Larvatus Prodeo

All sorts of (exciting?) things are going on in Australian politics at the moment.

John Anderson has stepped down. Aside from the revelation that he is Peter Costello’s best buddy, the nation’s reaction is likely to be “like. whatever.” Even the story about generational change in the Liberal Party getting an impetus didn’t develop any legs. Perhaps because with a birthday in April 1956, Vaile is older than Anderson (November of the same year).

The real focus on the Nats is on Barnaby. Barnaby’s done well for himself, distinguished now by being known, like Cher, Bono and Madonna, only by his first name. I think he’ll have to be a bit of a rebel in Canberra after all the publicity. If not, you can bet the farm on him being a one-term Senator.

Craig Emerson has a bit of a dummy spit at not getting back on the front bench and rails against class politics, giving Dennis Shanahan a hook for a more confusing than usual op-ed piece. It’s all weird, says Denis. Howard is the workers’ friend, but don’t mention class.

Shanahan also notes that Bob Brown is crowing about the Greens’ new economic credibility, because they didn’t reject the budget schedules. Excuse me, Mr Brown, remember the last minor party leader who tried to establish “tough” economic credentials. Bye, Meg.

Reshuffle winner Lindsay Tanner quite correctly notes that Howard’s “economic reform agenda” has no further items on it after Telstra is sold, IR “reformed” and um… that’s it actually. They’re too busy setting up federal Technical colleges and um, well, what else has the government done for you lately? That’s right. “It’s the tax cuts, stupid”. Tanner astutely notes that the government really is the friend of producer interests everywhere. Top end of town all round.

Other reshuffle winners and losers. Ferguson goes from Immigration, Crean slips further into oblivion, and Peter Garrett can dust off his old t-shirts. Good. Not so sure about the politics unless Labor can pull together.