While the Labor Party (as well as the Dems and Greens) have long held a pro-Republic stance for Australia, one of Labor’s newest recruits is making a new push for change – without even trying. Since his election in 2004 to the safe seat of Kingsford Smith, Peter Garrett has been kept on a very short leash, at the expense of his considerable passion and creativity. The leftist Midnight Oil front man, renowned for his environmental views, conciliatory approach to aboriginals and anti-nuclear position has since been remade as just another Labor MP.
Let me clarify. Early on in this Administration, I outlined one of the key reasons for not only adopting a Republic but an Executive Model for said Republic: career politicians innately make bad ministers (and leaders). Given the usual decades long process to achieve political office in this country, and the multitude of compromises one is forced to make along the way, it is rare to find a minister with any fresh ideas by the time they can make a difference. More commonly, cabinet ministers have little expertise in the field of their portfolio and act merely as a mouthpiece for ‘the party line’, while trying to avoid getting snagged by the media. From where I’m sitting, that’s no way to run a country.
Peter Garrett couldn’t be a more perfect example of this scenario. After living his life as a celebrity (and not a politician) he had the time and the inclination to pursue a range of left-wing causes. He helped found the ill-fated Nuclear Disarmament Party, was President of the Australian Conversation Foundation and was active with Greenpeace. All this while his band sang protest songs and made political statements – none more public than the ‘sorry’ shirts they wore at the 2000 Olympics. However, since becoming an MP, Garrett has been muted on conservation issues, including recent headliners like uranium mining and logging of Tasmanian old growth forests. Following his promotion by Kevin Rudd to Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment & Heritage, Arts, Garrett has emphasised his role as a team player within Labor, and his obligation to support the views of the caucus.
Bob Brown isn’t the only one who thinks he’s a sellout - but I don’t particularly blame Garrett for sacrificing his beliefs for political success. It’s the nature of the beast. If you want to have a direct say in how this country is governed you either curb your ideas to fit within the party guidelines, or you start an alternative Administration and blog about it. (Clearly, PG has a federal seat and I don’t). The shame of it all is that even though I don’t agree with all of Garrett’s leftist ideals, I respected his convictions and his need to be heard. The sanitised, Labor Party version of Garrett is a shadow of his true self – a reminder that our current political system is a breeding ground for mediocrity.
2 comments:
And yet an executive presidency would not change the situation. In the US it is hard to think of a Cabinet Secretary not being loyal to the ideals of the President - one person. The majority of Australians have wisely worked out this the wrong idea for an effective democracy.
In fact, we need to go back to what our Head of State should be doing for Australia. Currently our HoS is the Queen, who works for the UK. We need an Australian in this job, who is not a politican; someone who we choose and who won't deal with the PM or parliament; no political powers but independent and free speaking.
Solution: Replace the Queen with an directly-elected, non-executive Australian Head of State. (such as Honorary President Model or Prof. John Power's Council of State Model)
I can see what you're saying David, I can - but I think you're missing my point. Changing to a Republic is not about our Head of State - both the Queen and Governor General are good for one thing: cutting ribbons. The identities of figure heads with no political powers is less than irrelevant. Nobody cares. And to think that they would be independent is pretty naive, anyway.
What I'm talking about is radically changing the way our political system works. Australian's are generally resistant to change and its no wonder a majority of them are not yet on board with me. Sure my Cabinet Ministers would be loyal to their President, but they would have expertise in their portfolio and the business experience (not political) that drives the global market place. Fresh ideas, and the power to implement them.
At present, John Howard, one man, has all the power in this country. If anything, an executive presidency adds a third layer of accountability - the lower house, upper house and the president themselves. Think on it some more David, and maybe expand your ambition for the leadership of this country beyond powerless figureheads.
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