For all the angst occasioned by Clive Palmer and his Senate campaign of disruption directed at the government, it’s not impossible that Palmer and other recalcitrant crossbenchers may be doing the Coalition a big favour.
In opposing many of the government’s punitive budget measures, and especially ones with a wide impact such as indexing the fuel excise and the new GP fee, the Senate may be helping to ensure the Coalition’s political survival.
In the Howard years, voters appeared content to return the Coalition to government while the Senate moderated many of its policies. While it wasn’t understood at the time — indeed, it was perceived as the crowning Howard victory — obtaining control of the Senate proved fatal to that government, since there was no one to stand in the way of WorkChoices, one of the most deeply unpopular policies of recent generations.
Fast forward, and this messy Senate may well be preventing the Abbott government from making the same mistake as the Howard government. True, it comes with a fiscal price, but there are few informed observers who seriously believe in the so-called “budget emergency”.
It may well be a price worth paying for the government if it ensures voters are prepared to return it to power in 2016, on the basis that there’s a Senate willing to moderate its enthusiasm for punitive economic policies. Clive Palmer used to be a strong supporter of the Coalition. Perhaps, in his way, he still is.
Is the electorate that sophisticated?
Palmer is giving Abbott & Co a cast iron excuse for still being in deficit in 2016, despite all pre-election promises to be Australia’s fiscal saviour.
One of Abbott’s favourite past times is to blame others &, in this instance, he’ll point the finger firmly at Palmer. And, for once, his excuse will be valid – there’s always a first time, Tony.
I don’t think the voters are entirely stupid. Everyone knows what the rAbbott and his motley crew tried to do with this budget – make things much more difficult for those on the bottom rung of society.
It will largely be the Labor Party and the Greens who save the day (as much as they can). Don’t think people will forget that at the next election.
Besides that, I am a senior citizen and have never seen a more ha+ed figure than Abbott in my life time. If Julia Gillard couldn’t recover from poll figures like Abbott currently has, then I don’t see him being given another go either!
They voted Kevin Labor out of the Big Brother House – in favour of “Toady’s ‘abits”, thinking they Got Talent?
And how many bothered voting below the Senate plimsoll line?
Klewi – fewer than 3%, alas & alack.