Liberals begin thrashing out policies

Federal Liberals will join an eclectic group of thinkers on Friday to begin
thrashing out ideas that could lay the policy foundation for the opposition's run to
the next election.
At a policy forum in Canberra on Friday, Liberals from around the country will join
a diverse group of community leaders to discuss the policy challenges faced by the
nation.
Organised by the Menzies Research Centre, the roundtable was instigated by Tony
Abbott, soon after he became opposition leader last year.
Participants include indigenous leader Noel Pearson, security expert Alan Dupont,
former charity chief Patrick McClure and economist Henry Ergas, who has conducted an
unreleased review of tax policy for the Liberal Party.
Since his ascension to the leadership, Mr Abbott has gone full tilt at taking on the
government, giving it a scare in the opinion polls and keeping it off balance with
his approach.
Julian Leeser, executive director of the Menzies Research Centre, told AAP the forum
would complement the work of the Coalition Policy Development Committee, chaired by
Andrew Robb.
Unlike the Rudd government's 2020 summit, it would help ensure the coalition had a
surplus of ideas before it won government.
"When the government came to power it had to put on the 2020 summit because they
didn't have any agenda," Mr Leeser said.
"We are preparing for government by ensuring that we come to government with a
strong agenda, with ideas strongly worked out, with ideas strongly tested."
While the coalition may be preparing itself for a vigorous battle against Labor,
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd continued his efforts to clean up the mess created by the
government's insulation debacle.
Mr Rudd has gone into damage control over the issue that has lingered like a
festering sore for the government.
After personally intervening in the affair this week, on Thursday he mobilised his
caucus to head out into their communities to promote what the government was doing
to deal with the fallout.
He urged them to use street stalls, local media and visits to insulation firms to
get out the message about the government initiatives to help soften the blow of job
losses in the industry, which some believe could hit up to 6,000 workers.
Mr Rudd blitzed the airwaves on Thursday morning to let people know about the
government's $41 million package to help insulation workers remain in their current
employ or find new jobs or training.
It's been part of a major change in tack after a difficult fortnight for the
government, which struggled to deal with the flow on impact of axing the insulation
program, linked to four deaths and nearly 100 house fires.
It had been accused of failing to respond to safety concerns quickly enough and
lacking remorse for the deaths of the four workers.
"It's important ... I respond to the concerns which you've been talking to your
listeners about for quite a period of time," Mr Rudd told Macquarie Radio Network.
He told parliament the deaths were unspeakable tragedies and of profound regret.
Asked by Mr Abbott whether he had apologised to the families, Mr Rudd revealed he
had written to one but failed to clarify if it contained an apology.
"One of the families has contacted me and I have written a letter to that family,"
Mr Rudd said.
"That was entirely appropriate given the sentiments expressed by the family concerned."