and his union mates.
Labor threw the Ruddster under the bus, installed Gillard who still thinks she is practicing law in Altona and slowly but spectacularly the nation has been pushed over a cliff.

.. and yet when you look at it, the Labor Government have been responsible for raising Australia to the best-performing economy in the western world. Have they really failed big time? I mean, most people now seem to accept that the mining tax is the correct way to help Australia manage its two-speed economy, 98% of building under the BER was extremely successful and schools are very thankful for it now, most accept that tne NBN will be very good for the country, Australia's debt level is low by world standards etc. etc. Is the truth not really that a very negative campaign run by the Liberal Party has just somehow been accepted by the populus and also a matter of timing (i.e. the occurrence of the GFC)? I guess that is what politics is all about though - perception wins rather than reality. It may be a totally different thing when the Liberal Party actually have to come up with some policies.
Cheers

[Bat Pad]

Wouldn't say we have been raised to be the best performing economy in the western world. The others have fallen in a heap.

[bulldogproud2]

Wouldn't say we have been raised to be the best performing economy in the western world. The others have fallen in a heap.

True that they have fallen in a heap, no question there. However, with all countries exposed to global markets nowadays, it has still taken sound economic management to lessen the impact of the GFC in Australia. Although berated for it by the Liberal Party at the time, the stimulus package saved Australia's bacon!
Cheers

[Bat Pad]

Wouldn't say we have been raised to be the best performing economy in the western world. The others have fallen in a heap.

True that they have fallen in a heap, no question there. However, with all countries exposed to global markets nowadays, it has still taken sound economic management to lessen the impact of the GFC in Australia. Although berated for it by the Liberal Party at the time, the stimulus package saved Australia's bacon!
Cheers

The Coalition only opposed the quantity of the stimulus, not the principle.