Election day in Canberra with voting underway to decide the make up of the Territory’s legislature or the “Toytown” parliament as I like to call it.
No one really likes the local parliament. It was foisted on us in the late 1980’s by a Federal government looking to save money by unloading their responsibility for governing the capital and creating a mini-parliament much to the consternation of many in Canberra.
The first election ever held for this esteemed body saw several odd and interesting entities, some disguising themselves as political parties, running for office. There were notable creations, variously called “The No Self Government Party” and similar who ran on a platform, obviously, which stated a willingness and desire to help abolish self-government should they gain office. Unsurprisingly, some of these people were elected. Perhaps more unsurprisingly, they accepted ministries in the first coalition ACT government and it seems they quickly lost the fervour for dissent which had elevated them to the halls of local power. Rabble rousing and delivering on the single promise they had made and presumably had a mandate for was soon ignored as they basked in the limelight of local politics.
Of course as one would expect, these people only lasted a single term in government and were consigned after defeat at the second ACT election, to crawling back under the rocks from which they first emerged.
But self government remains and although Canberran’s are still somewhat disinterested in the local political scene there does now seem to be a begrudging acceptance of our local government even though in reality it is no more than a glorified city council. The government of the ACT is here to stay and there is nought those of us who don’t like it can do about it.
We have had a Labour government here for eleven years, ripe enough I guess for the picking and although they have made some stuff ups there is nothing to suggest that the very unimaginative Mr Zed Seselja, leader of the opposition, has wowed Canberra enough to change the balance in the Assembly. Mr Seselja is a young fellow by political standards at 35 and is a bit different to the average Australian politician in having a Croatian background. Nothing wrong with that of course, in fact I think it is healthy but he does appear to be just another right wing “empty suit”, bland, no vision, peddling the same spin that is heard from his senior partners across the country. I have a feeling, should Mr Seselja fail in his bid to become Chief Minister as the polls are suggesting, then we may well have heard the last of him as he will be a two time loser having been defeated on the last go round in 2008. I don’t think the party will give him a shot for three in a row in 2016.
Of course that is not to say that the leader of the Labour Party in the ACT is likely to be remembered in the same vain as Abraham Lincoln! Katy Gallaher has only been Chief Minister a little over a year after replacing the retiring incumbent 14 months ago and she has a few flies on her notably the handling of a scandal emanating from the Canberra Hospital and her roll in the debacle which was the Gunghalin Drive Extension. She does however have quite a personal following which, with the help of the very healthy Greens vote in the ACT, should see her retake her seat at the head of the table in a Labour/Greens coalition. Time will tell.
I wandered down to the local high school just after lunch and was amazed to find the place, which is usually bustling with local party staffers of all varieties handing out how to vote cards, almost bereft of people. No party hacks to be seen. A very low key affair considering it is usually a very busy place on polling day. Perhaps I arrived too late to see any excitement.
And that is how I have spent my Saturday.
Out to dinner tonight to a friends place in Deakin and presumably another quiet Sunday in the offing. I hope so.
Wherever you are I hope you are enjoying great weather as we are having here and life is treating you well. Take care.
No one really likes the local parliament. It was foisted on us in the late 1980’s by a Federal government looking to save money by unloading their responsibility for governing the capital and creating a mini-parliament much to the consternation of many in Canberra.
The first election ever held for this esteemed body saw several odd and interesting entities, some disguising themselves as political parties, running for office. There were notable creations, variously called “The No Self Government Party” and similar who ran on a platform, obviously, which stated a willingness and desire to help abolish self-government should they gain office. Unsurprisingly, some of these people were elected. Perhaps more unsurprisingly, they accepted ministries in the first coalition ACT government and it seems they quickly lost the fervour for dissent which had elevated them to the halls of local power. Rabble rousing and delivering on the single promise they had made and presumably had a mandate for was soon ignored as they basked in the limelight of local politics.
Of course as one would expect, these people only lasted a single term in government and were consigned after defeat at the second ACT election, to crawling back under the rocks from which they first emerged.
But self government remains and although Canberran’s are still somewhat disinterested in the local political scene there does now seem to be a begrudging acceptance of our local government even though in reality it is no more than a glorified city council. The government of the ACT is here to stay and there is nought those of us who don’t like it can do about it.
We have had a Labour government here for eleven years, ripe enough I guess for the picking and although they have made some stuff ups there is nothing to suggest that the very unimaginative Mr Zed Seselja, leader of the opposition, has wowed Canberra enough to change the balance in the Assembly. Mr Seselja is a young fellow by political standards at 35 and is a bit different to the average Australian politician in having a Croatian background. Nothing wrong with that of course, in fact I think it is healthy but he does appear to be just another right wing “empty suit”, bland, no vision, peddling the same spin that is heard from his senior partners across the country. I have a feeling, should Mr Seselja fail in his bid to become Chief Minister as the polls are suggesting, then we may well have heard the last of him as he will be a two time loser having been defeated on the last go round in 2008. I don’t think the party will give him a shot for three in a row in 2016.
Of course that is not to say that the leader of the Labour Party in the ACT is likely to be remembered in the same vain as Abraham Lincoln! Katy Gallaher has only been Chief Minister a little over a year after replacing the retiring incumbent 14 months ago and she has a few flies on her notably the handling of a scandal emanating from the Canberra Hospital and her roll in the debacle which was the Gunghalin Drive Extension. She does however have quite a personal following which, with the help of the very healthy Greens vote in the ACT, should see her retake her seat at the head of the table in a Labour/Greens coalition. Time will tell.
I wandered down to the local high school just after lunch and was amazed to find the place, which is usually bustling with local party staffers of all varieties handing out how to vote cards, almost bereft of people. No party hacks to be seen. A very low key affair considering it is usually a very busy place on polling day. Perhaps I arrived too late to see any excitement.
And that is how I have spent my Saturday.
Out to dinner tonight to a friends place in Deakin and presumably another quiet Sunday in the offing. I hope so.
Wherever you are I hope you are enjoying great weather as we are having here and life is treating you well. Take care.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 