Oh good a vote with no consequences to me. Now who would I least like to have as my PM.

How do you go about deciding how to vote for either a rock or a hard place?

Bloody hell, so long!!! If Abbott wins I might think of returning!

So, parts of Australia are under water... Brisbane's not sure about whether it can supply it's residents with water... People have been living by candlelight for days... and now is a good time for the Prime Minister to call an election... 8 MONTHS EARLY!!

What the...?

I hope you are asking for someone to explain the vagueries of Australian politics

I think this is a clever plan by the Labor strategists.

This means Abbott will start the campaigning immediately and force he and many of his other front benchers into the forefront of the media and people. Abbott, as is well known is very good at putting his foot in his mouth. Labor have basically given him more than enough time to do this on multiple occasions. He has enough rope to hang himself in Labor eyes. Also it means his potential cabinet team will be forced into full view and I think Labor believe that the likes of Pyne and Bishop will be seen unfavourably by the general public.

Meanwhile the government get on with governing. I assume the Labor plan is that the public will be sick to death of listening to Abbott and co.

It is also a perfect opportunity to call bullsh!t on uncosted promises by the opposition, as were made prior to the last election. The opposition cannot hide from promises this time as they will be found out.

Basically, it forces a proper policy, fully costed based election. If the opposition win this then they will deserve it. But I think the strategists have got this one spot on and the people will tire of Abbott & co by election date

I just find it hard to believe anyone would vote for that women again BUT look at the alternative.

agreed. I am no Gillard fan however the alternative is very scary. Better the devil you know in these circumstances.

Abbott is our very own George W Bush and while the world laughed at the yanks and how they could possibly vote the guy in, let alone twice, we are on the verge of achieving the same

If only Turnbull was running. Seems like a pretty decent politician to me.

Think I will avoid tv for 8 months. This will be torture.

I reckon he would be a great leader. His loss to Abbott shows his political inexperience.

How do the ALP take the moral high ground on costing and budgets when it has been proven that they have never met any of there targets ever. Cheeky buggers.

If Abbott becomes the next pM, this will be a good thing as Hockey will be the treasurer. I hate to imagine just how badly he'd mess up in a budget. Total moron.

what if your citizenship ceremony is Sept 13?

Well, Assange has indicated that he will run for Senate, I might stop hiding from the AEC and register. the down side of that is that I would have to vote outside the "preferred voting" system which will mean numbering about a hundred boxes, in sequence without skipping any numbers or boxes.