Category: Election07

*Announcements*: * ALP has policies on [petrol for volunteers ($69m)](http://alp.org.au/media/1007/msloo250.php) and talked about its [broadband package](http://alp.org.au/media/1007/mscoit250.php). * The Democrats (remember them?) [propose abolishing HECS contributions](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/25/2070417.htm). * Coalition just announced some Perth specific stuff (I’m only tracking national announcements here). *Polls*: [Galaxy senate poll](http://www.getup.org.au/files/media/senatepolloctober07.pdf) shows some strange results. *Other*: [Paul Keating escapes from the box he…

*Announcements*: The ALP releases an [OH&S policy](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/24/2069031.htm). The coalition announces [$218m for defence skills](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/24/2068720.htm). That was it. 31 days to go. Longest. Month. Ever.

*Announcements*: Coalition announces [$4 billion in increased benefits for seniors](http://www.smh.com.au/news/economy/4b-for-pensioners/2007/10/23/1192941038909.html?s_cid=rss_news). *Polls*: [Newspoll](http://www.pollbludger.com/639) ALP 58-42. *Other*: [Wayne Swan and Peter Costello to debate](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/23/2067041.htm). Including worm. 32 bitty days until the election.

*Debate wrapup*: Strong consensus (from the worm and commentators) that Rudd easily won the debate. Rudd has now called for a further debate including Costello. *Annoncements*: Liberals annonce [increased funding for cancer care for women ($41m)](http://liberal.org.au/about/documents/BetterCancerCareandSupportforWomen_000.pdf), [$174m for water saving measures](http://www.smh.com.au/news/federalelection2007environment/174m-for-water-saving-measures/2007/10/22/1192940959327.html). Also announced in the debate were some details of the emission trading scheme policy…

*Announcements*: ALP announces a [Increase in the child care tax rebate rate](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/21/2065345.htm). Not much today, because of the great debate this evening. (Which I will *not* be watching).

Another quiet day following a quiet-ish opening week to the campaign. Only two major announcements this week: the tax plans of the two parties. And only one major non-policy issue, the debate debate. John Howard and Kevin Rudd meet for the debate tomorrow night, and we still have an incredible five(!) weeks until this is…

*Annoucements*: The ALP [rolls out its tax policy](http://alp.org.au/media/1007/msloo190.php). $31 billion, plus $3 billion in education and health expenditure. *Polls*: Big day for polls. [Galaxy](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/20/woz120.xml) ALP 53-47, [AC Nielsen](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/19/2063636.htm?site=elections/federal/2007?WT.srch=1) ALP 54-46, [Morgan Telephone](http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2007/4229) ALP 55.5-44.5. Thirty six days until we see where the roulette wheel lands.

*Announcements*: No significant national announcements that I can find. *Other*: [Kevin Rudd agrees to turn up to the debate on Sunday](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/18/2063526.htm). 37 days to go, although [inmates won’t get to vote](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/37_%28number%29).

*Annoucements*: ALP announces [$81 million for more nurses](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/17/2062270.htm). Very quiet day, really. Probably because of the funeral of the Australian soldier attended by both Rudd and Howard. 38 days to go. Not in [Korea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_parallel_north) of course.

*Annoucements*: * ALP: [$6 billion worth of Commonwealth land to be sold to alleviate housing affordability problems](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/16/2060873.htm). * Coalition: Nothing announced. *Non-policy*: [The debate debate](http://www.smh.com.au/news/federalelection2007news/just-one-debate-pm/2007/10/16/1192300739761.html). Kevin Rudd wants three debates, closer to the election. John Howard wants one, this Sunday. *Line of the Day*: [Kevin Rudd, on John Howard’s refusal to allow ‘The Worm’ in…