From Fairfax:
Tony Abbott is facing growing backbench anger over his government’s mishandling of the GP co-payment and university funding changes from last year’s budget, as MPs returning from their electorates express frustration over the government’s poor standing with voters.
Some described the atmosphere in the government as tending toward “anarchy” because the “command and control” mode by the Prime Minister’s office had been shown to be politically hamfisted….
The higher education reforms now face an uncertain future with any savings evaporating and key Senate crossbenchers saying they remain opposed to the deregulation of university fees even if the Abbott government scraps a planned 20 per cent cut to university funding.
This follows the axing of a planned $20 cut to the Medicare payment to doctors for short consultations just days before it was due to come into effect.
…one senior Liberal said the Prime Minister had “lost the respect” of some colleagues, and another said he had “just months” to turn things around or his position was terminal.
…Palmer United Party’s Glenn Lazarus called on the government to abandon its policies and “move on”.
“You can polish a turd for as long as you want, it’s always going to be a turd,” said Senator Lazarus.
Does he mean the PM or his Budget?
It is reassuring to know that as the biggest economic challenges in three decades (probably more) bear down on us that we’re ruled by a “brick with eyes” and “unpolishable turds”.
Go ‘Straya!
