Every Monday morning during my radio show on community radio 4ZzZ FM, I chat with Peter Black, a constitutional lawyer, follower of social and political issues and obsessive user of social media. I don’t normally put links to those chats on this blog, but given that our talk this morning was all about the federal election, I thought it was worth putting a link to it on this occasion.
You can have a listen to it by clicking on this link.
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Given I am now running as a Greens candidate, I suppose it is no surprise that I am indicating my agreement with a comment that Bob Brown made today. But I would also say that it isn’t any secret that I haven’t agreed with every public comment that Bob has made, and I would agree with the following comment about the schoolyard level nonsense regarding another possible leaders debate even if it had been made by Steve Fielding:
“What we’re seeing now between the two leaders is an absolute farce and people everywhere are rolling their eyes at Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard not having the maturity to get together to agree to the series of debates which would have enlightened the electorate,“
It is a joke and a sad reflection on the optic and image driven nature of political media coverage in Australia. A couple of weeks ago, there was a three way debate at the National Press Club on important ICT issues such as internet filtering, broadband and wider communications policy. More... ()
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog post about mountaintop mining in the USA. All mining has some impact, but the sheer destructiveness of this type of mining is astonishing – and that’s before you take into account the greenhouse impact of the coal.
This article in the New York Times details the potential impact of a similar project in West Virginia. The significance of this proposal is that there is the possibility it may be stopped, or seriously curtailed, by the Obama administration, which would be a signal of a positive shift on this issue.
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Following are links to a couple of recent radio interviews I’ve done, plus an online one
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As I noted in my previous post, this week’s Newspoll saw the Greens register 16% support – the highest that party has ever achieved, comparable to the Democrats best Newspoll result of 17% back in 1990. History suggests it is unlikely that this peak will be maintained right through to election day (or even the next Newspoll) but it is part of a continuing trend of solid Greens results. I’ve written a piece expanding on this, and how the party might approach the challenges ahead, at The Drum/Unleashed on the ABC’s site – which you can read by clicking on this link.
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Contention over Queensland’s Wild Rivers legislation has been bubbling along for quite a while now. Unfortunately, as with many issues which become polarised, each “side” is focused on defending their position, which has meant that some important underlying issues are not getting the attention they deserve.
I’ve just had a piece on this topic published at The Drum on the ABC’s website. It’s fairly long, so they published it in two parts – the first part is at this link and the second part is at this one. I should emphasise that the article reflects my personal views, and is not a formal view of the Greens, nor of ANTaR Queensland, who I am also involved with.
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Hip hop fans in Brisbane might be interested in tuning in to my radio show on 4ZZZ FM this Monday morning around 7:30am. I’ll be talking with the Gold Coast based duo Choose Mics, who are launching their debut full length album Beggars Can’t Be Choosers at the Step Inn in the Valley this coming Friday night as part of what will be a big night for fans of hip-hop/rap/urban sounds, with Brisbane’s The Optimen also launching their second album “The Out of Money Experience” as part of the same event.
Even though there is a steady stream of musical offerings in Brisbane, a double album launch of this magnitude doesn’t come along every day of the week, so I’ll dedicate a half hour or so to exploring not just the words and sounds of Choose Mics, but getting a broader overview from them of the hip hop related scenes locally and nationally.
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62 Comments, Comment or Ping
Karl Egan
Andrew why don’t you just admitt that it was your leadership that finnished the Democrats? Afterall as soon as you were made leader the party’s vote dropped from around 10% to around 2%. You saw a steady flow of terrible state election results showing that your leadership was sinking the party, however you still continued to lead. Andrew you are really kidding yourself if you blame anything else but yourself, you simply do not have any leadership appeal and you lead the party to such a level it could not recover. You blocked Aden Ridgeway who could have revived the party but it was your own deluded vision that you would make a difference that destroyed the Democrats. You consistantly had nil preferred leadership appeal in a number of polls yet you kept going as leader. Admit it Andrew it was your fault.
Jun 22nd, 2008
Paul
By bye Andy, Friday can’t come soon enough. It will be the shortest speech in political history if you focus on what the demoCRAPS have achieved over the last thirty years. The fact they you will soon be eternally extinct never to rise again, shows that you have achieved nothing so the focus should be on why you are a spent “force.” We could talk all day about the Dems failures but basically, you are a left wing out of touch party that NO-ONE wants and you represent NO-ONES views and ideals except like-minded, narrow-minded Dem members.
Jun 22nd, 2008
Andrew Bartlett
Gee Karl & Paul – you guys are so witty and sightful! Maybe you should try to get a job in the press gallery.
I’ve always prepared to accept responsibility for my political failings and shortcomings, and if even ten percent of what Karl said was actually true I’d ‘admit’ the end of the Democrats was all my fault too. I take some responsibility for the Democrats demise, as all the Senators from the last decade must, but I do feel sad for both you and Paul if the best you’ve got to do with your life is make up things as part of silly schoolboy taunts on blogs.
Jun 22nd, 2008
Ralph
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
What else is there to say?
At least now you can shamelessly promote the interests of immigrants and other ‘oppressed’ minorities without any pretence of concern for the interests of the majority of Australians.
Jun 23rd, 2008
LORIKEET
Talk about kicking a man when he’s down. I find that pretty gutless, guys.
There’s good and bad in every person, and every party’s politics.
If you want to talk about someone with ideas approaching something akin to the opposite of “The Midas Touch”, you might need to think about Gough Whitlam or John Howard.
Jun 23rd, 2008
Andrew Bartlett
Thanks Lorikeet, but its fine. Firstly whilst the end of the Democrats is a sad thing for Australia and for an effective democracy, don’t assume I’m feeling down personally. Secondly, a few little juvenile hateful spits are hardly likely to bother after all this time.
Ralph’s bit of bile is actually a useful for encouragement to me, as I certainly will continue to promote the interests and rights of immigrants and other minorities who are subjected to the sort of ignorant bile he’s thrown around here and in a number of other posts on this blog over time. Even though Ralph himself is the descendant of immgrants, he somehow still thinks it is a bad thing to ensure they have the same rights as all other Australians.
Don’t worry Ralph – I always have stood up for people and groups unfairly targetted by your sort of hate, and while ever there are people like you around, I will continue to do so. After all, it is in the interests of the majority of Australians – well all of them actually – that people stand up to divisive and destructive attitudes ands those who try to attack those less powerful than themselves.
Jun 23rd, 2008
Laurel Papworth
Hi Andrew, please count as one of the many achievements, the Democrats policy of engagement through social (society) media. In particular your work through your blog opened the door on how We the Public can become a participant in the debate process. Much <3 and respect :) Laurel aka SilkCharm on Twitter.
Jun 23rd, 2008
wilful
I’m bitterly disappointed at the practical end of this party and of yours and your colleagues careers. There goes one of the shining lights of independent thinking and scrutiny, one of our key checks and balances in Parliament.
This is a disaster for Australia. I hope that the Greens grow up a little and can provide some much needed probity around the place, but I fear they’ll remain oppositional and grandstanding.
Good luck in the future Andrew, and to all your colleagues.
Jun 23rd, 2008
GZG
Wilful: Sometimes dictionaries reveal nuances that clarify an individual’s usage:
Probity: “Tried virtue or integrity; approved moral excellence; honesty; rectitude; uprightness”.
Nope, the dictionary did not help me. No signs or chance of the Greens getting their hands on any of that; even the Lib’s (just occasionally) exhaust their supplies, and I’ll avoid commenting on Labor politicians (but tonight could be interesting!).
On a separate note, I see exiting leader Lynette advocating “a fresh focus on climate issues”. I’m all for that; let’s start by listening to both sides of the AGW debate instead of the clearly mythical “would if it could be” consensus.
Jun 23rd, 2008
Paul
Come on Andrew, making things up??? No-one wants the Democrats and that is a fact not made up. If I am wrong can you please explain why the Dems have ZERO seats in parliament after this Friday? If you as a party were wanted, then you would have representation in parliament, but you have none.
Jun 23rd, 2008
ken
I also think it is a bit over the top to pan you that much Andrew. Personal criticism, of which I am of course not unknown to dish up, is a bit off the mark as the total attribution for the demise of a whole party – small as it may have been.
The rise and fall of the democrats will, like the DLP, be the subject of much study and speculation but in truth not enough people were prepared to continue to support the Democrats – they had moved on and the party had either not moved with them or not been able to demonstrate any effective action to back up its slogans so it drifted into the protest vote market – never a pool of more than about 15% at best.
The DLP and the AD both started out by grabbing votes from the major parties, AD across both the DLP from the ALP. Despite the cries of lack of pluralism today, back in the DLP day there were virtually no alternatives and their vote simply returned to the majors after the Gair matter. Today the AD had stiff competition in the small largely disaffected market – they could not compete.
Although much will be made of the GST / Lees / NSD factors as the means to the end. However it was the rhetoric continued on by those Senators left that somehow the AD were different they were worth supporting because the Democrats stood for the values and ethos they promoted and the non-partisan role they played as a party of reason in the centre of the political spectrum.
The facts don’t support that view still being pandered at the last election, the lurch to marginalism was complete, The Dems were just another protest crowd, but without the PR savvy of the Greens. A random selection of one months sitting days each two years since August 1997 shows on Divisions the AD supported the ALP 49%, the Greens 44%, an ALP/Coalition against the Greens on 3% and the Coalition just 4 times.
Even worse that since 2003 (Hmm who was leader?) the “balanced centre of the spectrum voting pattern has gone 60/40 to the greens.
Jun 23rd, 2008
Jasmine Pierce
Andrew
I’ve been wondering – would you consider running for the Greens if it was a way to get you back in the saddle of parliament?
Jun 23rd, 2008
Togret
I have always had concerns about the Democrats, and before them the Australia Party, started by Gordon Barton – a character if ever there was one! – because of their antecedents on the Liberals’ end of the political spectrum. I have to say that I’m not sure that Don Chipp’s intervention was a great idea, and I think the party was taken too far down the wrong path, a less idealistic but more conventional one than perhaps would have been the case if Barton had been able to keep the Australia Party going.
We’ll never know that, of course, but one day perhaps we’ll see the like again of Peter Andren and Ted Mack – really independent minded people who admittedly didn’t have to face the inevitable caucusing and dealing forced upon a party once it gets past 2 or 3 elected representatives, but my goodness me – what a name for integrity both those men had! It can be done … when will the next ones come along?
Jun 23rd, 2008
Tony
Andrew:
I am hearing rumors that the Democrats are contemplating merging with the climate Change Coalition. If overseas trends are anything to consider that would be the worst route to take. The Green vote has reached its peak and when the carbon taxes being proposed by the ALP start to hit home on electors it would be all over red rover.
Ken:
You speak about the DLP in the past tense; obviously you have not been taking notice of current trends. In the 2007 election (First time most states have stood candidates in 30 years) the DLP averaged 800 votes per electorate across the nation. In NSW theyoutpolled the Democrats and Family First, in SA they outpolled the Democrats and the Nationals, and in WA they polled just under 1% of the vote. All that with a zero advertising budget. Rumour has it in Qld that they have recruited first class candidates for the senate and lower house seats around Brisbane and are looking to cash in on disgruntled ALP and National members (Especially with the merger). That coupled with the ALP splitting at the seams in NSW over the Power Stations could see the emergence of an enormous third party.
Tony
Jun 23rd, 2008
Andrew Bartlett
Jasmine – I am still winding up leaving Parliament at the moment, so I am not thinking at all about whether I’d want to try to get back. I’m not one of those who adopt a single goal and consider everything I do through the prism of whether it will help me achieve that goal. I’ve been working with the Democrats in the Senate environment for the last 18 years, so I want to explore doing some different things for a while.
Tony – it will be up to the Democrat members where they take the party from here and if it evolves into something different. Following on from my answer to Jasmine, I don’t plan to be active in any political party for a while, so I’ll leave that to others (although don’t mind giving my opinion from time to time).
Togret – the competing strands that underpinned the Democrats provided some positive creative tension at times, but also sometimes made it hard to provide a clear message about what the party stood for. I still think it is/was quite unique in the way it tried – at least in theory – to operate with a different ethos and processes to other parties. If there had been a clearer commitment to making that work within the context of practical reality of day to day political situations, things may have been different. Then again, the party might not have lasted as long as it did if it had more clearly stuck to that vision.
Ken – quoting division stats can be useful, but it can also be rather misleading, as they only count when votes are called for, not the position on every issue. Selective samples can also overlook underlying trends.
If both major parties shift substantially to the right – which happened in many contexts over the course of the Howard government, then any other party which just maintains a consistent position will look like it is marching leftward (or to the margins, if you prefer)
Jun 24th, 2008
Cameron Reilly
Andrew, there’s a bunch of people out here who have been inspired by your attempts to discuss issues in an open manner and to protect the rights of all Australians. It’s good to see your blog back online and I hope you intend to keep helping us analyze and debate issues affecting Australia with it in the future. Congrats on your achievements and good luck with whatever you do next.
Jun 24th, 2008
LORIKEET
Yes, a move to Greens or Climate Change Coalition would be a bad idea. Once people have seen through the whole green fiasco, votes will disappear into thin air.
Jun 24th, 2008
Karl Egan
Andrew are you able to explain why you didn’t resign as leader following the altercation in the Senate chamber with the female Liberal Senator? Why did you not stand aside and let the party have a chance to regroup and repair the embarrassment that this caused. Are you aware that in the UK the Liberal Democrats Leader had a similar inicent and stood down as leader for the sake of the party. Why didn’t you do the same action?
Jun 25th, 2008
Mercurius
Andrew, thanks for all your hard work over the years. Australian legislation was improved by the Dems on more than a few occasions, and at a minimum you managed to draw public attention to the defects, even if the majors blocked attempts to fix them.
Whereas the handful of nasty commenters here today have contributed only…nastiness.
Jun 25th, 2008
Nathan Jones
So now who’s going to be there for the centrist voters?
Jun 25th, 2008
Karl Egan
I totally agree Mercurrius, all Democrat Sentors and state representatives have made a wonderful contribution to legislation in this country and have made Australia a better place to live, however I find it very puzzling why some outgoing Senators now believe that since they have finnished their term in office that the party should fold. It appears some Senators feel that now they have left parliament the party is really not worth anything and should fold. Long live the Democrats I say.
Jun 25th, 2008
Palito
Thanks for your hard work over the years Senator. It’s a shame that the Democrats are gone, however I think the party’s constituency has been largely absorbed by Labor. Since getting a better political education, I’ve come to admire the hard work the Democrats did behind the scenes for little recognition. At a loss as to who to vote for now.
Looking back on it, the party probably shot itself in the foot over the GST. Forcing a DD might have been better for the party (although looking at it now, it was obviously the way forward – one of the few things the previous government did right IMO). Good luck with your future endevours.
Jun 25th, 2008
Andrew Johnson
I listened with interest to your speech this evening. Thankyou for your speech and in particular your comments on TPVs.
It is interesting the disappointment so many people are expressing now at the demise of the Democrats. One wonders why at the last election the only thing written about the Democrats was about how it was doomed to failure. Maybe had we had less of that you mightn’t have done so poorly.
I hope a future middle political force arises. I look forward to continuing to read your blog.
Farewell
Jun 25th, 2008
Donald Anderson
Hey Andrew,
I sincerely wish you the Very Best in your new future, whatever that may be.
I Thank YOU for all the Good Work that you have completed in your time in federal parliament.
Must admit I was personally disappointed with your party’s fatal GST outcome, which I believe is partially responsible for your current predicament. Nonetheless Fare thee Well Andrew.
Jun 25th, 2008
Trisha Roberts
Hi Andrew,
Its Trisha from “Queensland Group for Animal Rights”, now “Liberation of Brother & Sister Animals”. http://www.lobsa.org
We are now based in Tasmania and run a international non-profit Buddhist animal rights vegan organisation.
We just wished to say thank you so much for all your support. Thank you for your support for various animal issues in Australia. Thanks for attending live export protests, Animal Welfare League public events etc and for supporting human rights issues. You walk the talk, which is rare in political figures.
About some of the comments on this blog: Unfortunately there will always be an abundance of people to kick you when you’re down, but they obviously don’t know you in any personal way, so it says a lot more about them, than it does you.
Thanks also for trying to keep democracy healthy in this country. It’s not as bad as the US, but it could easily go that way. The Fourth Estate mostly is one giant infomercial and propaganda machine globally today.
We hope you will continue with your blog and your other sites.
We hope that you will go on to do more in the political arena.
Dede and I wish you all the best in whatever you choose to do.
Great happiness always
Jun 25th, 2008
Dazza
Poor old Don must be spinning in his grave so fast he’s generating enough power for the whole of South Australia.
Andrew, even if you don’t agree with them, most of the commentators here have hit the nail on the head. Especially that comment about the Democrats not really having any new ideas but just becoming a party based on protesting against what every other party was offering. You also lead it down the track of fringe group concerns which, regardless of whether or not they were important issues, were not the sort of issues a party supposedly representing all Australians should have continually pushed.
Also, I must agree on the first commentators statement that the Democrats may have been seen as more relevant and attractive to the voters had Natasha stayed on as leader (she at least had the support of many younger voters) or if Aidan Ridgeway had been placed in the role instead of yourself. Aidan was highly regarded by many on both sides of politics, he was presentable, articulate, focused and intelligent. He could have been great. Honestly, you had no right displacing him in this role. I believe the GST was the lid to the coffin of the Democrats, Natasha tried, somewhat successfully, to slide the lid down a bit, but your leadership were most obviously the nails.
I am not trying to be nasty here, I’ve got nothing against you personally, but a politician needs to be assessed by their desire for ambition and position on one hand, and their affectiveness and results on the other. And, unfortunately Andrew, you have been tested, and found wanting.
Please for your own sake, that of your family and the vast majority of Australians, let politics go. Join a pro-vegan pro-refugee lobby group, or some other fringe group, but as far as mainstream politics goes, it just isn’t you. If every car I fixed broke as it left my garage, I would decide that mechanics wasn’t for me. Go and put your energies into what you are good at.
Jun 25th, 2008
The Feral Abacus
Going by tonight’s speeches, it seems that Senator Fielding is the only party representative who lacks a profound appreciation of the contributions that the Dems have made to parliamentary democracy in Australia.
Jun 25th, 2008
The Feral Abacus
Andrew, I’d like to add that while I regret that you will no longer be sitting in the Senate, I am very grateful for your presence there over the last decade or so. It’s been a time when voices such as yours were especially needed.
Best Wishes.
Jun 25th, 2008
Phil Zylstra
On behalf of the Monaro Christian Forum, well done on your hard work standing up for refugees. It’s sad to see our country descend so far into self-centeredness that so many care so little for people who have been through hardships we can’t begin to imagine. People who call us to something higher are always either loved or hated and that seems to be your story.
Jun 26th, 2008
Sam Clifford
It’s certainly sad to see you, and any minor party representation in Qld, go, Senator Bartlett. I didn’t mind the Democrats as a party and never saw them as the minor-party enemy but as allies in a two-party system. I’m still getting around to watching and reading the final Democrats speeches in parliament, having only watched Senator Stott Despoja’s farewell speech on ABC Online last night.
The Senate will certainly be less diverse and less robust without the Democrats.
Jun 26th, 2008
Jeffrey G
Senator
Yours was an excellent valedictory speech. You are indeed a man of conviction, compassion and ideas. You will be missed along with the other Democrats. Contrary to what others may say, the Democrats offered a point of difference and ideas beyond what those remaining in the chamber have to offer. Long live your legacy and we wait for the day when like minded people can return to the Senate to carry on your excellent work.
P.S. Up the Blues in the State of Origin this Wednesday. :P
Jun 26th, 2008
Derek Barry
Andrew, totally endorse Jeffrey’s point about your ‘conviction, compassion and ideas’. The Senate will be a poorer place without you.
Good luck for whatever the future holds and great to see the blog back online!
Jun 26th, 2008
KARL EGAN
Dazza you are correct to say that Andrew Bartlett had no right to block (directly or indirectly) Aden Ridgeway, Unfortunately, Andrew you must be accountable to these events and be accountable therefor for the fatal blows for the party.Especally after your incident in the Senate chanber with the Liberal Senator. You had no right to stay on as leader and as i stated before you led the party to a level so low in the opinions of most Australian that the party could not recover.
Jun 26th, 2008
Theo
I’ve noticed that there are particular commentators who are continually trolling, one in particular. I won’t name names as I do not wish to conflict with comments policy point 2. I will also use the following words “no offense” in my observation of these trolls, in order to avoid causing offense.
“No offense”, but if you feel the need to come and make negative remarks about someone who, even if you disagreed with them, you know had honourable intentions, you are no better than Germaine Greer (okay, you’re a little better, she needs them to be dead first). If you continue to make these kinds of comments, even though the juvenility of them has been pointed out, “no offense”, but you obviously have some emotional issues. Let go of it…
Finally, I’ve noticed that these kinds of commentators really ought to type their remarks in a word processing program before posting. It will check spelling and punctuation for them. Sloppy writing is a sign of a sloppy mind.
Of course, this might not solve the problem. My guess is typing accurately using one hand only, is not really possible. Am I right in thinking this Karl?
Jun 26th, 2008
Rod Finch
Andrew, don’t take this personally but I’m glad to see somebody like yourself gone from the Senate.
It has been painfully obvious from your stances and support of various things throughout your time in parliament that you are philosophically a left wing socialist but you never had the guts to openly admit it.
The Democrats when they kicked off had plenty of support because they had more in common with the Liberals than Labor and the further they moved to the left through representatives like yourself the more irrellevant they became.
This might be a good opportunity for you to finally grow up and go see how the big boys and girls play and how the real world works by getting a job in the private sector where society’s value get’s added. I won’t hold my breath for that though, I’m sure I’ll see your name pop up in the next few months working for some boondoggle advocacy group wasting taxpayers money once more.
On a positive note however I note your achievement for being a pioneer for a politician maintaining their own blog, well done. Just a shame I didn’t think much of you as a politician.
Jun 26th, 2008
Paul
I am currently overseas and haven’t had a chance to read Andrew’s valedictory speech. I certainly hope he did a better job than Natasha Stott Despoja. Here’s a part what she said:
“Not least of these dramas has been the drama of my party, whose demise has done no one any good,” she said.
Natasha says that the demise of the Democrats has done no one any good. But what good have the Democrats done? They attracted less than 2% of the national vote last election?
“It has simply taken away a choice for voters that they wanted maintained for 31 years.”
The arrogance of the above quote is beyond belief. Basically, the demise of the Democrats has taken away a CHOICE for voters, she is saying!!!!!! Isn’t it the VOTERS that choose, Natasha??? We decided that 31 years was more than enough and no one wants the Dems anymore. We have taken away the choice to choose the Democrats, that’s how it goes in a democracy.
Sadly, even at less than 2% of the national vote she still can’t see that the voters don’t want what the left wing Democrats have to offer.
Paul
Jun 27th, 2008
Aristeas
Dear Andrew,
I voted Democrat for over 15 years.
I’d like to share the reasons the Democrats lost my support.
First: Meg Lees. Her leadership and split from the party to emerge as a pseudo-Liberal was a real disaster. In essence she did exactly the opposite of Don Chipp – joined the ‘bastards’ and abandoned principle. I held on but my faith was severely shaken.
Second: Natasha S-D. The rank jealousy and bitterness of senior Dems to her extraordinary popularity and her leadership shocked and appalled me. It was deeply depressing to see the infantile vindictiveness of the Party’s elders expressed so nakedly and so often.
It confirmed that Meg Lees wasn’t the only one who had allowed electoral success and the title of Senator to inflate their ego and their opinion of themselves. This clearly turned off a whole generation of potential voters. I couldn’t honestly reccommend the Dems to my daughters when they could point out that the party obviously didn’t want a young woman to run the show.
Third: Aden Ridgway. That this smart, popular, able man was ‘done over’ when he could have led the Party in a new direction smacked of subtle racism. The kind that could prefer not to have the indigenous issue dominate the Party’s agenda, and torpedoed support from another section of the electorate – not black people, white people with a conscience.
Fourth: Andrew Bartlett. No personal insult here, but you were my Senator, and first on the QLD ticket. While I respect your efforts the ‘tired and emotional’ Senate floor debacle – handling another Senator in an alcoholic moment you obviously regret – which in the larger scheme of things wasn’t important – undermined my faith in you and eroded further a faith in the Dems that was already in serious trouble.
Eventually I couldn’t find a reason to trust you to keep the excesses of the Labor machine in check. Which is why I voted Labor/Democrat in the first place.
Good luck & Thanks for your work.
Jun 27th, 2008
Jessica
Dear Andrew,
I have met you on a number of occasions and have found you to be one of the most kind-hearted politicians I have ever met. You truly restored my faith and belief that politicians could be human beings.
You were there when many people simply did not bother to come. You championed causes no one else wanted to touch. You picked up people who everyone else was happy to leave in the gutter.
There are so many people alive today who thank you from the bottom of their hearts for all the efforts you made to hear their stories. The places you went and the people you saw were hidden away. You brought so many stories to light.
The Democrats may have been turfed out of parliament. But this is mainly about the Australian people. It is about priorities. I think you did what you had to do. I think that your policies were out of synch with some. But you can’t look like everyone else if you’re going to fight for what you believe in. That’s because everyone else is fighting to keep the status quo. You were not. And because of that people are angry. People are scared. As is so obvious from your blog people think that by securing rights of others, they are going to lose their own rights. Like Australia is a nation poor of resources and there isn’t enough to go around.
I am glad you spent your time in parliament. I am glad you spoke up when no one else would. I am thankful in many ways that these people here are angry. That means you’ve achieved something. You’ve made people feel threatened and uncomfortable. It’s important if we live in a democracy that people feel this way. Otherwise how can change come about?
I am glad someone stood firmly on the left and spoke up for those who had no voices.
I am sure you’ll continue to do so. This is just an evolution for you. Parliament (as we’ve seen in recent weeks) is sometimes a place for thugs and bullies.
Your kind heart and giving nature clearly do not belong in such a place.
Jessica
Jun 27th, 2008
Andrew Bartlett
To Paul, Rod and those who want to keep pushing the mythology that the Democrats were ‘left wing socialists’ or somehow shifted a long way leftward from their original stance:
I realise you’re just pushing an ideological barrow, but endlessly repeating a false assertion doesn’t make it any more true.
To Karl, Dazza & Aristeas:
I’m not sure where you got this idea that Aden Ridgeway was ‘blocked’ from running for the party leadership, whether by me or anyone else – presumably from someone wishing to rewrite history (same as the ‘Democrats lost support because they moved to the left’ mythology). I wish Aden had decided to run for the position, but he chose not to. I had not considered standing for leadership myself until he announced that decision – in part because I knew I wasn’t ideally suited to the mass media aspects of the role.
And Aristeas, while everyone has every right to take whatever factors they like in determining what influences their vote, your reason three contradicts your reason two – Aden may well have been “smart, popular and able” as you suggest, but he was also one of those you complain about who forced Natasha out of the leadership. As to the suggestion that there were key people in the Democrats at the time who “prefered not to have the indigenous issue dominate the Party’s agenda, this is both offensive and laughable – it may well still be your perception of course, but there is not a single shred of evidence to back it up (not surprisinly, because it is totally false). Cheryl Kernot gave high priority to indigenous issues as leader, as did I. So too did Aden Ridgeway (with everyone’s support), as did many other Democrats.
As to your reason four, I agree with your view that the incident in question “in the larger scheme of things wasn’t important.” The fact you choose not to vote for a party because of something that you yourself admit wasn’t important is an interesting admission, but how you vote is your right
Jun 27th, 2008
LORIKEET
Aristeas:
Yes, if you considered something Andrew did to be insignificant in the larger scheme of things, why would it influence your vote negatively?
Can someone please give us a brief definition of what constitutes a “left wing socialist”?
Jun 27th, 2008
Jason
Best of luck post-politics Andrew – you did a great job as a Senator for Queensland, party politics and fortunes aside. And this blog has been one of the most interesting experiments in recent Australian political life.
Jun 27th, 2008
Rod Finch
So the Democrats did not shift leftwards from their original stance?
Interesting you should believe that Andrew. Your apparent denial of this fact provides further historical evidence of why your party became extinct.
Compare yourself philosophically with Don Chipp and I think you’ll agree their has been a chasm sized jump to the left from where the party began.
Jun 27th, 2008
Floss
Rod – if you were to go back through the early editions of the Democrats National Journal (the first editions published back before the party’s name was offically chosen by the membership) and read the articles and letters written by the Senators – especially Don Chipp – as well as the membership back then you’d realise just how wrong your peception is of what the Democrats stood for back then, compared to now.
Jun 27th, 2008
Ben Griffin
It’s really quite remarkable how quickly the party sank after made the sexiest woman in politics cry.
Andrew, you’re a fine legislator, but you don’t have that star quality.
See, the public ~loved~ ‘Tash. She filled a huge gap between what was being offered by both major parties, and provided something that was completely foreign to both. It’s a pity that those people who didn’t vote in for you in the general also didn’t have votes in the leadership battle.
Who will be the third party now? I guess the greens win.
Jun 27th, 2008
Andrew Bartlett
Rod, I’ve had plenty of time in the last few months to read through the speeches and views of Don Chipp, Janine Haines and other Democrat Senators from the 80s. You should try it, its fascinating. If anything, I’d say most of today’s Democrat Senators are on average more moderate, although with concepts as malleable as ‘left-wing’ and ‘right-wing’ you will always find some exceptions. The Democrats downfall had nothing to do with ‘left’ or ‘right’, except perhaps in the eyes of those who either have an ideological barrow of their own to push or need a simplistic narrative to disguise the narrowness of their own vision. It was to do with lack of honesty, lack of unity and lack of a consistent shared vision about the role of the party in a changing and more competitive political environment.
Jun 27th, 2008
GZG
Jessica:
Indeed a glowing testimony above, and on it’s basis and assumed sincerity alone, I congratulate Sen. Bartlett.
I note that you are also glad that the Senator stood firmly on the left, (though he may perceive that you’re just another pushing an ideological barrow).
“You’ve made people feel threatened and uncomfortable. It’s important if we live in a democracy that people feel this way. Otherwise how can change come about?”
Democracy must equal change (for it’s own sake??) and associated perceived threats & discomfort? I really don’t get that one. I’ll extrapolate and say that a carbon trading scheme will be heaps democratic with discomfort in spades! Viva la democracia!
Jun 27th, 2008
ken
I think you meant ken not karl Theo, although I’m not sure about the trolling call, even Andrew hasn’t called me that, unlike others who have been given thatr monicker. One can be critical still can’t one? – Andrew gets plenty of fawning sycophantry to help him feel good.
However i’m definitely the speller so happy to accept having a sloppy mind
Jun 27th, 2008
Andrew Bartlett
GZG – you seem to be missing my point. I don’t greatly mind whether someone calls me or the Democrats left or right wing – both have been used plenty of times (although calling me or them socialist is ludicrous).
The main thing I dispute is the suggestion that the party moved a long way leftwards and/or it lost support for this reason. Personally, I don’t think the qualities Jennifer outlined are unique to the left, but either way it describes an ethos consistent with the Democrats from day 1, even if it was not always followed consistently.
Jun 27th, 2008
Tony
Andrew and All:
The question whether the Democrats were left, right or central is easily confirmed by how the passed their preferences in 2007. Lynn was surely an extreme left in victoria and Tasha never hid being well into the left.
But the order of preferences fell this way;
1. Democrats – (To be defined)
2. Climate Changes – Left
3. Carers – Central )neutral
4. What women want – Far left
5. independents – grouped left
6. Independents – grouped left
7. The Greens – Looney Left.
8. Socialist Alliance – left – nearing communists.
9. LDP – Looney left
10. Senator online – Left
11. Australian fishing Party – Right
At this stage I would have to declare the Democrats a certain left wing
Party by their very definate left wind preferencing.
Tony
Jun 27th, 2008
GZG
Andrew Bartlett: Jennifer? You mean Jessica I guess. I’d ascribe this to a Friday night tipple, but understand this to be unlikely.
And while I’m in a complimentary frame of mind, let me add (as some have done in other forums/media) my recognition of the fact that you fessed up & apologised after “the incident”, and how much better you faired as a result and the better was public perception than if you’d done “a Belinda”.
Regarding references to the alleged ideological barrows of left-wing finger pointers, I thought you were trying to distance yourself specifically from the leftist accusation / compliment.
Relax! You’re amongst (some) friends (though sloppy minded Ken may pronounce them as sycophants). Have a good weekend!
Jun 27th, 2008
Karl Egan
Andrew are you serious when you lightly dismiss and blame Aden Ridgeway for not taking on the leadership of the party back in 2001-2 by simply saying “he chose not to”? Come on Andrew, Aden did not contest the leadership because he did not have the support of the National Executive after the shock decision they made to put Senator Brian Grieg as acting leader even after Aden was the deputy leader. Many believe Aden Ridgeway was blocked from the leadership due to a hostile and completely irrational National Executive lead by one of your strongest supporters.
Jun 28th, 2008
Aristeas
Andrew,
1. Being drunk on the floor of the Senate wasn’t important in terms of Australian political history. It was important in decidng whether you had the character and sobriety to ‘keep the bastards honest’. The Dems main platform has always been one of character, honesty, principle. You set the standard high and then failed to meet it. You lost my respect, and subsequently my vote.
It was the final straw, not a petty quibble. That you can’t see that’s a valid reason not to keep a shaky faith and vote for you betrays a closed mind.
I’m one of many who votetd Dem because I believe in the Senate’s role as a house of review, not Dem policies, many of which I disagreed with completely. But I did believe in NSD, Janine Haynes, and others who could put their minds to work effectively when faced with big party policy sloppiness.
I also lost respect for you over your comments on the Big Brother ‘turkey-slapping’ farce. Over the years I saw you acquire an arrogance and thick-skin that allowed no new ideas in. This may be necessary in dealing with the personal abuse and invective you get form the Karls and Pauls but it also insulated you from the personal respect (and votes) of people like me.
I’m not having a go at you. I was trying to thank you for your efforts while being clear about the reasons I see the Dems are defunct, which I truly regret.
2. Thanks for refreshing my memory overey Aden and NSD’s leadership. I remembered it wrong. But getting holier than thou over the racism thing isn’t engaging honestly with my misperceptions. Calling you an a**hole would be offensive. Misreading the party’s internal politics isn’t.
3. I’m not trying to score points in a debate. I genuinely appreciate the hard work you and the Dems did. Beyond the ‘drunk in the Senate’ nonsense I don’t blame your leadership for it’s demise. By the time you became leader it was probably too late to win back many voters like me. Why don’t you acknowledge the reasons you think the Dems fell?
Jun 28th, 2008
Aristeas
“Socialist?”
It’s ludicrous to call the Dems and Andrew socialist. They simply weren’t. They looked leftist in the last few years simply by comparison because Howard dragged politics hard to the right.
Personally, it was their compassionate championng of unpopular issues – immigration, refugee detention camps etc – that made me hang in there for many years and continue to vote Dem.
Jun 28th, 2008
Togret
I agree with Aristeas … with all their flaws, hte Dems at least stood up for what is left of our supposed national ethos of everyone having a fair go – the record of Labor on refugees is enough to make me cry, though I lean that way more naturally. As I have said before the GST on books and the pathetic non-renewal of the sunset clause on the exemptions underlined for me what depths we have fallen to as a nation … but the scramble to blackguard the Tampa victims and the Siev X tragedy will live with me forever.
Jun 28th, 2008
Tony
TOGRET:
Yes I agree some people in the nation have fallen to great depths.
Tony
Jun 28th, 2008
Andrew Bartlett
Karl said “Many believe Aden Ridgeway was blocked from the leadership due to a hostile and completely irrational National Executive lead by one of your strongest supporters.”
Well Karl, “many” may believe it (although I haven’t heard anyone ever say so before now), but if they do they are patently wrong. Who did and didn’t support me at the time is irrelevant. Nat Exec had no power to block anyone from contesting a leadership ballot of members, and didn’t try.
I don’t expect you to understand Democrat processes – a fair few professional journos have enough trouble – but trying to invent history out of thin air six years after the fact is still pretty lame.
Ariestas:
If I “have a thick-skin that allows no new ideas in”, I wouldn’t bother with this blog. I am prepared to acknowledge my mistakes, but I also retain the right to put my side of the story or stand up for myself when I think I am being unfairly criticised.
Personally, I find it far more offensive for the party I led to be accused of opposing a leadership candidate out of racism far more offensive than being called an a***hole. I wasn’t intending to be “holier than thou”, I was intending to thoroughly refute any suggestion that such an accusation was credible.
I agree with you that by the time I became leader it was probably too late to recover things – short of Natasha returning as leader perhaps. The party’s vote never recovered from the destruction that occured around the ending of her leadership.
As for your question as to “Why don’t you acknowledge the reasons you think the Dems fell?” I think acknowledging the many achievements of the Democrats is a better thing to focus on at a time like this, although I thought I’d already given a fair indication what I think the problems were.
Jun 28th, 2008
Maree Robertson
Dear Andrew,
Just to add my best wishes, & thanks, for all your work over the years.
I’ve just sent invites to your blog to a bunch of facebook colleagues & friends, especially expat- Australians, as I think reading what you have to say is always a great way to hear a truthful & thoughtful perspective on issues that many of us are either too jaded or exhausted to wade through via the mainstream press filter.
I admire greatly your dedication & commitment to doing what you can to make our world a better place for all, especially the most marginalised of us, who sometimes wonder whether our society is a fit place to live in anymore.
I watched Mandela’s birthday party last night, & was moved by the Sudanese young man who sang of the British Aid Worker who ‘rescued’ him. (I have the footage if you’d like to see it, email me).
It reminded me of all the individual people whose lives are transformed by the work of those of us who take to heart, in the words of Peter Gabriel, the commitment “I will do what I can do”.
Thanks for talking as much as you have, & all those questions you’ve asked, and for standing up to be counted, The ever-continuing (hi)story of Social Justice in this country will, I hope, judge you well.
Love&Peace (back by public demand),
Maree
Jun 29th, 2008
ken
While an inordinate effort is being pursued by Andrew to defend against charges of lurching to the left, both publicly in recent speeches and on this blog. Perhaps its mere a question of perception – despite me being just one more labelled as pushing an ideological barrow, the perception is the issue, whether fuelled by own ignorance or media ignorance is unimportant.
Although largely dismissed as selective polling the analysis of randomly selected divisions over a ten year period, provides some insight. While it may be true to say areas of agreement were not considered, division are by their nature points in time where positions of policy, principle or priority are defined publicly. Sorry for not including agreements to amendments to the Bank Holiday Act.
However I do agree the left right paradigm is unhelpful. However I’ve always been a strong believer in seeing where customers walk not where the path has been built.
Perhaps an analysis of convergence with public priority might be more helpful. This blog itself by way of posting applies some basic measures of priority of the blogger.
So what do we see in order of posts, by default priority
Australian Politics
International issues
The Senate
Queensland
Human Rights and Freedoms
Indigenous Issues
Refugees
Immigration and Multiculturalism
General
The Environment
What information do we have on Community Priorities? Two most quickly revealed by goggle show priorities in this order
The Water Shortage
Education & Training
Health
Climate Change
Stable Interest Rates
Leadership
Industrial Relations
Strength of local candidates
The Ongoing War in Iraq
And another one from QLD no less
Health
Education
Unemployment
Inflation and Cost of living
Industrial Relations
Environment
Retirement
Economics Management
Get the picture – apart from the obvious issues related to politics etc the issues of this blog are important, it’s the relative importance that is the issue
Jun 30th, 2008
mike pratt
It makes one laugh when the parliament talks about tiny taxes whilst the rich can pay nothing using government supported schemes:
http://www.artbank.ch/giftstax.html
Here is the recent Merryl’s World Wealth Report
with Capgemini that analyzes the macroeconomic factors that drive and inhibit HNW clients
http://www.artbank.ch/art.html
So the rich are getting richer, ad th poorer are getting poorer through extra taxes….
Jul 22nd, 2008
Tony
MIKE PRATT
Soon to become even worse with the introduction of this monster referred to as the carbon emission trading(Tax) scheme.
Lower income earners lives will be changed forever under this tax.
(With corporations receiving rebates of course)
This is one election the people of this country have to stand up and say enough is enough.
Or will they do as always they always do and lie down and take it.
Tony
Jul 22nd, 2008
GZG
Mike Pratt: Thanks for those links; I now see how public art galleries might benefit from the scheme, but I cannot see support for a notion that the rich are getting richer.
Please clarify.
Jul 23rd, 2008