HEALTH
Kevin Rudd launched another aspect of Labor's health policy with the announcement that a Rudd Government will aim to put 9,250 extra nurses into Australia’s hospital system in a new $81 million commitment.
ECONOMY
Treasurer Peter Costello announced Australia is the eighth lowest taxing country in the 30 member OECD according to the latest edition of OECD Revenue Statistics. It is also one of 7 countries that reduced their tax level for the most recent reporting year, 2005 (Australia’s 2005-06 financial year).
TRANSPORT
Labor announced they provide $2.5 billion for major roadworks in Brisbane and South-east Queensland, including $1 billion southern missing link of the Gateway Motorway from Mt.Gravatt-Capalaba Road south to the Pacific Motorway and $1.5 billion Northern Link tunnel from the Western Freeway at Toowong to the Inner City Bypass at Bowen Hills.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The Prime Minister announced the Government would allow plebiscites in Northern Territory for local government reform.
WAR
Howard and Rudd cross paths at the funeral for Australian soldier David Pearce in Brisbane who was killed in Afghanistan earlier in the month.
ADVERTISING BATTLES
The advertising battles escalated with Labor releasing another counter-ad to the Liberals commercials on the ALP's links to unions. Later in the day the Liberals responded to the ALP response with another video on You Tube. More to come on the looming "Fear or Facts" campaign tactics unfolding in the campaign.
Watch Labor's counter-ad below
And see John Howard returning fire here
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Day 2
HOUSING
Kevin Rudd was in the western Sydney seat of Werriwa (Mark Latham's old seat) to announce an aspect of Labor's housing affordability policy. Rudd said he would release up to $6 billion worth of Commonwealth land for housing development to ease the affordability crisis. In doing so, a Labor Administration would require every government department to audit all its land and "show cause" why any surplus land should not be released for housing.
TAX
The Government continued to promote their $34 billion cut cut package and pressure Labor to release it's tax policy with the Prime Minister and Peter Costello campaign in the marginal NSW seat of Eden-Monaro.
DEBATING THE DEBATE(S)
The usual debate over the Leaders' debates began in earnst with the Prime Minister wanting one debate of 90 minutes this Sunday and Labor Leader Rudd wanting three debates later in the campaign. Rudd has so far refused to accept the one debate only rule and has not indicated if he will attend. The PM has said he will turn up on Sunday regardless of Rudd's decision. Labor also announced it would established an Independent Debate Commission for future elections.
ADVERTISING
Labor took the unusual step of using the Liberal Party's first negative TV commercial in its own commercial to warn that there will be more negative campaign from the Liberal Party. Labor's latest advertisement is below.
Kevin Rudd was in the western Sydney seat of Werriwa (Mark Latham's old seat) to announce an aspect of Labor's housing affordability policy. Rudd said he would release up to $6 billion worth of Commonwealth land for housing development to ease the affordability crisis. In doing so, a Labor Administration would require every government department to audit all its land and "show cause" why any surplus land should not be released for housing.
TAX
The Government continued to promote their $34 billion cut cut package and pressure Labor to release it's tax policy with the Prime Minister and Peter Costello campaign in the marginal NSW seat of Eden-Monaro.
DEBATING THE DEBATE(S)
The usual debate over the Leaders' debates began in earnst with the Prime Minister wanting one debate of 90 minutes this Sunday and Labor Leader Rudd wanting three debates later in the campaign. Rudd has so far refused to accept the one debate only rule and has not indicated if he will attend. The PM has said he will turn up on Sunday regardless of Rudd's decision. Labor also announced it would established an Independent Debate Commission for future elections.
ADVERTISING
Labor took the unusual step of using the Liberal Party's first negative TV commercial in its own commercial to warn that there will be more negative campaign from the Liberal Party. Labor's latest advertisement is below.
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
First Campaign Advertisements
Both major parties hit the airwaves immediately on Sunday with television commercials.
The Liberal Party TV ad focused on the economy and revived the "L-Plate" they used effectively against Mark Latham in the 2004 Federal election.
See it here.
Labor's campaign ad focuses on Rudd's "positive" plans for the future highlighting education, health, the environment and the workplace.
Watch it below.
The Liberal Party TV ad focused on the economy and revived the "L-Plate" they used effectively against Mark Latham in the 2004 Federal election.
See it here.
Labor's campaign ad focuses on Rudd's "positive" plans for the future highlighting education, health, the environment and the workplace.
Watch it below.
Day 1
The Coalition began their re-election bid with a bang announcing plans for $34 billion worth of tax cuts over three years. Treasurer Costello's full media statement can be found here.
Labor started its campaign with Leader Kevin Rudd visiting the marginal Coalition seat of Blair in Queensland, focusing on Workplace Relations and challenging the Government to rule out any further chances if re-elected.
Both Rudd and Howard appeared on the ABC's 7.30 Report to outline their camping priorities.
Howard's first campaign stumble occurred on Nine's A Current Affair when he was asked about the Reserve Bank's official interest rate. Watch it below.
Labor started its campaign with Leader Kevin Rudd visiting the marginal Coalition seat of Blair in Queensland, focusing on Workplace Relations and challenging the Government to rule out any further chances if re-elected.
Both Rudd and Howard appeared on the ABC's 7.30 Report to outline their camping priorities.
Howard's first campaign stumble occurred on Nine's A Current Affair when he was asked about the Reserve Bank's official interest rate. Watch it below.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Leaders' State Their Case
Prime Minister Howard formally announced his bid for a fifth term by declaring:
Labor Kevin Rudd countered making his claim for election by saying:
This election is about Australia’s future and it’s an election about a choice about who offers new leadership for Australia’s future.
New leadership to help working families, new leadership with fresh ideas to deal with Australia’s future challenges.
And what I’m offering the Australian is new leadership, both to help working families under financial pressure and new leadership for a plan for our country’s future.
His full statement can be found here.
This election is about Australia’s future. It’s about the leadership Australia needs right now to stay strong, prosperous and secure.
Australia has come a long way in the last decade based on the hard work of all Australians and the tough decisions of the Coalition. Now we must make Australia even stronger.
This will not happen automatically. It will not happen through new leadership or old leadership. It requires the right leadership.
Full details of his announcement can be found here.Labor Kevin Rudd countered making his claim for election by saying:
This election is about Australia’s future and it’s an election about a choice about who offers new leadership for Australia’s future.
New leadership to help working families, new leadership with fresh ideas to deal with Australia’s future challenges.
And what I’m offering the Australian is new leadership, both to help working families under financial pressure and new leadership for a plan for our country’s future.
His full statement can be found here.
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