Of course, seemingly unstoppable petrol and interest rates have been centre stage for months now – would you believe I just paid $1.79 for 95 octane (I can remember when a young guy I know would drive miles to a bowser not to pay over $1.00 a litre).
But in the last week the staples, power and water, have also been hiked – both approved by the relevant regulatory authorities.
Combined with steadily escalating food costs the weekly budget is visibly shrinking before our eyes and one has to ask: where will it all end?
As the PM says, many of the drivers involved are external and cannot be influenced by government, but the increasing number of financial challenges ordinary families are facing will, I believe, give rise to increasing grass roots political activity – whether it be protesting the corporatisation of electricity assets or in support of wage negotiations.
Who knows, the unions may even start to claw back some of their lost popularity.
I think it can safely be said that Kevin Rudd and his new government’s honeymoon is now officially over – the hard stuff starts now – I wish them well.
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