Kevin hits pay dirt
The government has scored a big victory with its $42 billion stimulus package. As the opposition will soon find out, the fastest way to put ordinary working families offside will be to criticise it.
In crass political terms Kevin Rudd is on a winner with his $42 billion Keating-like nation building package.
Above all else he has been seen to have acted boldly and swiftly.
The massive investment in primary schools in every town and suburb in Australia is a political winner. It will engage millions of parents and help protect local construction and other jobs.
His commitment to building more public housing meets an election promise to the homeless. And that reinforces his basic Labor credentials.
His investment in home insulation and solar hot water initiative reinforces his somewhat tarnished green credentials.
His "cash splash” of over $12 billion to "households under budgetary pressure” is aimed squarely at middle Australia. He is preparing the electorate for rising unemployment, and the possibility of a recession.
His political mantra is simple: We are doing everything humanly possible to stave off the effects of an "economic emergency” that was not of our making. We don't like deficits, but we had no choice. And we have a plan to get back to surplus – over time.
The decision to announce the package today was also political. It comes on the same day of a 100 basis point interest rate cut. And its all aimed at boosting consumer confidence.
Given all that, Malcolm Turnbull has to tread very carefully.
He is likely to support infrastructure spending. To oppose it would be political suicide.
He wanted tax cuts brought forward. Rudd has argued they take too long to work and has opted instead for what Peter Costello did a few years ago with his $3,000 "baby bonus”.
Therefore to oppose these one off payments leaves him open to the charge that he doesn't care for the impact of the global recession of ordinary working families. Rudd will say he is an old style Wall Street free marketer who favours the "let her rip” school of free market economics.
Turnbull will also have to watch the undisciplined performance of his shadow ministers, many of whom simply shoot from the hip with off the cuff pronouncements on economic policy whenever asked during the 12 hour news cycle.
Paradoxically, these unprecedented economic times suit an ALP government.
They aren't blamed – but are seen to be on the side of ordinary families struggling to cope.
It's all about "jobs, jobs, jobs” as Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd say constantly. Unfortunately for the Opposition it is Kevin Rudd who is in the position to do something about it.
Above all else he has been seen to have acted boldly and swiftly.
The massive investment in primary schools in every town and suburb in Australia is a political winner. It will engage millions of parents and help protect local construction and other jobs.
His commitment to building more public housing meets an election promise to the homeless. And that reinforces his basic Labor credentials.
His investment in home insulation and solar hot water initiative reinforces his somewhat tarnished green credentials.
His "cash splash” of over $12 billion to "households under budgetary pressure” is aimed squarely at middle Australia. He is preparing the electorate for rising unemployment, and the possibility of a recession.
His political mantra is simple: We are doing everything humanly possible to stave off the effects of an "economic emergency” that was not of our making. We don't like deficits, but we had no choice. And we have a plan to get back to surplus – over time.
The decision to announce the package today was also political. It comes on the same day of a 100 basis point interest rate cut. And its all aimed at boosting consumer confidence.
Given all that, Malcolm Turnbull has to tread very carefully.
He is likely to support infrastructure spending. To oppose it would be political suicide.
He wanted tax cuts brought forward. Rudd has argued they take too long to work and has opted instead for what Peter Costello did a few years ago with his $3,000 "baby bonus”.
Therefore to oppose these one off payments leaves him open to the charge that he doesn't care for the impact of the global recession of ordinary working families. Rudd will say he is an old style Wall Street free marketer who favours the "let her rip” school of free market economics.
Turnbull will also have to watch the undisciplined performance of his shadow ministers, many of whom simply shoot from the hip with off the cuff pronouncements on economic policy whenever asked during the 12 hour news cycle.
Paradoxically, these unprecedented economic times suit an ALP government.
They aren't blamed – but are seen to be on the side of ordinary families struggling to cope.
It's all about "jobs, jobs, jobs” as Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd say constantly. Unfortunately for the Opposition it is Kevin Rudd who is in the position to do something about it.
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