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  • Jenifer on Yes We Will .. Will We? Yes, we will....go to the dogs ,if I don't win. Gillard's last jinx. more
  • Barb on What you don't see in a campaign I see! I see! I see!Very very big knife for very very big stab for Lady as counting results brings Tony to Top. No running ... more
  • Sally on Dance of the reluctant brides Lenny must be suffering from acute entrails problems as his red medusa idol lately. The eennnnnnd of the wwwwooorrrlldd is ... more
  • Hughes on Yes We Will .. Will We? I suspect Lenny is a tree hugger and BBrowntongue is expecting to ride on Labor prefs at the cost of Labor itself. They ... more
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  • Lenny on Yes We Will .. Will We? Sue, only an ignorant self serving imbecile would vote for the Liberals. The Rabbit couldn't manage a game of two up~! ... more
  • peed off on How to vote in Federal Election I would like to know if either party is going to do anything about changing the policies in the department of housing. Wait ... more
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  • Brendan Mason on It ain't over til it's over The fear of the Liberals is of what may or MAY NOT happen where as we know what to fear of Labor...house fires, rorts, ... more
  • David on It ain't over til it's over Lets not give this incompotent government another term. more
  • mylene on Yes We Will .. Will We? Lots of people say if the election result doesn't go their way they'll leave the country but I'll bet anything that nobody ... more
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  • steve murphy on Juila will and Tony will not? Gerard, It is the one big question that hasn't been answered during the campaign. What will it cost me to access 100mbps? ... more
  • Kevin H on Yes We Will .. Will We? I hope Labor wins and the GST goes up to 40-50%, petrol 5$ a litre and more, bank rates at 19.7% as it was with the last ... more

Yes We Will .. Will We?

Posted by: Steve Murphy, Political Analyst | 16 August, 2010 - 4:49 PM

The prime Minister kisses her partner Tim Mathieson after delivering her speech.

Labor campaign launch

The prime Minister kisses her partner Tim Mathieson. Photo: Andrew Meares

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Play Audio - Latika Bourke (Julia Gillard) and Michael Pachi (Tony Abbott) cross to Hinch.

EDITORIAL: Julia Gillard has officially launched her campaign for the re-election of the Labor Government in a no frills, confident and carefully calculated speech to the party faithful in Brisbane, where she urged voters to say to themselves on Saturday “Yes We Will move Australia forward.”

Before a range of Labor luminaries including former Governor-General Bill Hayden, her warm-up act former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and her predecessor Kevin Rudd, Ms Gillard gave a good performance.

The sticky issue of Mr Rudd’s presence was handled as best it could’ve been. The deposed leader was given a standing but polite ovation when he entered the room; was acknowledged by Ms Gillard as “a man of great achievement with great achievements to lie in the future” but was nowhere to be seen when it came to greeting the PM post speech.

It was always going to be an awkward affair as far as the ‘Rudd issue’ was concerned and even though K-Rudd looked as though he would’ve preferred to be undergoing another gall bladder operation, Labor strategists will be breathing a sigh of relief.

The speech was largely her ‘stump’ speech that he has delivered many, many times during the past four weeks. The banner in front of which Ms Gillard delivered her speech said it all. Stronger economy, better hospitals and schools.

Stronger economy was there to highlight labor having saved us from recession and reinforce its message that Tony Abbott is an economic incompetent. In other words, don’t risk it.

Hospitals and schools are traditional strong suits for labor and are crucially important in the rapidly growing areas in South East Queensland and Western Sydney where this election is likely to be won and lost. There was some modest spending announcements drawing together new e-health initiatives and the NBN.

There was plenty of rhetoric and barbs against her opponent as you would expect and a pretty simple message that Labor saved us from recession and would be a steady pair of hands into the future.

Like Tony Abbott’s campaign launch a couple of weeks ago, it was as much about attacking the opponent and the single clearest message from the day was that swinging and undecided voters shouldn’t risk electing a Coalition Government.

There was no big vision statement and the nature of the speech clearly demonstrates that labor believes the only way it can shore up its marginals is to run as hard as it can on the fear of Tony Abbott becoming Prime Minister.

The theme was set from the start, with the silver bodgie (Bob Hawke) decrying Tony Abbott for a lack of economic competence e and endeavouring to reinforce such a perception by accusing Mr. Abbott of “playing chicken” by refusing to have a Leaders’ debate on the economy.

The scene is set for what I expect will be a brutal final four days of Campaign 2010 after which we will find out whether or not “we will move Australia forward.”

Labor Party campaign launch

Julia Gillard policy launch The Prime Minister has announced a new health policy and a slight slogan change, while launching Labor's official election campaign in Brisbane. Ms Gillard has promised medicare rebates for people in regional areas to access internet consultations with doctors.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Yes, we will....go to the dogs ,if I don't win. Gillard's last jinx.

    Jenifer Saturday 21 August, 2010 - 3:05 PM

  • I suspect Lenny is a tree hugger and BBrowntongue is expecting to ride on Labor prefs at the cost of Labor itself. They really are a threat to Labor because Liberal voters are more traditionals and predictable. Tells much about cannibals running the show. Imagine if these two allies could grab power. It will make Zimbabwe look like Sweden compared to us.
    Or the phrase is: more instability more fun and glee for some. Abyss, what abyss?

    Hughes Saturday 21 August, 2010 - 2:48 PM

  • I am in Crean's electorate and most of us in line have switched sides. We are making our vote count and putting Labour and the Greens last as we cannot afford more of our taxes funding their pursuit of ideals. Will they lose seats today.... YES THEY WILL. and Brumby, I would start the shredders as you will be OUSTED later this year. Even if your opponent was Mickey Mouse, he would get more votes that you and your useless ministers will. We will not forget nor forgive your useless leadership which gave us such memorable failures like Christine (there are no gangs in Victoria...and I have to eat") Nixon, or Justin (cram them in) Madden, and Rob (jail is not a deterrant) Hulls.

    baron of bentleigh Saturday 21 August, 2010 - 11:09 AM

  • Sue, only an ignorant self serving imbecile would vote for the Liberals. The Rabbit couldn't manage a game of two up~! Only a typical moronic Liberal party supporter would criticize Obama in the US, compared to the complete IDIOT he replaced~! Bush took the country back 200 years, and robbed the country of basic human rights~! Milton, I wouldn't get carried away just yet, YOUR party is potentially facing charges of WAR CRIMES resulting from the Chilcott Inquiry in the UK. Don't make any plans just yet, JUSTICE will be done~!

    Lenny Saturday 21 August, 2010 - 9:06 AM

  • Lots of people say if the election result doesn't go their way they'll leave the country but I'll bet anything that nobody does. Pity because none of them would be of any significant loss.

    mylene Friday 20 August, 2010 - 3:08 PM

  • I hope Labor wins and the GST goes up to 40-50%, petrol 5$ a litre and more, bank rates at 19.7% as it was with the last Labor govt.
    By then ,If we are who we have been known to be the whole damm place will have to be cleansed and very very harshly, and at any cost. I believe that the best always come from the ashes. I will be the happiest man around to be part of it.

    Kevin H Friday 20 August, 2010 - 10:39 AM

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