Greenwash Political Action Party and Urban Grassroots Movement for the Green Party

Monday, March 13, 2006

Julia of no idea

The ALP in-fighting we need

With all the current ALP factional infighting, the one thing missing is a genuine debate about ideas. Ideas and options for Australia, not ones only relating to internal Labor party process.

There are real differences that run through Labor, but the new fault lines don’t run along the factional divide.

Take Climate change for example. The big issue that will shape much politics here globally into the future. Kim Beazley (right faction) and Anthony Albanese (left) were out to spruiking Labor’s a climate change policy as progressive. Meanwhile Martin Ferguson (left) is at one with John Howard on the issue - presumably along with Stephen Conroy (right), who is a well known climate sceptic.

Similar scenario on refugees. As Matt Price pointed out in The Australian there is still resentment at Julia Gillard (left) for adopting the anti-refugee policy she developed as immigration shadow. Carmen Lawrence resigned from the front bench because the policy lacked enough compassion and humanity. And while some on the right were concerned, Laurie Ferguson (left) is fervently anti-refugee.

There are real differences within Labor that are worth debating relating to the future of Australia and, indeed, the plant. But where is the debate on these from leadership aspirants like Julia Gillard?

According to the recent Morgan/Crikey poll a huge number of Greens supporters are fans of Gillard. But I think we need to think about her a little more deeply.

While Julia Gillard has agreed that factions don’t mean about ideology anymore, she hasn’t articulated what differentiates her from other people inside Labor in policy terms. It is all about loyalty (to Crean or Beazley) or process (should the front bench be appointed or elected).

Gillard actually represents everything that is wrong with Labor. Her political attachment to Neanderthals like Michael O'Connor and Martin Ferguson show she knows nothing about the future. A sustainable future and economy with plenty of jobs and a healthy environment simply do not lie in trashing our native forests and burying our heads in coal, uranium and the nuclear cycle.

Gillard’s trashing of Mark Latham's forest policy (parts of which were adopted by Howard 6 months later) Australian Story without any apparent understanding of the issue showed how shallow she is.

And where does her close colleague Simon Crean stand? We have heard about his views on the problems within Labor, but what are his views on the emerging new environmental fault lines in politics. Does he support his ally Martin Ferguson’s strident support for uranium and out of date coal technology?

If we want to be build a happy, secure sustainable society where the natural planet’s beauty and resources are available for everyone to enjoy and live from, we need leaders who can see the future beyond coal, woodchipping old growth forests, nuclear power and weapons.

To me Julia Gillard comes across as a person who stands for nothing expect 'Julia for Prime Minister'. Where are her ideas, not for Labor but for Australia? Where is her vision? I reckon she would be the worst type of 'whatever-it-takes' Labor leader.

posted by Ben Oquist # 11:08 AM 2 comments