Judging by some conversations I was having this morning, and some buzz on FB over the weekend, a lot of folk are starting to focus on the reality of what Queensland will be if the LNP wins government. No doubt there’s not much mileage in it for Anna Bligh, but there is truth in the perception that the absence of an authoritarian regime and a much freer climate more supportive of creative endeavour has made a real difference to both a lot of Queenslanders who might otherwise have done the well worn trek to Melbourne, Sydney or elsewhere and also to the diversification of our state’s economy into knowledge industries of all kinds. There’s some real apprehension around about the clock being wound back.
This might, of course, be dismissed as a set of metropolitan concerns. I doubt that’s true. Cities such as Toowoomba, Ipswich, Townsville, Rockhampton and others are increasingly promoting themselves as university towns, as creative and educational hubs. Some of the Brisbane v. the regions and elite v. populist stereotypes beloved of just about everyone on either side of the purported dividing line may be false, or at least much blurrier than usually conceived.
Still, the geographical and cultural spread of Queensland makes elections here hard to read – or rather, for those sitting in Brisbane, harder to read as the crow flies further. There are real gaps between social and cultural and economic interests in this big state which are difficult to bridge. Whether we end up with an LNP government holding fewer metropolitan seats than Labor, or a Labor government with a much diminished regional representation (or a minority government whose complexion is determined by rural and regional independents), the next state administration is going to find it more challenging to govern in the interests of all Queenslanders.
That’s particularly because – on both sides – the vision has been so barren.
In this context, it’s interesting to point to Jason Wilson’s take – as someone whose perception of state politics continues to be shaped by his North Queensland origins. I’d recommend reading his whole article, but I’d also wholeheartedly endorse his conclusion:
There is a larger issue here that goes to the heart of our federation — people are rightly confused about what state governments are for, and what they represent, at a time when the central government is seizing the initiative in more and more areas but is itself confronted with enormous difficulties in steering the country through its current economic problems. The original federation was created to recognise not only different jurisdictions and different responsibilites, but different histories and identities. So what does it mean to be a Queenslander now? Neither of Queensland’s major parties seem to offer much of a clue on this score either.
If Queenslanders saw evidence of leadership, capability and bona fides among the candidates, their attention might be focused a little bit more on this contest. As it is, faced with disaster on several fronts, and no solutions, they might be forgiven for devoting their energies elsewhere. When ships are spewing filth over Queensland’s pride — its beaches — why waste time rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic?
Cross-posted at Larvatus Prodeo.
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http://cynicismcentral.org/node/60
TRUE BELIEVERS MUST BELIEVE IN NOTHING!
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A TOWNSVILLE LABOR POLITICIAN AND WANT TO BE ELECTED ON 21/3/09
I’d just like to fill the “vacuum” here before the election and point out what it takes for someone supposedly a lefty to stand for the Labor Party . To be preselected or appointed, first of all you have to be prepared:
• To give up all self respect and act in an unprincipled manner when called upon;
• To repeat the mantra “the past is a foreign country” and develop a short memory like Peter Garret;
• To forget that a number of federal Labor Ministers upheld the party’s position that no matter how many would die or be tortured – that East Timor should not be free. That like Rudd did here in Townsville, you may have to shake hands with the “Butcher of Dili” Gen. Ret. Herman Mantiri if your party wants it (1) ;
• To forget the complete dodgyness of taking developer donations and then try to ram their developments down the publics throats if your party wants it (2) ;
• To forget that the statement “you can only change it from within” is a time honoured Labor lie. It changes YOU -former individual!
This being said, both Labor and the liberals took donations from Laurence Lancini, and both the ALP and LNP have promised funding to ram a road through the publicly owned Flinders Pedestrian Mall on his behalf (3). I have it on good authority that no-one on the left of politics outside the ALP would SELL OUT and allow a road through the mall.
It’s only Labor and their developer donors that want the “Townsville Pier” canal estate/ marina and its environmental impacts.
Only fools would want to reopen the Ben Lomond uranium mine 50ks (4) up the road or the Gympie and Scylla Prospects within 35ks (5) , or to have Greenvale’s (Oasis) uranium (6) trucked to and transported through our port. The LNP will do this and impliedly Labor will because they are handing out the exploration permits. Some choice!
(1) The Butcher of Dili Herman Mantiri:
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=herman+mantiri&btnG=Search&meta=cr%3DcountryAU
Rudd and Mantiri (Townsville Bulletin 10/9/08) at the Townsville RSL:
http://cynicismcentral.nigelsim.org/tsvbulletin10908ruddmantrirsl.jpg
(2) http://www.cynicismcentral.org/node/57 and http://www.cynicismcentral.org/node/44
(3) Parties finally support Townsville mall upgrade ,Townsville Bulletin ,TONY RAGGATT
March 14th, 2009 , http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/03/14/44655_news.html
(4) Ben Lomond Uranium Mine location:
http://www.sea-us.org.au/uran-res.html
http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=Ben+Lomond+Uranium+Mine&btnG=Google+Search&meta=cr%3DcountryAU
(5) Gympie and Scylla
http://www.uel.com.au/pages/projects/queensland/narraweena.php
(6) Oasis prospect
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:qNe4M4P7jGgJ:www.ngmresources.com.au/upload/documents/investor/asx/20071002_NGM092007-MarshsCreek18Jan07.pdf+glengarry+uranium&cd=14&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au
Re: 42’s response – i agree Howard was an arsehole – and I never voted for him. (I am also a federal public servant and almost lost my job during his first term in government). And agree the Borg will probably strip the State public service back.
But in other areas – I still cannot see what difference it will make to change government at the State level. Will either party do anything about daylight saving? probably not. will either party change the age of consent for gay people? probably not. will either party review brothel laws to allow escort agencies? probably not (lets just NO).
@ 50. Just when you thought the ALP had given up they crank it up a notch and pump out this little gem. It won’t move many voters, as it would be about as effective as the LNP attacking the Labor DP, no-one cares about deputies. They would have been better off targeting Palmer with a “who pulls the strings” attack ad just the same as WA libs targeted Burke.
As Graham Young writes, the ALP negatives simply aren’t working, people aren’t listening. This ad hasn’t been properly focus group tested, because it’s more of the same negative garbage that won’t turn around the impending train wreck for the ALP.
Bring on the 21st.
try this one steve “that video is not longer available”, but this one is – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEySq9FNDlk&feature=channel_page (it’s the one I saw on SBS earlier tonight)
Thanks scot, why McArdle wasn’t made Shadow Treasurer or Attorney General is a mystery to me, has he past experience in health we haven’t been told about?
Reasons Mark McArdle would make a good Health Minister:
1. He’s not Stephen Robertson
2. Useless with money. Hopeless at oversight.
And that is supposed to explain why the National Party has fixing the health system as the number one issue and not a word on how they are going to fix the “crisis” and how they are going to pay for it and how all the sacked workers are going to find new jobs. Well Done, No solution to a supposed “crisis”.
Haha, fun to watch the Laborites try and defend Stephen Robertson, nothing you can say helps. Nothing. The ALP Health Minister is a joke, an absolute joke. At least it would be a joke if weren’t actually happening, and people weren’t dying on waiting lists because of this man.
Even my most rusted on ALP friends don’t defend that grub. You should be ashamed.
Citizen Coleman
Oh yeah! the old uranium truck passing your front door scare campaign
Why should we open a uranium mine? It means jobs for people and money for us, and tax for government
Is Uranium dangerous driving pass your front door? South Australia and Northern teritory does not think so. It is mined in many other place around the world
A lot of people in the ALP thinks they should mine Uranium, Bligh is trying to play politics and win the Green votes
Ryan, People who indicate that running departments like Health is a piece of cake, suggests you have not got a CLUE, and if you think it is easy, you obviously do not have much of an idea of the complexity involved, with thousands of staff all capable of making cockups which land on you desk.
It’s easy to be critical, but when you do not know what is involved, indicates the lack of mental ability to workout the complexity of the position involved.
Sorry Nature5 – have to take issue with your grammar!
Your example “I can’t remember Springborg ever making a good speech” is wrong! Try “I can’t remember Springborg’s ever making a good speech”. Sounds awkward – but it’s “right”!
apostrophy narks rule, heck I can hardly spell.
Or “I can’t remember Springborg ever having made a good speech.”
Re 61 , labor will eventually allow uranium mining in Qld .
In my post at 51, there was an incorrect link on footnote (2) where it says http://www.cynicismcentral.org/node/57 it should be http://www.cynicismcentral.org/node/58
those Ferguson bruvvas will also probably turn us into the worlds nuke dump too.
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