Let’s face it. Everyone’s more interested in discussing leaks and polls than policy in this campaign. Why is this? In part, it’s because of the political theatre of the horse race and the personality contest, and in part because of the effects of the unprecedented deposition of a first term Prime Minister.

But there’s another reason. What’s on offer is bite sized policy, which at best only addresses a part of the problem. And that part is carefully selected on the basis of what electoral message it sends, not because it’s the highest priority in a time of fiscal stringency.

Take, for example, Labor’s announcements on mental health on Tuesday and disability today. Read more »

Just a quick reminder that we have a Twitter presence. It’s one way of being updated about posts, and also, particularly during this campaign, a medium we take advantage of for livechat about set pieces such as last night’s leaders’ debate, and shows like qanda.

We’re here.

So, now we know. Labor has wimped out on a carbon price – either from reintroducing the CPRS, or through an interim carbon price as proposed by the Greens. Instead, we’re going to get the delaying tactics of a focus group with pretensions so we can get a “community consensus”.

So where does that leave those of us who think that we’ve all been consulted to death on this issue, and it’s time for polluters to start paying? More to the point, how can we use the upcoming election to send that message?

Below the fold, a little idea I’d like to float for discussion.
Read more »