Hey biggest spender, voters not that stupid

The following article by AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten is the fifth in a five part election commentary series appearing in the Sunday Herald Sun in the lead up to the 2004 Federal Election due to be held on 9 October.

After five weeks of campaigning, Mark Latham has shown that he has both the policies and the personal qualities to lead Australia.

The official campaign launches by the Labor and Liberal Parties this week were a study in contrasts. Despite his continued fistful of dollars, John Howard lacked inspiration. Much of his speech looked back to the past eight-and-a-half years. His themes and ideas showed no imagination. His promises for the future were made without enthusiasm. His policies were divisive and not inventive. His warnings about economic management were depressing and negative.

Howard's presumed strong point - his continuing scare campaign about rising interest rates - is becoming increasingly unbelievable. The more money he promises to spend on election policies, the less credible are his warnings about cautious economic management.

His campaign launch promises alone cost another $6 billion - almost twice as much as the ALP's. This brings the Coalition's total recent commitments to an incredible $60 billion over the next few years. Such big spending undermines Howard's central campaign message of sound economic management.

Australian voters are too intelligent to be bribed by the biggest spender. People want good policies, but Howard's promised new spending is poorly targeted. People are questioning the Coalition's priorities. If we can afford to spend millions of dollars on millionaire welfare, then why don't we have a decent dental service for people who cannot afford to have their teeth fixed? Or well-funded schools and hospitals? Or adequate infrastructure, research and development?

Latham's campaign launch demonstrated the qualities that have made him such an effective leader of the party over the last 10 months. Innovative policy based on clearly stated values, smart political tactics, discipline and consistency have combined to give Latham the authority required to lead the country, not just the ALP.
At the same time Latham has earned respect for his ability to bring people together in a united team.

Latham's Medicare Gold policy offers a lot more than free hospital care for people aged over 75. I have been speaking to AWU members in the marginal electorate of Melbourne Ports, where Labor MP Michael Danby should be returned. A number of middle aged people (in their 40s and 50s) told me how much they liked Medicare Gold because of the relief of knowing that their elderly parents will be guaranteed free hospital treatment.

The support of the Catholic private hospital system shows Medicare Gold will work. Proposed legislation will make sure the cost of insurance premiums will fall for everyone, instead of constantly increasing under Howard.

With only a week to go, the opinion polls show there is still a lot of volatility among undecided voters. If Latham can finish the campaign as well as he has conducted it so far, then enough uncertain voters will decide for a federal Labor government.ends