No accord in the Liberal camp

There are no harmonious sounds issuing from the Liberal Party these days. They are a sad and sorry lot at present.

John Howard, through Tony Abbot, let us all know that the reason the Coalition lost the 2007 federal election was that Australia just wanted a change. Apparently that Saturday morning we all went to the wardrobe, didn't like what hung there and decided to go out and buy a new summer outfit.

Peter Costello is saying that the lack of new Coalition leadership led to its defeat and obviously wondering where to go from here.

Judith Troeth is blaming Costello's leadership ambitions for the party's electoral trouncing.

The Queensland Libs are now busily tearing the party apart ostensibly on state issues.

West Australian Libs are looking sideways at each other and pointing the finger.

While the accord between Brendan Nelson and Malcolm Turnbull apparently never really began.

"Malcolm Turnbull stormed into the new Liberal leader's parliamentary office within an hour of Thursday's leadership vote, tearing into Brendan Nelson over his "funereal speech" and urging him to toughen up."

The Australian today:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22852012-601,00.html

And their Nationals partner is quietly blaming Mark Vaile as well as the Liberal Party for its own poor showing at the ballot box.

Across the board many Coalition MPs are considering whether it is worth the effort to honour their contract with Australia and serve out full terms.

Despite a few brave words for public consumption it seems that a number of those in the Coalition team don't expect to regain federal government in 2010 or even 2013 for that matter.

It is beginning to look as though being the Opposition is not going to suit these former tall poppies.

A message to the Rudds

Now that Kevin Rudd is the Prime Minister of Australia, the Rudd family needs to look back on the Howard era for lessons in how not to proceed.

 

Lesson 1: Don't make the mistake of keeping Kirribilli House as a principal residence. The cost alone will make ordinary Australians rather annoyed at such indulgence.

 

Lesson 2: Don't go in for any major refurbishment of either The Lodge or Kirribilli House. Live with the Howard's suspect taste in interior design. Australia didn't elect a Labor government to see money wasted on more expensive furniture, drapery or silverware.

 

Lesson 3: Remember at all times that the Governor-General is the Australian head of state and act accordingly. Don't show yourselves as ignorant as the Howard's on this matter. 

 

Lesson 4: Australia elected the politician in the family not the life partner. Don't give Australia the impression that Ms. Rein has undue influence on the Prime Minister's political strategy. The country doesn't need or want another 'Mrs. Bucket'.

 

Lesson 5: Never forget that the Rudd family are ordinary folk and don't attempt to throw your weight around simply because one of the family just happens to hold a powerful position. Despite the Howard years, Australia is still not America and we won't accord you any respect for forgetting this fact.

Now John Laws is gone can Alan Jones be far behind?

John Laws has retired from Australian airwaves at long last. I chiefly remember this glorified disc jockey for the hysteria he whipped up in my callow youth which caused a run on a NSW building society. This building society later went on to become a successful bank. John Laws went on to become a rather rich man.

Alan Jones in his pursuit of ratings did much worse and will forever be remembered for fanning the flames of racial tension just prior to the Cronulla Riots.

In December 2000 & Kevin it's time state and federal politicians reconsidered the level of access given to Jones and began to starve this radio 'personality' of the oxygen which keeps him going.

Alan Jones belongs to a far-right past that Australia is now hopefully shrugging off.

Is Australia now seeing the return of a genuinely secular federal government?

After almost eleven years of a Howard Government which pandered to fundamentalist religious  elements in Australian society for its own political purposes, there is now a glimmer of hope that a more balanced approach to social and economic policy may be at hand.

 

"KEVIN Rudd makes no secret of his religious beliefs, but as prime minister he says he'll take advice from public servants, not God.

The committed Christian says he is not praying for guidance on how to run the country.
Mr Rudd said he would keep religion and politics separate.
"I go to church on Sunday like millions of other Australians, and I am always conscious in the business of politics of what I don't know, and therefore the need to seek advice," Mr Rudd told Southern Cross Broadcasting in Melbourne.
"That's usually obtained, however, from well-crafted reports from public service advisers."

News.com.au today:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22847361-29277,00.html

 

There are many who will be more than relieved if Kevin Rudd is seen to keep his word on this matter. Meanwhile, careful vigilance with regard to this new government is the order of the day in my household.

Climate Change predicted to set 'diabolical' policy challenges for Rudd Government

Something I guess we all expected. The road ahead will not be easy and a hostile and bitter Coalition-dominated Senate for the next seven months will likely make matters even harder.

 

"CLIMATE change is already more advanced than the world realises, and tackling it will present "diabolical" policy challenges, says the head of Labor's climate change review, Professor Ross Garnaut.

In his first speech since starting his policy review for state governments and Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd, Professor Garnaut indicated that he would recommend a stronger framework to secure rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions than that proposed by the Howard government.

He implied that emissions trading could start as soon as 2010, suggested there was a strong case for high carbon prices from the outset to drive change, and opposed free permits to existing polluters, as the Howard government envisaged.

An internationally known economist who has been adviser to former prime minister Bob Hawke, Australian ambassador to China and head of the Hawke government's tariff review, Professor Garnaut said he was confident that global warming could be brought under control without derailing global growth."

The Age full article today:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/climate-worse-than-we-thought/2007/11/29/1196037074795.html

NSW North Coast MP becomes Minister for Aging in new Rudd Government

Justine Elliot the Labor MP for Richmond became the new Minister for Aging yesterday when Kevin Rudd announced the makeup of his ministry.

Well done, Justine. I wish you well with this portfolio which is of special interest to us on what is often affectionately called the 'retirement coast'.

All the former Howard Government ever offered a North Coast MP was the consolation prize of Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps and precious little the incumbent did with that position.

Crikey puts the boot into "The Australian"

At http://www.crikey.com.au/ yesterday. A not so subtle dig at the national newspaper which the blogosphere dubbed 'The Government Gazette' during the Howard era.