Budget Preparations

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I'm not suggesting a conspiracy theory, or anything like that, however, let's have a think about this.

Start with the premise that the Reserve Bank has argued that the tax cuts now, and those given in the past, are inflationary.

The Federal Government is committed to giving tax cuts in the next budget.

Those tax cuts favour the battlers, rightly so.

Now, guess what section of the population smokes and drinks (particularly those mixer drink things) the most. We are making an assumption here, but I think it works.

The government, in a bit of a budget bind, looks for a strategy, and bingo, hits on booze and fags. It was an old favourite.

The final trick will being convincing the Reserve Bank that, in fact, it hasn't given tax cuts at all. And that, I suspect, will be attempted in private.

Is it mad, or could it just be true?

Telstra shuts off CDMA

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OK, it's the obvious joke, but then, Telstra did say it.

Conversations with Banks

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ANZ raises rates again, the others, probably not far behind. Arghhhhh, or should that be ROAR.

Kevin Rudd Helps

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He's riding the crest of the wave, solving all the problems that have been insurmountable to lesser men. Well, when I say he's solved, he's giving the impression that he will tackle the issues others have left to the side.

We may get a republic, tax reform, decent hospitals and schools, world peace?

He may just be feeling that Kevin's help is needed everywhere.

2020 Summit, Reached?

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I'm not being cynical, I'm not being cynical, but, all we have had so far is the initial euphoria.

That was good, there appears to be a sense that something structurally is being done in the country and we may get some real, long needed, change in many areas. However, that is Rudd's greatest danger, ensuring that the result matches the expectation.

What worries me is the word "consider". Whenever I hear the word "consider", I think of my father responding to my request to go to a party on a school night. I never, ever got to go.

Now, Kevin did say that, didn't he? Words to the effect that he would consider the great ideas put before him.

Honestly, I'm not being cynical, but.......

2020 Summit

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I can't help feeling the greatest ideas have come from moments of quiet, solitary, contemplation. I can't help feeling the summit is simply going to be the vehicle to justify some ideas already held. I'm not the first to say that, greater voices than mine have said the same thing. With more and better words.

It was a wise person who said a camel was a horse made by committee. The great idea to come out of the summit could be a camel.

I have to admit this cartoon hasn't quite worked, but I'll give it a couple of days, I might tinker with it, I might just drop it, but I had to put it up, because it's number 100.

Rudd takes on the Oil Companies

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Or was that the Supermarkets. Anyway, it's largely posturing. Without regulating industry, and I'm not advocating that, there isn't a great deal that can be done without genuine competition. Same applies to the Supermarkets, Banks etc.

Though, there is a way you can beat them. Don't buy the two for one lollies.

Rudd's Holiday Stories

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The gap is growing, between Rudd and his ministers. The overseas trip an apparent success, the well considered appointment of our new Governor General. It is all keeping the focus well and truly on the Prime Minister and not really allowing the other Ministers any real chance to build their own profiles.

We all knew, in advance, that Rudd's style is Presidential. That, intentionally, the only point of focus he will allow is on himself. I just wonder how the ministers, particularly those in cabinet, are adapting to that reality.

Rudd Returns Home

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We all know that feeling, the boss is away on holiday, sick or on a business trip, and the office, factory, government just seems to run a little smoother. It's probably just everyone relaxing a bit, having their own holiday at work, but things do seem to run just as well, with just a touch less mania about the place.

Then the boss returns and everything goes back to normal.

Rudd visits China

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They won't be overtly rude, though the Governor of Tibet was vocal in her complaint, but they will express their displeasure with our Prime Minister.

I imagine the Chinese do it in ways that are subtle, and often missed, by those of us who just don't know. But keen watchers of Chinese Diplomacy will notice how the ruling party's displeasure is displayed. It may be by the level, or number, of officials that meet with Kevin, the rooms they meet in, perhaps even the type of tea served, or dare I say, the china used.

I don't know, but I would love to.

The Manchurian Candidate

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I'm sure Rudd is confusing the Chinese, and something tells me they don't like to be confused.

Rudd Visits the Queen

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Salute

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There is something about the White House, once a Prime Minister has been inside they are never the same again. I don't know if it is the intoxicating effects of seeing that level of power, or perhaps even feeling somehow part of it, but they do change. Perhaps it is something more sinister. Whatever, Prime Ministers should not be allowed to visit the White House unaccompanied.

As for the Banks, I just don't know what to say. Except, they always wait to deliver bad news, they wait until they can sneek it through with minimal critisim. The first lot of "extra" rises happened after the election, then which bank waited until late on a Friday to further increase rates.

Rudd in Brussels

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Eeees starting to enjoy himself, our Kevin.

Mind, he's getting a bit grand though.

Kevin meets Hillary Barack and John

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Maaate.

Brendan is off to see you and me.

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Previously known as Howard's battlers.

They all do it, open their ears to you and I. Rudd did it, early on, when he was opposition leader. But in time, the gap between us grows. They seem to find someone better to talk to.

And then a new leader, usually, but not exclusively, in opposition comes along, and wants to talk. The cycle continues.

Kevin and George

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I guess a lot of us were wondering how Kevin would be received by the President. I was pleasantly surprised by the apparent warmth of the visit and the business as usual approach. Like him, or loath him, Bush showed he can be a class act. And he was on this occasion. Don't take that as me being a Bush supporter, far from it, but I still think on this occasion he was a class act.

Brendan doesn't want PM to leave.

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Brendan, Brendan....................Brendan?

Kevin Goes Overseas, Australia is no longer big enough?

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I could have done a cartoon about the State and Federal agreement on the Murray, the Hospitals, but, I am more interested to know what Canberra will be like without Kevin for 15 days, or whatever it is he is away. When the cat's away, nah, not likely. Besides, he's not really away, not for them.

2020 Invitation

 
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This whole thing does remind me of conferences we have all attended, usually associated with our place of work.

"Right, now we are all going to form groups, and each group has the ask of coming up with an idea. Each group will appoint a leader whose job it is to write down the idea on the white board." Remember.

And, what happens at the end of the conference. Correct.

Kevin Andrews Gets Picked On.

 
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Normally I feel sorry for anyone who takes the fall for someone else. But, in Kevin Andrew's case, nah.

Kevin Rudd, Control Freak?

 
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Hands up who thinks Kevin Rudd ISN'T a control freak.

What, only one hand, only one, oh, of course.

Victorian Population Growth

 
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Each idea is probably correct and have thoroughly well developed policies to match.

But, was it just me, was I the only one sitting, watching the news, with an open mouth?

I was astounded that John Brumby would discuss the two issues, population growth, and housing, in the way he did, and not see the impending disaster. He even looked convinced that the merging of the two issues illustrated his outstanding management skills.

Let me just repeat the two thoughts he let us with.

1) Melbourne's population will grow to 6.0 million.

2) He is releasing, as a strategy to help ease the housing crisis, 90,000 new house sites. Full stop.

Rudd Takes Action

 
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I don't envy him, he has a lot of structural problems to fix, and no room to move. At least he doesn't if he only focuses on the one problem. And this is what everyone is telling him to do, well that's the way it appears.

However, I think we need something more creative, some vision, some crashing through walls, some super man of action.

Sure there maybe dust and rubble, but we may actually get somewhere, and have some fun along the way. We may have some things "that we had to have", but what the heck.

Would John Wayne have held back because inflation might go up a few points. No he would have charged in and got his hands dirty.

People want houses, lets build em. Stop fussing about a few percentage points of inflation.

If fact, if houses were cheaper, people would have so much more money they could afford to spend a few extra dollars on meat, potatoes and two veg.

Rudd prepares his report card.

 
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I did think about doing a cartoon with Brendan preparing his report card, but that was just too sad.