THAT left hook from PM Tony Abbott to loose-lipped Treasurer Joe Hockey we predicted in last week’s “Seven Days”, sure hit the mark with Tony’s Deficit Levy announcement. It progressively slugged everyone earning more than $80,000 a year.

No way; Opposition Leader Bill Shorten went for the cheap “broken promise” mantra that worked for Abbott against Julia Gillard. Politicians are like generals… always fighting the last war instead of the one at hand.

JOE hit back: old-age pension eligibility, he declared, would rise to 70 in 2035! That would be in the second (Jessica) Rudd Government! Really, Joe…

ACTUALLY, most of Tony’s preoccupations seem to be coming from his old Catholic Labor roots – the DLP – rather than the Liberal heartland. The farcical “direct action” on global warming, for example, is from George Pell’s “Hands off God’s plan” doctrine; paid parental leave is designed to encourage lots more kiddies; and more money for the private schools will educate them in the one true Church. Even the expensive new fighter wing for the RAAF sounds like a response to that DLP favourite of yesteryear: “The downward thrust of Chinese Communism”.

No wonder Joe Hockey and the True Libs are getting restless.

IF you’re planning to sell the house, better look smart. If only some of this week’s Audit Commission’s recommendations are adopted, prices will plummet. At least 15,000 public service jobs are in the firing line.

When car companies close down, the nation is shocked and governments are spurred into action. It doesn’t matter, apparently, that the public servants support the capital’s private enterprise with their pay packets.

When Canberra’s the target, everyone cheers – it’s an “efficiency bonus”. How about a big PR exercise to show the country that Canberra is a vital part of the national polity; say a Centennial Celebration… oh, sorry, been there, done that. Worked a treat, obviously.

CLOSER to home, ACT Deputy Opposition leader Alistair Coe was reading straight from the Liberal Party playbook with his condemnation of Labor’s plan for a light rail system.

“People in the Northbourne Avenue corridor,” he said, “are already serviced well by ACTION buses.” And the problem of public servants’ parking spots will be easily fixed when those 15,000 don’t have to go to work anymore.

PITY the poor 1700 Gunghalin residents who have to switch their landline phones, medical alarms and internet to the very fast NBN on July 17. The Big G’s Community Council president, Ewan Brown, warns phone lines “could fall over like a web service”.

“You would need a charged up mobile in case anything goes wrong,” he says.

Seems like the rest of us who’ll miss out on the NBN are the lucky ones. Gee, thanks Malcolm.

WONDERFUL careers in the PS really are possible if you can keep your job. The proof is to be found in “An Unqualified Success”, Peter Golding’s splendid new biog of Allan Fleming, best known as the second director of the National Library. He died in 2001 after a fascinating career as a soldier, spy, trade negotiator and librarian. A great Canberra read.

robertmacklin.com