Australian 2007 Election finally over
25/11/07 09:05 Filed in: General
Democracy at its greatest is on display.
Thankfully it's all over. If I had to listen to Kevin Rudd say "Working Families" or Julia Gillard say "EmploYEES and EmploYERS" one more time I think a seismic event would occur.
For better or for worse Australia has spoken.
The Howard era is at an end and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd takes the helm of the country. (This is the assumption, I can't imagine the Labor Party putting forward a different person as PM when they ask the Governor General to take power.)
This will be an interesting time. All things considered, the new Labor government takes over at a time of high prosperity, we have no national debt of which to speak, our employment rate has never been higher, and consumer confidence is so high that Australia's personal debt is in the tens of billions.
The election wasn't a landslide, but Labor has won enough seats to form government. Australia is now in almost virgin territory. Both Federal and all State governments are Labor. This has only happened once in Australia's history. The last time was back in the early 20th century when the Liberal Party controlled both Federal and State for some 9 months or so. Back then there was an almost immediate correction whereby the Labor Party and National Party took control of various states ensuring a single party did not control the two highest forms of government. I only hope this occurs again, as there must be balance. No party should have control of both Federal Government and State Government, in my view.
John Howard will now retire, and I think he has earned a comfortable one. Regardless of what one might think of his government and its policies, I consider him as Australia's greatest PM yet. He wasn't afraid to make the hard decisions and I think most people will accept that he did his best for the country and her citizens, without shirking his responsibilities as the nations leader. Kevin has some rather large shoes to fill and only time will tell if he has the mettle to do it.
Personally, I didn't vote Labor. There are reasons for this, and they ensure I will never vote Labor. I am not alone, and this shows in the way that Labor did not even come close to taking my electorate.
However, change is good. At the right time, change can be very beneficial and it seems that this time is now.
Thankfully it's all over. If I had to listen to Kevin Rudd say "Working Families" or Julia Gillard say "EmploYEES and EmploYERS" one more time I think a seismic event would occur.
For better or for worse Australia has spoken.
The Howard era is at an end and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd takes the helm of the country. (This is the assumption, I can't imagine the Labor Party putting forward a different person as PM when they ask the Governor General to take power.)
This will be an interesting time. All things considered, the new Labor government takes over at a time of high prosperity, we have no national debt of which to speak, our employment rate has never been higher, and consumer confidence is so high that Australia's personal debt is in the tens of billions.
The election wasn't a landslide, but Labor has won enough seats to form government. Australia is now in almost virgin territory. Both Federal and all State governments are Labor. This has only happened once in Australia's history. The last time was back in the early 20th century when the Liberal Party controlled both Federal and State for some 9 months or so. Back then there was an almost immediate correction whereby the Labor Party and National Party took control of various states ensuring a single party did not control the two highest forms of government. I only hope this occurs again, as there must be balance. No party should have control of both Federal Government and State Government, in my view.
John Howard will now retire, and I think he has earned a comfortable one. Regardless of what one might think of his government and its policies, I consider him as Australia's greatest PM yet. He wasn't afraid to make the hard decisions and I think most people will accept that he did his best for the country and her citizens, without shirking his responsibilities as the nations leader. Kevin has some rather large shoes to fill and only time will tell if he has the mettle to do it.
Personally, I didn't vote Labor. There are reasons for this, and they ensure I will never vote Labor. I am not alone, and this shows in the way that Labor did not even come close to taking my electorate.
However, change is good. At the right time, change can be very beneficial and it seems that this time is now.