The Bomber Replies

P and I sat up in front of the TV last night to watch Beazley's budget reply. I have to admit that I wasn't feeling very optimistic and didn't actually expect to be inspired.

As the speech went on, however, I allowed myself to get my hopes up. I kept thinking that, at any moment, the speech would pick up and that Beazley would say something dramatically different. I started to dream that Labor would spell out a vision for Australia's future that I could relate to, that could inspire me.

Alas, it was not to be.

The high points were some rather random pot shots at the new IR laws, massive HECS debts and the war in Iraq, plus a focus on childcare and technical training, and quite a nice little pokie machine analogy.

The low points were the attack on foreigners, the reaffirmation of the joys of tax cuts, the emphasis on 'middle-Australia' and 'Australian values', and the moments of truly crap delivery (where Beazley stumbled over his words and sounded like a git).

The recurring one-liner also really annoyed me:

"When you put in, you get back."

(i.e. "We don't care about dole-bludgers or foreigners either.")

Of course, I want the Coalition out of government and currently this means the election of a federal Labor government. However, I cannot get very excited by that prospect.

Other 'Budget Reply' round-ups available from MrLefty, Suki, and Polemica.

Update: Another good round-up at Modia Minotaur.