All change in Australia

Thought MP might have been here to tell you all what a terrible mistake you have made, and if you had listened to him.......etc etc yawn yawn.

quote:

Originally posted by DAVOhorn:

It appears that the prime reasons are :

1: Work Choice Legislation on work practices.

Having talked to three Australians that have moved here to NZ in the last year (must have been for the low wages on offer here...) uppermost in their reasons was the Work Choice legislation. They were incredibly resentful of it - and John Howard.

(And, for one of them, the trout fishing here was another reason he moved.)

David,

You seem to have been fishing yourself, here's a bite!

Speaking as a local, I would say Howard is the best PM in the same sense that Thatcher is the best British PM. That is if your aim is to create a culturally divisive society, demonise the different, be morally and ethically bankrupt on a personal and political level, then yes Howard was an outstanding success. As a PM claiming to have made our economy (and thus society) stronger?

Let’s be blunt - the structural reforms to the economy that enabled the growth of capital investment occurred in the 80’s and 90’s under the then Labour government, not under Howard. The highest taxing government in Australian history was…Howard. The strength of our economy is due to the mining and resources boom and I don’t think Howard could claim credit for the iron ore and coal in our geological strata.

When your election strategy has been for the last few elections a)bribe the middle class and b)scare the workers of some external threat, inevitably the voting public realises that a) is not sustainable and b) well…that wolf just ain’t here.

As for “undue Union Influence”, this is a furphy thrown up by hard right capitalists on a constant and unfounded basis. It doesn’t happen in the States and Territories, which all have Labour governments, so why would it happen federally?

You indicate some degree of unfamiliarity with the Australian political structure, may I suggest you study it before you make the kind of egregious arguments you’ve presented. Howard was voted out by the public, accept it and move on.

And people wonder why we hate poms….

Regards,

Giles
(who actually has dual Australian and British citizenship)

Face it. Howard lost because a majority of Aussies preferred Rudd. If you don't like it, leave. It's their country, their choice.

Personally, I applaud their decision and wish him well.