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We deserve better then this

Australia’s reputation in the world has worsened these last few years and it all comes down to leadership. Where are today’s equivalents of John Curtin, Bob Hawke, Alfred Deakin, Ben Chifley and Robert Menzies? We have a Prime Minister with a professed belief in God who keeps refugees locked up, refuses to release reports and is a master of obfuscation. Then there is our deputy PM who makes our PM look good. Scott Morrison’s heir apparent Josh Frydenberg is no better. He sought political advantage by sledging Victoria’s handling of Covid-19. When Simon Holmes à Court joined Frydenberg’s Kooyong 200 Club fund raising group, all membership fees and donations were returned to Simon after he criticised Frydenberg in another newspaper for trying to keep NSW’s Liddell power station open. But how can we forget Matthias Cormann? The  man who argued the Gillard government’s “push to put a price on carbon on the basis that it would help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions is a very expensive hoax”. Today in his new job he is suddenly pro carbon pricing. The alternative to today’s government is the ALP and they don’t have the leadership we need so desperately. Simon Holmes à Court is right when he says we need more highly qualified and forward thinking Independents in Government. I hope I get the chance to vote for one at the next election.

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Do we need career politicians

Politics is regarded as a career and a very lucrative one at that. But I do remember the time when potential politicians didn’t see that as a career change. They had a career that they expected to go back to one day and that attracted a different type of candidate than it does today. There would be very few people in Parliament today that only intend to serve for a few years. The pay is very good, the superannuation is ridiculously high and perks abound. But as in many careers, it doesn’t always attract the right people. And that is why today people with the wrong agendas are controlling the way we are governed to suit themselves. Pertinent questions go unanswered, often with a sly grin. Embarrassing reports get hidden away. Promises are made and then forgotten. Agreement is given that we need a Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in Canberra but we all know it will never happen. Robert Menzies must be turning in his grave.