Howard under pressure

September 15, 2007, 4:52pm, 354 views,  Leave a Comment

Campaigning in his electorate today, Prime Minister John Howard said:

“If I’m returned and the government’s returned at the coming election I will serve my full term at the member for Bennelong, the full three years, and I won’t be inflicting a by-election on the people of my electorate.”

AAP has just filed these remarks to various news sites and there has been no commentary yet. People will pick up on the obvious proviso in the Prime Minister’s words (”If I’m returned and the government’s returned”).

There is very little chance of the government winning, which means the voters of Bennelong are almost certainly facing a byelection if Howard wins the seat.

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Election timing

September 9, 2007, 5:51pm, 301 views,  2 Comments

The conventional wisdom was that Prime Minister John Howard would call an election as late as possible, probably in November or early December.

I now believe he is more likely to call an election in October or early November.

If there was another interest rate rise it would destroy the government. Howard has to end the phony war and start the campaign proper. It is not impossible for him to win, but highly unlikely.

The later the election is held the less likely he is to win.

Calling an election will also end speculation that Peter Costello should mount a challenge. Mavericks like Wilson Tuckey are not doing the Coalition any favors by suggesting that, conveniently feeding media commentators credible material.

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Home loan tax deductions

September 2, 2007, 7:47am, 433 views,  Leave a Comment

Aussie John Symond says first-home buyers should be eligible for tax deductions on home loan interest payments. Putting aside Symond’s obvious vested interest to encourage home lending, it will be interesting to see how the political parties respond.

Howard and Rudd have both said they will “look at the proposal”, which doesn’t mean much at all really.

I’ll be surprised if it gains traction. Home buyers generally need stamp duty relief more than they need tax deductions.

The proposal also limits itself to first-home buyers. There are plenty of people in the housing market who haven’t made huge capital gains that also need assistance.

Stamp duty should be a flat fee of no more than $2000 for single-dwelling residential properties. And there should be incentives for banks to offer fixed term loans over 20-30 years at affordable interest rates, as they do in America.

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Advertising splurge

September 2, 2007, 7:34am, 213 views,  Leave a Comment

According to the Sunday Age, the Howard Government has spent $2 billion on advertising since coming to power 11 years ago. I find the figure abhorrent. That’s enough money to build numerous schools and hospitals. And the likely reality is that few of us are better informed than we would have been without the advertising.

Coming from the leftist Sunday Age though, you have to read half way down the article to see any mention of Labor State Governments or the former Keating Government.

All ruling parties spend taxpayers’ money to stay in power. There needs to be a system for limiting this abuse.

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