Yet having a superior policy has long since ceased being any predictor of success in our debased political culture.

Nothing in the article about bad policies . Poor implementation or timing maybe but not bad policy . The message of selling the policy was poor or drowned out . Almost like the message going on now about bad budget decisions that are inequitable . That has been a changing narrative which each narrative by the govt as bad as the last one . Worse if anything . The PPL has not even been introduced as yet . So much for it being a big ticket item .

The coalition greens PPL  is in Parliment and going through committees...

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1314a/14bd066

The PPL has not even been introduced as yet . So much for it being a big ticket item .

Correction noted . Its been shelved .

The PPL plan has become a flashpoint of discontent for critics outside the government – especially key Senate crossbenchers – but also for those within Coalition ranks, who believe it is at odds with what are, or should be, the government’s priorities and principles.

A number of budget measures are seen as unfair because they hit those least able to cope; the PPL plan is also regarded as unfair – in its case because it is too generous to the better-off.

After Fairfax Media reported at the weekend that the scheme had been “quietly shelved” and was unlikely to be put to Parliament this year, ministers doing the rounds of the Sunday talk shows were all cued with their response.

No, they said, it was just that the government was focused on the budget. There was plenty of time for the PPL – it isn’t due to start until mid-next year.

The PPL proposed by the coalition and the greens is less generouse to the well off than the current one and gives those on a low wage a living one...

Would love to know how many "committees" Labor set up.   It became a joke out here in voter land.  I well remember people making fun of it when politics were brought up in conversations.

As for the PPL ;   I do not think it will see the light of day.

Now Radish, I am not going to defend Labor blindly. While supporter views differ, they did exhibit some flaws eg the ming tax was a painful process and a crummy outcome.

But, at least the committee system was fair dinkum. For example, the composition of the 'Gonsky' committe was eclectic and expert and deliberations were aimed entirely at remediating those students who need help to keep up and not stupidly biased utterances on cirriculum content.

This govt's sham-ocracatic approach picks committee composition to ensure exactly the desired ideological outcome. Thus the Big End of Town 'Audit' recommended a budget which hits the little guy and keep's the rich ones barely touched. Targetting tax raises or cutting lurks for those that can afford it was omitted. The govt duly implemented this, adding a pejorative scenario - the bludgers (ie leaners) are gonna get whacked, spanked and caned and the well off (lifters) hit with a feather. It went down like a lead baloon. Why? Cause they only talked to a very narrow and elite constituancy. The budget still has not been implemented - never seen this before. What an own goal, you'd think to your self. No, not if you don't get it, and persist in the same vein.  

A current example is the enquiry into renewables, chaired by a climate change denier and containing others of similar ilk. Gees, can't wait for their decision.

You reckon this is better, Radish? And they criticised Labor non stop. Wow, chickens are coming home to roost.

Treasury figures have punctured claims of a crisis over the passage of the federal budget, revealing that 98.9 per cent of ­expense measures are already legislated despite a savage political fight over a handful of reforms.

Parliament has passed more than $1.8 trillion in expense items for the next four years, according to an official analysis that shows hundreds of policy decisions are already in force, while a few face a Senate veto.

The Australian can reveal that $25 billion in savings are already taking effect to improve the budget bottom line following the passage of appropriations bills.

The Treasury figures cast new light on the brawl over the budget as Tony Abbott confronts claims that he cannot get essential measures through the parliament.

As talks continue with crossbench senators to pass the most contentious reforms, Joe Hockey said he was prepared to negotiate with “sensible people” but stood by the overall plan to cut outlays and reduce debt.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann hardened the message on the budget last night by declaring there was “ample time” to legislate the changes, saying no recent government had passed all of its budget changes by the end of August.

It seems to me the govt has bad policies . It is trying to shut down renewables which means the loss of thousands of jobs and billions in investment . It also means higher costs to consumers by 2020 while adding billions to coal powered power companies .

It shouts about all us doing the heavy lifting yet discriminates against the average and low income group while leaving the well off with a one year 1% tax that can be avoided by the usual loopholes . 15% tax for the rich to place their super dollars but not for Joe Blow , negative gearing etc etc . A good policy would actually share the pain to be effective and believable .

Yep everything in the garden. Is rosy don't worry about the billion dollars a month we are paying in interest.

Ok boys, you've had your fun, enuf is enuf. Your maths is a shocker. You will get nowhere in life like this

98% budget approval shhmoval! The 9 is really a 0 - ie 8% approved. No petrol tax, no change to the dole, no co payments for GP, pathology, Xray, no change to HEX fees or open slather on Uni fees, no change to dole payments, no PPL. Perhaps 8% is an exaggeration on my part. I thought of sending you to uncle Brandis for some bigoted reprimands or to uncle Morrison to arrange a punitive excursion to Manus.

I think chronic detention, somewhere in a desert facility should sharpen you up, after 2-3 years. Goodbye.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has rejected a proposal by doctors to exempt pensioners from a $7 GP fee, but has left open the possibility of negotiating over whether children's visits were charged.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/gp-copayment-tony-abbott-rejects-ama-proposal-to-exempt-pensioners-20140821-106w3t.html#ixzz3B1GdTAJ7