Uppdate : It’s happened again!
Sydney radio announcer Steve Price told his audience that when questioning Peter Garrett about Labor’s ‘Me-Tooism’, Garrett replied, it wouldn’t be a problem because they would “change it all” when they got into power.
Garrett has come out and said:
“There is no doubt things would change under a Labor government.
“We would launch an education revolution, we would get rid of Work Choices, we would deliver a high speed broadband network across Australia, we will end the blame game on hospitals.
“There is nothing remarkable about that.”
This plays a little to neatly into Howard’s narrative of the sneaky Rudd story for my liking. And with the absence of source materials for the interview (which happened at an airport lounge) I’m sure his mob will use their imagination.
Let’s pray Kevin doesn’t release a clarifying statement.
Meanwhile, the spectre of death, Phillip Ruddock is suggesting bringing in any new people into government reduces our ability to react to a terrorist incident. This is why octogenarians such as Ruddock (perhaps a slight exaggeration) should immediately be sent to Iraq where their wealth of experience can be put to direct use.
Rudd needs to stop being so nervous about losing the election from the lead that he jumps down on his ministers merely when something they say might be construed as ammunition for the Coalition.
He did it with McClelland over his sensible remarks on the death penalty and he’s done it with Peter Garrett over his remarks about a post Kyoto agreement requiring (or not requiring) developed nations to cut emissions.
Read the transcript and /or listen to the audio for yourself.
Update: Apparently Garrett was explicit in an interview with the Australian Financial Review, if anyone has a copy of it, let me know.
Garrett was not suggesting we take part in binding agreements that would not include the US or China. He was emphasizing the fact that Australia should be a part of the process of getting those agreements made. This is in contrast to Howard’s position that unless a wonderful magical all-encompassing consensus emerges binding everybody, then fuck it.
But by being a bit slippery about the question, (if developed nations don’t sign on, then we won’t avert climate change will we?) Howard pounced on it. Rudd overreacted and in stead of standing by what his minister said, he issued a ‘clarifying statement’. Something a diplomat does, not a leader.
Now the government is spinning that in fact there is very little that differentiates Labor from the Coalition on climate change (a good reason to vote Green!). We have an opposition that wants you to believe it’s economics are identical to the government and a government who wants you to believe it’s environmental policy is identical to the opposition. Presumably because each is envious of the other’s poll numbers on the respective issues.
Check out The Big Switch to find out real points of difference amongst the parties and where your local candidate stands on the most important issue (in my view) of this election.
Show those in power and those who want power what this issue means to you by Walking Against Warming.
On Sunday November 11, join thousands of other Aussies at the Walk Against Warming near you to send a clear message to our political leaders – that the community wants bold and effective leadership on climate change!
GetUp Meeting Spots in Capital Cities
In Melbourne:
Meet at Federation Square at the entrance to the Ian Potter gallery at 12:30pm.
Dale Dickins 0405 776 169 victoria@getup.org.au
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