Hello,
To any Australians reading this, just wondering who you'd prefer as the Australian PM?

Regards,
Justin

Latham :)

Well I can't vote here but I have a home here. So I will say right now Latham looks to be the front runner, but who knows once he gets in what will happen.

Kind of scary to have one pary running it all.

Personally going for Howard, don't like Latham. John Howard's a really good PM IMO.

Regards,

When I left Oz Latham has just been elected opposition leader so never had a chance to see him in action. I do hope he gets Labor's act together though so you can get rid of Howard.

I still think Gareth Evans should have gone for the job a few years back.

Howard i'm afriad.......Latham looks / sounds like a smart*ss ;)

Latham pretty much tells the public what they want to hear and doesn't make desecions based on the best interest of Australia. I really, really hate that.

Latham will probably get in, mainly because he's a populist politician, and we all know Howard will give up the job into his term, to Costello, if he were to win another term.

Don't underestimate Howard though, but I think he's come to the end of the road.

Watch the effect of the government abolishing ATSIC, and see how that divides the opposition. Latham is already wavering on it, and it could be the next "Tampa", for the government.

Kim Beasley!

Originally posted by Justin.K
Latham pretty much tells the public what they want to hear and doesn't make desecions based on the best interest of Australia. I really, really hate that.
Yes, he's a populist politician, sprouting about trying to make the headlines, like he's got some magic fix it formulea, but IMO there's very little substance below the surface.

Latham will crack on the government abolishing ATSIC. He's damned if he supports the government's decision to scrap ATSIC, and he's damned if he doesn't. Howard has him in a corner on this issue. This will hurt Latham at the election, as most Aussies know ATSIC needed taking out back and shooting. Howard will use this issue to divide and conquer Latham, like he did with the "Tampa" issue.

Originally posted by Selpaw
Kim Beasley!
hehe. He's had 2 shots at the PM's job, and another shot at the ALP leadership. He lost them all. I think he's a good bloke, but he's been delegated to the back bench, and then to retire on his cushy superannuation package. :rolleyes:

I don't really think the Australian public will vote for an up himself smartarse thug like Latham. We're smarter than that.

Originally posted by Aussie Bob
Yes, he's a populist politician, sprouting about trying to make the headlines, like he's got some magic fix it formulea, but IMO there's very little substance below the surface.

Latham will crack on the government abolishing ATSIC. He's damned if he supports the government's decision to scrap ATSIC, and he's damned if he doesn't. Howard has him in a corner on this issue. This will hurt Latham at the election, as most Aussies know ATSIC needed taking out back and shooting. Howard will use this issue to divide and conquer Latham, like he did with the "Tampa" issue.

Yeah I couldn't agree more mate. He's bad news and pretty much contridicts himself all the time. We're finally seeing how smart Howard really is.
Polls seem to show Lathem is more popular, but agree with you Bob, Howards got him cornered.
Interesting.

Regards,

Sheesh I must have missed a lot of politics while my TV was on the blink. I am not even sure who Latham is. But John Howard always tries some shifty tactic to get re-elected and if ATSIC is his trump card, he will play it to the full for sure.

I always put Labour and Liberal right at the very bottom for my preferences, when voting, so I'd say I don't particularly want either of the two (Howard or Latham) as PM.

I despise Howard, hate his methods, and disagree with his views; and Lathams a dumbass.

I really, really, don't want Latham as PM, but I guess I want Howard even less.

So you're happy to throw your vote away then?

Yawn.

Voting for Labour or Liberal would be throwing my vote away.

It's a shame you find my comments so boring, but I am interested in your position.

Are you really telling me that you'd rather vote for some nobody who has no chance of getting elected. Even if by some miracle they actually do get elected, what do you expect them to be able to acheive?

Anyone other than Howard. Gutless little lapdog that dragged us into this stupid mess - and yes I voted for him the last 2 times.

If I had to choose from the two, I'd choose Howard.

I don't like Latham. As Justin said, he tells the public what they want to hear. Incidentally, his electoral office is only a few km from here (another electorate though). My electorate is Liberal federally.

-Shaun

Howard - he's done a lot of good for this country.

Until someone raises The Apathy Party, I'll keep drawing the first cartoon character that comes to mind on election day. My wife keeps telling me I'm not having my say. I am. My say that I couldn't care less who was driving the bus in Caberra as long as I can food on the table. The nonsense that emanates from our "political arena" bores me to tears. :)

Gary

Originally posted by AussieHosts
The nonsense that emanates from our "political arena" bores me to tears.

That pretty much sums it up for me as well. Australian politics for me tends to seem a bit silly at best, and downright embarressing the rest of the time. When I left the Liberal Party was trying their best to alienate Australia from the rest of south-east asia while getting nowhere on free trade agreements with the US. The only shining light was the trade with China that was being discussed.

Not sure if anything big has happened down there lately though. Contrary to the politican view that Australia is a focus in the world, I've heard very little about Oz since I moved to the states. Of course the US tends to be pretty xenophobic when it comes to news from around the world that doesn't affect the US directly. :)

A little off-topic but it's always quite a suprise how little news of the 'outside world' filters through to 'John Q. Public' over here compared to what I'm used to - and that's with over half a dozen dedicated news channels to pick from on the TV.

Originally posted by webarama
So you're happy to throw your vote away then?
Learn to accept it that we can vote for who ever we want.

If we want to draw a big smiley face on the vote ballet, or vote for an independent / minor political party then it’s our bloody right too!!!

Great thing about this country is we can do a citizens arrest on our own PM if we wanted to!!

Being an 'oldie' compared to most in this thread I will be voting from experience when I vote Liberal this year. I have always been a swinging voter, deciding who had the better platform to offer, and in no way can I see a guy like Latham do anything better for Australians than the Howard govt has done.

Who could ever forget the 18% interest rates of the Keating era - 55% excise on US imports under Whitlam - Big Kim/Cheryl Kernot's greasy plot to destroy the Democrats.

Labours' leaders are mere puppets for the bully boys in Caucus whereas Howard holds his ship together under relentless flak from Labour who generally do an about face eventually.

*get off soapbox - showers crowd with boiled lollies* :)

G'day :D

Bring an interested Pomme up to speed on the Australian political situation would you??

Are Labour that far ahead in the polls, i heard they were in front but is it that certain that Howard won't hold on for another term in office?

I listen to a Global News show in the small hours and i get Aussie updates at least weekly when i catch the slot, speaking of which also on the show each week is someone called Dr Karl, been on for a year or two, great fun, any of you ever heard of him?

thanks a lot

Critic, :cool:

Originally posted by Justin.K
Latham pretty much tells the public what they want to hear and doesn't make desecions based on the best interest of Australia. I really, really hate that.

Yes and sending our troops to Iraq was for the best interest of Australia? Sending them there has put us right on target with terrorists. Howard is bushes puppy

Originally posted by Selpaw
Kim Beasley!

In all honesty I like him better than Latham. He could have bet Howard, people know him and his policies.

Originally posted by webarama
I don't really think the Australian public will vote for an up himself smartarse thug like Latham. We're smarter than that.

They voted for howard ;) :bawling:

Originally posted by MN-Robert
Yes and sending our troops to Iraq was for the best interest of Australia? Sending them there has put us right on target with terrorists. Howard is bushes puppy

Yeah but think about it. I'm not agreeing with sending our troops there but what would have happened if Saddam was still the dictator of Iraq, how many Iraqis would have died?, think about it. Don't get me wrong, i'm not agreeing with the war. I think they should of found Saddam and pulled out, there's no need to keep troops in there. But if Latham is elected and pulls them out, terrorists are obviously going to start asking for ransoms (for EG) as they know Australia will co-operate. So IMO there's really no right move atm, Howards messed it up. 'Most' of Howards decisions I personally agree with.

Regards,
Justin Khoury

Have a quick skim read of the bible - the middle east has been killing themselves for thousands of years... What makes you think they are EVER going to stop ? And what possible reason did we ever have for becoming involved - the ONLY reason was that it was a good play for Howard to get a rubber stamp for free trade - but even that he ended up stuffing up. Iraq / Saddam / Ossama was NEVER a threat to Australia. Im waiting for someone to sue Bush for war crimes for wrongful invasion. Latham got my interest AND vote when he publically stated "Bush is an idiot". Howard pissed me off when he deliberately made me and my family a target.

Originally posted by Critic
speaking of which also on the show each week is someone called Dr Karl, been on for a year or two, great fun, any of you ever heard of him?
Would that be Karl Kruszelnicki?

Originally posted by anon-e-mouse
Would that be Karl Kruszelnicki?

Well normally he's just called Dr Karl but the surname sounds right from when i've heard it on ths show. So yes i do think would is him, i take it you kno who i am on about then?

Critic, :cool

Dr Karl is great - I used to listen to him every week on JJJ a work.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/listen/
for the 'non locals' to listen online

Not sure if he's still on the station though - it's been a while since I listened.

*edit*
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/

Here he is.
*/edit*

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/22/1082530268221.html
Those voting for Latham might want to have a read.

Regards,
Justin Khoury

Originally posted by akashik
Dr Karl is great - I used to listen to him every week on JJJ a work.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/listen/
for the 'non locals' to listen online

Not sure if he's still on the station though - it's been a while since I listened.

*edit*
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/

Here he is.
*/edit*

Oh hi akashik,

Well i don't know where he is on in Australia but..."Dr Karl's science phone-in - Thursday at 0300"; that is from http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive and you can listen online, that is 0300 this morning British Summer Time, so 2 hours 30 minutes and counting if anyone is interested.

I agree, it is good fun and normally an education. :)

Critic, :cool:

The whole problem with what Howard has done is that he is spouting that the country is not in debt any more. This is true but now the people are in debt. Look at his sell off of Telstra. Now every time there is a price increase which seems just about every 6 months their excuse is we have to for the share holders. So now every day Australians are filling the pockets of the rich. Same thing with education and health. He is all for the rich and wants a greater divide between rich and poor he hates the middle class.

Basically he is crapping on the people who put him in power in the first place. Without the swing from the middle class he would still be the bald loser he really is.

Not to metion the Liberal party can not win by themselves neither can the Nationals. So they get together. In reality the majority want a labour government. Ifd they can get rid of the whole coalition thing then they are F****d.