Budget panto goes wrong
Monday, 19 May 2014 State of the parties 37 comments
Now having reached the ultimate ritual of the Budget, and economic management, through which the last thirty years political unravelling has been understood, the depth of the government’s problems are finally becoming apparent to all.
Instability
Thursday, 29 July 2010 State of the parties 13 comments
the real deciding issue of this election is stability – or, to put it more bluntly, which party can show it’s the least dysfunctional to run the government.
Flashpoint
Tuesday, 23 June 2009 Tactics 5 comments
The whole fuss shows the degree to which the political class has become so insecure in the last few years, that what would have passed for normal political activity has become almost impossible.
What a crisis looks like – an update
Thursday, 14 May 2009 State of the parties 5 comments
So if the downturn is unprecedented, why has then Treasury chosen this time to change its methodology to more allow for the experience of past economic recoveries than ever before?
The coming non-event – 2009 edition
Monday, 11 May 2009 Tactics 7 comments
Predictions of some officials in Washington, London and Paris that the economy would begin to recover within a year, are based on no other reason than they wouldn’t know what to do if it didn’t.
Gently falling apart – a further update
Thursday, 22 May 2008 Tactics Comments Off on Gently falling apart – a further update
A strangely unsettled mood seems to have settled over national politics in the last week. Debate over the Budget is still rattling around but with no coherent theme having emerged from either side while the media keep worrying over it like a dog with a bone.
The New Sensitivity
Wednesday, 14 May 2008 Key posts, Tactics Comments Off on The New Sensitivity
Turnbull was dead right on Sunday that the government has a political strategy, not an economic one. Unfortunately, Turnbull doesn’t seem to know what it is.
The coming non-event
Thursday, 1 May 2008 Tactics Comments Off on The coming non-event
There is starting to be some fairly tortured analysis doing the rounds in the press in the run up to next Tuesday’s Budget.
Listening very carefully
Monday, 7 April 2008 International relations Comments Off on Listening very carefully
At the bottom of this conundrum is Labor still trying to make an economic argument when it has already admitted that an economic policy is no longer possible, something Rudd has confirmed by motivating his world tour as an alternative to watching the economic crisis unfold on CNN.
Why Swan is nervous
Friday, 22 February 2008 Political figures Comments Off on Why Swan is nervous
Saying your opponent’s spending plans are just a political ruse is one thing, saying the same for those of your own party is something else.