Labor digs in for early election

[depakid]

CLIMATE change has slid down the order of election priorities with the government to dedicate next week in Parliament to gaining a double dissolution trigger on health.

Parliament resumes next week and the government has made its top Senate priority debate on the bill to means test the 30 per cent private health insurance rebate.

The measure, worth $1.9 billion to revenue over the next three years, was blocked by the Senate in September. The opposition has vowed to block it again next week, which would make it a trigger for a double dissolution.

A double dissolution involves an election of the House of Representatives and the full Senate and could be held any time until October 16.

The government already has a climate-change trigger after its original emissions trading scheme was blocked by the Senate twice last year.

But the more industry-friendly scheme it negotiated with Malcolm Turnbull passed the House of Representatives last week and was expected to be debated by the Senate next week. It has now been relegated behind the private health bill and will not be debated until mid-to-late March.

A senior source said the government was seeking a trigger based on health, especially as next month the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, will unveil his plan for public health reform, which he plans to be an election centrepiece.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/national/labor-digs-in-for-early-election-20100218-oiym.html

[Matilda]

1. Rudd has also issued an ultimatum to the Japanese

to cease whaling by November this year or face the International Court. And about time! He had to do something
that would be popular to regain some of the ground lost to Abbott.

I think giving the health rebate a priority is a good way to go as well - the only people offside will be the rich,
who wouldn't be voting Labor anyway.

He's definitely in election mode now.

[depakid]

2. It is about time re: the Japanese whaling

Combined with the inevitable refugee/racist angle that the Coalition will try to get mileage from, it becomes a nationalist/sovereignty thing that will appeal to the southern cross tattooed types, etc. -even though most could give a damn about environmental concerns.

Rather wish that it could have been pressed some several weeks ago, when a landslide was in the cards.

[gemini_liberal]

3. I don't think it will be early

It will do the government more harm than good to do it early. Right now, Abbott is enjoying a little honeymoon and, despite the usual one-sided ranting by the reactionary press, it won't last. Also, I think it is desirable to hold the election after 1 July, to make sure that there is parity with regular senate terms. If he wants a DD election, I'll wager an August poll. If not, probably closer to November.

Despite what some are saying, Tony Abbott is NOT a dangerous foe that Rudd must beat as quickly as possible to borrow an extra 3 years.