I think the Gillard mob do technocratic policy badly because they themselves are not technocrats like Rudd or the state govts. They neither enthuse about solutions, like Rudd or Carr, but nor are they emotional connectors either.

They’ll also be credited with being a government that was reckless with the economy and couldn’t manage its spending. Spending money to save a country from recession won’t win brownie points in the future. Any government could open the money hose and spend. That wasn’t tough or visionary. It didn’t take skill or political courage. It was just what was expected.

Beyond their vanity and inability to demonstrate that they believed in anything, this government’s greatest sin has been to be seen to be politically timid in the extreme. Budget-wise, they requested overly rosy forecasts from Treasury (and Treasury was only too happy to oblige). And then proceed to spend every last dollar of those rosy forecasts (and then a bit more) without even acknowledging that the forecasts were extravagant.

This government has had their time in the sun and has completely missed its opportunity. They’ll now have a lengthy period in opposition to contemplate their sins and work on redemption. I predict that it will take so long that none of the current ALP MPs will still be in parliament when that day comes.