Beattie acts the leader, rather than the populist - for a change!

It is a rare occasion that I see fit to agree with a decision undertaken by the QLD Labor government. Previous posts on this blog have clearly shown my contempt for one of the worst governments in Australian history - appalling governance and countless failures abound.

But this weekend Beattie has done a rare thing in his political history - taking the choice to lead, as oppossed to just pandering to the popular. In deciding to just make water recycling happen, rather than putting QLD through another referendum that could be hijacked by fear (ala Toowoomba's referendum), Beattie has made the right choice. Recycled drinking water is a reality in international cities such as Singapore - so rural Queensland can most certainly put up with the 'ich' factor. When voters are unwilling to pay more for water, but also unwilling to accept recycled drinking water, a politician needs to step up and make the hard call.

I'll be able to count on one hand the amount of times this will happen, but still, good call by Beattie.

Howard delivers a powerful blow...

If Howard and Rudd were boxers, yesterday's $10 billion Murray-Darling policy announcement would have been a powerful body blow that left Rudd reeling and on the defensive. After several years of allowing the states to attempt to deal with this issue, Howard has stepped in and made a decisive and popular move that allows him to spend on a issue that will win votes but won't threaten to raise inflation (as a middle-class tax cut / benefit might).

It swept aside Rudd's calls for a water summit - Howard assumes responsibility for the Murray-Darling, simultaneously putting pressure on the states to now manage their residential water supplies. The federal government has pledged $10 billion and assumed responsibility for a major water issue - the burden of supplying water to the cities and suburbs is now squarely on the state's back, as is the blame for failure.

Turnbull appeared on the 7.30 report after the announcement during the day at the National Press Club. On a side issue, Turnbull's interview technique needs a lot of work - he waffled his way through several very 'kind' Kerry O'Brien questions and was given a lot of leeway not normally afforded to politicians by ABC interviewers.

This policy allows Turnbull to start making serious noise nationally about the Governments 'realist' green credentials. The next step is to announce policy that funds the research and development of clean coal technology and guarantees the Australian coal industry's future. Value adding our uranium exports by enriching in country, as well as developing stringent procedures designed to prevent proliferation are another area for the Government to focus upon.

Looking forward to the next blow to the Labor agenda - looks like that honeymoon is starting to waiver. Bet Labor are spitting that their $1 million early advertising campaign just got overshadowed by Howard's policy announcement...

How can Costello best sieze the agenda Post-Howard...

Costello's op-ed piece in the Australian today gave a glimpse of the Coalition under its next leader. Highlighting the importance of intergrating migrants into the workforce and wider society, Costello alluded to some of his major differences to Howard. Costello, I believe, will quickly move towards the centre once Howard finally bows out of Federal politics. One of the most important things Costello must achieve is to significantly rejuvinate the Coalition's cabinet and frontbench. He must also establish a new agenda that siezes the initative and provides a clear direction that differs to the Howard years.

The 'new' liberal agenda could include a significant focus on climate change, improvement in education on all levels, continued taxation reform (simplifying the tax system by removing all deductions and lowering rates across the board is a reform worth working towards), improving efficiency in the National economy, education, water and energy.

Costello and his inner circle must focus on building a major agenda to agressively pursue upon Howard's retirement - a rejuvinated Coalition with a Costello driven 'new agenda' is critical for election success post Howard.

Game on...

The reshuffle we all knew was coming delivered the key players to the frontline today. Howard has delivered his 'war' cabinet and front bench for the long run to the polls in 2007. The biggest winner was, unsuprisingly, Malcolm Turnbull. Since his arrival in Canberra Turnbull has been positioning himself as a voice for water conservation issues, and increasingly the enivronment. He has rapidly repaired his relationship with the Prime Minister's office and has mounted an impressive 'charm offensive' to combat any bad blood remaining from his Republican days and Wenworth pre-selection battle. His match up with high profile Labor MP Peter Garrett will prove to be the match up of the 2007 campaign.

Amanda Vanstone was dumped - her performance in the media has been particularly poor lately, and definitely sends the message that Howard is clearing dead wood for the election battle ahead. Greyer than grey Kevin Andrews takes her portfolio, which clears way for a stronger performer in Workplace relations - the Sunrise connection continues to deliver, with Joe Hockey getting a high profile portfolio and match up against Julia Gillard. Kevin Andrews suits Immigration - his softer, controlled, 'machine like' manner will play much better that Vanstone's recent performances on the 7:30 report.

The uncertainty is put to rest with this move - Howard and his team are ready to face off and Kevin Rudd's honeymoon is quickly coming to an end. Let's see how rudely the media returns Rudd to earth...

Religion rising on the national agenda...

An interesting op-ed piece in SMH by Tim Costello and more religious / political commentary from the Australian's Christoper Pearson have highlighted how religion will again play a significant role in the next election. In fact, with Kevin Rudd keen to sieze the relgious vote back from the Coalition, religion could be artificially high on the agenda....

If you needed any further proof, how about Hillsong blesses Rudd's Labor or Rudd's religion strikes a cord in the Daily Telegraph and the Australian respectively.

The 2004 Election had a religious side - Family First gaining plenty of press and attention from the Coalition to secure preference deals. Labor at the time made little attempt to woo the Christian vote, something that Rudd thought was a mistake and sought to correct prior to winning the leadership. But the issue of religion is set to play a much larger role in the 2007 election - Howard is being challenged by Rudd for the Christian vote. The mainstream Christian vote in particular has slid away from Labor, particularly the Catholic vote - it is this little 'l' liberal Catholic / Anglican / Uniting voter that Rudd is particulalry trying hard to woo.

Rudd seems to be buttering up Family First for a more Labor friendly preferencing deal - after all, these preferences traditionaly flow to the Coalition, and would be a painful loss to Howard. Family First has polled at about 5% in recent elections, and will be hoping to improve on its first Federal showing. Steve Fielding will again become an important figure in the lead up to the next election, with both sides keen to woo Family First preferences with family friendly / christian friendly policies and deals.

This is a postive development for Chrisitans - Christian and family issues will once again be high on the agenda for both major parties in the next election. Several high profile Christian politicians are working hard and performing well in all major parties and Family First.

Brian Houston, Head Pastor of Hillsong Church and head of the Assemblies of God denomination, explained well what I believe about Christian involvement in politics;

"I am of the opinion that it is not the role of the church to be involved in party politics but if individual Christians have a desire to contribute to the community through politics, I would encourage them to do so. I see absolutely no reason why Christians should be the only sector of society excluded from having a voice into the direction of our nation."

A new year begins...

2007 is barely begun and already Howard has returned nuclear energy to the national agenda. This strategy was planned and executed in a different era - an era where Howard faced the lacklustre Beazley, battling to show the voters that he had the 'ticker' to be Prime Minister. What is interesting is that Howard and his advisers have decided to lead into the new year, in the middle of Rudd's political honeymoon, with the nuclear 'wedge' aimed squarely at Labor. Howard and his team still see value and political gain from pushing the point - it would be interesting to see what they are planning now they have set the scene for the nuclear debate.

Rudd is steadily working on a 'war chest' through favours from Labor's Premiers and Chief Ministers. Federal Labor seeks to make significant savings by making deals with State Labor that Howard has been unable to achieve. While this all sounds good in theory, I can't help wondering if there are a few reservations from poor performing State governments behind closed doors. Who will Beattie blame if Federal Labor is in government? How will the supposed voter desire for a 'check' ( one party for the state, the other for the nation ) work when a Federal Labor Government returns to power? QLD and NSW Labor must be carefully wieghing up their options, attempting not to burn too many bridges with Howard and hedge their bets for next year's election.

I was interested to see the commentary this week on Fraser's decisions in regards to humanitarian immigration for Lebanese during the 1970's. It shows how careful planning and consideration must always be applied to immigration. Poor choices made three decades ago have delivered a community that to this day faces difficulty integrating into the Australian mainstream where others have not. Fraser blames Governments after his for failing to ensure integration support was adequate - and indeed some of the actions taken by Labor were short term focused, designed to curry favour in Western Sydney. What Fraser fails to own up to is the fact that he went against Department advice, and failed to respond to repeated warnings - this is an issue that will haunt Australia and the Lebanese Australian community for some time to come.

So predictions for the new year - NSW Labor returned to office, Howard returned to office, more of the same in Iraq and Israel. I'll be watching senior Liberal figures for clues to how Howard's retirement in 2008 will change the face of the Coalition Government.