More Than a New Look

This Administration has not sought to comment on the new Labor leadership pairing of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard – frankly because it doesn’t mean much in itself. Labor have had four leaders in the past 3 years, and changing the salesman has failed where changing the product might have succeeded. So far Rudd has spouted the usual rhetoric, but faces his first real chance today to do something different when he names his new front bench. While the media focus on the power of factional forces in allocating portfolios, and speculate on which one Julia will choose for herself – my hope is that he would shake things up entirely by creating some new ministries:

1) Minister for David Hicks and Other Foreign Combatants

Even the most hardened proponents on the War on Terror have trouble explaining why Australian David Hicks has been held at Guantanamo Bay since 2002, without charge. Now while I think he’s probably guilty of something having been captured guarding a Taliban tank (and photographed with that famous rocket launcher), and with a history of fighting in the Kosovo Liberation Army – it would be nice for someone who knew the facts to decide that. American officials have described him as the “worst of the worst”, while his father (and lawyer) insist that not only has he not been formally charged, but wonder what crime deserves being held in solitary confinement for much of his imprisonment. Being an Australian citizen should afford you justice, anywhere in the world, and Labor would be well served exposing the Government’s lack of involvement on this issue, with a dedicated minister.

2) Minister for Water and Drought

I know we have a Shadow Water Ministry, its currently held by Anthony Albanese along with the Shadow Environment portfolio – until this afternoon anyway when he makes way for Peter Garrett. What I’m talking about though is a designated Minister whose sole purpose will be to seek out and co-ordinate solutions for our continuing water shortages – beyond the Government’s current subsidy ‘solution’ (subsidies invariably lead to inefficiency and are generally a bad idea). Kevin Rudd is already under scrutiny for a dam he didn’t get built in Queensland over a decade ago, and what better way to answer this criticism than with a concerted effort at finding current solutions.

3) Minister for Religious Harmony

A quick response to Pauline Hanson’s crap is always necessary, but offering some solutions to public concern instead of just calling her a nutbag would help make her pipe down. Now we have a Ministry for Immigration and Multicultural affairs (Annette Hurley and Tony Burke oppose Government Minister Amanda Vanstone), but it has done little to quell growing tensions between ethnic and religious groups in Australia. Approaching the anniversary of the Cronulla Riots, a new minister dedicated to finding common ground between Australian Christians and Muslims (and those not religious at all) would be a positive step. Ongoing harmony between these increasingly large and diverse groups should be a full time endeavor, separate from the issue of immigration and the outdated concept of multiculturalism.

Hopefully, while Mr. Rudd is browsing this Administrations policy positions he agrees that his Shadow Ministry not only needs fresh faces but new directions.