Darron CharlesworthGreens showing Major's how it's done
August 18th 2010 00:01
Category: No Category
With only days left before ‘Election 2010’ there is still no clear winner in the making. The Major Parties’ leaders have failed to make any real impression on the voters. There is no election winning argument, no pivotal debate, no real passion and nothing in the way of visionary leadership.
Both Abbott and Gillard have challenged on stability and unity. Realistically they can claim no credibility on either. There has been much in the way of internal division and leadership challenges from both sides. While both are promising stability this has not been shown in any meaningful way now or in the past.
The major parties have a solid record of leadership and party instability. In the early 1990s Keating displaced Hawke. More recently Rudd ousted Beazley who then after leading Labor to a crucial victory was assassinated by Gillard. In Liberal circles Nelson was removed for Turnbull who was in turn rolled by Abbott. And this is only in relatively recent times. Personal aspirations and fears of electoral defeat have more sway in the major party politics than loyalty, ideology or moral conviction.
Even the once highly regarded Democrats were not immune. The party went into freefall after their leader – Cheryl Kernot – defected to Labor. The party was almost saved with the elevation of Senator Stott-Despoja to the leadership role. However, short sighted party room dysfunction and Bartlett’s personal ambition led to Stott-Despoja being removed against the wishes of the membership at large. This catastrophic miscalculation on the part of Bartlett et al destroyed the party from within and the only real challenge to the strangle hold of the two major parties.
The vacuum created by the demise of the Democrats gave the Greens the opportunity to rise. This they have done steady over consecutive elections at both the State and Federal level. While often the source of political ridicule there are many positives associated with the Greens.
The stability within the party is admirable. There are rarely internal divisions and those that happen are not subject to public broadcasting. The leadership is stable. Bob Brown has led the party for many years and represented in the Senate for 14. They are consistent with their policy agenda: unwavering in their commitment. Their refusal to ratify Labor’s flawed CPRS was commendable. Deals are not common and not subject to compromise of the Party’s key objectives.
While the other parties continue to show signs of division and lack of commitment and sincerity the Greens are showing themselves as strong, stable and predictable. Their place holding the balance of power stops the two majors from giving big business carte blanche power over Australia’s interests. This election, with neither Labor nor Liberal offering vision, consistency or stability the Greens are looking like an attractive alternative.
Both Abbott and Gillard have challenged on stability and unity. Realistically they can claim no credibility on either. There has been much in the way of internal division and leadership challenges from both sides. While both are promising stability this has not been shown in any meaningful way now or in the past.
The major parties have a solid record of leadership and party instability. In the early 1990s Keating displaced Hawke. More recently Rudd ousted Beazley who then after leading Labor to a crucial victory was assassinated by Gillard. In Liberal circles Nelson was removed for Turnbull who was in turn rolled by Abbott. And this is only in relatively recent times. Personal aspirations and fears of electoral defeat have more sway in the major party politics than loyalty, ideology or moral conviction.
Even the once highly regarded Democrats were not immune. The party went into freefall after their leader – Cheryl Kernot – defected to Labor. The party was almost saved with the elevation of Senator Stott-Despoja to the leadership role. However, short sighted party room dysfunction and Bartlett’s personal ambition led to Stott-Despoja being removed against the wishes of the membership at large. This catastrophic miscalculation on the part of Bartlett et al destroyed the party from within and the only real challenge to the strangle hold of the two major parties.
The vacuum created by the demise of the Democrats gave the Greens the opportunity to rise. This they have done steady over consecutive elections at both the State and Federal level. While often the source of political ridicule there are many positives associated with the Greens.
The stability within the party is admirable. There are rarely internal divisions and those that happen are not subject to public broadcasting. The leadership is stable. Bob Brown has led the party for many years and represented in the Senate for 14. They are consistent with their policy agenda: unwavering in their commitment. Their refusal to ratify Labor’s flawed CPRS was commendable. Deals are not common and not subject to compromise of the Party’s key objectives.
While the other parties continue to show signs of division and lack of commitment and sincerity the Greens are showing themselves as strong, stable and predictable. Their place holding the balance of power stops the two majors from giving big business carte blanche power over Australia’s interests. This election, with neither Labor nor Liberal offering vision, consistency or stability the Greens are looking like an attractive alternative.
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