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Election endorsements: lonely voices stand against Tony Abbott Election endorsements: lonely voices stand against Tony Abbott
(12 days later)
With Australia about to go to the polls, newspapers have finalised their endorsements, with most offering hesitant support for a Tony Abbott-led Coalition government rather than a continuation of Labor under prime minister Kevin Rudd.With Australia about to go to the polls, newspapers have finalised their endorsements, with most offering hesitant support for a Tony Abbott-led Coalition government rather than a continuation of Labor under prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Guardian Australia's editorial focused on the uninspiring choice facing voters.Guardian Australia's editorial focused on the uninspiring choice facing voters.
Fairfax Media's two major metropolitan mastheads split their endorsements on Friday.Fairfax Media's two major metropolitan mastheads split their endorsements on Friday.
The Sydney Morning Herald advocated an Abbott-led government as the best way to unite a "tired and despondent electorate", citing a Labor government tainted by scandal and disunity. It noted that Julia Gillard had gone back on her "no carbon tax" promise when making a deal with the independents to form a minority government in 2010.The Sydney Morning Herald advocated an Abbott-led government as the best way to unite a "tired and despondent electorate", citing a Labor government tainted by scandal and disunity. It noted that Julia Gillard had gone back on her "no carbon tax" promise when making a deal with the independents to form a minority government in 2010.
The Coalition did not escape criticism as the paper vowed to hold it to account, listing policies on broadband, paid parental leave, asylum seekers and education as "threats to national progress".The Coalition did not escape criticism as the paper vowed to hold it to account, listing policies on broadband, paid parental leave, asylum seekers and education as "threats to national progress".
But this was not enough to sway the paper against a Coalition endorsement.But this was not enough to sway the paper against a Coalition endorsement.
"Voters should not reward Labor before redemption, nor reward those who owe their influence to factions and betrayals of trust that have marked the past six years.""Voters should not reward Labor before redemption, nor reward those who owe their influence to factions and betrayals of trust that have marked the past six years."
In stark contrast, the Melbourne Age concluded that it could not "advocate a vote simply for the sake of change".In stark contrast, the Melbourne Age concluded that it could not "advocate a vote simply for the sake of change".
The Age justified its Rudd endorsement on the basis that "policy, not personality is the core of our democracy", and that Labor promised "generational change" on the NBN, superannuation, school funding and the environment – specifically with an emissions trading scheme and the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage listing.The Age justified its Rudd endorsement on the basis that "policy, not personality is the core of our democracy", and that Labor promised "generational change" on the NBN, superannuation, school funding and the environment – specifically with an emissions trading scheme and the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage listing.
The Age said it was "bewildered" by Coalition spending proposals such as the paid parental leave scheme.The Age said it was "bewildered" by Coalition spending proposals such as the paid parental leave scheme.
"It beggars belief that the Coalition, which contends the budget is in a national emergency, would happily dole out parental payments of up to $75,000 without any reference to equity and absent of any means testing.""It beggars belief that the Coalition, which contends the budget is in a national emergency, would happily dole out parental payments of up to $75,000 without any reference to equity and absent of any means testing."
Last weekend Fairfax Media's Sun-Herald pushed for an Abbott victory "by default", after six years of a Labor government which had been "negative, incoherent, incohesive and – the worst of all – uninspiring".Last weekend Fairfax Media's Sun-Herald pushed for an Abbott victory "by default", after six years of a Labor government which had been "negative, incoherent, incohesive and – the worst of all – uninspiring".
"So Tony Abbott and his mostly men in blue ties should ascend to power, by default rather than ability, putting a Coalition government in charge after six years in opposition.""So Tony Abbott and his mostly men in blue ties should ascend to power, by default rather than ability, putting a Coalition government in charge after six years in opposition."
News Corp Australia mastheads were much more decisive in their unanimous endorsement of the Coalition.News Corp Australia mastheads were much more decisive in their unanimous endorsement of the Coalition.
Sydney's Daily Telegraph famously made its endorsement in the first week of the campaign, with a front page proclamation to "kick this mob out".Sydney's Daily Telegraph famously made its endorsement in the first week of the campaign, with a front page proclamation to "kick this mob out".
"We agree with the prime minister when he says that 'the old politics of the past won't work for Australia's future'. The problem is, those old politics belong to Kevin Rudd and to history's rubbish bin," it said then."We agree with the prime minister when he says that 'the old politics of the past won't work for Australia's future'. The problem is, those old politics belong to Kevin Rudd and to history's rubbish bin," it said then.
Last weekend's Sunday Telegraph declared that Abbott "has identified his own weaknesses and sought to eliminate them; he has reached out to working women, for example, like no political leader in recent history".Last weekend's Sunday Telegraph declared that Abbott "has identified his own weaknesses and sought to eliminate them; he has reached out to working women, for example, like no political leader in recent history".
Melbourne's Herald Sun said the Labor party's credibility was gone and its behaviour was unAustralian.Melbourne's Herald Sun said the Labor party's credibility was gone and its behaviour was unAustralian.
"Labor has lost its way as well as its heart. It has chosen to stoke class war to gain political advantage ..."Labor has lost its way as well as its heart. It has chosen to stoke class war to gain political advantage ...
"Labor has been left a house divided. Its revolving door of leadership and its self-obsession have been to the detriment of the electorate it was supposed to serve.""Labor has been left a house divided. Its revolving door of leadership and its self-obsession have been to the detriment of the electorate it was supposed to serve."
The Australian called for a Coalition win, believing that to give the Labor government a "time-out" from government would be "an act of kindness". Defeat would allow Labor an opportunity for internal reform and to reunite divided supporters after Rudd campaigned erratically, making "policy on the run, alienating his own supporters and putting a glass jaw forward in response to criticism".The Australian called for a Coalition win, believing that to give the Labor government a "time-out" from government would be "an act of kindness". Defeat would allow Labor an opportunity for internal reform and to reunite divided supporters after Rudd campaigned erratically, making "policy on the run, alienating his own supporters and putting a glass jaw forward in response to criticism".
By contrast, "Tony Abbott presents as an authentic leader possessed of personal and political integrity. He has proved to be the most patient and effective opposition leader since Gough Whitlam."By contrast, "Tony Abbott presents as an authentic leader possessed of personal and political integrity. He has proved to be the most patient and effective opposition leader since Gough Whitlam."
Despite stating that the Liberal party was the "natural home" for its vote, the Economist grudgingly endorsed a Rudd government because of Labor's "decent record", but described the election as an unappealing choice between "a man with a defective manifesto and one with a defective personality'.Despite stating that the Liberal party was the "natural home" for its vote, the Economist grudgingly endorsed a Rudd government because of Labor's "decent record", but described the election as an unappealing choice between "a man with a defective manifesto and one with a defective personality'.
The magazine's problems with Abbott included that "he does not seem an instinctive fan of markets", and his social conservatism was unappealing.The magazine's problems with Abbott included that "he does not seem an instinctive fan of markets", and his social conservatism was unappealing.
But it also criticised Labor.But it also criticised Labor.
"Its internecine strife makes the Chinese Communist Party look harmonious … and there are questions over the character of its mercurial leader, Kevin Rudd.""Its internecine strife makes the Chinese Communist Party look harmonious … and there are questions over the character of its mercurial leader, Kevin Rudd."
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