Ten years on, we all miss the clash of visionary leaders Keating and Hewson

But they also got a man whose zealtory and indefatigability they did not quite understand. Hewson worked notoriousy long hours and during the 1993 election campaign we was regularly photographed jogging before the sun was up – earnest and lean, or as Don Watson puts it, "a wolf or a coyote".

His opponent was also a zealot, despite what some of his supporters might say. But he was first and foremost a brilliant political campaigner. He was able in the election campaign to set out his case for changing Australia – the republic, and Australia’s relationship with Asia were both flagged heavily – but at the same time turn the blowtorch on Hewson’s radical blueprint and make Labor look warm and cuddly!

The last week of the1993 campaign was remarkable for the contrast in styles between two men of enormous capability – one ending the campaign with a rasping voice imploring the faithful to rid the Nation of Labor at rallies in capital cities, and the other looking over plans for a new development on Sydney’s East Circular Quay an hour before he was to address the National Press Club.

Ten years ago today the Australian electorate got lucky – it had a choice of riches before it. Today it has no such choice. Instead it has Simon Crean, struggling to carve out an identity, leading a Labor Party that won't touch totemic issues like the republic and which merely carves out minor variations to the the conservatives on refugees and Iraq. And of course, John Hewson's old boss John Howard – a leader who cowers in the shadow of the USA and who is the master of playing out the politics of insecurity and fear.

There are no visionary speeches or comprehensive reform projects any more – Australia is the loser from this poverty of ideas.