Archive for November, 2007
In chronological order, here are the four main speeches of the election.
Firstly, an ecstatic Maxine McKew’s speech where she doesn’t quite claim victory over John Howard in the seat of Bennelong (Note: the host broadcaster for this audio had to cut to another event, so this is missing roughly the last minute of Ms. McKew’s speech)
[audio:https://samuelgordonstewart.com/wp-content/2007FederalElection-MaxineMcKew.mp3]
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Next up Peter Costello’s victory speech for his seat, where he avoids mentioning John Howard, and avoids mentioning the Liberal leadership.
[audio:https://samuelgordonstewart.com/wp-content/2007FederalElection-PeterCostello.mp3]
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Then John Howard’s graceful, statesman-like concession speech. This is the speech John Howard will be remembered for.
[audio:https://samuelgordonstewart.com/wp-content/2007FederalElection-JohnHoward.mp3]
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And last, but definitely not least, Kevin Rudd’s victory speech. It may have been reminiscent of a shopping list, but Kevin Rudd has every right to be proud of his comprehensive victory.
[audio:https://samuelgordonstewart.com/wp-content/2007FederalElection-KevinRudd.mp3]
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Samuel
November 25th, 2007 at 02:01am
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.
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
November 25th, 2007 at 12:48am
Federal (74% counted)
Labor: 72 seats
Coalition: 47 seats
Independent: 2 seats
29 still to be decided.
ACT and surrounds seats
Canberra (74% counted)
Labor: 51%
Liberal: 35%
Greens: 13%
Eden-Monaro (74% counted)
Labor: 45%
Liberal: 43%
Greens: 7%
Acacia Rose (Ind): 2%
Christian Democratic Party: 1%
Fraser (73% counted)
Labor: 52%
Liberal: 31%
Greens: 13%
Democrats: 2%
Kerri Taranto (Ind): 1%
Hume (76% counted)
Liberal: 48%
Labor: 39%
Greens: 8%
Christian Democratic Party: 2%
Family First: 2%
ACT Senate
Labor: 40.72% (1.22 effective quotas)
Liberal: 34.07% (1.02 effective quotas)
Greens: 21.91% (0.65 effective quotas)
Democrats: 1.74% (0.05 effective quotas)
Bennelong (77% counted)
Labor: 46%
Liberal: 45%
Greens: 5%
November 24th, 2007 at 11:54pm
Just looking back through the AAP articles to see if I missed something.
Kerrie Tucker conceded defeat in the senate at about 10pm.
November 24th, 2007 at 11:34pm
Kevin Rudd acknowledges John Howard’s contribution to the nation, and wishes him and Janette all the best for the future.
“The future, the future, the future”
Kevin Rudd thanks Australia for voting for him and his team, and promises to never take Australia’s trust for granted.
A lot of this is regurgitated from previous speeches, and there doesn’t seem to be much content here…nearly five minutes of “I will represent all Australians, here are all the categories”.
Kevin Rudd wants to get rid of the “old battles” between various interest groups…but he wants to “forge a consensus”, how do you force people to agree with each other.
“The future, the future”
Reads the headlines of the policy list.
“Build a 21st century infrastructure for a 21st century economy” (Huh???)
More cliches and headlines
“The task ahead will not be an easy one”.
Kevin wants to “prosecute” his agenda…implement perhaps Kevin?
“Hello to the US, and Asia, and Europe, and beyond”.
Thanks his electorate.
“My local community is the rock on which everything else is built”.
More from the policy sheet.
Thanks the Labor supporters for keeping the faith.
Gives special mention to asbestos sufferer and campaigner Bernie Banton…and uses it to (alarm bells) mention “the great trade union movement”. I thought we were distancing ourselves from the unions? Peter Garrett’s promised backflip starting already?
Thanks Julia Gillard.
Thanks Wayne Swan.
Thanks his team.
Thanks Labor president John Faulkner.
Thanks the campaign team.
Thanks the supporters “one and all”.
Thanks his chief of staff and deputy chief of staff “He’s had to put with me for five years” (in a “that’s a bad thing” tone).
Thanks his wife Therese Rein, doesn’t show her as much affection as I would have thought, but does speak highly of her without ever mentioning the “love” word.
Thanks his kids individually (how much longer can this list go on for).
Thanks his entire family.
Honours the memory of his parents
“You know something”
Finally some content…perhaps…nope, more campaign stuff.
“The team”
“We have a job of work to do”
“I thank the nation”
Finally hugs and shows his wife lots of affection.
Twenty minutes of that speech…if you’re wondering why I wrote it up as a list, it’s because it was presented as one. Kevin Rudd is an awful public speaker, but hopefully he will do a good job as prime minister. I was disappointed that the speech was presented that way…perhaps he should have spoken before John Howard because the speech wasn’t as good.
I will put both speeches online later.
November 24th, 2007 at 11:29pm
Prime Minister-Elect Kevin Rudd takes to the podium to even more fanfare.
November 24th, 2007 at 11:05pm
Kevin Rudd walks in to the room to extraordinary fanfare.
November 24th, 2007 at 11:04pm
QLD Premier Anna Bligh about to introduce Kevin Rudd
November 24th, 2007 at 11:03pm
Kevin Rudd will make his campaign speech in the next few minutes. 2UE have just crashed the news while they wait for it. One does have to wonder if any of the network stations are automated and went haywire at 11pm.
November 24th, 2007 at 11:01pm
And John Howard concedes defeat in a very graceful style.
This is very likely John Howard’s final public speech. It’s an appropriate and fitting speech to end a very successful career. Highlighting his many achievements, thanking his colleagues, and declaring Peter Costello “the future of the Liberal party”, although he wishes the new leader the best, whoever that may be.
John Howard accepted responsibility for the campaign and the coalition’s loss, and has thanked the Liberal Party for all it has done for him over his 33 year career. He also thanked his staff, individually, and his family, paying special homage to Janette.
Mr. Howard was clearly trying to hold back the tears, especially when thanking Australia for allowing him to be the prime minister for eleven and a half years. He also wished the new government “chosen by the people of the Australia”, all the best.
It was a rowdy and supportive crowd, and it was a great, personable speech, a perfect speech to round out a wonderful career.
John Howard, best of luck in your retirement, and thank you for being the Australian Prime Minister. When the dust settles, you will go down in history as one of the greatest prime ministers in history.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:50pm
John and Janette Howard now arriving at the Wenworth Hotel.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:34pm
John Howard has left Kirribilli (for one of the last times it would have to be said) and will make his concession speech at the Wentworth Hotel shortly.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:33pm
Peter Costello looks very uncomfortable, and is trying to avoid directly mentioning anything which could be interpreted as leadership speculation.
Although he does look to me like he thinks his time on the (shadow) cabinet is limited. He has the look of “It’s all over”.
November 24th, 2007 at 10:32pm
Peter Costello thanks his local supporters. Will he announce a run for party leadership?
November 24th, 2007 at 10:26pm
Maxine McKew tells Channel Nine that Bennelong will go down to the wire.
Peter Costello making a speech…
November 24th, 2007 at 10:25pm
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