Honeymoon continues
For Australia鈥檚 statistically-minded prime minister, the first major poll of the new parliamentary session made doubly happy reading. It suggested that he is the most popular Australian leader since pollsters first started asking the question. His approval rating stands at an impressive 70%, a figure of almost Bradmanesque proportions which neither Bob Hawke, who led his party to three straight election victories, nor John Howard, who triumphed in four, ever managed to reach.
Better still, the same poll indicated that his main political rival, new Liberal Party leader Brendan Nelson, has the lowest approval rating since records began - a feeble 9%.
Since becoming the Labor Party leader in December 2006, there have been 50 or so surveys of public opinion. In every single one, Rudd has been well ahead. The latest swathe of polls confirm that the dreamy political honeymoon which he enjoyed as leader of the opposition has continued now that he is leader of the government.
Right now, 鈥淜evin 24/7鈥, as he's now been christened by the Canberra press gallery , seems to have almost perfect political pitch. From to delivering that , he appears to have acted in accordance with the public will. By offering a compensation-free sorry, the same poll suggested he had produced a popular political formula.
Rudd鈥檚 other moves and gestures seem to have gone down well as well, from his to shore up East Timor鈥檚 fledging democracy to granting his first newspaper interview to Cynthia Banham of the Sydney Morning Herald, a reporter who sustained horrible injuries in last year鈥檚 Indonesian air crash.
Brendan Nelson, meanwhile, has been distinctly off-key. Certainly, his own sorry speech hit a jarringly discordant note with indigenous Australians, and was greeted with turned backs at the big screen sites around the country. By arguing that benevolent motives lay behind many of the removals, he may have been historically accurate, but to many it seemed politically insensitive. His backroom staff should also have asked permission to give voice to the story of a Victorian Aboriginal elder. Afterwards, he had to deliver another apology to Auntie Faye Lynam, who said she was dismayed that he appropriated her words for his speech.
Arguably, the first eight paragraphs of his sorry speech were more poetic and polished than Rudd鈥檚 It was the latter sections, defending aspects of the Stolen Generations policy, speaking up for the Northern Territory intervention and trying to strike a balance between white pride and white guilt, which were so poorly received.
Just as the opposition leader was forced to overturn the Liberal Party鈥檚 longstanding opposition to an apology, he has also jettisoned its longstanding hostility towards Kyoto. This week, it has even ditched Workchoices, the unpopular labour reforms, which by angering the famed 鈥淗oward battlers鈥 contributed so much to the Liberal defeat. It is just the kind of 鈥渕e-tooism鈥, of course, for which they criticised Rudd during the election campaign.
This week more detail has also emerged about the old Cabinet鈥檚 attempts to ditch John Howard during last September鈥檚 APEC summit. When senior Cabinet figures met secretly in a Sydney hotel on the fringes of the summit, they came to the view that the prime minister should go. But Howard said he would do so only if he was blasted out, because he did not want history to label him a coward. Nobody was willing to detonate his leadership.
In Mr Howard鈥檚 absence, the Liberal Party seems bereft of ideas, ideologically adrift and lacking even the most basic of political strategies. It has replaced a strong leader, vehement in his opinions and beliefs, with one who does not seem to know precisely what he thinks.
Pick your headline. 鈥淗alf Nelson鈥, which seems a little generous given his approval rating. Or 鈥淣elson all at sea鈥.
Was he the right choice as Liberal leader? Can he make a political comeback? And if so, how?
With apologies for breaking my 鈥渘o novelty animal story鈥 doctrine, right now he truly does look like a rabbit caught in the headlights. And a particularly fretful one at that.
I'm 
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Surely it is time for Australians to realise that the coalition of the Liberals and the National Parties live in the previous century. Both of these partiess sought to destroy the union movement. The unions and the Labor Party have lifted Australian male and female workers out of the British Tory Party slavery of the 19th century. Why did their members seek to dispute the desire of the Labor Party's caucus to take a pay cut as other Australian's were. Because they have a "born to rule mentality". John Howard and his government set in place policies simply to make some of the Australian people second class citizens in the mistaken belief that they were superior. The election in November proved that the Australian people did not believe their negative campaigning.
Kevin Rudd has the smarts, the vision and the determination to change the political course of Australia rather more dramatically than his Kevin '07 campaign suggested; he seemed cautious but clear then.
The weaker the Opposition, and it seems weaker than a new-born kangaroo 'jelly bean' (pardon the animal introduction), the easier it will be for the new Government to surge ahead.
Rudd and his Ministers need to put a firm final date on references to the 'laws of inheritance' - the issues and conditions that that inherently exist within Australia as the legacy of the Howard years - it does not take long for people to get weary of hearing what WAS caused by a previous government and to want to know what the current one IS doing.
Watch Julia Gillard - she is settling into fine form and will be an entertaining and vigorous Deputy PM, and is far stronger than her Opposition Number 2.
Phew, it feels good to be an Australian again!
Poor old Brendan鈥檚 writer seems to have tried to outdo Kevin鈥檚 by first raiding the Redfern store (Paul Keating鈥檚 speech) 鈥榯he shoes of others鈥, the 鈥榚mblematic chapter鈥 etc. except that suddenly it starts bogging down into revisionist claptrap, swinging wildly into a remake of the First Fleet and back again to the 鈥榞ritty determination to build an Australian nation鈥. I could only get as far as the reference to indigenous peoples鈥 鈥榠nvoluntary sacrifices, different but no less important鈥 and it鈥檚 probably at this point that backs turned at the big screens around the country. If you are truly proud you have to be able to take the shame as well as the pride. This time Brendan just managed to gloss over the past injustices. Sorry is not his forte.
I'm not surprised that Howard's side kicks were are bereft of ideas and guts, afterall they were hand picked by Howard himself!
I am not a Labor Party voter (or, god-forbid, a Liberal Party voter), and I watched the ascent of Kevin Rudd with a mixture of hope and fear. We certainly needed someone other than Dictator Howard, but was Rudd going to be a huge disappointment?
Three months in to the Rudd government I am pleasantly surprised. Things seem to be going right: Kyoto - yes, appology - yes, abolition of workchoices - yes. An immigration minister who doesn't revel in his own power - yes. A strong female voice in cabinet (and in the Lodge)- yes. A foreign policy independent of the USA - yes.
After a decade of cultural cringe (when I even travelled on my British passport), I am feeling proud to be Australian again. who'd have thought?
Kevin Rudd is issuing in a new era of 'Blairite' politics in Australia, employing the use of spin, and the PR machine to demand constant media attention. From photoshoots on Kyoto, to sabre-rattling on what he will do about whaling in Australian waters, apologising to the 'stolen generation', collectively brainstorming Australia's 'best and brightest' to endorse his agenda, and asking the public to refuse pay increases he is chasing the headline, and avoiding issues that affect the majority of Australians. It is only a matter of time until the feel-good factor wears off and the 'Aussie Battlers' become disillusioned with him. Then the sympathetic media coverage will change and Nelson won't look that bad.
Kevin Rudd is issuing in a new era of 'Blairite' politics in Australia, employing the use of spin, and the PR machine to demand constant media attention. From photoshoots on Kyoto, to sabre-rattling on what he will do about whaling in Australian waters, apologising to the 'stolen generation', collectively brainstorming Australia's 'best and brightest' to endorse his agenda, and asking the public to refuse pay increases he is chasing the headline, and avoiding issues that affect the majority of Australians. It is only a matter of time until the feel-good factor wears off and the 'Aussie Battlers' become disillusioned with him. Then the sympathetic media coverage will change and Nelson won't look that bad.
Kevin is enjoying a honeymoon, of course, and the sheep like Australian media are all bleating from the same paddock.
There is very little critical comment of KRudd & co, and a beat up for every opposition slip.
Like Peter said, the novelty will eventually wear off and maybe then they will start doing their job properly.
KRudd's honeymoon will be over soon. He is all talk and no action. He and Swan appear to have little grasp of how to run the economy.
These other issues give you a warm fuzzy feeling though if the economy suffers then people will tend to care less about these issues.
Costello will be back to lead the Liberals by the next election.
Yes Mr Rudd is very popular - so was Neville Chamberlain after Munich in 1938, and Bill Clinton through much of his first term.
Kevin only does populist things, whereas his predecessor was prepared to do the hard, unpopular but right things.
Remember that Kevin only did a few years of real work (as a diplomat) before becoming a political (spin) advisor to the then Labour Premier of Queensland. He is a better spinner than Shane Warne.
Yes Mr Rudd is very popular - so was Neville Chamberlain after Munich in 1938, and Bill Clinton through much of his first term.
Kevin only does populist things, whereas his predecessor was prepared to do the hard, unpopular but right things.
Remember that Kevin only did a few years of real work (as a diplomat) before becoming a political (spin) advisor to the then Labour Premier of Queensland. He is a better spinner than Shane Warne.
Yes Mr Rudd is very popular - so was Neville Chamberlain after Munich in 1938, and Bill Clinton through much of his first term.
Kevin only does populist things, whereas his predecessor was prepared to do the hard, unpopular but right things.
Remember that Kevin only did a few years of real work (as a diplomat) before becoming a political (spin) advisor to the then Labour Premier of Queensland. He is a better spinner than Shane Warne.
I'm not one for media hype but it is a pleasant change to see the man is following through with the pledges made during the campaign. They may be populist issues but it is these issues that have been ignored by an arrogant, one-track minded coalition for over a decade. And something Australians as a whole should come around to is our capacity to inspire global mandates that concern our country and region. Kyoto, however symbolic, is a step in the direction of recognition of the global issue of climate change - a long overdue recognition. Rudd appointed Penny Wong to specifically focus on this very real and important issue, something I can't imagine the Coalition embarking on within the next 20 years. I'd be interested to hear what Howard's "unpopular but right" policies were. I could speculate: Iraq...hmmmm, selling Uranium to India (not signed up to the non-Proliferation Treat)...hmmmm, granting placements in our tertiary institutions to students with the financial capacity to pay for them at the expense of those who earn their placement on a purely meritorious basis. Policies such as these have perverted the ideals of many Australians and are representative of a political agenda of fear-mongering, elitism and ignorance for the greater good that is as long overdue for a clean up as John Howard's eyebrows. BRING ON THE CHANGE! I'm proud to be an Australian.
Mike
I'm not one for media hype but it is a pleasant change to see the man is following through with the pledges made during the campaign. They may be populist issues but it is these issues that have been ignored by an arrogant, one-track minded coalition for over a decade. And something Australians as a whole should come around to is our capacity to inspire global mandates that concern our country and region. Kyoto, however symbolic, is a step in the direction of recognition of the global issue of climate change - a long overdue recognition. Rudd appointed Penny Wong to specifically focus on this very real and important issue, something I can't imagine the Coalition embarking on within the next 20 years. Stephen, I'd be interested to hear what Howard's "unpopular but right" policies were. I could speculate: Iraq...hmmmm, selling Uranium to India (not signed up to the non-Proliferation Treaty)...hmmmm, granting placements in our tertiary institutions to students with the financial capacity to pay for them at the expense of those who earn their placement on a purely meritorious basis. Policies such as these have perverted the ideals of many Australians and are representative of a political agenda of fear-mongering, elitism and ignorance for the greater good that is as long overdue for a clean up as John Howard's eyebrows. Everything the new government has achieved thus far has again made me proud to be an Australian. BRING ON THE CHANGE!
Mike Stuart
I am reminded of a joke that was doing the rounds when Joe was premier in Queensland. I will replace Joe with John.
John invited his cabinet to dinner and when the waiter asked John for his order he replied he'd have the steak to which the waiter replied "what about the vegetables" and John said "they'll have the same".
Talk about so called intelligent men following the pied piper into oblivion.
I am sure the history books will not treat John Howard kindly.
Sadly, we've all seen this before with the Labor party (Neville Wran in New South Wales, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating in Federal politics). All words and so much inaction.
But political parties aside we have, here, a man who is apologising for something that, perhaps, the British (and the Queen) should be apologising for (do remember who forced settlement onto this large Southern Continent).
Rudd is playing the "look at me" game but not doing anything constructive; just verbally creative.
As a comparison of what might be around the corner I believe New South Wales is seeing the impact of their Labor Premier's poor inability, grinding the State into demise. It won't be too long before the budget cuts for essential services impact the whole country. Oh ... and all those nations, that it looks like Rudd has decided to abandon, will laugh if we have to face terrorist issues on our own.
Hysterical that someone refers to the Howard government being like the Tory party. Living in England I find there are so many people that wish any of their parties had the guts like Howard did on a wide range of issues. OK, so he probably got it wrong on wage issues but I have deep concern that Rudd will turn Australia into the hospital state that England is (kindly fostered by Thatcher and her Tory party) where the rich stay rich, the poor don't have to work and the middle class (anyone that works hard) pay everyone elses' bills.
We can only hope I'm not correct but history has such a shocking way of repeating itself, too often. Rudd, are you prepared to raise taxes to cover what the country needs? Are you prepared to take on the big Corporates and penalise them for making the cost of living so high? And are you prepared to make those who don't contribute, get off their backsides and pitch in for the good of the nation as a whole? We've heard too much of what you can say - now stop wasting time and let's see what/if you can "do"!
I am reminded of a joke that was doing the rounds when Joe was premier in Queensland. I will replace Joe with John.
John invited his cabinet to dinner and when the waiter asked John for his order he replied he'd have the steak to which the waiter replied "what about the vegetables" and John said "they'll have the same".
Talk about so called intelligent men following the pied piper into oblivion.
I am sure the history books will not treat John Howard kindly.
Skippy the kangaroo would beat them all.
This is so confusing. My wife and I work for large, but different companies in different suburbs of Sydney with people from many different social, ethnic, and financial backgrounds and yet neither of us know a single person who voted for krudd. He has a 70% approval rating for what? What precisely has his government actually done in the last 3 months? Signed Kyoto - so what, we were meeting all the targets anyway? Apologized to the aboriginals - well, it was a socialist idea that Aboriginals should be bred out of existence so I understand his personal guilt....but other than that - the entire labor government appears to be missing in action.....I just don't get it.
Not that long ago the legal system in England executed children. John Howard did not go that far but he did lock them away with their only fault being refugees. A lot has been said about how well he managed the economy. With the quantity of money being sucked into Canberra a drovers dog could have done it. Well it is now crunch time for we now have to suffer a bit as Mr Rudd has to counter the reckless spending of the previous government in their vain attempt to buy votes.....even the Business Council agrees. A lot of derogatory child-like emails went around after the election with words like "krudd" etc. If this is all the conservative voters can come up with I suspect the honeymoon will continue for a while yet.
Not that long ago the legal system in England executed children. John Howard did not go that far but he did lock them away with their only fault being refugees. A lot has been said about how well he managed the economy. With the quantity of money being sucked into Canberra a drovers dog could have done it. Well it is now crunch time for we now have to suffer a bit as Mr Rudd has to counter the reckless spending of the previous government in their vain attempt to buy votes.....even the Business Council agrees. A lot of derogatory child-like emails went around after the election with words like "krudd" etc. If this is all the conservative voters can come up with I suspect the honeymoon will continue for a while yet.
Whilst I did vote for Rudd, and agree with many of the mainly symbolic things the Government has done thus far, not to mention I found many actions of the Howard Government deplorable, there are some things that I don't like about what's happening.
Main thing I have against the current Government is that they seem to be leading us into a nanny state. First the whole Internet filter stuff, then combating underage binge drinking (even though we already have laws which would do just fine if they were enforced, no need to regulate opening hours and numbers of pubs).
Wait a minute, going headfirst into a nanny state/surveillance society with a leader who was very popular soon after taking office, does that remind you of a leader of another country? Perhaps one with the surname Blair?