Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Despite victory, the booers and hissers spoil the party

By David Burchell - posted Wednesday, 28 November 2007


Emerson, Lindsay Tanner and others have been the key thinkers in returning Labor to the political mainstream. Kevin Rudd, for all his political savvy, has been the beneficiary of their revisionism.

Now Labor has plucked the fruit of their labours. Even though the booers and hissers have barely condescended to notice.

But now that Labor has returned to the mainstream, it's even more important that the party moves on. Ordinary Australian families are concerned about their mortgages and their working conditions. But they also expect the new government to take the lead on issues of national significance.

Advertisement

Over 2007 Rudd has been very effective in distancing Labor from the politics of noisy minority interest groups. But in government Australians will expect positive policy directions as well, and Rudd has been hazy about these so far.

Broadband Internet access is not a substitute for schooling or innovation policies. Rescuing the lives of Australians in remote Aboriginal communities will require policy boldness, not the timidity Rudd evinced during the final days of the campaign.

Labor has laid the ghosts of the recent past. It now faces the much bigger task of moving beyond the slogan of "New Leadership" to actual policy leadership. It's not yet clear whether it has sufficient political resources to do so.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. Page 3
  5. All

First published in The Australian on November 26, 2007.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

6 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

David Burchell, a senior lecturer in humanities at the University of Western Sydney, is author of Western Horizon: Sydney's Heartland and the Future of Australian Politics.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by David Burchell

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 6 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy