Something to think about in the 2013 federal election year

 ABS trend estimate of unemployed persons

Australia’s unemployment rate is currently running at 5.4% according to the folks who know.

Jericho over at Grog’s Gamut points out that it would be 5.1% if Queensland LNP Premier Campbell Newman hadn’t taken a scythe to that state’s public service after he took office in March 2012.

Now how many times has Tony Abbott held Newman’s government as a pattern card of fiscal responsibility?

Well, there’s this:

“Mr Abbott said it was unfortunate that some of the Newman government's decisions were unpopular, even within its own ranks.

But he said those decisions were necessary and Mr Newman was doing a great job given the "economic basket case" he inherited from Labor.

"Sometimes they cause stresses and strains even within the ranks of the coalition here in Queensland," he said.

"But you've got to do what is necessary to bring this country and this state back to health."

Gee, sorta sounds like Abbott’s plan for the Australian economy doesn’t it?