The Coalition’s confusion over its fiscal policy reflects the gap between its small government rhetoric and political reality.
Andrew Robb
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Will the Coalition launch an interest rate cut campaign?
Who wants to argue against an interest rate cut? Andrew Robb knew he was on safe ground when he suggested a cut on ABC radio, reports James Thomson.
Political snippets: Time right to call Xenophon’s bluff
Nick Xenophon clearly is enjoying his last few months of fame as he milks for all it’s worth the “will-he won’t-he” suspense about the planned Queensland flood tax.
Meet Bob Katter, aka B Joyce … and Andrew Robb, aka J Hockey
The ABC has finally discovered the high value of the Australian dollar is more of an issue than just a simple race call at the back end of the news or a mention in the finance report.
Hartcher: The one day wonder of the Robb challenge
For about three seconds there, Andrew Robb planned to challenge Julie Bishop for the role of Liberal deputy, as revenge to Joe Hockey. Peter Hartcher reveals how it all fell apart.
Julie’s safe: the pro-competition party rejects a leadership contest
Andrew Robb probably wouldn’t have toppled Julie Bishop - but it’s funny how parties change their tune on such matters for political convenience.
Maiden: The Bishop death stare strikes again
News that Andrew Robb was to challenge Julia Bishop for the Liberal deputy position had Canberra abuzz yesterday. But just hours later the story was crushed, as Bishop continues to live up to her cockroach nickname, writes Samantha Maiden.
The hypocrisy of costings
This week we were reminded once again that Tony Abbott is an economic lightweight. The Coalition “costings blowout” may be overstated, but its hypocrisy is much worse.
Crikey Says: Redefining competence
Much of the Coalition’s enormous success in becoming not merely electorally competitive but to reach the verge of forming government lies in its successful selling of the idea of competence.
Keane’s Talking Points: cue the ‘late swing’ headlines
In last night’s “community forum”, half the questions were “swinging voters” demanding to know what politicians are going to do for them personally or for the industries they work in.
A narrow win for Gillard and an eye on costings
Daily Media Wrap: It was the battle for Brisbane last night, when Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott faced up to questioning in a peoples’ forum in Kevin Rudd’s hometown. Neither emerged as the obvious victor.
The Coalition is fundamentally at odds with the RBA
The Coalition’s economic policy is fundamentally at odds with the views of the Reserve Bank. If it was Labor, we’d never hear the end of it.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: The challenges of addressing mental health
Crikey readers weigh in on mental health, Gillard vs. the miners and Dick Smith’s take on population and immigration.
Andrew Robb: the black dog stayed for years before I got help
For more than four decades Coalition front-bencher Andrew Robb lived with depression and did not seek help. He writes for Crikey on the miserable low and how Tony Abbott will improve mental health care.
Crikey Clarifier: Can sneezing really help treat depression?
MP Andrew Robb said he’d look at the sun to make himself sneeze to release endorphins and help his depression. But does looking at the sun make you sneeze, and more importantly, does it change your mood?
Political snippets: The opposition’s oblique asterisk on health funding
Andrew Robb gave us the first appearance for this election campaign. Plus, The Hun needs to give Julia Gillard a break and other political news of the day.
Abbott at his best on mental health
The coalition’s commitment to mental health funding — more Headspace centres, more psyschosis prevention and intervention centres — is, for once, smart politics and smart policy.
Keane: Twitter and the prosaic reality of Digital Democracy
We expect too much of politicians on social media - particularly in Australia, where its benefits are less obvious compared to those of the mass media.
From the doors: Keep it above the belt, pleads Robb
With Malcolm Fraser quitting the Libs and Julie Bishop shooting herself in a foot firmly jammed in her mouth, it was a busy morning for Crikey< Doorsman Tiernan Kelly, reporting from a cold, wet House of Reps entrance.
Economics 101 on the rise and fall of the Aussie dollar
The Coalition and some commentators would have you believe the RSPT debate is affecting the dollar. It’s a fairy story. Glenn Dyer and Bernard Keane explain why.
The reverse playbook for selling tax reform
Clear, simple and compelling arguments for the RSPT can be made. The trouble is, they’re not coming from the Government.
Atkins: The cruel jibes of snivelling schoolboy pollies
Tony Abbott loves a snappy scripted slogan — “great big new tax” — while Kevin Rudd is more of an acronym man — “ETS, RSPT etc”. It’s the only amusing thing in this tit-for-tat mining tax fight, writes Dennis Atkins.
Theatrics aside, Hockey and Robb have made a good start
Once you get beyond all the spinning, there’s plenty to consider in what Joe Hockey and Andrew Robb offered yesterday: more substance than Tony Abbott has managed all year.
Budget reply: did Hockey score an own goal?
Daily media wrap: Joe Hockey gave the Opposition’s Budget Reply speech yesterday, promising to save $47 billion. But he forgot to say how — and it didn’t go unnoticed.
