The people have spoken...

mandate

noun

ˈmandeɪt/

1. 1.

   an official order or commission to do something.

   "a mandate to seek the release of political prisoners"

   • 
     

     
     
   • 
     
   • 
     

     
     

     
     
2. 2.

   the authority to carry out a policy, regarded as given by the electorate to a party or candidate that wins an election.

   "he called an election to seek a mandate for his policies"

   • 
     

     
     

     
     

verb

manˈdeɪt/

1. 1.

   give (someone) authority to act in a certain way.

   "the rightful king was mandated and sanctioned by God"

   • 
     

     
     
2. 2.

   historical

   (of territory) be assigned to (another power) under a mandate of the League of Nations.

   "mandated territories"

During the 1998 election the Liberal's campaigned on their GST policy and won the election.  The GST was implemented (with just a bit of negotiation with Meg Lee's of the Senate) with the legislation passing through both houses.

During the 2007 election Kevin '07 campaigned against the Liberal's WorkChoices policy and won the election.  Labor immediately set about dismantling the WorkChoices legislation and the legislation to do so passed through both houses (noteworthy here that Liberals did not oppose the legislation).

During the 2013 election the Liberal's campaigned against the Carbon Tax and won the election.

In all three elections the victor had received a clear mandate from the electorate.  There can be no confusion and no misunderstanding on this.

Labour did the right thing and allowed the passage of the GST legislation through the houses and the Liberals did the honourable thing and allowed the passage of the legislation to dismantle WorkChoices through the houses.

So right now I simply can't fathom how Labor can not recognise the clear mandate that Liberal has received from the election to dump the Carbon Tax. 

It is beyond rude.  It is beyond arrogant and it is just very, very poor form to say the least.  I just don't have the words to express my disbelief at this latest little sooky-la-la behaviour from the Labor party.

Tony Abbot's campaign was so clear - he was going to dump the tax.  It was his mantra every single day - day in and day out of the election campaign.  At every single opportunity it was his catchphrase.  He did have 3 or 4 other key platforms that he campaigned upon - and he can rightfully consider that he has a mandate for those also.

So Labor, you need to "man up", accept your punishment (ie: the mandate from the electorate) and let the Liberal's get on with the job.  If you want to sook and carry on, do it behind closed doors where we can't see it.


Till next time...