Lismore's Northern Star called for Howard's End

Although the election's done and dusted, it would be remiss of this site not to make special mention of Lismore's Northern Star, which came out strongly in its editorial on election day. Its editor, Russell Eldridge, wrote:

"We endorse the view that it is time for change. It is time to vote out a Government that has no case for re-election and is leading this country down an increasingly narrow, selfish and short-sighted path.

Read the editorial at:
http://www.northernstar.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3756359&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

Well done, Northern Star!

Day after election debacle Libs go from bad to worse

This morning Peter Costello announced that he wasn't willing to stand for the now vacant position of Leader of the Liberal Party in Opposition.

This afternoon Malcolm Turnbull put up his hand for this job.Brian Loughnane, federal director of the party, is saying today that the Liberal Party is not in disarray, but one has to wonder if it has a death wish.

Malcolm Turnbull appears to have still unresolved matters concerning his alleged misleading of the HIH insurance group in the two years leading up to its spectacular $100 million plus collapse.

It would not be a good look for a Liberal Party leader to have a judgment for significant damages found against himself and eight others including Rodney Adler. If nothing else this legal matter will be before the court well into the second year of this parliament.

If the Liberal Party looked elsewhere for its leader, where would that be?
Tony Abbott's mouthings would be likely to immediately bring the party into disrepute and if uttered during a doorstop interview might see him in court.
Alexander Downer's inane giggle would quickly become as grating as Peter Costello's famous smirk, and the AWB scandal would continue to haunt him.
Phillip Ruddock is perceived by the electorate as cold-hearted and careless of the rule of law.
The list can go on and on.

There is no real chance of generational change in the Federal Liberal Party - it is still composed of the usual suspects.

The Age June 2007 article on Turnbull and HIH:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/turnbull-adler-to-face-530m-hih-damages-claim/2007/06/22/1182019371254.html
The Brisbane Times November 2007 article on Turnbull and HIH:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/business/adler-could-face-more-suits/2007/11/06/1194329223879.html?s_cid=rss_business
News.com.au article today and Loughnane:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22818207-29277,00.html

The morning after the election night before

Well the fat lady sang early last night and Australia now has an incoming Labor federal government, with the Nationals no longer able to dominate on the North Coast of New South Wales.

Neither Sue Page or Chris Gulaptis can console themselves with the thought that it was merely a national electoral swing which saw them fail to win the seats of Richmond and Page.

Gulaptis in particular was reaping the results of his develop-unsustainably-and-damn-local-quality-of-life voting pattern; first a Maclean shire councillor and mayor and later as a Clarence Valley shire councillor.

Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye

John Winston Howard conceded electoral defeat on behalf of his government late last night.

It is expected that he will eventually be forced to also concede defeat as the Liberal Member for Bennelong.

Make no mistake, despite his long time in Parliament and as a holder of the office of Prime Minister, this man deserved to go.

Australia was not only tired of Howard and his Coalition Government, it was increasingly afraid of being governed by these neo-fascist bullies.

The majority of Australians were afraid of both where he had taken our country and where he might lead it in the future.

It was obvious as he spoke last night that John Howard hopes that history will treat him kindly. He does not deserve a generous re-writing of history and Australia cannot afford to forget just how close it came to having its character and culture irreparably distorted and corrupted by this now outgoing Federal Government.