Australians left scratching their heads over Rudd’s priorities

Kevin Rudd’s wild thought bubbles and rapidly changing priorities show he has no plan and no vision for Australia. The contrast between the Labor Party and the Coalition couldn’t be clearer at this election. If elected, the Coalition’s first priority will be scrapping Labor’s Carbon Tax. We will build a stronger economy so that everyone can get ahead. We’ll end the waste, we’ll stop the boats and we’ll build the roads of the 21st century. Our Real Solutions plan will create one million jobs over five years and two million jobs in a decade. More than ever, Australia needs strong and stable government, not the chaos and division of the Labor Party which is seeing Kevin Rudd’s top priority change daily as he searches frantically for a plan. Yesterday Mr Rudd was quoted saying that if he was re-elected his first objective would be negotiating an agreement on school funding with Queensland. But later in the day, while in Tasmania, “jobs, jobs and job security” became not only Mr Rudd’s first priority, but also Labor’s “core” priority. Wind back the clock to Monday and Mr Rudd was telling Gladstone residents that government support for single parents needed to be attended to and, if he was returned, “that is priority”. On Friday, health was Mr Rudd’s number one priority, but later in the day apprenticeships became “a number one, two and three priority”. Mr Rudd’s priorities during his first term as Prime Minister were just as directionless and chaotic. “Can I say, Madonna, I believe what the Australian people wanted me to do is get on with the business of delivering health and hospitals reform - number one priority.” (Kevin Rudd, ABC Madonna King, 4/3/10) “What are my priorities? Number one is to ensure long-term national security. Two, build a strong economy for the future – we’ve survived the global recession… Thirdly, to make sure we have a world-class health system into the future.” (Kevin Rudd, 50 Something, National Seniors Australia, February/March 2010) “A safe and secure Australia is the Government’s first priority, and the National Security College will play a key role in ensuring this.” (Kevin Rudd, Media release, 10/12/09) “In building a fairer Australia, there can be no greater priority than closing the appalling gap in life opportunities for Indigenous Australians.” (Kevin Rudd, Address to Qld Labor State Conference, 21/6/08) “First priority which people expect me to attach my energies to is to manage the crisis and to manage Australia's longer term recovery.” (Kevin Rudd, ABC Jon Faine, 5/11/09) “…the Government believes the maintenance of global economic and financial stability is fundamental to Australia’s future and therefore should command the full resources of government as a first priority.” (Kevin Rudd, Address to the East Asia Forum in conjunction with the Australian National University, Advancing Australia's Global and Regional Economic Interests, 26/3/08) “…I indicated that our number one priority would be the war against inflation.” (Kevin Rudd, Press conference, 11/2/08) “…for this Australian Government there is no higher priority than the national security of our country.” (Kevin Rudd, Address to the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and General Sir John Monash Foundation Leadership Luncheon Docklands, 24/4/09) “What I am signalling to you loud and clear today is that the urban congestion needs, the public transport needs of our major cities including Perth are up there as priority number one.” (Kevin Rudd, Joint press conference with WA Premier Alan Carpenter, 13/8/08) “Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is warning the year ahead will be ugly and tough but has sought to assure Australians that jobs are the top priority of the Federal Government.” (ABC Online, 22/1/10) “Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says the dire situation in the Murray-Darling systems shows that dealing with climate change should be the nation's number one priority.” (ABC Online, 20/4/07) “I regard war on unemployment as the government’s highest priority.” (Kevin Rudd, House Hansard, 11/11/08) Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party haven’t delivered for the last six years and they have no plan for the future. The Coalition offers real change with clear priorities and will deliver a genuinely united government and a better future – for all Australians 4 September 2013