I agree, hinge, I agree .... As someone said in a letter to the AGE this morning, he'd be the Liberals' first choice for the job! I just don't want to lose all of the good policies that Latham created in the process of all this! Some were excellent & created a clear distinction between the 2 major parties. I hope it's not ALL back to the future!
So ... you couldn't possibly be posting from Cairns YET, could you? Packing? Hey, you gonna keep posted after the move? I really hope so!
Why not just run a raffle for the job this time? Seems as good a way as any ...
Hi Olga
I was posting from Coffs Harbour public library!
Today I'm in Townsville's public library, only another 300 odd k to go! (couldn't find the library in Maroochydore yesterday)
I'd vote for Gillard - therefore she's no chance, same as Rudd. Stephen Smith pulled out officially and supports Beazley. Like he was ever gonna get a vote except his own....
Funny that, my preference is Gillard, too. But she'd be mad to take on the ALP at this crappy stage! I remember the Kirner experience in Victoria VERY well.
No win situation. This one sounds strangely similar. I'm thinking (at this stage) Gillard would make a pretty good deputy. I'd hate to see her blow her chances so early in the piece. I'd also like her to have a bit more experience (& not of trying to "unify the party") before she makes her run.
The more I see jolly old Uncle Kim on the teev, talking, talking talking
, the more I hope the ALP has the courage to try an alternative. Maybe it's just me, but he does seem very much yesterday's man.
So, how about a Rudd/Gillard combo? I think I could get mildly excited by that! Youth, ideas & intelligence.
So, hinge, you're touring the public libraries of the north-eastern coast? I do hope there's a laptop packed away in your luggage somewhere!
Leunig's farewell piece for poor old Mark.
This sums up very nicely why I think it's not a good idea for Gillard to run, at this stage at least ...
Great postings, Msolga.
I can't bear to look!!!!
Hmmm - I wonder, though, if Gillard standing might make them sit up and take notice for next time?
Kirner was no fool - she knew what she was doing. She's a toughie!!!
Deb
I agree that Auntie Joan K was no fool ... But she inherited a poisoned chalice, mate, a poisoned chalice!
It was far too late to save the ALP in Victoria at that stage. She was totally wasted. AND ended up copping a lot of the blame for the mess her predecessor/s had created. Then, to cap off the whole thing, got ridiculed mercilessly by the cartoonists for being (& looking like) a middle aged woman! Grrrrrrr!
The concern I expressed earlier was that a similar thing didn't happen to Gillard. The circumstances do feel rather similar. I'd really like to see a Gillard or Kirner be given a proper chance. Like when things aren't totally stuffed beyond redemption & it hardly matters who the leader is. They deserve better.
But there's something about the likely Beazley/Macklin combination that reminds me of yesterday's soggy sandwich. Stale & boring ... <sigh>
`
Sure - I guess what I am saying is that Joan picked up the poison chalice knowing it for what it was.
Gillard won't win. Thing is whether it is better for her to run - thus throwing down a clear gauntlet to the boys - or do what Rudd is doing.
I have no idea which is the more tactical course!
First pronouncements:
Beazley outlines his vision
January 28, 2005 - 1:27PM/the AGE
New Opposition Leader Kim Beazley today pledged to sharpen the distinctions between Labor and the Howard government.
Mr Beazley, elected unopposed to the Labor leadership at a special caucus meeting today, said he was proud and excited to be given the chance to lead Australia's longest serving political party back into office.
"We are going to be an opposition that sharpens the distinction between ourselves and the government," Mr Beazley said.
"We believe you can have a modern dynamic economy with compassion."
Mr Beazley said the former Labor government had put in place the reforms that now underpinned the economy.
"We cannot maintain the prosperity we now enjoy with the trade deficit that we have, with the collapse of investment in innovation and infrastructure as well as industry bottlenecks due to skill shortages," he said.
He said Labor also differed from the government on signing the Kyoto protocol on climate change.
'Everybody stays'
Mr Beazley said all members of the shadow ministry would remain in their portfolios.
"I'm going to do something unusual for an opposition leader," he said.
I'm going to announce my shadow ministry at my first press conference: everybody stays," he said.
Education, healthcare and national security also would be points of difference for Labor, Mr Beazley said.
"Around the kitchen table, every parent knows that their children's future depends upon the quality of the education and training that they get and everybody around that kitchen table wants access to a first-class health system," he said.
"They know that the Labor Party is on their side in those objectives and I want to ensure them all that in this parliament we will continue the fight.
"I won't shirk the debate on (national security)."
Big plans
Mr Beazley said under his leadership, Labor would act decisively.
"These issues ... in many ways require big policy responses, big plans, but plans that are carefully laid and a Labor government that acts decisively, and that's what I plan us to be," he said.
"We face three central tasks - the first is to reunite and reinvigorate our party."
Mr Beazley said he had promised the party three years of hard work, clear focus and total commitment.
"I'm going to give John Howard the fight of his life and we're going to win the next election."
He agreed with critics who had said he needed to be more inclusive and consult more widely.
'Put a sock in it'
But Mr Beazley would not say whether he agreed with frontbencher Kevin Rudd's description of the party as a godawful shambles.
"We have to show the Australian people that we have the maturity to govern, we have to show them that we have the unity to govern, we have to show them that we've got the passion to govern, and we will do that," he said.
He appeared to dismiss backbencher Rod Sawford's suggestion that the party would look for a new leader after 12 months if Mr Beazley failed to perform.
"2007 is the relevant date and that is the date that applies to all of us, every single one of us.
"I'm not the only person responsible here, every one of us is responsible for the future of the Labor Party, and it's been made amply clear by me to all the caucus members that I have expectations of them in the same way that they have expectations of me."
Mr Beazley said he had told the party to stop the infighting and focus on representing the interests of Australians.
"I've told people today to put a sock in it. We have had a pretty expansive period of deliberation over the course of the last little while - that's enough," he said.
"We have to show the Australian people that we have got the maturity to govern, we have to show them that we have the unity to govern, we have to show them that we've got the passion to govern, and we will do that."
As late as yesterday, factions within the party were questioning the priorities and intentions of their colleagues.
Key Beazley backer Anthony Albanese accused former leadership contender Julia Gillard's supporters of destabilising Deputy Leader Jenny Macklin.
Prominent Gillard support Laurie Ferguson then accused Mr Albanese of aspiring to Ms Macklin's job.
Mr Beazley today urged the party to focus on the future and stop the squabbling.
"2007's the relevant date and that is a date that applies to all of us - every single one of us.
"I'm not the only one that's responsible here. Every one of us is responsible for the future of the Labor Party," he said.
He said the party should turn its attention to the Australian people.
Medicare Gold
"We have got to feel passionately ... (about) not what's happening to us ... but what is happening to ordinary people in this country. We've got to be on their side."
Labor remained committed to the Medicare Gold policy that played a central part in its failed campaign for the 2004 federal election, Mr Beazley said.
"We remain committed to the proposition ... which says we ought to have a single financing authority, that the inefficiencies of different layers of the system should be done away with so we don't get the situation developing that we have now with about $500 million or $600 million worth of waste per annum," he said.
"We've got good principles. Those principles remain intact and I defend them to anyone."
Health and other policies would be announced over the next three years, Mr Beazley said, but big-ticket items would not be fully costed until around the time of the 2007 election.
"We're going to be responsible economic managers and we will act in accordance, when the next election comes around, with what the Australian budget has the capacity to bear," he said.
The new Labor leader acknowledged that the party would have a difficult time winning the federal seat left vacant by his predecessor, Mark Latham.
A date has yet to be announced for Mr Latham's western Sydney electorate of Werriwa following his resignation last week.
"We've got a tough fight in Werriwa," Mr Beazley said.
"We don't take anything for granted."
Macklin calls for unity
Opposition deputy leader Jenny Macklin refused to be drawn on Labor's internal battle over her position.
The special caucus meeting held today did not consider the deputy leadership, despite some moves in the party in recent weeks to do so.
Yesterday Opposition environment spokesman Anthony Albanese sparked a bitter factional dispute when he claimed supporters of Julia Gillard had tried to undermine Ms Macklin.
Fellow frontbenchers Laurie Ferguson and Simon Crean called the comments reprehensible and not very smart.
Ms Macklin said it was up to all caucus members to be loyal to Mr Beazley.
"I know that the parliamentary Labor Party (caucus) will now join together and unify behind the new leader and that is exactly what I intend to do," she said.
She said she did not view the deputy leadership as being a means to become leader.
"I see it as a very important job, a job in itself, not a stepping stone to some other job, not a second-class job," she said.
"(It's) a very important job to provide very strong policy advice, stability in the Labor Party and I intend to continue to do that."
- AAP
Beazley warning over Iraq civil war
January 28, 2005 - 1:35PM/the AGE
New Labor leader Kim Beazley today warned the United States not to become involved in a civil war in Iraq but he stopped short of outlining a timetable for the withdrawal of Australian troops.
...
"The clearest argument we have to make to our American friends is this; you must not become involved in a long-running civil war in Iraq. Full stop," he said.
"Should you become involved in a long-running civil war in Iraq you will undermine the international fight against fundamentalist terror and you will not see yourselves in a position where you can take up the issues of weapons of mass destruction spread wherever else it's occurring. ..
...
"We have become perhaps the ally that the Americans want but we're not the ally that the Americans need, not right now.
"They need allies that can give them straight talk and good advice when they themselves slide into trouble." ..
.."
Mr Beazley said the US would be massively debilitated if it became involved in a civil war in Iraq. ..
....
Pressed further about the withdrawal of Australian troops in Iraq, Mr Beazley said they needed to remain as long Australian diplomats were in the country.
"The diplomats are not where they should be," he said.
"The diplomats should have been in the green zone by now and the government should have been pressed persistently by all those of influence in the political process in Australia get the Australian diplomats into the green zone, and the Australian troops who protect them.
"While there are Australian diplomats in Iraq, Australian troops are needed to protect them." ..
<complete article>
http://www.theage.com.au/news/Iraq/Beazley-warns-US-over-Iraq/2005/01/28/1106850088513.html
