Three words, Holly Dolly - the Murdoch press.
The concentration of media power in Australia is a lot tighter than in other countries and the biggest media player is Murdoch. He plays kingmaker and king destroyer to suit his business interests. The campaign against our first female PM was relentless and brutal. People voted against the Labor Party rather than for Tony Abbott.
He was presented as a jolly good fellow - Rhodes scholar, volunteer fire fighter and lifesaver and sound family man. His weaknesses were completely ignored by all of our mainstream media. Only social media and the fifth estate were sounding warnings. They pointed out his inconsistency, his history as a bully and misogynist and his unwillingness to heed expert advice. He promised to be all things to all people, to reduce the budget deficit but not to cut anything except his pet peeves, the carbon tax and the mining tax. He also promised to uphold Labor's programs in education and disability services while at the same time introducing a Rolls Royce paid parental leave scheme.
He was a very successful Leader of the Opposition because he is a ruthless attack dog and constantly talks in three word slogans but faced with the need to govern, he lacks the necessary skills. He does not have a majority in the Senate but has no negotiating skills. He's a crash through or crash personality but that isn't working. The upshot is that we might be back to the polls early next year if he is unable to get his key legislation passed.
He has just brought in the most unpopular budget that is full of broken promises, that imposes heavy burdens on lower and middle income voters but leave the tax perks of the top earners untouched. Abbott hasn't been afforded a honeymoon period and is now a most unpopular leader just eight months after assuming office. Already there is talk of who will replace him as leader of his party.
Internationally he is an embarrassment. For example, he is overseas for the D Day Commemorations and his video release on that subject paid a few words of tribute to the men involved then he broke into a sort of campaign speech about domestic issues such as taxes, red tape, trade and investment. It did not go down well.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-polit...n-mining-and-carbon-taxes-20140602-39cuy.html
Australia is to chair the next G20 Meeting and we are afraid that he will be a complete embarrassment as soon as he opens his mouth.
He is being widely ridiculed and called a liar, which is ironic because that was his most damning charge against Julia Gillard who was one of the more truthful politicians. Ridicule is a bad sign for his political longevity.
