Don’t Give Howard Away At Any Time
Over the last month the press have been like sharks circling in a feeding frenzy over their stories that Prime Minister John Howard is about to resign, is about to hand over a poisoned chalice to Peter Costello, is about to lead the Government into an annihilation in the next election and so on. Most of these commentators are fuelling their speculative stories on the speculative stories of other journalists in an effort to beat one another with headlines. Some of them have never forgiven Howard for proving them so wrong in previous elections. Journalists have long memories; possess no evidence of being able to forgive or to having their omniscience proved wrong.
But in spite of the speculative headlines based on little evidence, don’t give Howard away at any time. He is the most astute politician in Australia, possessing a steel determination, and a sound knowledge of what ordinary Australians think. He listens to people better than any politician I have ever met. I have been privileged to serve in two capacities for the Prime Minister over the past eleven years, continue to do so and I feel I know him well.
Kevin Rudd is polling well, and is the darling of the press gallery. But winning elections is about winning seats and as a seat-by-seat analysis in the Financial Review last Friday demonstrated, Labor still has its work cut out mustering enough seats to win government. They need to turn 16 coalition seats into Labor seats and that is a big task.
Howard’s leadership is the centre of the feeding frenzy of the media, and the centre of the ALP’s election strategy. The Labor Party knows that he represents the greatest obstacle to their sweep to power. While Howard is Labor’s main stumbling block he is the Coalition’s best bet to retain power and his backbenchers and ministers know that. With perfect timing he announced he would retire towards the end of his next term and hand over to Peter Costello, if the Liberal Party desired that and the people of Australia were kind enough to re-elect him.
In one sentence he re-assured his own backbench, quietened the Costello supporters, refocused the election into a team leadership of Howard and Costello away from the solo Rudd strategy, and flattered the electorate by indicating he was subject to their consideration and kindness. At the same time he paved the way for a generational change by indicating he would hand leadership over to a man with more experience in running the economy of the country than any other and who is the same age as Kevin Rudd. In doing this he totally wiped out Labor’s main election strategy of focusing upon his leadership at the election.
With the Australian economy booming, an object of envy for scores of other nations, with an unemployment record that has never been equalled in our nation’s history, the focus will now be upon Rudd’s leadership team.
Who are they, and where is their allegiance? If you are considering voting for Kevin Rudd, perhaps you should consider who would sit around a Rudd cabinet table!!
Prime minister: Kevin Rudd. Deputy prime minister and minister for industrial relations: Julia Gillard, former student radical and Student Union president. Treasurer: Wayne Swan, former ALP state secretary. Attorney-general: Joe Ludwig, former AWU official. Minister for homeland security: Arch Bevis, former organiser Queensland Teachers Union. Minister for trade: Simon Crean, former president, ACTU. Minister for transport and tourism: Martin Ferguson, former president, ACTU. Minister for finance: Lindsay Tanner, former state secretary, Federated Clerks Union. Minister for the environment and the arts: Peter Garrett, lifelong anti-American activist. Minister for infrastructure and water: Anthony Albanese, former assistant general-secretary, NSW ALP. Minister for human services: Tanya Plibersek, former student union official, UTS. Minister for immigration: Tony Burke, former official Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Union. Minister for resources: Chris Evans, former official, Miscellaneous Workers Union. Minister for veterans affairs: Alan Griffin, former official, Federated Clerks Union. Minister for primary industry: Kerry O’Brien, former official, Miscellaneous Workers Union. Minister for superannuation: Nick Sherry, former state secretary, Federated Liquor and Allied Trades Union. Minister for sport: Kate Lundy, former official, CFMEU. And if that wasn’t bad enough, waiting in the wings (if they win their elections) are: Greg Combet: House candidate and former ACTU president. Doug Cameron: NSW Senate candidate and secretary of Australian Manufacturing Workers Union. Bill Shorten: House candidate and national secretary, Australian Workers Union. Richard Marles: House candidate for Corio and former assistant secretary, Transport Workers Union
Can you believe this Federal Government Cabinet would not be beholden to the Trade Union Movement? The denials from Kevin Rudd sound very hollow. The fact is he has no history of standing against the Union Movement on any issue.
I will be speaking to community leaders in the Bennelong electorate at Koorong bookstore Function Room – 28 West Parade, West Ryde) on Friday 21 September at 2pm I will be speaking in support the CDP candidate Robyn Peebles and Senate CDP Candidate Paul Green explaining why John Howard will retain his seat of Bennelong.
This week Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd again asked Mr Howard whether he would commit to remaining in office for a full term after the election. That question indicates Rudd’s presumption that Howard will beat Labor’s glamour candidate Maxine McKew in Bennelong. Perhaps he knows better than he lets on that you don’t give Howard away at any time.
Rev The Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes. A.C., M.L.C..