Truth and falsehood the new divide?

The difference in the way the two sides are characterised on this issue in the US is challenging the old cliché "all politicians lie".

Certainly, Australia can boast many prominent leaders who have been widely respected for their truthfulness. Can anyone recall a direct lie from John Hewson, Tim Fischer, John Anderson, Simon Crean, Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull, Bob Brown, Kevin Rudd or Warren Truss – to name just nine past or present party leaders?

Yes, perhaps a few changes of position and unfulfilled promises from some of them. But not direct lies.

Of course, Australia has its offenders, as well. It was a Senator from his own side who labelled former Prime Minister John Howard "the Lying Rodent". This followed a period when several assertions from the then PM were shown not to have been truthful.

The current Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been characterised in social networks and some sections of the mainstream media as "Ju-liar".

This seems to be based primarily on a broken promise made in the run-up to the 2010 election: "There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead …"

Whether or not there are excuses for this based on the election outcome – which did not deliver a Labor majority – seems a matter of hotly-contested opinion.

The Opposition Leader has his own struggles in this area, as are now well-documented. In 2008 he appears to have lied point blank to ABC Lateline's Tony Jones in response to a question about a meeting with Cardinal George Pell.

Later, he changed his own position on carbon emissions from what was once clearly in favour of "a simple carbon tax". Why?

Mr Abbott's struggles with the truth were discussed at some length in a memorable interview with Kerrie O'Brien in May 2010.

Yet they have continued. Just last week, veteran journalist Laurie Oakes in the Herald Sun commenced his column with the withering opener: "Let's not beat about the bush. Tony Abbott tells lies."

Will this pattern harm the electoral appeal of the Opposition Leader? Will it impact his appeal as party leader to his parliamentary party colleagues? Will the perception that the Prime Minister has lied to the electorate cost her and her party the next election?

With the 2012 election in the US now highlighting Truth vs Falsehood, perhaps this may be a focus in Australia in 2013. We shall soon see.