John Howard news conference, Sydney, 17/11/07

[Splashter]

Looking back, one has to laugh at the Coalition's scare campaign - no economic collapse, no union revenge, no rise in unemployment, interest rates still equal to 9 x 0.25% LOWER than when Labor took power and a government that avoided recession while every other western country fell in a heap. Yep - the Coalition's claims to be the best at managing the economy finally shown up for the farcical lie it has always been.

[shwell]

"He has been heard plenty of times bagging Howard out. His view is, get Costello out of the way, get Howard out of the way -- and I am going to run the show." - Malcolm Turnbull.

[kevvys1a1woos]

Yes, that was in today's paper. He makes no secret of his ambition, but he doesn't have much support. What's your point?

[shwell]

The Libs are telling fibs again. Downer was on the telly the other night saying Costello will be elected leader uncontested which is just another Liberal porky. Point is Liberal are consumate liars but you already knew that.

[kevvys1a1woos]

What I 'know' is that Australians will be much worse off come next election if Labor wins office on Saturday.

[shwell]

Australian's includes me and if Libs win I'll be on a Workchoices contract and will be worse off. So you should say that some Australians will be worse off.

[Rowdyeh]

Yeh workchoices paid for this election with workers paycuts and ten billion tax dollar bribes at the very last moment just before the election, what happened the last 11 years Howard? Get out!

[kevvys1a1woos]

There's a saying that we don't know what we've got until it's gone. If Labor wins on Saturday, it won't be too long before we're pining for the 'good old days' under Howard.

[Rowdyeh]

As far as I'm concerned it's never been good under Howard's opressive regime so the sooner he's gone the sooner we can get fairer work conditions.

[kevvys1a1woos]

Provided that you can still get a job of course. Remember that youth unemployment was 35% under the last Labor govt.

[Rowdyeh]

I lost my job because of Howards policies and despite what Howard says employment is up because of the mining boom but sadly manufacturing jobs are dissapearing fast!

[kevvys1a1woos]

Yes manufacturing in Australia is almost a thing of the past except for perhaps the motor vehicle and some other large manufactures, and the govt should have done more to protect them, i agree. But the prob is that there's just no way to compete with countries whose workers are paid just a dollar or two an hour. That's why if Labor gets in, and the Unions start demanding more, more jobs will go, as we'll be even more uncompetitive.

[Rowdyeh]

You dont seem to understand the basics of it all, it's all about scale as well as low pay.. we have a couple of million workers here in Australia (not counting parasites) and we're expected to compete with many millions in Asia, we cant compete, simple as that!

[Rowdyeh]

But Guaranteed all we buy from over there except for the really expensive stuff only last less than 5 years and the stuff we build lasts twice that, but in the scramble for cheap we threw away lasting value, so you pay twice for that cheap car or product. Lowering wages will not solve that problem, just compound it because we're expected to keep a higher standard of living.

[Rowdyeh]

You try selling our product in Asia and find a huge tax or tarriff barrier, why do we lower our barrier? How can asking for a decent wage WITH penalties so we can afford a few luxuries and maybe a few local built products? Workchoices is a pile of shit just designed to make more money for big business full stop!

[ejc49]

Howard changed all the methods for counting unemployed, if you are a casual these days, work 10 hours and still seek permanent position, you don't appear in unemployment figures.

[0bs3n3]

Thanks :)