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Gillard: duplicity is only the start of her shortcomings

By Mirko Bagaric - posted Monday, 30 January 2012


And Gillard can't even deal efficiently with no-brainer piffle issues, such as gay marriage. She has benefit immeasurably from increased tolerance towards unconventional relationships. Thirty years ago the Australian community would not have tolerated a defacto couple in the Lodge. Most of the community now support gay marriages. Yet, she continues to mysteriously defy the obvious by opposing them.

Gillard's proposal for rectifying Labor's poll slump is conclusive evidence that her judgment is irreparably flawed. She has boldy declared: 'Every day from now … I will be fighting for the Labor values, for the things I believe in, for jobs, for education, for opportunities, that is what you will see me doing.'

We don't want Labor values. We don't want any values, propaganda or ideology. We want careful and considered policies which make concrete improvements to the lives of Australia. This she can't accomplish this.

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Gillard lacks the problem solving ability to make the world a better place. This is not a major personal shortcoming. She has plenty of fine qualities. She has a good sense of humour, is bright (in the IQ sense), debates well and is reportedly a good lawyer (this is not surprising - her previous career was based around taking instructions, not initiating positive change). Hopefully for Australia she has a capacity to acquire the skill of objective self-reflection.

Gillard should step down, clearing the way for the return of Kevin Rudd. I was a critic of Rudd and his autocratic style. But it is unhealthy for a democracy to have a no contest. On current numbers Labor will get wiped out in the next election.

Rudd will be a better leader next time around. Given the level of personal dislike of him by his Labor colleagues it would take a crisis for them to welcome him back. The point has been reached and their self-preservation should move them to tap him on the shoulder.

If Rudd does return, the temptation will be to have a more inclusive, consultative government. But if the sum total of the genius of the Labor government is reflected in their policies of the last year, paradoxically he should delegate even less – better to be dictated to a by a smart leader, than governed by a bunch of wood ducks.

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About the Author

Mirko Bagaric, BA LLB(Hons) LLM PhD (Monash), is a Croatian born Australian based author and lawyer who writes on law and moral and political philosophy. He is dean of law at Swinburne University and author of Australian Human Rights Law.

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