Given that Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey promised that interest rates will always be lower under a Coalition govt what are they planning to do to drag interest rates lower...plunge Australia into a decade long recession?
Good luck with that people  :D

Neither interest rates or debt levels will ever satisfy a conservative. No
matter how low or insignificant.

Interest rates at record lows, and idiot-features thinks they're too high?

The man's a goose.

A vote for Abbott is a vote by a fool for a fool.

Low interest rates, are but one by-product of a global Economic system, which is under enormous stresses, due to once in history events, such as -
1) Baby boomer Demographic challenges.
2) Energy Supply shortages & Price increases.
3) Climate Change.

In this instance, lower interest rates is an indicator that all is not well, with the entire Economic system & any further lowering of rates in OZ will simply confirm that the Global situation is continuing to worsen!

you happily compare our debt to other countries so why are our rates exorbitantly high compared to them??

The RBA rate should be 1%

woof woof wrote on Aug 5^th, 2013 at 10:04pm:

you happily compare our debt to other countries so why are our rates exorbitantly high compared to them?? The RBA rate should be 1%

You should be able to answer that question yourself Woofy, think on it.

That said, why would a 1% RBA rate produce any better results than the ZERO rates, effective in Europe, Japan & the USA, which are all still basket cases? 

Ok so drop them to 0%

woof woof wrote on Aug 5^th, 2013 at 10:12pm:

Ok so drop them to 0%

And achieve what?

Europe, Japan & the USA, are all effectively at ZERO & they are still basket cases?

The reasons why they are still basket cases are also the reasons why it won't work here & it won't work this time, when it has been successful in the past!

Don't bother, Perce, he's a goose, and will never 'get it'.

you ppl are seriously thick as dog poo

the reason Europe is fkd isn't because 0% rates didn't work, is because they have 20% unemployment.

we'll have 20% UP too if things keep going the way they are??

Zero would lower the $A and give exporters and manufacturers a fighting chance.

Oh yes that's the working part of Australia the bit that leftards have no understanding of.

woof woof wrote on Aug 5^th, 2013 at 10:31pm:

you ppl are seriously thick as dog poo the reason Europe is fkd isn't because 0% rates didn't work, is because they have 20% unemployment. we'll have 20% UP too if things keep going the way they are??

Woofy,
The major reasons why Europe has such high Unemployment rates are the same as the reasons for the current Global GFC and those are reasons 1-3 in the following post!    
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1375696410/2#2

You need to bear in mind, there are some big differences, between causes & effects.

woof woof wrote on Aug 5^th, 2013 at 10:31pm:

you ppl are seriously thick as dog poo the reason Europe is fkd isn't because 0% rates didn't work, is because they have 20% unemployment. we'll have 20% UP too if things keep going the way they are??

what do you think unemployment will get to once Abbott starts his austerity measures?

You can start with about another 340 000 unemployed shorty after Abbott wins, once GM closes down.

miketrees wrote on Aug 5^th, 2013 at 10:33pm:

Zero would lower the $A and give exporters and manufacturers a fighting chance. Oh yes that's the working part of Australia the bit that leftards have no understanding of.

It ain't necessarily so!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZrfp7uFETM

Both the Euro & the British pound have been considerably lower against the US$, the oZ$ and other currencies, BUT THAT HAS NOT SEEN A REBOUND IN THEIR ECONOMIES.

The US$ has also been lower, without any noticeable Economic rebound & now, when their money printing has been at its highest, the US$ has actually rebounded higher - GO FIGURE!

woof woof wrote on Aug 5^th, 2013 at 10:04pm:

you happily compare our debt to other countries so why are our rates exorbitantly high compared to them?? The RBA rate should be 1%

Because our economy is not as stuffed as those countries, Mattys sock. You extremist loonies won't be happy until the women basher is PM and trashes our economy to turn it into another basket case economy.

Our economy thanks to labor is a basket case, dud you miss the 3 billion a week blow out the other day, were screwed

perceptions_now wrote on Aug 5^th, 2013 at 11:15pm:

miketrees wrote on Aug 5th, 2013 at 10:33pm: Zero would lower the $A and give exporters and manufacturers a fighting chance. Oh yes that's the working part of Australia the bit that leftards have no understanding of. It ain't necessarily so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZrfp7uFETM Both the Euro & the British pound have been considerably lower against the US$, the oZ$ and other currencies, BUT THAT HAS NOT SEEN A REBOUND IN THEIR ECONOMIES. The US$ has also been lower, without any noticeable Economic rebound & now, when their money printing has been at its highest, the US$ has actually rebounded higher - GO FIGURE!

i saw where retail here has ground to a halt..been slowing since gillard made her astounding statement.about sept.. and of course now its almost stopped..

cods wrote on Aug 6^th, 2013 at 8:55am:

perceptions_now wrote on Aug 5th, 2013 at 11:15pm: miketrees wrote on Aug 5th, 2013 at 10:33pm: Zero would lower the $A and give exporters and manufacturers a fighting chance. Oh yes that's the working part of Australia the bit that leftards have no understanding of. It ain't necessarily so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZrfp7uFETM Both the Euro & the British pound have been considerably lower against the US$, the oZ$ and other currencies, BUT THAT HAS NOT SEEN A REBOUND IN THEIR ECONOMIES. The US$ has also been lower, without any noticeable Economic rebound & now, when their money printing has been at its highest, the US$ has actually rebounded higher - GO FIGURE! i saw where retail here has ground to a halt..been slowing since gillard made her astounding statement.about sept.. and of course now its almost stopped..

Cods,
The major reasons for the slowing OZ Economy are the same as the reasons for the current Global GFC and those are reasons 1-3 in the following post!    
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1375696410/2#2

In terms of timing, Australia was one of the later countries to feel to feel the effects of the Global GFC, as -
1) We were one of the major suppliers of resources, such as Iron & Coal, to the developing world (such as China), which were the last to feel the effects of the GFC, so we also came in late.
2) We also went into the GFC in a comparatively good position, relative to most other countries, in terms of Debt.
Our lower Debt to GDP ratio was mainly attributable to to the Howard/Costello Liberals measures taken during 1996-2007 and the Peak Boom years of the Baby Boomer Boom, which went for a similar time frame.
However, whilst the Liberals did restrain Debt during that period & did a better job than most other countries, they and all other OZ Politicians over the last 40-50 years, did not do enough, nor did they or the rest of the world's Pollies set the Global structure properly to avoid major Economic  problems, due to -
1) The Baby Boomer Bust
2) Energy Supply shortfalls & Price increases.
3) Climate Change.
   
In addition, the Labor governments between 2007-2013, whilst they did avert an earlier Economic regression, by implementing various stimulus programs, they did not change the final Global outcomes, which are still accumulating in the system.

In any event, the time is quickly coming, where the "piper will call & announce payment is due for past "indiscretions" and all sectors will have to carry their fair share of the pain!

Low rates due to slowing economy: Howard

THE Labor government is deluding itself if it believes lower interest rates are a sign they have the economy well in hand, former Liberal leader John Howard says.

In 2004 when Mr Howard was contesting an election as prime minister, he said interest rates would always be lower under a coalition government.

"The context in 2004 was who was better to deliver lower interest rates in a booming economy," Mr Howard told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

Then the Reserve Bank of Australia's cash rate was 5.25 per cent compared with 2.50 per cent now.

Mr Howard said rates were lower now because the economy was slowing.

"For anybody to run around between now and election day and say that a cut in interest rates means that the government has got the economy well in hand, they're deluding themselves," Mr Howard said.

"Look at some of the nations of Europe. They have got virtually zero interest rates and their economies are not moving."

Link -
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/low-rates-due-to-slowing-economy-howard/story-fni0xqi3-1226692122848
==============================
Well, the RBA has lowered the cash rate to a record OZ low, so  everyone should now feel good & ready to go, RIGHT?

Wrong!

As John Howard points out, the rates in Europe are already effectively at ZERO and their economies are not moving & nor are Japan & the USA, who are in the same boat!

In fact, the reality of interest rates is that Governments & Central Banks use them to "influence" the Economy, by raising rates to slow Demand & lowering them to increase Demand.

However, there are situations where Governments & CB's are in CONTROL, where they are in relative control & some where they have no control over events at all.

The current event is the latter of the above situations & that will not alter, whether Labor or Liberal win the upcoming election!
 

perceptions_now wrote on Aug 6^th, 2013 at 8:43pm:

Low rates due to slowing economy: Howard THE Labor government is deluding itself if it believes lower interest rates are a sign they have the economy well in hand, former Liberal leader John Howard says. In 2004 when Mr Howard was contesting an election as prime minister, he said interest rates would always be lower under a coalition government. "The context in 2004 was who was better to deliver lower interest rates in a booming economy," Mr Howard told the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. Then the Reserve Bank of Australia's cash rate was 5.25 per cent compared with 2.50 per cent now. Mr Howard said rates were lower now because the economy was slowing. "For anybody to run around between now and election day and say that a cut in interest rates means that the government has got the economy well in hand, they're deluding themselves," Mr Howard said. "Look at some of the nations of Europe. They have got virtually zero interest rates and their economies are not moving." Link - http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/low-rates-due-to-slowing-economy-howard/story-fni0xqi3-1226692122848 ============================== Well, the RBA has lowered the cash rate to a record OZ low, so  everyone should now feel good & ready to go, RIGHT? Wrong! As John Howard points out, the rates in Europe are already effectively at ZERO and their economies are not moving & nor are Japan & the USA, who are in the same boat! In fact, the reality of interest rates is that Governments & Central Banks use them to "influence" the Economy, by raising rates to slow Demand & lowering them to increase Demand. However, there are situations where Governments & CB's are in CONTROL, where they are in relative control & some where they have no control over events at all. The current event is the latter of the above situations & that will not alter, whether Labor or Liberal win the upcoming election!

"The context in 2004 was who was better to deliver lower interest rates in a booming economy," Mr Howard

The conservatives are never wrong as long as they have somewhere to move the goal posts when the facts do not align with their opinions.