Election 2007 – Interim Results and Thoughts

Labor: 72 seats
Coalition: 47 seats
Independent: 2 seats
Still to be decided: 29 seats

Congratulations to Kevin Rudd and Labor on an emphatic victory. They have clearly gained the support of the vast majority of Australians and therefore deserve to be in power. I’m obviously disappointed because I disagree with Labor on a number of issues, but so be it. As I said after I voted yesterday, I am but one person in a country of millions.

My prediction of a coalition victory by two seats was very wrong, and as such I owe 2CC’s Mike Welsh a Mars Bar.

I’ve got to say that I’m not disappointed by the results in the ACT house of representatives seats. I would have preferred to see at least one seat change hands, but it was always unlikely. The good news is really in the ACT senate where two very effective senators, Labor’s Kate Lundy and The Liberal’s Gary Humphries kept their seats, and nutcase a person who has always appeared to me as being a bit of a nutcase, Green Kerrie Tucker, did not get a seat.

I thought John Howard’s concession speech was very graceful and a great way to end a wonderful career. I thought Kevin Rudd’s victory speech sounded like a shopping list, but I’m not going to judge him on it…Kevin has a parliamentary term ahead of him, and I’m sure his performance will be better than his speeches.

The media coverage was interesting. I thought 2UE did a great job examining the results as they came in, and did a very good job of keeping an eye on what the three free-to-air television broadcasters had to say. Also a congratulations is in order for 2CC and their local updates which were very good.

I’m going to miss John Howard. I strongly believe that he will go down in history as one of the greatest prime ministers this country has ever seen. As for who will take his place, Peter Costello may be the immediate successor, but I believe it will either be Malcolm Turnbull or Joe Hockey leading the party to the next election.

There is one thing that concerned me in Kevin Rudd’s speech…his comment about “the great trade union movement”. For somebody who has been distancing himself the unions, I find this comment odd. As long as it is not the start of the return to union control of Labor, and therefore the start of Peter Garrett’s promised change of policies, I’ll be happy.

I wish Kevin Rudd and federal Labor all the best for their term. I hope that they govern well, keep the country strong, and act in the interests of the vast majority of Australians.

I am reminded of something I said to Grods Corp back when Kim Beazley was Labor leader ^[1].

I would much rather see Kevin Rudd as leader as I think he has some leadership potential… although he needs to work on his interview technique as he is a bit repetitive and long-winded and therefore self-defeating through sheer boredom when left to babble.

It still seems incredibly accurate, even if I do say so myself!

One thing which stands out for me is the performance of Maxine McKew. If things go well for her I think she will, one day, be the prime minister of this country, and I think she will do a very good job.

I also think her victory in Bennelong will herald a new era for the Liberals. The old guard (Peter Costello, Alexander Downer, Phillip Ruddock and, to some extent, Tony Abbott) are hopefully out, and by the next election we will see a new, fresh Liberal party.

Anyway, the people have spoken and we have a new Labor government.

As such, the song for Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard is “We’ve Only Just Begun” by The Carpenters.

We’ve only just begun to live,
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we’re on our way.
We’ve only begun.

Before the rising sun we fly,
So many roads to choose
We start out walking and learn to run.
And yes, we’ve just begun.

Sharing horizons that are new to us,
Watching the signs along the way,
Talking it over just the two of us,
Working together day to day
Together.

And when the evening comes we smile,
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow,
And yes, we’ve just begun.

Sharing horizons that are new to us,
Watching the signs along the way,
Talking it over just the two of us,
Working together day to day
Together, together.

And when the evening comes we smile,
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow,
And yes, we’ve just begun.

Samuel