What plan?

The Australian Liberal Party have held their mid-campaign "launch" in Brisbane today.  I was off playing a recital in the wilds of Mooroolbark, which seems to have been the more worthwhile choice of activity.

Why are the Liberals being looked at seriously by the media?  Here's the promise of a Tony Abbott-led government:

Aside from his already announced toughening of boat people laws, he also announced he would on "day one" of an Abbott government:

• Lift the "mining tax threat";

• Lift the "carbon tax threat";

• Start negotiations with the president of Nauru to re-open the refugee processing centre there;

• Act to stop marine parks;

• Suspend payments for the "schools halls" programme to the states and redirect the money to school communities.

He also said he would, in his first week of governing:

• Announce his Cabinet and National Security Committee;

• Establish a debt reduction taskforce.

In the first month of his government he said he would:

• Release an economic statement;

• Release the Murray-Darling Basin Plan for consultation;

• Re-introduce Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) for boat people;

• Implement new arrangements to reimburse householders for insulation batts safety inspections;

• Publish the modelling associated with the Henry Tax Review.

In the first three months of his government, he would:

• Prepare an Emissions Reduction Fund;

• Enact small business reforms;

• Finalise recruitment arrangements for a green army of environmental workers;

• Establish a National Violent Gangs Squad;

• Meet with COAG to secure agreement on hospital boards and beds;

• Visit Afghanistan.

Earlier this week former Coalition treasurer Peter Costello said he believed an incoming government should implement a further round of personal tax cuts.

It is noteworthy that John Howard -- Dr Retro himself -- was the warmup act for this.  Most of the policies on offer have a microwaved feeling about them.

The Liberals have only one approach to economic policy, and it's spelt: C U T S.  To everything in sight: spending, taxes, humanity and national pride.  Paul Keating once described them as middle-class money grubbers: from today's efforts it's not hard to see why this remains an accurate assessment.  They do a good act of making it reasonable to believe that economic policy is the art of slicing a magic pudding.

Yet another reason to put the Shooters Party ahead of the Liberals.

Read Tony Abbott's launch speech here.