Miscellaneous

Kevin Rudd has called the election for September 7.

NAB has a little note out confirming my reading of the Economic Statement today and with some excellent extra details on persistent Treasury unicorns and rainbows.

Righto.

Tony Abbott is out this morning declaring: The federal Coalition has backed down on its opposition to Labor’s school funding plans in a bid to neutralise education as an election issue.

I have watched David Murray’s post CBA public service career with a mix of trepidation, anger and admiration.

From AP: Treasurer Chris Bowen is expected to reveal a $30 billion black hole in revenue when he releases Labor’s economic statement today in Canberra at 1300 AEST.

From the AFR today, Warwick McKibbin appears with new evidence for the argument I put earlier this week that Australia’s fiscal strategy should shift away from the cuts and surpluses of Howard/Costello and towards an outcome focused on spend quality.

Gosh, this from the Kouk this morning: As always, economics and economic policy management will be dominant issues in the election campaign.

And so, the surplus imbroglio marches on.

From The Australian: KEVIN Rudd has all but ruled out an August 31 election date and is now unlikely to call a poll until at least September 21 – three years and one month after Labor went to the voters in 2010.

Cross-posted from Mark the Ballot.

Allan Border is exactly the kind of guy that the Australian cricket team needs right now.

From the AFR: Labor has agreed to make it easier to dump an opposition leader than a prime minister, during a special caucus meeting at the Balmain Town Hall on Monday.

Boy, is it ever going to script.

From Roy Morgan today: This week, the exclusive Roy Morgan Reactor tested Australians’ responses to the appearance on ABC’s Q&A on Monday night of Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Julie Bishop, and Greens Senator Scott Ludlum.

It’s a funny thing that’s happened to Labor economic policy and narrative since the return of Rudd.

Crikey.

As MB keeps patiently reminding the nation’s elite, there’ll be no dwelling construction recovery of substance until land prices fall.

It seems Glenn Stevens is not the only Australian economist with a sense of humour.

By Leith van Onselen Business Spectator’s Robert Gottliebsen (“Gotti”) has today posted some curious analysis attempting to explain why Tony Abbott is on the nose with voters: Tony Abbott is the best Opposition leader Australia has ever seen but he has been too successful.