Gillard: no 'moving forward' in Melbourne

 

In a major change of strategy for the Labor Party, Prime Minister Julie Gillard did not use the phrase "moving forward" in a statement made in Melbourne today.

SPEAKING at a ceremony to open a new school amenities block at Sunshine Primary School in the western suburbs of the city, journalists, school officials and small children were stunned when the Prime Minister did not use the phrase.

"I was just dozing peacefully, expecting to hear precisely the same empty phrases she has been using everywhere else since the campaign began, and was shaken into almost full wakefulness when she didn't say 'moving forward'," said SBS television journalist Mara Keddleton.

The following is the Prime Minister's statement in full:

"In announcing the opening of this toilet block, I hope that every time a student uses these facilities they will think of the Labor Government's 'Building the Education Revolution' programme and the way it has made fundamental and substantial improvements to their school environment," she said.

"No longer will students be forced to walk up to 25 metres down this path in front of me to the other toilet block for this part of the school."

"I know, well not personally, but I have heard from parents, that 25 metres can make a difference for younger students."

School Principal Meg Ajoge also expressed her surprise that the Prime Minister did not mention "moving forward" during her speech.
 

"Given she was opening a school dunny, I would have thought there would have been plenty of opportunities to mention movements in her speech," said Ms Ajoge.

The Executive Director of Corporate Jargon at management consultants McKenzie and Company, Ben Alwoods, said he thought the move could hinder Labor's re-election campaign.

"At the end of the day the PM has gone off message, which is not best practice during an integrated campaign" said Mr Alwoods.

"It is a non-proactive move, potentially risking synergistic outcomes and deincentivizing key human resource deliverables, or as they are otherwise known: voters," he said.

Tony Abbott falls behind in preferred prime minister poll

Tony Abbott's prime ministerial aspirations have taken a battering after a Channel Nine preferred prime minister poll has placed him in a disappointing tie for fourth.

An exit poll of the audience of Channel Nine variety show, 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' on Wednesday had Ozzie Ostrich the clear favourite for prime minister with 63 per cent of the audience, followed by Daryl Somers (17) and Red Symons (9).
 

Tony Abbott tied for last place with comic character Dicky Knee on 4 per cent, with 3 per cent being undecided.

Audience member Holly Marley said that Tony Abbott did nothing to impress her during his judging appearance on the segment 'Red Faces'.

"I thought he appeared wooden and artificial and I got the impression he was mouthing other people's words," said Ms Marley.

"The ostrich, in comparison, looked extremely prime ministerial."

Sources within the Liberal Party say that they are considering approaching Mr Ostrich to run for the Liberal Party in any by-elections that may arise after the August 21 poll.

Attempts were made to contact the puppet at his residence in the Props Department of the Channel Nine studios at Richmond, but he was unavailable for comment.