Lawrence Dimech
Two migrants in Australian polls
Australia will soon have a choice between two English-born migrants who are vying for leadership of this continent when the country goes to the polls on August 21.
Julia Gillard, the first ever-female Prime Minister, took the short trip from Canberra's Parliament House to call on the Governor General Quentin Bryce and announced a federal general election for the House of Representative and half the Senate. It was a historic all-female beginning to a five-week election campaign.
Ms Gillard, a 48-year-old industrial relations lawyer, an atheist with a deeply working-class heritage, is the daughter of Welsh migrants.
She has a long-term partner, Tim Mathieson, and no children. She served as Deputy Prime Minister under Kevin Rudd.
Tony Abbott, the Leader of the Opposition, is 52, was born in London and raised on Sydney's affluent North Shore, becoming a trainee Catholic priest, a journalist and political adviser before he entered politics. He is married with three children and has constantly sought to mesh his Catholic philosophies with political pragmatism.
There is no doubt that this 43rd election will turn federal politics into an intense battle of personalities. It will be a battleground for a clash of gender, ideologies and intellect.
The Labour leader wants Australia to move forward. The opposition is insisting that to change policies you have to change the government.
In the 2007 election, Mr Rudd's Labour Party snatched 24 seats from the Liberal-National Coalition. The present Parliament incorporates Labour with 83 seats, Coalitions with 64 and two independents. After a mid-term redistribution of boundaries, the Coalition needs a swing of 2.4 per cent and a gain of 18 seats in order to win government.
Since the 2007 election, the pace of political change was dramatic. The Liberal Party has dumped two leaders, Brendon Nelson and Malcolm Turnbull, before they settled on Mr Abbott. Labour, having won an enormous victory under Mr Rudd, turned on him and dumped him from leadership on June 23. This shows the erratic and volatile nature of politics, where popularity and preference swing dramatically between personalities.
Ms Gillard is asking the Australian people to elect her as the first female Prime Minister. She has proven to have all the credentials of a powerful leader. Mr Abbott is a bit erratic and on the conservative side but, nonetheless, a good communicator. They, no doubt, will provide an enthralling electoral campaign.
The dumping of Mr Rudd, the politician who led Australia so successfully through the global recession and apologised to the stolen generation, did no go down well with Labour supporters but they now see in Ms Gillard a very determined meticulous leader. Climate change and the arrival of boat people are looming large in the debate. The refugee debate always stirs emotions and whips up fear. Mr Abbott wants to turn the boats back when possible while the other side is insisting there is no easy fix with asylum seekers and are boosting international border protection.
The opposition has often called the arrival of asylum seekers a peaceful invasion, an armada and a tsunami of boats, yet, this is seen only as putting fear into such an emotional debate. When it comes to asylum-seekers, Australia is near the bottom of international rankings with just 6,170 allowed into the country in 2009. That compares with about 30,000 in the UK, 33,000 in Canada and 42,000 in France.
When Australia goes to the polls on August 21, the people will have a clear choice and, hopefully, they will elect a party that will continue to lead Australia with a strong and stable government.
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B Agius
Jul 22nd 2010, 09:54
Joseph Ellul expresses himself (which is his democratic right) in a way that befits his Maltese background. Either one way or the other! NO balance. And given his "Communists" references he is living in a 'reds under the bed' space that hasn't been in existence (as a view) for years. But, of course, it takes all sorts! By the way- the Education infrastructure builds he refers to has had many (or some) problems. BUT I also heard many a School Principal say that it has been excellent in terms of setting them up with facilities for years to come. There seems to have been more problems in NSW - where everything everyone does seems to be a problem or a corrupt action! My understanding is that , especially in the Catholic School system where principals did a lot of the organizing themselves (to cut costs and maximize outcomes), the outcomes from the Education Revolution infrastructure initiatives have been excellent.
Joseph Ellul - Sydney
Jul 21st 2010, 05:19
For your information, Gillard was in charge of the education revolution that was the biggest bungle of all time. Money dissapeared as projects were approved. There were no tendering processes. Most contracts were given out as single tender. What about the insulation catastrophe. Hard working people died due to government incompetence in regulation and supervision. Houses are still burning. K.Rudd was a hard person to deal with, but those around him were incompetent. Most ministers around him would not do as told and Gillard was Brutus. Whatever she looks like, she still has the same mix that makes her green on the outside and red on the inside.
Compared to her Nikita Krushev was a baby in trainers.
B Agius
Jul 21st 2010, 02:39
Oh well - a small mistake really !! And to the Maltese - even those that lived in Australia for a long time apparently - they are all referred to as "l-Inglizi". So what the heck chaps!
P Manderson.
Jul 20th 2010, 23:11
It's true that Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott are from British and English parentage respectfully but they are both Australians with a sincere passion and committment to lead thier parties into a strong and resourceful future. Mr Dimech has given a reasonable insight into the personalities of the candidates, we shall see who plays out the election campaign to the best advantage.
G Chapman
Jul 20th 2010, 18:45
How can being born in Wales be English born??
Wales is NOT in England.They are both two seperate countries within the United Kingdom with Wales even having it's own language and used more than English in that country.
Being British doesn't make you English!!
I'm sure Mr Dimech that you meant no offence but took it as a literal translation from Maltese where we have an ignorant habit of refering to someone with a British passport as having an English passport. There is no such thing as an English passport. such a thing does not exist.
Mary Mills
Jul 20th 2010, 11:48
Lawrence you forget! The two party leaders in the Australian general elections aren't BOTH English. British - yes. Tony Abbott: English, the other one, Julie Gillard, she comes from "Gwalia", another country. The usually quiet, self-effacing Welsh, do, I think, generally keep a low profile in Australia (compare the Irish) so, perhaps, serve them right getting lumped in with the English! And how they hate it, just quietly!
Anyway, about this business re the Welsh, the English or whether Wales even exists at all, there was rather a bit of a carry on from one (a compatriot of ours living in London), during the Migrants Convention last March. And now, Lawrence, you're still referring to the Welsh as 'English'!
B Agius
Jul 20th 2010, 11:21
Gillard was born in Wales! Now that is in Britain and not in England. Abbott was born in London - so yes, you're right . he's England born.