TWENTY FIVE EXAMPLES OF THE DYSFUNCTIONAL AND DIVIDED GILLARD GOVERNMENT

I asked my colleagues to make a leadership change. A change because I believed that a good Government was losing its way I came to the view that for the Australian nation I had a responsibility to step up, to take control and to make sure that this Government got back on track.
(Julia Gillard, Media release, 11/9/2011)

We want to run a very competent, stable, methodical government

(Julia Gillard, Radio 2CC, 3/2/2012)

1. A Carbon tax. The day before the 2010 election Gillard states, I rule out a carbon tax. A week before the 2010 election Gillard states, There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead. On 24 February 2011 Gillard announces there will be a carbon tax. On 8 November 2011 a carbon tax passes both Houses of Parliament. As well as job losses it will cost average Australians a further 25 per cent on their electricity bills and an extra 6.5 cents a litre on their petrol bills. 2. The betrayal of Andrew Wilkie. After signing an agreement with Wilkie to introduce mandatory pre-commitment in return for his support the Prime Minister reneges on the deal and commits the government only to a trial of mandatory pre-commitment. 3. The Australia Day riot. It is revealed that the attack by an angry mob of Aboriginal activists on our nations political leaders was actually orchestrated within the Prime Ministers own office. 4. Gillard persists with the Malaysian deal no one wants. On 16 June 2011 the Gillard governments Malaysian people swap is condemned by both houses of parliament. Not once in our history has a government policy been condemned by both houses of parliament. Gillard not only defies the motion but fails to front up to the debate in person. 5. Debt and deficit. In just four years, Labor has turned a $20 billion surplus into $174 billion in accumulated deficits and $70 billion in net Commonwealth assets into $142 billion of net debt. Thats $6,300 for every Australian man, woman and child. 6. Craig Thomson affair. To save the Gillard government from the tarnished Member for Dobell an institutional go-slow over the investigation into Craig Thomson is conducted by Fair Work Australia. There are also reports of collusion between the Government and elements of Fair Work Australia over the media management of the affair as well as claims by union secretary Kathy Jackson that there has been political interference in the inquiry. 7. Persistent leadership instability. After two years in power Gillard is persistently dogged by poor polling and a vengeful Kevin Rudd and his supporters continue to strategically plot a return. 8. Gillard betrays the Speaker she never really wanted. On 16 September 2010 Gillard refused to back Labor Speaker, Harry Jenkins, to retain his job instead secretly preferring Oakeshott. On 24 November 2011 Jenkins is forced to resign and then overlooked at a subsequent Cabinet reshuffle. 9. Abandoning the Citizens Assembly. The promise to introduce a Citizens Assembly dissolves after Gillard forms government because of pressure from the Greens. On 7 October 2010 Gillard concedes, The committee concluded that, in view of the creation of this committee the proposal for a citizens' assembly should not be implemented.

10. East Timor centre abandoned. At a press conference on 7 May 2011 Gillard announces that the East Timor quick fix is now history. Gillard states, I made it clear that we wanted to build a regional processing centre in another nation in our region, a nation that at the time most likely to be East Timor. As has become increasingly clear, it is unlikely that East Timor will end up hosting such a centre. 11. Botched release of the Murray Darling basin plan. On 8 October 2010 the Murray Darling plan is released causing uproar in rural communities, made worse when the Water Minister, Tony Burke, persistently refused at the time to meet with farmers to discuss its contents. 12. Take up rate with the NBN. The NBN increasingly becomes an expensive white elephant. It is over-budget and way behind schedule. Its only passed 18,000 houses and only 12 per cent of these are actually using fibre. To meet the target of 760,000 houses passed by the end of the year, it will have to pass over 3100 houses a day or 100 times its performance up till now. Worse still NBN currently has 1300 staff earning on average $148,000 a year, the highest pay of any business in the country. Thats one staff member for every five customers. 13. Riots in detention centres. Aside from the sheer numbers more graphic evidence of the Gillard governments inability to control our borders emerges with riots breaking out in the Christmas Island, Villawood and Darwin detention facilities causing millions of dollars of damage to the taxpayer. 14. Gillard first loss on floor of Parliament. On 29 September 2010, Parliaments first day back after the election, the Gillard government is defeated on the floor of the House on a vote involving parliamentary procedure the first time since 1941. 15. Attack from Labor elder. On 13 October former party elder John Faulkner launches a stinging attack on Labor in which he states, It is no secret modern Labor is struggling with the perception we are very long on cunning, and very short on courage. 16. Gillard sends a kid to meetings of the National Security Council. Gillard is accused of "scandalous" disregard for national security amid revelations she sent a former bodyguard to attend highly sensitive security meetings on her behalf. 17. Cash for Clunkers promise abandoned. On 25 October it is revealed that the start date of January 2011 for Labors much ridiculed Cash for Clunkers program cant be met . 18. Opposition to the Paid Parental Leave and the Pension Increase. Reports surface during the 2010 Election campaign indicating that Gillard questioned Labors paid parental leave scheme and any increase in the Age Pension in Cabinet. 19. Unable to stop the boats and the flow of asylum seekers, Gillard establishes or expands immigration detention facilities in every State and Territory in Australia except the ACT. Facilities include those at Curtin, Northam, Scherger, Inverbrackie, Pontville and Darwin. None of this was foreshadowed prior to the election.

20. A rushed livestock ban with no consultation. Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig and his Department knew of the inhumane treatment of Australian cattle and sheep in the live cattle trade. After being spooked by an ABC TV programme Ludwig first announced an inquiry but then suddenly lurched to a total suspension of the entire trade after a backbench revolt. A $300 million industry which included 700 indigenous employees is jeopardised. 21. Gillard ignores cost of living pressures. Under this Labor Government theres been a 66 per cent average increase in electricity prices. Theres been a 39 per cent average increase in gas prices. Theres been a 59 per cent average increase in water prices. Theres been a 31 per cent average increase in education costs and theres been a 20 per cent average increase in health costs. 22. The mining tax. This tax is really just a success tax on our biggest exports that doesnt give smaller miners a fair go. 23. New GP Super Clinics. Labor promised a grand total of 64 GP Super Clinics, including 23 during the 2010 Election campaign alone. Only 26 are fully operational. 24. Gillard causes diplomatic embarrassment by lecturing Europe on its economic problems. European leaders baulk at being lectured to by a government that has racked up the four biggest deficits in Australian history. 25. Gillard loses control of our borders. As at the 21 June 2012 the total number of arrivals since August 2008 was 19,143 while the total number of boats since August 2008 now totals 333.