IMO the dec retail figures were outstanding given the economic downturn. Also all the long term capital investmrnt issues are being dealt with in the normal budget. This stimulus is over and above that. It is needed now to prevent a collapse now, that would send even more people out of jobs. We are already seeing it happen, closures of small businesses and cutbacks everywhere. The government cant wait for things that take years, they will happen anyway. The libs seem to want the economy to totally collapse for cheap political motives. Guess im just one of those ordinary people who prefers what the government is doing and believe the Opposition would do--IF THEY WERE IN GOVERNMENT. You have said yourself Alan, Howard set the course with regular handouts and tax cuts to ordinary Australians but not much in the way of long term infrastructure.
