Racism Labor’s unifying thread. Julia Gillard’s approach to asylum seekers reminds us of one thing: for most of its history a consistent thread in Labor Party policy was a fear of coloured migrants. The inherent racism of the ordinary working classes was papered over from the late 1960s by a Labor Party leader of moral strength but Gough Whitlam’s leadership is being swept aside today by Julia Gillard. The new federal Labor Leader has chosen to pander to ugly racism with its modern touch of anti-Muslim feeling rather than fight it.
Too clever by half. The so-called smart Labor machine men (few if any apart from the PM herself are women) believe that they have out smarted the Coalition by coming up with their East Timor solution. Well my guess is that the biggest beneficiary of this amazing about turn by Labor will be the Greens and that Bob Brown will find himself not only leading a group with the balance of power in the Senate but with a substantial representation in the House of Representatives as well.
Today’s announcement by Ms Gillard will certainly split the Labor Party in a most unedifying way. It gives new understanding to Kevin Rudd’s cryptic remarks on the eve of his dumping about refusing to move to the right on the question of boat people. A week ago I would have thought a comeback by Rudd to a position of power and influence was impossible. Now he has the opportunity to re-emerge — this time as a successor to those who fought the good fight back in the 1960s to ignore the racism of so many of Labor’s voters.
Striking a hard bargain. Presumably the Government of East Timor will drive a hard bargain for any help it gives to an unprincipled Australian Government trying to solve its own problems with re-election. Along with a considerable bundle of money we can expect that the Timorese will succeed in getting the planned processing of gas on an offshore platform abandoned with the facility being moved to their country.
Success so far for pragmatism. Up until now the Labor coup leaders would be quite happy with their handiwork. By having the retention of power as their sole motivation they are getting rid of the negatives at a rapid rate. The Crikey Election Indicator this morning had Labor improving to a 76% probability of retaining office after being down in the low 60s towards the end of the Rudd reign.
When it comes to interest rates this afternoon, the Crikey Indicator suggests there is little chance of an increase:
The grubby invocation of ‘political correctness’ (thanks John Howard), the ethically murky condemnation of ‘people smugglers’ (were the people who assisted slaves from the deep south to move north before the US civil war people smugglers? was Oscar Schindler? if you were a desperate person trying to escape torture or death would you despise the offer of transport to a safe haven for a fee?) the dogwhistle attempt to foment fear in the western suburbs of Sydney and like places (hello, which major party usually rules NSW and fails to put in the necessary infrastucture?) all add up to a government that has found its way back to the lowest common denominator. And of course the re-invocation of Alexander Downer’s Pacific solution. And of course the failure to recognise the very small proportion of desperates who arrive by boat. The only real recourse seems to be to support the greens wherever possible. Anyone who was happy to see Gillard replace Rudd now will have cause to think again. And again.
“Smart Labor machine men” – there’s an oxymoron or several – look at their results?
Perpetual motion does not amount to “perspicacity”, more an “Energiser bunny”! This is much the same “SLMM Lords” that gave us Latham, and Rudd. Why doesn’t one of them step up and show the rest of the tribe what it’s all about, rather than standing above the puppet show, pulling strings, or “whatever” they pull?
Bring on the “Green Machine”!
As for dog-whistling “Come behind Magenta!”
Sorry Richard, this isn’t related to the column but I have to share it with somebody:
Have just read an ABC online story about Paul Keating being charged with running a red light. ABC police reporter, Lucy McNally, describes Keating as a “former Labor leader’.
She’s technically right but that’s akin to describing Queen Elizabeth as a former British princess.
LOL @Zut, they must read Crikey at the ABC. They’ve just updated it to “former PM” 🙂
Thanx Richard, for giving a couple of reasons why a processing centre on Timor might be good for the Timorese if not for the asylum seekers and Australia’s human rights record. Bougainville and the PNG mainland next?