The Elections
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
2 Dec 2007
The transition to our new Labor government has come peacefully with gracious speeches from both leaders. Australian politics do not usually generate the bitterness and divisiveness of the U.S.A. today.
Compulsory voting means the population does not have to be radicalized to vote, while preferential voting brings the parties towards the centre. This is good.
Prime Minister Rudd waged a successful campaign keeping his troops in line and on target. His government will serve a demanding electorate, who changed the government at a time of unprecedented prosperity and whose younger members have never known a steep financial down turn.
Our new Prime Minister paid an unspoken tribute to his predecessors by adopting so many of their policies, while highlighting important symbolic differences on the war in Iraq, industrial relations and the climate. Rudd changed Labor’s fortunes, won handsomely among young voters and demonstrated most Australians do not fear right wing Labor governments.
As he departs it is time to acknowledge John Howard’s achievements. He has been, with Bob Hawke, the most outstanding figure in Australian public life since Bob Menzies. Often underestimated he changed Australian life for the better and part of the key to his success was that he knew hard times, before his years of triumph.
With an excellent Treasurer he brought eleven years of prosperity and this is never an easy task or inevitable achievement. With a competent Foreign Minister he engaged with the Asian giants, China, Japan and India, while maintaining our indispensable links with the U.S.A. His government was explicit in its opposition to terrorism. His affection for Britain and the Queen were clear headed and never detrimental to Australian interests.
He understood that traditional families are the cement which hold society together and he was generally supportive of Christian values. For many years the Liberals had been suspicious of Catholics and even Malcolm Fraser had only one Catholic minister. Howard’s cabinets were very different and he was a consistent supporter of Catholic education and non-government schools.
Howard played the game hard and paid the price for staying too long, although there were no indications that Costello would have done better.
Like Maggie Thatcher, Howard went one step too far on industrial relations; a crucial political error whatever of its uneven financial benefits. The war in Iraq remains deeply unpopular and has gone disastrously, although there are now signs of a small improvement.
The biggest blot on his record will remain the treatment of the refugees. While we should not forget that these hard line policies were introduced by an earlier Labor government and supported strongly by Australian public opinion, they were too tough and often implemented ruthlessly and meanly.
A minority of Australian disliked Howard deeply, a majority wanted a change, but there was little anger towards the previous government.
If Prime Minister Rudd’s government lasts as long and does as well, they will be well pleased.
