MICHELLE GRATTAN August 08, 2012
BUOYED by her success in staring down Victoria and NSW over disability insurance, the PM is now trying a bold gamble to deflect the political heat of rising power prices.
Her carbon tax is an obvious target for people's anger. But no, she says - they should be looking at the states' inefficiencies and inaction. She seemed to be pointing particularly to those that own electricity assets and regulate parts of the market. But when asked whether these assets should be privatised, she said that was up to particular state governments and their voters.
She is criticising states for not signing up to consumer protections; demanding they present solutions to COAG; threatening more federal regulation if they don't measure up. Yet she doesn't explain why the current federal powers of regulation have not been used more strongly. It's all quite confusing.
Gillard is attempting to cast herself as the tough leader, and one who seeks to protect the battlers. Cost of living is a prime concern, and the government is preoccupied with trying to address it. Now Gillard - who jumped into the energy debate by speaking at a function in place of Resources Minister Martin Ferguson - is comparing electricity price rises with the pain of petrol increases. Kevin Rudd promised to scrap the blame game but Gillard is pursuing it with a vengeance. Whether it works for her or backfires horribly the next polls will tell.
Meanwhile her office circulated yesterday's rather better Newspoll to ministerial offices. The take out message? Gillard won't lie down and die - for Kevin Rudd.