The contrast, as Kevin Rudd would (will!) no doubt say, is stark.
Today in the Labor Caucus, Rudd spoke about the economic recovery and ordered Labor MPs to spend the fortnight between sittings talking with voters about health reform and what the community wanted. Rudd himself would be continuing his consultation tour of the nation’s hospitals, prior to having a community cabinet meeting in Port Macquarie.
The sense — deliberately cultivated, as is everything else in this spin-obsessed Government — is of a purposeful, in-control party pursuing its long-term reform agenda without distractions.
This morning’s Coalition joint party room meeting was dominated by an extended debate over the Renewable Energy Target bill. Its fate in the Senate remains unclear despite the bill being next item in the Senate’s order of business today. The Coalition also spent an extended period arguing over immigration detention.
The sense is of a Coalition at odds with itself, unable to get its act together even when its leaders have committed to passing legislation of which it professes to be supportive; indeed, even after shadow minister Greg Hunt has adroitly painted the Government into a corner on its own stunt of linking the RET and its CPRS, and forced a concession. As things stand, the Coalition could, bizarrely, yet snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and oppose the RET bill it supported last night.
It’s only a few years since these roles were reversed, with ALP members at each other’s throats and a Coalition totally and effortlessly dominated by John Howard. Politics always moves in cycles. But one thing seems certain and timeless: the Coalition does Opposition very, VERY badly.
Quite frankly, they did bugger all when they were in power, except for being yes men to John Winston Howard. Now that he has departed the scene they have fallen about in a pile of amateurism. Having been yes men in their previous incarnation they are merely wandering in limbo until the next person, who is prepared to pick this sorry mess out of the nearest available gutter, can gather them up and call them to heel.
However, it is looking ever more less likely their present leader is not the man for the job.
Certainly politics moves in cycles, however, this bike has been ridden for so long and my so many mediocrities its wheels are on the point of collapse.
Yes, politics does seem to move in cycles
How bloody depressing.
Quite.
In their minds, they are not in Opposition.
thats a bit harsh Venise.. don’t get bluffed by the state of the opposition in its current form.
I think history will be very kind to the Howard Govt on many fronts. On reflection, any party that has politicians the calibre of Costello, Downer, Nelson, Ruddock et al it is no wonder the ALP was in opposition for such a long time.
I agree, Politics does move in cycles – I’m just not sure how long this cycle will be. In saying that, Rudd was able to turn things around pretty quickly when he became opposition leader.
I actually think Turnbull is the man for the job.