Rudd : New Leadership, Fresh Ideas

[makavelli]

Rudd triumphs as Howard cast aside


JOHN HOWARD led his Government to a humiliating defeat last night and was poised to lose his own seat as Kevin Rudd became Australia's 26th Prime Minister.
Families and Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough was another high-profile scalp on a night in which Australia called a definitive end to Mr Howard's 11-year reign.
The national two-party preferred swing to Labor of 6.3per cent was the second-largest since World War II, bettered only by Gough Whitlam in 1975. Labor looked certain to secure 86 of the 150 House of Representative seats and hoped for 90 - a gain of at least 30 seats.
At 10.35 pm Mr Howard conceded defeat and acknowledged it was very likely he would lose the seat he had held for 33 years to celebrity Labor recruit Maxine McKew.
Flanked by his teary-eyed wife, Janette, and two sons, Richard and Tim - his daughter Melanie was absent on bridesmaid duties - Mr Howard accepted blame for the defeat and anointed Peter Costello as his successor.
"It has been an enormous pleasure every day of my life, over the last 11½ years, to be Prime Minister of this beautiful country," he said in a strong, dry-eyed concession speech.
Accepting victory just after 11pm, Mr Rudd told a cheering crowd of Labor faithful in Brisbane he would be Prime Minister "for all Australia".
"Today Australia has looked to the future. Today the people of Australia have decided that we move forward," the Labor Prime Minister-elect proclaimed.
Ms McKew described the Rudd landslide as a "fabulous, transforming day for the country".
With her partner Bob Hogg and mother Mary close by, Ms McKew told a huge cheering crowd in North Ryde that Bennelong "will never, ever be taken for granted again".
The star candidate forced Mr Howard to campaign every weekend in Bennelong, destabilising his national campaign and diverting his attention from a string of marginal seats.
The Greens were pivotal in the Labor win, recording primary votes of up to 20 per cent in many electorates, which went to Labor candidates.
Greens leader Bob Brown said Greens voters had played an "enormous part" in the Labor win, and predicted the Greens would hold the balance of power in the senate.
Australia's first female Deputy Prime Minister-elect, Julia Gillard, cited the Government's industrial relations laws as a reason for the savage voter backlash. "WorkChoices really did crack a substantial proportion of the so-called Howard battlers," she said.
NSW was central to the Labor assault, turning the once-loyal territory of "Howard battlers" into the revenge of Rudd's "working families" with a swing across the state of 7.4 per cent.
Mr Rudd's home state of Queensland swung strongly behind Labor, recording an 8per cent swing to lift the party's representation from six to at least 16 of the state's 29 seats.
Eden-Monaro, which has reflected the national result for 32 years, was ceded to Labor's Mike Kelly less than an hour after polling booths closed.



Edited version of John Howard's concession speech:


"My fellow Australians, a few moments ago I telephoned Mr Kevin Rudd and I congratulated him and the Australian Labor Party on an emphatic victory.
"I wish him well in the task that he will undertake. We bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder.
"I've led a Government that has taken this country from deep debt to strong prosperity. I've led a Government that has never shirked the difficult decisions. I've led a Government that has reformed the Australian economy and left it the envy of the world."
Mr Howard said he wanted to thank the Australian people for the privilege of leading the country.
"It's something that has really been the most unbelievable experience," he said. "The Australian people are the greatest people on earth and this is the greatest country on earth."
Mr Howard thanked his family, colleagues and staff, particularly Deputy Leader Peter Costello, to whom he said "we owe a very special debt of gratitude".
"He's been a wonderful steward of the Australian economy and the future of our party is very much tied up with Peter Costello. He is very much our future."
Mr Howard said he accepted responsibility for the election loss.
"I accept full responsibility for the Liberal Party campaign and I therefore accept full responsibility for the Coalition's defeat in this election campaign."
Mr Howard said he was saddened by the defeat "but I count myself very fortunate to have been the beneficiary of the support of the people of Australia for so long. I thank them, I wish this nation well, I believe very profoundly that Australia's best years lie ahead of her.
"I wish the government elected by the people today the very best of good fortune in the years ahead, thank you."



http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/11/24/1195753380642.html

[NavyTimes]

While it is always a deep pleasure to see a well executed election in any country, and he gives a gracious farewell speech, i am seriously glad to see him go.

[n4292936]

I think there's going to be both good and bad in the future. I worry about the fate of what I will broadly call our "security services", but I was way over the pompous and cynical manipulation of public opinion that characterised much of Howard's reign. I for one welcome the change... with a few deep reservations.

It's interesting that the most fascinating elections in well over a decade will take place in both of my countries within a year of each other.

[Opening Batsman]

I, for one, can't stand our new labor overlords. Every time Rudd spits out his pre-planned, grandiose and self-adoring clichés, I feel the need to kill a kitten. I also feel like strangling a good deal of the swinging voters who were hoodwinked by fancy slogans and fresh images with bugger all substance.

[Lokos]

Labour in power. We are so screwed.

Lokos

[Silverado]

Sound economic management aside, the Howard legacy is a White Australia for the new millenium. The manner in which Howard tapped into an undercurrent of racism and fear in Australian society was nothing short of a national disgrace. Equally worrying was the Australian public's willingness to be led down the garden path by this fear mongering.

[makavelli]

for now, my main concern is interest rate.
hope Rudd will do something good bout it.

[Silverado]

Well contrary to what the harbingers of doom would have you believe with regards to interest rates and an ALP government there is only so much an Australian government can do. Interest rates always go in cycles and are in no small part sensitive to various global influences beyond the control of the government, not the least of which is a faltering U.S. economy. The irony is this is one of the key points that cost the Howard government in yesterdays election. In 2004 Howard made the unequivocal promise that his government would keep interest rates low. The promise was sold by the government in such a way as to create the impression that the government could control interest rates regardless of the aforementioned external influences. The truth of course is that no government can do that.

With the Australian Reserve Bank raising interest rates in the home stretch of the election campaign one can surmise that the governments fate was sealed on the back of its own political spin with regards to its self-proclaimed reputation as the only political party in Australia that can properly manage the economy. Had Howard been more circumspect with his claims on interest rates then perhaps he would still be in power. Conversely though he may not have won the 2004 election, something to ponder perhaps.

[BillySing]

Rudd today.

Garrett Tomorrow.


PG 4 PM!!!!!!

:D

[rkpo]

The only cynical and pompous manipulation was by the media and Unions. Government cannot go full disclosure for security and legal reasons so all this hoopla against Howard during his tenure as PM was always concoted BS. Now the alp's are in power we are stuck with it until they really screw things up.... and its not if, its when - because of their commitments to those education/art sectors and unions they cannot simply copy the financial imperatives outlined by the Howard/Costello success, and because of those same arrangements the public will be spoon fed propoganda and mis-information like it was during the election.

Australia is a dirty place today because of yesterday's election, and I hope she learns something from it.

[digrar]

Looking forward to Family first and the greens having the balance of power in the Senate. Should make for smooth sailing. We're a lucky bunch of buggers....

[kahn267]

I think Australians are quick to forget how pathetic Labour was last time they were in power.

Look at how the economy was before Howard - I think he was the best prime minister Australia has ever had.
I honestly dont expect much of anything from Rudd besides running the country pathetically as labour always has and doing it with a flashy Mandarin speech at the end.

[Lokos]

Anyone with the good sense to eat earwax (especially in front of a camera, which was just a stroke of genius) is someone you know will make a great leader!

Lokos

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

You people sure have a short memory.

All the Libs ever done was live off the hard work of the Keating and Hawk years.

[LRPV]

Excuse me, can someone point me in the direction of MP.net? With all this anti-Labour whining I have lost my moral compass, wouldn't want to stray into Liberal territory...p-)

OH...PS fellas...I voted for Rudd.

PPS...If any Australian want to discuss the politicisation of military operations under Howard, feel free to PM me.

[Snoshi]

Can anyone briefly explain me whats the major difference between Rudd and Howard?

[Lokos]

Rudd eats earwax. Howard has the eyebrows of a man born in a previous evolutionary phase (he may be the missing link). I choose Howard.

Lokos

[lider_r]

thank goodness we don't have Mr Sheen running the country anymore

Any prime minister who considers prayer (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21593382-5001021,00.html) a viable solution to drought deserves to die the most humiliating political death.

This peanut did his best to try to destabilize our country.

When he wasn't fanning the flames of racism or pointing to minority groups as the root of all the nation's social ills, he was refusing to spend any money to solve the many problems he either created or ignored.

[SupportTheTroops_5]

I, for one, can't stand our new labor overlords. Every time Rudd spits out his pre-planned, grandiose and self-adoring clichés, I feel the need to kill a kitten. I also feel like strangling a good deal of the swinging voters who were hoodwinked by fancy slogans and fresh images with bugger all substance.
I dont know too much about Rudd other than him saying hes gonna pull out of Iraq(which really sucks). He is "Labor Party" right? In america, that would spell communist. is that the same in Australia because I hope one of our best allies didnt elect a commie.:cantbeli:
-thanks in advance

[lider_r]

Labor in power. We are so screwed.

Lokos

Labor governments have been consistently reelected across all states for a number of years now, so they must be doing something right.

This should be a good enough reason to quell any fears that the sky will fall in under labor.

[NavyTimes]

Anyone with the good sense to eat earwax (especially in front of a camera, which was just a stroke of genius) is someone you know will make a great leader!




Hahahahah, found that on youtube with some googling. Nice!

[Kilgor]

Labor governments have been consistently reelected across all states for a number of years now, so they must be doing something right.

This should be a good enough reason to quell any fears that the sky will fall in under labor.

Howard was Australia's second longest serving PM, he must have been doing something right ?

Lider, you don't think much do you.

I didn't vote for Howard this time, but no one can deny that he has done a excellent job in his stewardship of this country.

Rudd is as smooth and polished as they come, lets hope he delivers.

[rkpo]

You people sure have a short memory.

All the Libs ever done was live off the hard work of the Keating and Hawk years.

Yea all I remember from Keating and Hawke is the high interest rates, unemployment, strikes, and nice large dole payments... suprise suprise under Liberal you the opposite.... and of relevance to this forum, defence acquisition and deployments. The only thing you heard about when the libs were in power was the normal occuring mistakes that occur when running such a large organisation as the public service. The media is nearly all alp supporters and they wield a huge force in public opinion... couldnt you see the depth of media support for the alp versus the lib's in this last election, it was approaching systematic brainwashing!?

If I didnt have an interest in the wider issues and was only interested in what the Government was 'giving' me while I peddled on the mouse wheel of society, then I'd hate the Liberals' too.... but their policies actually promote and support individual's to step up and create opportunities - this is why business people generally prefer Liberal - its called 'vision' versus the alp's 'pitch'.

I'm new to the forum (not really, visited MP.net often before it was a forum) but I thought this was a political discussion and rant area :backhand:

[LRPV]

Can anyone briefly explain me whats the major difference between Rudd and Howard?

There are numerous differences, but the one that probably nailed Howard was his obsession with "Work Choices" . Work Choices gave employers the ability to avoid paying over-time rates, weekend loadings, holiday loadings, public holidays etc. At the core of this is the base pay per week. In Australia we have had what is known as the 'award system' for decades. This system means that in any given field, there is a minimum wage. Work Choices removed that system and took away reasonable pay and importantly job security. Howards smug answer was that employees could move on from job to job if they were unhappy. The swine was trying to totally eradicate the weekend as we know it. Snoshi, here we enjoy a two day weekend (Saturday and Sunday) every week. If you have to work Saturday afternoon or Sunday you get paid more. Howard tried to undo this and make these days just ordinary working time. If he was successful, the weekend would eventually die and family life would be effected.

Thats a brief rant.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Howard also reckoned it was about giving workers choice.

Tell me what type of choice does a guy, wife and 2 kids have when his boss comes and says. Here is your AWA sign it. Don't sign look somewhere else.

Great ****ing choice.

[LRPV]

Yes, that's right. Work Choices were really No Choices, hence Howard lost the Industrial Relations war...

[LRPV]

Howard biography expected next


November 26, 2007

JOHN Howard could soon be writing about his inner-most thoughts.
Biographer Wayne Errington - co-author of John Winston Howard - said the outgoing prime minister already had floated the idea of writing about himself.
"He has said for some time that he looks forward to writing his memoirs one day," Dr Errington said on ABC Radio today.
"One suspects that Howard is the sort of methodical sort of person (who) would keep a diary, whether those diaries would end up being Mark Latham-style best-sellers is another question."
Dr Errington said he was most interested in reading about Mr Howard's inner-most thoughts.
" ... his thinking at very critical times like the sorts of things that he was thinking of when the Tampa incident went on in August 2001.
"Does a politician like John Howard always interpret those things in terms of political advantage or the human consequences of them?
"I think only John Howard's inner-most thoughts really know about that."



"inner-most thoughts".....should be a brief, easy read....

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

The whole unfair dismissal thing was a crock of **** to.

At the end of he day. If you were not doing your job properly, turned up drunk or generally the company could show cause for dismissal you could get the ass.

The whole thing stank.

[LRPV]

Yep, it stank so much the sitting PM will be out of his own seat in Parliament. I'd like to give him some work choices....p-)

[Kilgor]

The whole unfair dismissal thing was a crock of **** to.

At the end of he day. If you were not doing your job properly, turned up drunk or generally the company could show cause for dismissal you could get the ass.

The whole thing stank.

The real stink is that they could fire your ass, then re-hire you on a awa at much more favourable rates for them

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

Oh yeah how could I forget that.

[Kilgor]

The two biggest issues IMO in this election was work choices and the environment.

There were many liberal voters who went for rudd on this one. Howard lost his "battlers", that now accept that the environment is a major issue and felt betrayed on work choices.

[Kilgor]

I, for one, can't stand our new labor overlords. Every time Rudd spits out his pre-planned, grandiose and self-adoring clichés, I feel the need to kill a kitten. I also feel like strangling a good deal of the swinging voters who were hoodwinked by fancy slogans and fresh images with bugger all substance.

Rudd didnt "win" this election, it was more a case of Howard losing it. It was the first time a Labor leader came across as being electable, especially after the Latham train wreck.

[LRPV]

Well Rudd has said he will move to abolish AWAs by February.

[jetsetter]

Any prime minister who considers prayer a viable solution to drought deserves to die the most humiliating political death.

There is nothing wrong with believing in prayer. I'm not religious, science is more for me, but I respect the beliefs of others.

[T3ngu]

Rudd didnt "win" this election, it was more a case of Howard losing it. It was the first time a Labor leader came across as being electable, especially after the Latham train wreck.

True... true..

Beazley and Latham, they still make me laugh.

Beazley has been made an honorary professor now i hear. Pfftt..


The two biggest issues IMO in this election was work choices and the environment.

There were many liberal voters who went for rudd on this one. Howard lost his "battlers", that now accept that the environment is a major issue and felt betrayed on work choices.

Work choices, its debateable. It does not effect me, nor other people I know. But yes, some people have been hammered by them and the people certainly voted.

On the other hand environment was a big issue and as Mr Howard found out putting your head in the sand does not work.

Met him a few years back. Was impressed by his public speaking skills. Particularily as we were in Murgon, Qld. of all placed.

[rkpo]

Howard also reckoned it was about giving workers choice.

Tell me what type of choice does a guy, wife and 2 kids have when his boss comes and says. Here is your AWA sign it. Don't sign look somewhere else.

Great ****ing choice.

yea change is not easy, and a new system has a teething period.

The concept of AWA's in a ultra low unemployment environment is that it improves life-work balance by providing unique condition and pay arrangements to meet the worker and employer requirements. Its as simply as that, to improve peoples lives and improve business output.

The important parameters for these to work is ultra low unemployment so that workers are considered more valuable, and the government approval of AWA's so that people's work conditions are not unfair.

yawn, backwards progress isnt really progress in my book.

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

The award system as it was ensured a good balance in ensuring workers received fair pay, work and conditions. Nothing more nothing less.

As we have seen already. Without this system workers are getting screwed over.

[LRPV]

Work choices, its debateable. It does not effect me, nor other people I know. But yes, some people have been hammered by them and the people certainly voted.


It wasn't only those people that were directly effected by Work Choices that turned to the ALP. More than a few of my generation that are quite comfortable were concerned for our childrens future. It was a significant factor in my decision to vote for a relatively unknown candidate.

[T3ngu]

It wasn't only those people that were directly effected by Work Choices that turned to the ALP. More than a few of my generation that are quite comfortable were concerned for our childrens future. It was a significant factor in my decision to vote for a relatively unknown candidate.

I agree with this.

Having worked in retail while at university, I feel for those who would lose things such as penalty rates etc. Who wants to work on a weekend for nothing extra?!! I digress.

I for once voted based on what they were saying as opposed to any historical thoughts, or in fact my dislike fo the Labour party (and yes I have spent time around unions).

You are correct in that our childrens future is what we need to think about. Strange as it may seem but i found labours environmental policies lightyears ahead of the liberals. Yes we have a strong economy, but this isn't any good if the environment suffers.

[Opening Batsman]

I dont know too much about Rudd other than him saying hes gonna pull out of Iraq(which really sucks). He is "Labor Party" right? In america, that would spell communist. is that the same in Australia because I hope one of our best allies didnt elect a commie.:cantbeli:
-thanks in advance
Not quite commies, but they are the left wing party (of the two parties that actually matter), Liberal (and National, they make a coalition) being the right wing one. You have the greenies further to the left and family first further to the right, but they are all loonies. Everybody else in my family voted for the greens. I have disowned them.

Rudd didnt "win" this election, it was more a case of Howard losing it. It was the first time a Labor leader came across as being electable, especially after the Latham train wreck.
Yeah, I'll admit this is the first time I've seen a Labor leader who doesn't step on his **** at every opportunity since I've been old enough to have a basic grasp of politics. That said, all I accept is that Rudd has cultivated a good image and is intelligent. I'm still yet to see any signs of him being a good leader, as far as I can see he is just a mouthpiece for the party who does his best to stay calm and earnest for the cameras. Howard, in my opinion, was a very good leader. I have lots of respect for him as a person.

[lider_r]

Howard was Australia's second longest serving PM, he must have been doing something right ?

Lider, you don't think much do you.

He beat Beazley with a lot of luck and Latham was a godsent for Howard.


no one can deny that he has done a excellent job in his stewardship of this country.

Howard showed zero leadership on a number of issues.

He denied climate change existed then rubbished the other sides environmental policies, he constantly reminded us of how evil Saddam was then we found out his minister had oversaw funding to the regime, he banged on about getting rid of a welfare state and at the same time gave massive handouts to the big end of town, he spoke out against religious fundamentalism and at the same time openly embraced it through two of the the most insane Christian groups in australia. He oversaw the underfunding of the public education system (amoung the lowest in the OECD) and ramped up spending for private schools, he did his best to try make our health system as unfair and unaccessable as the US's and then told us his government was medicares best friend, he told us how great he was for workers then we realized that many people were up to 100 dollars a week worse off as a result of workchoices.

Howard only ever did something when he thought it could further his political gains, weather it was using the military like his private toy or using racism and the threat of terrorism to justify letting children languish in immigration detention centres indefinetly. He's missed huge oppertunities in investment with our mining boom, opting to spend it on trying to sell us his ****ty policies instead.

A truly narccisstic, arrogant individual whose only interest was control and power at any cost.Nothing but scare tactics, lies and bribary.

We're so much better off without him.

And the defence department may well end up wtih a veteran colonel at the helm :)

[lider_r]

Yea all I remember from Keating and Hawke is the high interest rates, unemployment, strikes, and nice large dole payments...


The private sector and Howard's brother all received hefty welfare payments. Any idea how much dole Howard will be getting now?

MPs walk away with $25m (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22816645-5013904,00.html)


The media is nearly all alp supporters and they wield a huge force in public opinion...

Yeah its all the medias fault....



couldnt you see the depth of media support for the alp versus the lib's in this last election, it was approaching systematic brainwashing!?

You've obviously never read the Herald Sun, the West Australian or the Independent!

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

What about good old Piers Akerman and the rest of the News Corp mob?

[rkpo]

He beat Beazley with a lot of luck and Latham was a godsent for Howard.



Howard showed zero leadership on a number of issues.

He denied climate change existed then rubbished the other sides environmental policies,

He is PM so he has to make measured decisions and at that time the science was still gathering the data and forming its conclusions.

he constantly reminded us of how evil Saddam was then we found out his minister had oversaw funding to the regime,



he banged on about getting rid of a welfare state and at the same time gave massive handouts to the big end of town, he spoke out against religious fundamentalism and at the same time openly embraced it through two of the the most insane Christian groups in australia. He oversaw the underfunding of the public education system (amoung the lowest in the OECD) and ramped up spending for private schools, he did his best to try make our health system as unfair and unaccessable as the US's and then told us his government was medicares best friend, he told us how great he was for workers then we realized that many people were up to 100 dollars a week worse off as a result of workchoices.

Howard only ever did something when he thought it could further his political gains, weather it was using the military like his private toy or using racism and the threat of terrorism to justify letting children languish in immigration detention centres indefinetly. He's missed huge oppertunities in investment with our mining boom, opting to spend it on trying to sell us his ****ty policies instead.

A truly narccisstic, arrogant individual whose only interest was control and power at any cost.Nothing but scare tactics, lies and bribary.

We're so much better off without him.

And the defence department may well end up wtih a veteran colonel at the helm :)

What is that; a mix of trying to come to terms with a how difficult it is to run the country in a world of an emerging environmental phenomena and confronting strategic relations, mixed with alp cheerleading vitriol. You didnt get my point in my last message, or you'd rather keep your cheerleading skirt on. If you want to believe the negative spin on everything then it explains why the alp momentum is backwards for the country.

As per other responses to my notes, Im talking about the freetoair commercial television end product.... newspapers do not have the same effect as television, as the papers allows more individual control over content and apprehension.

[Silverado]

What about good old Piers Akerman and the rest of the News Corp mob?

Piers was last spotted being tended to by the Daily Telegraph's designated First Aid Officer. Management has arranged for counseling.

[lider_r]

What is that; a mix of trying to come to terms with a how difficult it is to run the country in a world of an emerging environmental phenomena and confronting strategic relations, mixed with alp cheerleading vitriol. You didnt get my point in my last message, or you'd rather keep your cheerleading skirt on. If you want to believe the negative spin on everything then it explains why the alp momentum is backwards for the country.


Howard policies were disgraceful because of what they contained and who they affected, not because of how they were presented

Showing them on the news with a more positive spin wouldn't made them any more palatable to me....