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Disappointment for all the sporting organisations, and other local outdoor activities planned for  today –  it’s been raining overnight, and was doing so steadily this morning under a heavy overcast sky. I think that since the local cricket season began at the beginning of October, they have only had two days of actual weekend play – Saturdays seem to be the time when it decides to rain!!  I noted a message on Facebook from my son, late morning, advising the members of his cricket team that today’s play was off – though you didn’t did to be a weather forecaster to work that one out.

Also a bit of a disappointment for the radio station this morning – a planned outside broadcast over  a 6 hour period at the premises of a new sponsor, had to be called off at the last moment [in fact after all set up procedures were in place] because of an  as yet undetermined reason, the necessary telephone connection had been withdrawn [rather necessary for an outside broadcast!]. While this was totally out of the control of our small dedicated band of  technical volunteers, it unfortunately was not a good look for the station, and a bit of a blow to the promotional plans for the day of the business venue in question – such plans further disrupted by the weather!!

So while I did have some time planned to be devoted to that station activity, I ended up back home much sooner than anticipated, and with the rain continuing outside, a chance to catch up on some indoor tasks – including a bit of reading. Currently, I’m getting stuck into  John Howard’s recently released biography, a book called  ‘Lazarus Rising’, and while it is quite a lengthy book as might be expected, and I’m less than a 6^th of the way through it, I am finding it to be quite a comfortable, and interesting read. I admire his style of writing – dare I say, in my own style, though of a much more professional nature of course!  Over the last year or so, there has been a bit of media attention given to the views of former Liberal Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser [1975-1983] and his anguish at the way his beloved Liberal Party of his days has changed –  Howard kind of acknowledges that, soon after Fraser’s ascendancy to the Prime Ministership, late in 1975, when he writes that “Malcolm Fraser and I have had our differences over the years and our relationship became very distant after I became Prime Minister, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity he came me back in December 1975. It was a generous promotion at a critical time’ [p91] [Fraser had appointed the young Howard as Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs in the first Fraser Government].  Two years later, following the 1977 election which saw the Liberals returned with a 48 seat majority [compared with 55 in 1975], there was further advancement for Howard who wrote “Thus, at the age of 38 years and 4 months, I became, unconditionally, Treasurer of the Commonwealth. Again, I had every reason to be grateful to Malcolm Fraser for giving me what was a huge promotion”. [102].  As I read through this biography, I have no doubt that I shall find other little quotations worthy of  mention in these pages!

Just a couple of statistics on the State election, due in November – on November 27, there will be 5,582,232 Victorians able to vote [and unlike some other countries, voting is compulsory] – this number is some 20,000 more than were eligible to vote just a few months ago in the Federal election.  There are 88  Lower House seats, and 40 Upper house positions. In all, a total of 711 candidates, of which some 86 are independents, while the remaining 624 come from the 10 endorsed political parties, the majority from the Labor, and Coalition Party [Liberals and Nationals] – Labor and The Greens have candidates in all seats, while the Coalition are represented as a body in all seats, although the Liberals are only contesting 79 of the Lower House seats. According to the electoral polls, with two weeks to go, the result is ‘up for grabs’, and while Labor is slightly ahead, and probably the favourite,  the Opposition could win government in an alliance with the Greens, which party could in fact end up with the balance of power, similar to the Federal Senate, after June.

I see that international but now ‘infamous’ world champion golfer, Tiger Woods is back in town, competing in Melbourne in the Australian Masters, the event he conquered s a ‘hero’ last year, just before ‘all hell broke loose’ in his personal life. After yesterday’s play, he was well off the pace [9 shots behind the leader, Australia’s Adam Bland], a different player to last year, and with this steady rain all day in Melbourne & district today, I doubt he will get the chance to his improve his positioning before Sunday. In retrospect, as it turned out, the golf did proceed – perhaps the persistence of the rain in that part of Melbourne was not as relentless as here. Whatever, it didn’t do Tiger Woods much good, and at the end of the day, he remained 10 shots behind the Australian leader – in fact a number of the international visitors were placed around the Tiger Woods score of 1 under, while a whole group of Australians ahead of them, meant many chances for an Aussie winner.

Meanwhile, one or two other international sporting contests happening this weekend of interest to us Aussies, none of which I will probably see because of the TV screening times on Free to Air TV. In Rugby Union, the Australian Wallabies come up against the old enemy, England, over at Twickenham [at 1.30am tomorrow morning our time]. The Australian coach, Robbie Deans concedes that the elements are working in favour of the English team, after the Wallabies have suffered several days of training in torrential rain, with more expected during game time, but the team is on a winning streak on this tour, including wins over the All Blacks [New Zealand] and Wales.  I’d love to watch that match, but  think sleep is a higher priority after three bad nights of broken sleep in a row.

Typically, the opposing channel here in Melbourne has decided on a late telecast of the Rugby League Four Nations Final, between the Australian Kangaroos and New Zealand – putting it on after midnight, in direct competition with the other match – totally unnecessary in my view, as there are enough interested viewers here in Victoria who like myself, would like to see a direct telecast in place of some useless Saturday night movie or drama program! Although having said that, I see another newspaper suggests a 7.30 telecast – we will wait and see, if I’m being unnecessarily harsh!!  No I’m not, I think that for the viewers in the northern states – Victorians are not regarded as interested in rugby, we have to wait until midnight!!!

On a different scale of things, Australian Formula 1 racing driver Mark Weber is attempting to win the World Championship this weekend.  He comes to the final race of the Formula 1 season with a genuine chance to win the World Drivers’ Championship; the current point scores show: 1. Fernando Alonso – 238pts;  Mark Webber – 281 pts; and Sebastian Vettel [Weber’s Red Bull ‘team mate] – 231 pts; with Lewis Hamilton – 222 pts. Assuming that Webber comes out of the qualifying rounds in a satisfactory position at the front of the  grid, the potential outcome is well summed up by the ‘Roar website’ writer:-

“With limited opportunities outside pit stops and barring major mishaps, the final laps could well see Vettel, Webber and Alonso racing to the wire.  In that order, and considering the winner receives 25 points, second receives 18 points, and third getting 15 points, neither Red Bull driver would win the WDC. Alonso would go from a double world champion to a triple world champion.  Vettel would have to pull over for his rival Webber to win to ensure a Red Bull victory, surely a decision that would grate. Still, Red Bull have left it to the drivers, and Vettel has teased the media by not saying what he will do – but for him not to pull over would be one of the most arrogant acts ever seen.  In a testament to an incredible season, there are so many tricky permutations and combinations that could see any of the top four come out a winner. Indeed however unlikely, Lewis Hamilton could pinch it from the lot of them should major mishaps occur”.

Once again, to watch this, I’ll have to be watching midnight TV, tomorrow night,  for the deciding race in Abu Dhabi, as Webber attempts to become the first Australian driver since Alan Jones in 1980. Prior to that, our Jack Brabham  won the championship three times, in 14959, 1960 and 1966.

Was I suggesting a couple of days ago that winter had definitely past, and we were moving towards the real Spring/Summer climate?  I don’t think our weather knows what it is doing!  Tonight, it is actually quite cold, after raining all day – in fact still is, and I can see a nice chilly start to my morrow, getting up for the radio! Oh well, at least it won’t be dark!

 

 

It seems we have just four candidates who have nominated for our local State seat of Macedon, for the State election on the 27 November.  The Labor candidate, MP Joanne Duncan, has held the seat for 8 years. The seat covers the township of Sunbury and adjourning towns such as Lancefield, Gisborne, Wooden and Romsey. Her main opposition will hopefully come from the Liberal candidate, a policeman named Tristan Weston, whom I admit to having communicated with and wished him luck, as I believe it is time this part of Victoria had a different perspective at the political level placed upon it. For too long now, our politics has been dominated at the Federal and State level [and to some degree, unofficially at the local government level] by the one political viewpoint. I believe those representatives have become too comfortable, and over recent elections, have not had to work very hard to retain their seats, thereby becoming complacent, and perhaps in some areas, not crediting the electorate due respect.

Not surprisingly, Tristan’s emphasis seems to be on law and order, and to a degree, concern for the gaining of appropriate infrastructure to adequately meet the needs of a growing community.  Joanne Duncan has had plenty of opoortunity to support these things when it suits her, and to claim responsibility when gains are made, it’s all very well saying she will support everything now, just prior to an election, things that could have been pushed for with more effort during her 8 years.  I think she has been an effective member in term of her regular presence within the electorate, and in attending mosrt functions and activities that it is appropriate for her to do so, but I feel that a much more effective and  stronger political voice is needed in the actual parliamentary scenario. I wonder whether many people in other parts of Victoria are even aware of her existance, because of what to me seems to be a relatively low profile in Parliament House. A popular local member I don’t doubt, but your motto promoted as ‘Making It Happen’ – well, I see that as appplying more to the party machine rather than the efforts of the individual member.

Of the other two candidates, we have a young 21 year old student, Nicky Haslinghouse, standing for the Greens  – deserved or not, she will pick up quite a few votes, simply because the Greens are the ‘flavour of the month’ currently. She too talks about transport and infrastructure. The 4th person is an Independant candidate, Lorraine Beyer, who was the only onje of the four, to make direct reference to the future use of the Victoria University site here in Sunbury – where, amongst other community organisations, our radio station is located. That site has been under a cloud for over a year now, since the university vacated it, and while the present Labor Government has just announced a new major educational project for the site, one has to wonder whether this is just a sweetener just prior to the election. On this issue, I’m not sure at this point, what the Liberal’s attitude to the site is, so that is certainly an aspect that Mr Weston needs to be queried about.  Jackson’s Hill, as the area is known, is a focal point of the Sunbury township, an ideal location with it’s many heritage buildings and structures to develop major community and educational facilities, and to encourage those that currently exist, to maintain their presence. Our management team is currently working very hard to try and get some more precise answers in respect to their future plans for the university site.  As for the law and order aspect [a major component of both major party’s approach to the election], I see there is a community forum planned here in Sunbury for next week on that subject, to which it is hoped to attract all four Macedon candidates. I hope they will all be encouraged to attend.

Anyway, those are just my views, and I will be content to support whoever wins the seat, I just feel a change of personality and focus is needed. I see that one of our local lads, who attended the secondary college that my daughter attended a few years ago, and also had a brief role at the radio station, has got himself on the Upper House ticket for the Labor Party. While I may not agree with his views, I do wish him well in the beginnings of a parliamentary career that he seems destined to eventually achieve.

Meanwhile yesterday, we were speaking briefly of Remembrance Day. On the TV tonight, there was a documentary entitled ‘As It Happened: The Last Day of World War I’.  This was a British production, and basically dealt with the number of casualties [deaths, wounded, missing] that occurred on that last day – the 11th November, 1918 – and in particular, the six hours from the signing of the Armistance in the railway in the French woods at approximately 5.10 am that day, and the official cease fire, at 11 am. Some estimates have quoted figures of up to 10,000 casualties that day – 663 Commonwealth forces [men & women] died that day [and perhaps many others in the days, weeks and months thereafter], and up to 3,000 Americans were killed. Some of the American generals were not prepared to accept the Armistace, and led their troops into situations and towns on the offensive, when in just a few hours time, they could have walked in peacefully. The attitude in some quarters was that Germany had to be proved to have been defeated, and their forces driven back to Berlin, with the rather prophetic claim, as it would eventuate, that Germany had not lost, merely agreed to a ceasefire. There were repercussions back in America at the high number of late casualties, but the reports of subsequent investigations were not released, with the feeling that to do so would tarnish the victories that had been achieved by their Americans from the time of their late entry into World War I. Interestingly, many of the French deaths on the 11th, were to be officially recorded as having died on the 10th November!

In conclusion, the comment was made by the program presenter, Michael Palin, whose great uncle died at the Somme, earlier in the war –  what does it matter what day a soldier is killed – it is all a waste of life, and for what real purpose!  A bit like a death in the family on Christmas Day – it seems more of a tradegy because of the date, but the loss to those around, is just as great, whatever the date!

In Flanders fields

The poppies blow

Between the crosses

Row on row,

That marks our place;

And in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid

The guns below.

One of today’s newspapers described the Red Poppy as growing “wild across northern France and Belgium, the bloodiest battleground of WWI. The poppy became the symbol of remembrance after a Canadian doctor, Major John McCrae, had spent 17 hellish days in 1915,  treating Canadians, British, Indians, French and Germans maimed by artillery fire. McCrae was distraught when he saw a close friend killed. He jotted down a poem while sitting in the back of an ambulance.  In Flanders Fields describes the poppies blowing between rows of crosses, marking the dead, and is one of the most famous wartime poems ever”.

Yes, today is Remembrance Day – in Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa – at 11 am this morning, marked one minute’s reflection in silent tribute marking the anniversary of the end of World War I [1914-1918] – the exact time that the guns stopped firing,  after years of terrible fighting, and millions of lives lost. Suggested by some that this ‘was the war to end all wars’ but sadly that was not to be, and wars continue to plague humankind, and even today, the Australian Defence Force is active in conflicts throughout the globe.

From today’s ‘Age’ newspaper, e read that ‘The fighting began when Britain and Germany went to war in August 1914. Australia was eager to help. From a country of less than five million people [at the time], 416,000 volunteered for service. Most were young men who were keen to see the world [my grandfather on my mother’s side was one of them] and defeat the enemy. [and most had no idea what they were getting into!].  By the end,  more than 60,000 were dead, and 156,000 wounded, gassed or prisoners of war. More than 45,000 Australians had been killed on the Western Front alone, a battle line of muddy trenches stretching from Belgium to the Swiss border. At Gallipoli in Turkey, more than 8,000 died”.  Terrible statistics, and of course, those kind of statistics didn’t end with World War I.

 

I actually wasn’t very well today, well more overnight actually – woke after only about an hour’s sleep, and soon began to wonder whether I was coming down with some element of food poisoning, after last night’s pub meal with the Heritage Society. Couldn’t really imagine that was the case however, as what I’d eaten had been fairly harmless I thought, a bit of fish with salad, after a rather spicy pumpkin & herb soup. However over the next couple of hours, that is certainly what I was feeling – quite ill in fact, and for a while wondered if it was something to do with the heart [one of the many advertised symptoms of heart problems], although more likely, simply a diabetes related problem!  Anyway, I adjourned to the loungeroom, where I reclined in one of the chairs there – was still there at 2am, when daughter Susan went to bed [her normal time!!], and eventually must have dosed off, woke about 4am, feeling slightly improved, enough to encourage a return to bed. Certainly, at that point, a trip to work seemed unlikely for Thursday, although there was a commitment that I really needed to be there for [as usual]!  Alarm at 6.15, ignored that and went back to sleep, waking again at 8.30 [at which time I would normally be at the office!].

We eventually did get to the office, not feeling perfect, a bit light headed but at least the nausea  feelings had subsided, my main concern was the drive in the traffic – the late departure eased that a little, and we had no problems. Not quite so easier on the early afternoon return, very tired, and didn’t enjoy the trip at all. Obviously needed some more sleep, which the early return home allowed.

Unfortunately, by being unwell today, I’ve missed the 3^rd Concert performance for the year by the Australian String Quartet [ASQ]. Despite having a ticket, as usual,  I felt it would be unwise to try and sit through  a classical concert of ‘strings’ music, feeling as tired and lethargic as I was. Luckily, this particular concert was to be broadcast direct, by ABC Classic FM, so I was in fact able to listen to the music, and feel comfortable at the same time.

Long time readers will be aware that I’ve be listening to, and attending the concerts of the ASQ for some years now – four girls – Sophie Rowell and Anne Horton [on violins], Sally Boud [on viola] and Rachel Johnston [on cello]. Tonight, Sally would be missing, apparently a minor medical procedure meant she couldn’t travel, so she was ‘back home’ with her little she gave birth to last year. In her stead for tonight’s performance was  Irina Morozova, on the viola.

I rather enjoyed ‘listening’ in tonight –  Beethoven began the program – the ASQ played his String Quartet in B Flat Major,  written between 1798 and 1800, it was published initially between 1800-1801 when it was presented to the saloons of one Count Lichnowsky. Traditionally with Beethoven’s quartets, it was in four movements beginning with a very robust opening movement, followed by a traditionally slow and beautiful adagio, an extremely short 3^rd movement, followed by what has been described as a delicate tender introduction to the finale with it’s famous ‘malinconia’ [or the melancholy]. Interestingly listening to the audience noise coming through the ABC microphones during breaks between movements, don’t generally pick those up so clearly as a part of the audience oneself.

Peter Sculthorpe [the 80 year old Australian composer] wrote his String Quartet No. 6 between 1963-1965, the earliest of the 18 quartets of his that are generally played these days – earlier ones were written in his student days.   It  was first performed in Sydney by the Austral String Quartet during the 1965 Musica Viva Subscription Series.  Sculthorpe was born in Launceston, Tasmania on the 29 April, 1929, and began composing at the start of 1938, after his first piano lesson, aged just 9 years!

This quartet also introduces a bit of a melancholy aspect though of a more searing nature. It was described in the following manner by one critic: –   “The intact No. 6 is an occasionally harsh but predominantly lyrical, if melancholy work. It has three movements, with lento being the frequent and operative word used to describe most of its duration. This is austere but not forbidding music, revealing at this stage a profound spiritual element that pervades all Sculthorpe’s greatest works (of which there are many). The closing bars of the piece are a truly cathartic listen”.  Perhaps a reason for that closing remark can be attributed to the fact that the final movement was dedicated to Sculthorpe’s mother, Edna. Meanwhile, the descriptions applied to the work of austere, spiritual, and a hint of dark and forbidding thoughts, come over rather well, particularly during the 3^nd movement.  But then, as a contemporary composer, one can expect much of Sculthorpe’s music to contrast sharply with many of the traditional composers – I’ve played many of his works on a Sunday morning, through the radio. Tonight’s composition was written when he was aged about 35, in his ‘younger’ days!

During the interval. It was great to hear an interview with cellist, Rachel Johnston – the cello players don’t usually get a great deal of prominence, yet are an essential part of any string quartet – I think she described her role as the ‘engine room’ of the quartet!   I’ve never even heard Rachel speak on stage during a concert – that task was generally left to Sophie or Sally – so I was pleased to learn more  about and from this ‘quiet’ member of the quartet [as far as on stage was concerned]. She’s been with the ASQ [originally the Tankstream Quartet] for 6 years, joined about 4 years after the other three girls.  She was highly praiseworthy of the guest viola player for tonight’s concert.

The third and final selection for tonight’s concert Mozart’s  String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, which has been allocated the nickname ‘Dissonance’ on account of it’s perceived unusual slow introduction. It  is probably the most famous of Mozart’s quartets [completed in January 1785], and the  last in the set of six quartets composed between 1782 and 1785 which he dedicated to the composer Joseph Haydn [who once told Mozart’s father that his son was the greatest composer he’d met!]. Now, I’m no expert on the technical and compositional side of classical music, I just enjoy listening to it –  but the opening of this work, described as a ‘mix of extraordinary harmonic colours’ has apparently astounded musicians and musicologists since it’s premiere, even baffling Haydn himself. Described in one sense as the moment of chaos been converted to order! Well, my listening of it, didn’t really depict all of that – yes, the music seemed to be going off in different directions from one moment to the next, but you get that between movements, and occasionally within movements. But as I said, I’m no expert, but I quite enjoyed the so-called ‘chaos’.  I wonder what those critics would think about the ‘literally chaotic’ music of modern day Polish composer, Penderecki  [whose unusual, and at times, quite violent music, I have played of a Sunday morning, and been subsequently told by a couple of fans of the traditional composers, that ‘that was a bit too much to take’ after listening to Mozart, etc]. Anyway, Mozart’s quartet was in his normal four movements, and the longest of the quartets played tonight by the ASQ.

The other advantage of listening to tonight’s concert, rather than being there – when it finished, I was already home, had just managed to eat a meal,  and could relax in the absence of a one hour drive home.

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This is the Address I referred to yesterday, as delivered by the Federal President of the Liberal Party of Australia,on the 10th November,  which I’ve decided to retain for future reference. It’s quite lengthy, as might be expected, that gives readers the option to continue reading, or bypasss this entry 🙂

Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am grateful to the National Press Club for the opportunity to discuss one of the most remarkable election campaigns in Australian history.

On the 21^st of August, for the first time since 1931, a Government was denied a majority after its first term. The reasons for this result are complex and I would like to take the opportunity today to set out in some detail, aided by research the Party has done since the election, the factors which influenced the result. The campaign was an important influence on the result. But it was far from the only influence.

To properly understand what happened on the 21^st August we must begin with the community expectations that Labor itself created in 2007.  Despite significant hesitations, the community gave Labor a mandate in 2007 to implement what Australians considered significant promises to help make their lives better.   However doubts about Labor’s commitment to deliver on their promises quickly began to appear.  We first saw those hesitations emerge in our research prior to Labor’s first Budget in 2008. Understandably however, people found reasons to put off making a judgment believing the Budget would be the moment Labor would start to deliver on its promises. You may recall the Prime Minister and Treasurer at the time raising expectations with their talk of tough decisions.

The 2008 Budget was a failure for Labor and marked the beginning of its electoral decline.  Australian’s were underwhelmed by the Budget and by the lack of any significant action on the issues Labor had sought and been given a mandate. The failure of the Budget was quickly compounded by Labor’s ambivalence towards rising petrol and grocery prices and manifested itself in the result of the Gippsland by-election. Brendan Nelson’s reply to the Budget in May 2008 captured the mood of ordinary Australians and was the beginning of the Coalition’s re-emergence as a viable alternative after the 2007 election.   Brendan Nelson deserves great credit for instinctively understanding and clearly articulating both the expectations of Labor and the disappointment widely felt with the Government across the community. 

By mid 2008 our research was showing that while support for Mr Rudd was apparently high, behind these top-line numbers were very deep frustrations. Labor appeared to ordinary Australians to be ignoring their legitimate concerns and obsessed with their own priorities and interests.  This was particularly true of Kevin Rudd.  Just seven months into office Labor had begun to lose its way. The Government did receive some initial credit for its approach at the beginning of the global financial crisis.  However, as the stimulus rollout occurred throughout 2009, concern within the community quickly developed. Australians believed schools could use additional funding but were frustrated at the bureaucratic and poorly considered edict that the money had to be spent on school halls when, in many cases, there were obviously other clear priorities for their school.

The concern in the community at Labor’s level of waste was deep.  The school halls and insulation fiascos cut through as practically every community in Australia had examples of mismanagement and waste and this was made worse by the Government’s exaggerated rhetoric and refusal to admit any level of problem.  The community reaction to the 2009 Budget was that the Government lacked a clear strategy to manage the economy and in particular, to begin to repay debt. A sense began to grow that the Government was losing control of the nation’s finances with little to show in return.  The time had come to begin delivering practical results on the ground, but instead the rhetoric continued, the debt grew and interest rates began increasing.

As he moved around the community Malcolm Turnbull heard these concerns and articulated them. By contrast, Mr Rudd and Labor continued to dismiss them, further fueling community concern.  Our feedback on Kevin Rudd in this period included representative comments such as: “marvelous vision but can’t put it into action”, “struggles to know how to implement things”, “badly targeted spending”, “always overseas”, “just waiting for an opinion poll”. After only two years in Government it was clear to us the community had deep reservations about Labor and Kevin Rudd, even if those reservations were not yet fully reflected in published opinion polls. The community was looking for a strong alternative and an opportunity was emerging for the Coalition.  However, the latter part of 2009 was one of the most difficult periods in the history of the Liberal Party.

Labor was attempting to use the ETS as an issue as much to divide the Coalition as to legislate what it considered to be important policy.  As a consequence of the public spotlight being on us the growing concerns of the community with the Rudd Government were ignored.  But they were there, they were real and they were growing. The community was actually more worried in this period with the inaction of the Government than they were with the Opposition.  This is why Tony Abbott was able to so quickly and effectively unite the Coalition and take the fight to Labor.  People wanted Labor held to account and wanted a strong alternative and  Tony Abbott provided that from the moment he became Leader.

It also helps explain the apparently sudden and dramatic collapse in support for Kevin Rudd.  From our perspective, the collapse was neither sudden nor dramatic. As I’ve said, the signs of trouble for Kevin Rudd were there as early as six months into his term as Prime Minister. Mr Rudd was cut an enormous amount of slack by the electorate. They wished him well. They wanted him to succeed. But Labor’s performance never matches its rhetoric. Australians were waiting for something to change but after two years the Government’s priorities seemed to be either overseas travel or on photo opportunities and process rather than outcomes to improve people’s lives.  In my view, in a professional political sense, Mr Rudd was one of the most effective framers of a message we have ever seen in this country. But this was both his strength and the basis of his failure.  He effectively positioned climate change as “the great moral challenge of our time”. People believed he was serious and that he would do something about it.  The failure of the Copenhagen climate change conference came as the wider frustrations of the community with Labor were coming to the surface.   Why take 114 people to a conference unless you were certain it was going to achieve something? And what did the much anticipated failure of the conference say about a leader’s judgment?   After Copenhagen people expected Mr Rudd to find other ways to take action.  But instead he abandoned the ETS and moved to introduce a new tax on the mining sector, considered by most Australians a critical driver of our prosperity.  This was the moment of no return for Mr Rudd and the final straw which broke the very strained bond of trust he had with the Australian community.

Even a few months before we would not have been able to use humour and ridicule against Kevin Rudd but community sentiment had moved so quickly that our Kevin O’Lemon advertisement accurately captured the mood.  We had obviously considered the possibility of Labor changing leaders before the election – indeed we had prepared for it – so our campaign was able to quickly adapt to Julia Gillard. What was surprising however was the speed with which the Gillard sky-rocket returned to earth. As Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard was directly linked to every major decision of the Rudd Government and as a Minister was personally responsible for a significant number of the major failures.  So while we thought the change would not fundamentally alter the community’s problems with Labor, we did think she would have a longer honeymoon.

But after only three weeks it was clear the community’s concern and frustration remained and that the way Kevin Rudd was removed by the faceless operatives of the Labor machine had in fact, created a new and very deep hesitation about Labor.  Labor itself was obviously finding that Gillard’s replacement of Rudd had not reversed its decline.  The decision of the Labor machine to call the election early seemed to us not to have been a considered strategic decision, but rather an attempt to move the focus from the day-to-day bungles which threatened to overwhelm the new Prime Minister.  Nonetheless, the task for the Coalition in the campaign was formidable:

–          Only one first term Government had lost its majority since 1931.

–          After the series of redistributions we needed to win 17 seats to obtain a majority.

–          And Labor, of course, had the full advantages of incumbency to support it, together with the additional resources of the industrial arm of the labour movement and various complicit so-called third party groups such as Get Up.

Despite this, and given the challenges we faced throughout the term of Parliament, our position at the start of the campaign was stronger than we would have expected even a few short months before. Tony Abbott’s principled and decisive leadership had put us in a competitive position and had staked out clear policy positions.  He had united the parliamentary team, seen off a first term Prime Minister, restored the party’s morale and established the Coalition as a credible alternative Government. We were therefore able to begin campaigning strongly from the moment the election was called.  Our success in setting the strategic direction of the contest in the first week of the campaign was very important. Had we not laid the basis then, Labor’s internal difficulties in the second and third weeks, while certainly not unhelpful, would have smothered any attempt by us to establish the terms of the contest.

Contrary to Labor’s attempts to write their own history, it was not the leaks per se that had such a catastrophic impact on their campaign. Rather, it was the subject matter of the leaks and the fact Julia Gillard failed to deny:

–                 That she had opposed the introduction of paid parental leave

–                 That she had opposed pension increases on the grounds that older Australians didn’t vote for Labor anyway

–                 That she had sent a relatively junior staff member in her place to meetings of the National Security Committee of Cabinet; and

–                 That she failed to consult Cabinet about her Citizens Assembly policy.

This focussed voters’ attention on the fact Julia Gillard was not the politician Labor spin doctors wanted Australians to think she was. Those responsible for these internal Labor leaks in fact exposed the real Julia. By contrast, Tony Abbott was seen as a person with strong principles, highly disciplined, intelligent, energetic and with an easy rapport with people on the campaign trail.

 In this campaign every day mattered. In 2007, 68% of voters told us they had made up their mind before the campaign. In 2010, only 49% had decided before the campaign.  In our pollin Labor had rebounded to a significant lead on primary vote immediately after Julia Gillard become Prime Minister.  This was reversed to a 6 point primary lead by the Coalition on election day.   Analysis of voter groups over this period shows it was younger voters under 35, and those with families who were most responsible for this movement.  Shortly after becoming Leader, Julia Gillard’s lead over Tony Abbott as preferred Prime Minister was over 25%.  By the last part of the campaign, however, Tony Abbott had drawn level as preferred Prime Minister – a remarkable achievement for an Opposition leader.  Interestingly, our research showed that during the campaign Gillard’s favorability fell below Rudd’s and it has remained below since.   There is no doubt community revulsion at the way in which the faceless powerbrokers toppled an elected Prime Minster influenced votes, and this was also shown in our research.

However, economic considerations were paramount: the economy, Budget management, waste and taxes were all cited in our research as major spontaneous for the way people decided to vote.  The Coalition built and maintained a strong lead on key economic issues during the campaign.  According to our research, our positive “action contract” advertisements featuring Tony Abbott were the most effective single advertisements of the campaign.  The positive nature of our campaign was particularly important in building momentum as our research showed 69% of voters chose to positively endorse a Party while only 28% were motivated to vote against a Party.   Our success in building this positive campaign was remarkable given the strength of our opponent’s negative campaign against us.  It is clear the ACTU, unions and other left wing groups were fully integrated into Labor’s campaign as an analysis of television advertising buy during the campaign shows.  There was a period of ten days – a life time in a political campaign – in the first half of the election in which Labor did not advertise at all except for a minor buy in one State. But during this period, the ACTU and unions were on the air attacking Tony Abbott and the Coalition.

Our post-election research showed that our Members and candidates added to the Party’s vote across Australia while Labor’s candidates were neutral or a negative influence on their vote. Considerable work and preparation went into our marginal seat campaigning and was important in securing 14 additional seats for the Party. Despite the massive opposition we faced, we held to our strategy and, I believe, clearly won the campaign by focusing on the key voter concerns: debt, deficit, waste, new taxes, lax border security, lack of competence in Government service delivery and integrity in Government.  Labor had no positive agenda to move Australia forward, thereby under cutting their campaign theme from the beginning. They could only resort to the same tired scare campaign they have used in previous elections.

It was naturally very disappointing for the Coalition not to be able to form Government after the election.  Despite the strong campaign the historic task of winning after just one term was ultimately insurmountable.  We are determined to win the next election whenever it may be held.  The Party has established a comprehensive review to ensure we build on the experience and lessons of the campaign and are in the strongest possible position to fight and win the next campaign.  We understand we cannot assume we will just fall into Government when the next opportunity arises. That is why we are reviewing our policies and reaching out to all sections of the community for new ideas to help meet the challenges ordinary Australians face as they go about their lives.  Labor and their allies are clearly going to use the advantages of incumbency to secure their position.

I indicated in my address to the Press Club after the 2007 election that the Coalition was willing to work with the Government on serious campaign expenditure and disclosure reform.  It is regrettable Labor was unable to meet their commitment on this important issue in the last Parliament. I again indicate today that the Coalition is open to working with the Government on serious reform of campaign financing.  A new regime will only survive over time if it has the support of both the major parties. Regrettably, the Bill introduced by the new Special Minister of State, for whom I have a high personal regard, does not seriously address long term campaign finance reform. The Coalition cannot and will not support a proposal that does not cover the activities of third party groups such as trade unions. In the 2007 and 2010 campaigns, union advertising was fully integrated into Labor’s campaign.  To exclude the contributions of the unions makes a farce of any so-called reform.  Equally, the activities of other groups, such as Get Up, must also be included in any reform. Given Get Up’s new found interest in funding reform I call on them today to voluntarily disclose all aspects of their funding and campaigning in the lead up to and during the recent campaign.

I also re-iterate the commitment of the Liberal Party to take part in a series of Leaders’ debates during the next campaign and to having an agreed format for them established well in advance of the next election.  The success of the different debate formats in the recent campaign underscores the importance of any arrangements being sufficiently flexible to adapt to opportunities during a campaign.   It is therefore important any proposed Debates Commission facilitates, rather than prescribes the Leaders’ debates.  The true success of the debates format must be that they allow Australians themselves to form their own judgments based on the Leaders having the clearest and fairest opportunity to make their case.

I would like to conclude by making a few short observations about the current federal political scene. Australians are not confident minority government is good for the nation. In the two months since the election it is apparent Labor is a mess and that Julia Gillard is struggling. As a result Australia is drifting. At the core of Labor’s problem is that it is unable to put Australia’s interests first. Everything Labor does is driven by the need to survive:

• What do the Greens think?
• What do the Independents think?
• How will the factions react?

Political survival now drives the actions and decisions of the Government and it is the reason why we are getting so many bad decisions and, increasingly, why so many decisions are being deferred. Every decision or deferral is a compromise taken with an eye to what’s required to keep an inherently unstable alliance together.

Julia Gillard is no economic reformer. Between 1998 and 2007 Julia Gillard opposed every major economic reform introduced by the Howard Government

• She opposed the private health insurance rebate
• She opposed tax reform
• She opposed superannuation reform
• And she opposed successive Howard Government decisions designed to reduce government debt.

Now Julia Gillard is running the most economically incompetent government in living memory.  Having wasted billions of dollars mismanaging the school hall building programme and continuing to borrow over $100 million every day, the only economic reform Julia Gillard is interested in is imposing higher electricity prices on Australian families through a carbon tax.

A strong leader would set a strong direction, but Julia Gillard can’t do that.

• Everything is a compromise
• Everything is about survival

We’ve already seen the rumblings start. I had not heard the rumours of a senior Minister misbehaving as reported recently in the media and have no idea what they refer to. But what was significant to me were the comments by unnamed “senior Labor figures” that the rumours were being circulated as part of early leadership positioning within Labor – and this just two months after the election!  So it’s little wonder Julia Gillard has resorted to two tactics familiar to those who have observed failing State Labor governments.

Firstly, Julia Gillard is deliberately trying to lower expectations of her performance and that of her Government. We are told this will be a term of “consolidation”, that we don’t appreciate just how great the challenges are. Minor and procedural developments are being trumpeted as major initiatives and difficult decisions are deferred or sent for review.  Australia cannot afford another three years of weak Government with limited ambition. The Coalition will not let Julia Gillard and Labor get away with this. We will hold them to account and we will push them to do better because Australian families deserve nothing less.

The second tactic Julia Gillard has borrowed from State Labor is to avoid fronting the media when there is bad news. Instead, Julia Gillard and senior ministers regularly require public servants to handle the media on difficult issues. Apart from placing senior public servants in an impossible position, Australians are entitled to hear directly from their elected leaders when there are problems. The Coalition will use the revised Parliamentary arrangements to hold Ministers who won’t front the media to account.  After just two months, the contrast could not be clearer – between an ineffective government with no policies, no direction and weak leadership, and the Coalition with clear direction, good policies and strong leadership to make Australia a better country. Australia does need strong leadership and only one leader can provide it. Tony Abbott knows what he believes, will always make the right decision for the right reason and has what it takes to get Australia moving again to make life better for ordinary Australians.

As Campaign Director I have many people to thank and acknowledge  [this part omitted]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are in an unprecedented political situation. We have a weak and unstable Government which is in a mess and getting worse. We have a Prime Minister who is not up to the job. And we have a restless Labor Party which has already removed one Prime Minister and will remove another when desperation sets in. The Coalition is the only path to a strong and prosperous Australia. We have a great obligation to be ready to offer an alternative whenever the next election is held. Tony Abbott and the Coalition are determined to provide the leadership Australia needs and which Labor cannot provide.   I look forward to working closely with Coaliton supporters around Australia to deliver a great victory for all Australians when the opportunity arises”.

From time to time, we come across little bits of philosophy that ring a bell of sorts, kind of fit in with some of the reasoning one might have held at some point in time. The following was such an example – it was a response sent to an ABC Big Ideas forum a couple of days ago, and while I’ve not been able to clearly define what the original question was, the response tells it’s own story, and it went like this:-

“This just reinforces my belief that we humans are basically ignorant, unintelligent Stone Age or Neanderthal’s wearing suits and carrying Laptops. Our Technology has advanced thank’s to a couple percent of our numbers who are intelligent and can reason, the rest of us are just users and if the modern equivalent of the Library of Alexandria was destroyed (Our Computers etc) where all our information is stored then it would takes us more than 1,500 years to regain that knowledge. This is because very few of us are intelligent (able to reason).  I hold out very little hope for our tiny planet with so many deluded humans on board”.

Certainly, not much room for optimism there, nor is there much encouragement for, in faith in, those more than just a couple of percent of us, who might feel that they are a little more than a ‘mere ignorant Stone Age’ type, and have been able to contribute something to that store of knowledge!!

Putting aside theoretical concepts, I was more interested in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra, which occured today I think. It was delivered by the Federal Director of the Liberal Party in Australia, and basically spelt out the things that went wrong for the Rudd Labor Government from it’s election in 2007 – obviously, it will be immediately claimed as a biased load of Liberal spin, yet if you read it closely, there’s a high degree of factual material in there, which in this age of technology, we could all see happening as time went along. Nevertheless, I imagine the same topic, if addressed by the President of the Labor Party would sound very different  – or would it? Afterall, there were fairly sound reasons by Mr Rudd was replaced by Julia Gillard – in her own words, the Rudd Government had lost it’s way’. The Press Club speech demonstrates how. I want to record it here, for future reference and comparison, with other opinions and theories that are sure to arise over the year’s ahead.  However, as it is a very long address, I’m reluctant to impose it in it’s entirety upon my readers, so I’ve decided to include it as a separate entry, on it’s own on the morrow!

Meanwhile, another address of a different nature I listened to tonight –  in attending, as an invitee, the Annual Dinner of the Sunbury Historical and Heritage Society, I gained the opportunity to hear the views from a representative of the Hume City Council, on the future prospects and anticipated changes to the town of Sunbury, and I found it both enlightening [and also a bit frightening] to hear of some of the hoped for developments in term’s of the town’s advancements in areas of shopping precinct improvements, traffic, parking, and the likely spread of residential expansions planned in most directions from the present town boundaries. So far, the success in levels of development around areas such as town streetscapes, shopping facilities and sundry services, restaurants, and sporting and cultural facilities,  in the 27 years since I have been here,  have also  created their share of negative aspects,  such as traffic congestion, lack of adequate parking, major  exit/entry problems for the town, and public transport inadequacies to many of the new expanding areas. With all the future plans of further expansion outlined tonight, one has to wonder whether the infrastructure side of things is going to be able to keep up [something which is not necessarily a problem common only to Sunbury].

 

It’s a beautiful morning, and I think that finally we may assume that the tail endings of a late wintry season are behind us, and things will begin to warm up from here on.

As I drove in towards the city this morning, my thoughts turned to years gone past, as I tried to put into some kind of context the past few decades in respect to the success or otherwise of my ’employment’ career, and depressingly, I came to the conclusion that in the broad viewpoint, it had been a failure. Sure plenty of individual successes along the way, jobs well done [in my view anyway], and some work achievements that I could rightly be proud of! However upon reflection, when you add all those different roles together [and there have been many of them since the mid 1960s], one can’t claim to have had a longterm successful pathway leading to major riches, any kind of fame, or fortune, or even the likelihood of a secure financial future. Most of those things have probably been sacrificed along the way – and not necessary in all cases, ways that one could regret –  family, voluntary workin community and as associated with the children’s education, and sporting and cultural pursuits –  for many people, time spent on those pursuits [by me] would have utilised to the ideals of accumulating wealth, pursuing faster and more successful advances in career paths.

As I reflected on all these things this morning, these realisations left your writer feeling a little sombre, but further thoughts will follow in trying to assess the real value and gains [and losses]  from following the directions I have! I shall return  to this train of thought at a later time!

Meanwhile. at the Opera House in Sydney this morning, there weas a Memorial Service for the late Joan Sutherland, who passed away a few weeks ago. There were the usual range of speeches and tributes, including a lenghy one from Julia Gillard [Prime Minister]. But the words that mattered the most came from friends and family. I got the impression [confirming peior knowledge] that Joan Sutherland was not just one of Australia’s greatest singers, but also a very warm and understanding human being, and this was further illustrated through some of the comments made in this morning’s service, some from her son, others from associates and friends.

Remarks included – no airs and graces; a real team player; a warm, human person; integrity and honesty as a performer; the public loved her, and loved them in return – at the end, she said that she didn’t miss the performancesso much, but missed the people; loyal; never assumed that things would always go well just because they had in the past – always revised her scores before a performance no matter how many times she had acted and sung the role; and from her son, she was dedicated to family, friends and work colleagues; will always give us pleasure for the rest of our lives through her cds, dvds, etc.

The Memorial Service concluded with the voice of the Diva herself – a recording of Dame Joan Sutherland singing ‘There’s No Place Like Home’ – I can imagine [from my own feelings], that would have been a very emotional and moving few moments at the Opera House, and I guess that was confirmed at the conclusion of the recording, by sustained applause of some minutes duration, of the kind that Joan Sutherland would have received hundreds of times after her live performances [and this was simply a recording]. The emotion didn’t end there – as the audience departed from the Opera House, there was a further recording [an ‘encore in death’ if you like] of her singing a beautiful aria from the opera ‘Norma’!   As indicated, to myself personally, rather a passionate and emotional ending to a special tribute to a great Australian.

We had a friend of the radio who had lost a relative in the last few days, so in the hope of cheering her up a little, I had a small segment in tonight’s Show music program, devoted entirely to Scottish music and songs  – some of the great old traditional melodies and airs such as Mull of Kintyre, Loch Lomond, Sky Boat Song, Flower of Scotland, and so on. I usually do that each week – call it a bit of an ‘interval treat’ where I put the show music aside for about 20 minutes, and play something completely different – and not just different on the night, but week by week, I choose a different style of artist, or genre of music! I didn’t really identify why I was playing Scottish music tonight – our friend would have caught on immediately, but my excuse was that I simply felt like it!! Certainly it was a bit of a contrast to some of the other tracks I featured in tonight’s show – Pearl Bailey and Marilyn Horne for eg, with songs from ‘Carmen Jones’ – or ‘Riverdance’ from Bill Whelan’s ‘Riverdance Musical’!!  I enjoy my music shows, and hopefully, the occasional listener does also, lol!!  Home much later than usual this week, as I stayed back at the studio for a while to ‘lend my voice’ for a sponsorship message, hence ended up eating a hastily prepared meal, which included some ‘hot’ calamari chips – mmm, can’t complain, Susie did warm me that they were ‘a bit hot’!!! Could be an uncomfortable night coming up!!!

I was interested to see overnight that Australia’s mototcycle champion, officially ended his contract with Ducati with a second position in the Valencia MotoGP – in fact he actually led for most of the race, but was overtaken by Lorenzo with about 8 laps to go. Stoner tried to regain the lead, but didn’t quite make it. This was the final race in the MotoGP 2010 season. In the end wash up, Casey Stoner finished 4th on the year’s overall championship ladder, with 225 points, behind Jorge Lorenzo [383], Dani Pedrosa [245] and Valentino Rossi [233].  Stoner won the championship in 2007, and the following year was named ‘Young Australian of the Year’. An apt title, as I always felt that he looked a lot younger than he really was, certainly back in 2007, and even now, just after turning 25, you would probably pick him as much younger.

Meanwhile, the Australian Summer of cricket continued yesterday, with the thid of the three one day matches against Sri Lanka. This game was held at the GABBA in Brisbane, where I was a few days ago, and finally saw the Australian team achieve a win after 7 losses in a row [I think it was] in all forms of cricket, defeating Sri Lanka by 8 wickets. Scores were Sri Lanka: 115.  Australia:  2 for 119.

As for my day in the office, well after a 40 year career, my major task today was stapling papers together, and enveloping notice papers for the organisation’s next General Meeting!! How the mighty have fallen, lol!!  Actually, in a staff of just three people, someone has to do the mundane tasks now and then, most of which we share around – I guess it was my turn today, as one of the many administrative roles of the organisation!!

Meanwhile, we were expecting some repairs to the storm damaged patio at home to be finally started today [I think the storm in question was nearly two months ago], but upon arrival home this afternnon, it was obvious that there had been no activity! Presumably another job came up and took priority.

 

Over the past few days, the national broadcaster, through the ABC’s Classical music FM station has been featuring  the ‘Classic 100- Ten years On ‘ countdown, selections as voted on by the listeners to ABC Classics. This morning [after being on air for two hours, playing just that, classical music], I made a point of tuning into the ABC, in order to listen to and hear what the top three choices had been. As I had the house to myself, the music was appropriately loud, and as it turned out, wonderful to listen to.

And it seems that Beethoven is still on the top of the popularity lists when it comes to the regular listener of classical music. I feature his music every now and them, and in fact are currently working through each of his mine symphonies, playing one about every 6 or 7 weeks. But as I’ve noted before, I do also like to feature a wide range of composers in my program, including comtemporary, more modern composers, and our own Australian artists. But I think next week, Beethoven might have a special place. In the Top 3 listener choices that I have heard this morning, Beethoven filled all three slots, with two of his symphonies, and one concerto. No doubt many other of his compositions got into the top 100, but I haven’t seen the listing yet, nor have I had much opportunity to tune in over the past few days. Those three selections were;

1. Beethoven – 9th Symphony [the ‘Choral Symphony’], listening to this one as I write :-)]

2. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 [the ‘Emperor Concerto’]

3. Beethoven:  6th Symphony [the ‘Pastoral Symphony’]

I’ve  already planned my show for next Sunday morning, and  have managed to include selections from all three of those selections in the schedule. Looks like an early start next week, as I have already scheduled in the 3rd to 5th movemejnts of Gustav Mahler’s very long 7th Symphony [75 minutes], of which I played the first two movements this morning – don’t usually do that, split a major piece of music, but with normally just two hours available to do the show, I decided that 1 1/4 hours allocated to just one piece was a bit much – hoped I didn’t upset any classical purists along the way!!

I was watching the debate on the TV last night – between John Brumby [State premier & leader of the Labor Party in Victoria] and Ted Baillieu [Liberal Opposition leader] – in the lead up to the Victorian State election on the last Saturday in November. As usual in these things there were a range of issues covered, but I did note in particular the various responses to one particular issue, the question of the increasing levels of violence in our city streets and on our trains, etc, and the question was asked of each leader as to what they intended to do about the problem, if re-elected.

I made  a brief comment about this on Faceback, and did receive a couple of interesting, which without naming the people concerned, I thought it was worth making a note of. I began with the note that: –    Ted Bailleau missed the point tonight – asked how he would change the culture of violence in the streets, trains, etc –  oh, more police, more presence on the trains, more power to act. His own words – ‘To change the culture you have to have more police”.  He repeated the Coalition’s pledge to add 1,700 more police and 950 Victoria Police protective service officers on all metropolitan and major regional train networks.  But is that going to change the culture Ted – may drive the violence underground, move it somewhere else!  On the other hand,  John Brumby got the point – you change the culture through the schools, education programs, things like the cyber bullying program, etc. Sorry Ted, you slipped up there! ……………………… A few friends responded with some views and comments of their own

[CF]: If that was the ABC radio I was hearing this morning…I wish my other half had rung in with his comments!! I think they’re good but he’d never make them public 😦 Security guards it was said were guarding the trains not the people….but apparently their powers are limited unlike police anyway…I’ve observed they’re recruiting for more police currently.           [Me]: Yes, my son spent 18 months as a security guard with the railways – and yes, they were ‘guarding’ the trains – from vandals!!!       [RP]: I agree, prevention better than cure- just need to address things like that really early in life- good teaching and environment for each and every toddler and preschooler.      [AP]: In my partial opinion, I didn’t like the fact that Ted needed notes to push his message, Brumby, was non scripted, plus I don’t recall, but I could be wrong Ted mentioning education, his main push is Law and Order, and this is worrying. We in Vic don’t live in the Bronx, and I am very concerned that if Ted keeps telling people what an unsafe place we live in people will start really believing this spin, most of all the elderly, who will deadlock their homes to the extent that in the event of a fire etc they won’t get out.  I don’t deny that there are some safety issues but the way that Ted and the boys are playing it, it’s like we are not safe to walk out our front doors, and in my opinion this is dangerous.        [Me]: In this case A, I do agree with you, lol, I’d like to see less emphasise on the ‘fear’ side of it. Sure, the public needs to be aware of dangers, and take precautions accordingly. however, it does all go back to education, and way we teach our society to behave and/or react responsibly to other cultures, religions, beliefs, and the kind of ideas R suggests. This also needs to tie in with employment opportunities, youth training – bored and idle ‘youths’ [young, old, male, female] are a recipe for problems, potential violence through frustration, lack of opportunity, and so on.  Last night’s debate was interesting and worthwhile, but in some ways, I felt both leaders were a little backward in coming forward – a reluctance to promise too much too precisely. It would be useful to have a forum of that nature here in this electorate – we’ve heard from the Liberal & Labor candidates, not much from the others, presume there are some. I wonder if there is any plan to bring them all together, and address the issues that more directly affect this area, in addition to their feelings on the broader scale of things?       [RP]: Here, here- fear is MUCH overused- disgusting really- from refugees to this. [CF]:  Ann I think I agree with you whilst the world has problems living in fear is no good. [RP]: Especially irrational fear- what a waste! And what a distraction from the real issues.  Like when the American right gets all bogged down in hunting out immorality in a sexual sense and forgets about the immorality of the violence of its overseas adventures or poor healthcare system.

Apart from that topic, the two basic differences between the leaders – well, it was what was to be expected of course. The Premier pledged that education, hospitals and more jobs would be at the heart of a returned Labor government. I mean at a State level, who wouldn’t promise attention to those kind of things. And not surprisingly, Ted Baileau emphasised an end to a decade of waste, and a tough new regimen to tackle crime.

Meanwhile, I think the issue that shown both leaders up a bit was the unconvincing manner in which they responded to questions about the allocation of preferences to the Greens [the third major Party in the coming election]. While I thought too much time was wasted on that aspect [by the panel and debate host posing the questions] both Brunby & Bailleau seemed unable to satisfy those questions. And as one of the papers noted this morning, the ‘Opposition leader is stubborn and he failed, yet again, to put his position on the table about whether he would be preferencing the Greens in crucial inner Melbourne seats’.  I got a bit frustrated with all that – it would seem to me, that where there are only three principal candidates, neither party could really avoid allocating their preferences to the Greens, and that would probably cancel their value out in any case. Of course, there are usually a number of minor candidates stand in the city seats, who while having no chance of being elected, can often cause problems for the majoe parties under our preferential voting system. But the newspaper article seemed to be suggesting that this preferencing debate is threastening to derail the Coalition’s campaign for election. Although mind you, John Brumby was not strong on that aspect either, in that he was far from convincing in saying whether or not Labor would form a minority government with the backing of the Greens, were that necessary. He stuck to the line that Labor was going out to win the election in it’s own right, and anything beyond that was supposition!!

Leaving that aside, we had a beautiful warmish day in this part of Victoria, which gave me no excuse to avoid the mowing of the those lawns and a few hours gardening. Mind you, by the end of all that, the ‘old legs’ were beginning to complain a little, and when we went out for a walk later in the afternoon, the legs convinced their owner that it should be a short walk!  I followed their advice!

As for this evening, well many tasks one wanted to get on with, but instead, read another chapter of the book I purchased yesterday – John Howard’s biography ‘Lasarus Rising’, and while I might be considered a little biased, I am so far finding it fascinating reading – in fact, although e are only into the early chapters, dealing with his early life, I finding it quite a comfortable writing style to read, hope it stays that way. Later, with the house to myself again [daughter away for the night, somewhere], I decided to ‘borrow’ her DVD player, and sit down for 3 hours with one of the DVDs that my son gave me for my birthday – the Series 1 and 2 of “24” featuring that secret agent Jack Bower!  This is one of the few TV series of recent years that I watched and enjoyed religiously, and I found it interesting revisiting the opening ‘chapters’ again, minus the advert breaks! I think I have watched all of the 5 or 6 series that have been screened out here. It will probably take me a while to get through these 12 DVDs that make up Series 1 and 2, as I seldom make time for that kind of TV viewing! Tonight was an exception, couldn’t be bothered doing anything else!! Incidentally, it got to 22 degrees in Sunbury today, almost Brisbane weather, and at this point in time it is a mild 14 degrees!

 

Finally, we have a beautiful sunny Spring morning – and an earlier start for me, as Friday is the day I call briefly in at the radio station, and join one of our ‘few professional radio people’ on his morning program, for a brief look [10 minutes maximum] at local sport [and we occasionally throw in a few comments and results on the international sporting scene] plus of course ‘Bill’s tips’ for that afternoon’s gallops [wherever they may be]. On this occasion, a little extra time devoted to that segment with tomorrow being the last day of the Spring Racing Carnival.

Then it’s back out into the traffic and the daily grind of fighting the peak hour roads. Yesterday seemed to be particularly bad leading into the city, but I think I will have to start getting on my way about 10 minutes earlier than I have been lately, that 10 minutes can often be the difference between an additional 20/25 driving of a morning.

Most of the news headlines in today’s papers seems to be concentrated on the mishap with the Qantas plane yesterday, where an engine apparently exploded midair, necesssitating a forced emergency landing at Singapore.  Thankfully, the outcome was no worse than that. However, there seems to have been over the past year or so, a number of incidents involving Qantas[an airline generally considered rather safe], and one comment I heard this morning was that these incidents were coinciding with the outsourcing of servicing, etc of the big planes to ‘overseas’ companies – obviously cheaper to do it that way I guess, but if that is risking the good record and safety of flights, etc, thenn the practice needs to be urgently. Now I have no knowledge of those outsourcing procedures, just repeating an opinion expressed on the radio, but certainly the outsourcing of work and industries to overseas countries before it is economically beneficial to do so, whatever the industry might be, has also ‘worried’ me to some degree, with the concern as to why more effort is not put into encouraging Australian home based industriers to undertake much of the tasks that are outsourced. Obviously, itr’s not as simple as that, but I sometimes wonder if our regulations and restrictions, etc, are been directed in the wrong manner. More on that at a later date.

I shall return>>>>

The Australian summmer of cricket continues, the second of a three match one day [50 overs each] series against Sri Lanka, and again, Australia’s run of losses continues – no doubt getting the English  media more and more excited by the minute!! Tonight in Sydney, a rain affected match, saw the Aussies fall short again.  Sri Lanka:  3/213 defeated Australia: 210.