When solemn election promises can be broken without even a pretence of explanation parliamentary democracy is in a sad, sad state. So it is in Australia now that Julia Gillard has confirmed that her word means nothing. Before the last election she vowed that there would be no carbon tax if she became Prime Minister. Today she announced one.

Ms Gillard now stands exposed as one of the great political liars of all times. She is not a woman to be trusted.

If and when she leads the Labor Party into an election again we should all ignore everything she says.

The real tragedy is that the current alternative Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is every bit as untrustworthy.