Thanks to David Rubie for the post title, though as DeeCee notes in comments on another thread, it appears sundry Liberal backbenchers don’t share the sentiment.
In my column for New Matilda this week, I look at the symbolism behind Kevin Rudd’s appointment of Quentin Bryce as the next Governor-General, which I think is more complex than is being reported. I might add that I argued that it’s also emblematic of a concern for equality of opportunity and meritocracy which is part of Rudd’s own understanding of social democracy, but that’s a theme in itself which warrants more extended treatment at a later date.
From you column for New Matilda this week:
Everything else about it was carefully weighed for its PR potential, too.
As someone who was resident in Sydney in the 1980s, I find it bemusing to see the current preoccupation with Bryce’s “Queenslander” status. Two decades ago Bryce, in her capacity as Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner, was well known as a national figure and as a feminist. How quickly some people forget!
Agree. I think the period of the Rudd government could prove very interesting in terms of gender politics, both at the level of policy and at the level of changing public discourse. The problem with the 2020 Working Group chairs may just be starting to look like an aberration.
I suspect it was all Glyn Davis. “Top level” policy wonk networking with only the yartz as feminised territory. Obviously there’s 50 someting former bureaucrats and 50 something former bureaucrats when it comes to an awareness of equality of opportunity.
What’s the point of all this, Eliot? Governments want to send messages and get messages across. What are you arguing for? A roneoed notice on the board of Old Parliament House or something? Are you implying that Bryce won’t do the job well? If so, that’s wrong. Are you suggesting that there’s no symbolism in a symbolic office? Or there’s no legitimate public and media interest?
Your take makes no sense whatever.
My personal pet theory about Queenslandification overtaking NSWification in Labor circles is the end of the Neville Wran era and a rebirth with Wayne Goss. In contrast, the ossification of the Liberal party started when the Victorians gave way to the Howard NSW push. NSW politics in the post 1980 era has been a sad, slow decline into quasi corruption, poisonous factionalism and the dead cat bounceon both sides.
On that kind of long view, Rudd is a product of that era of Queensland politics: unafraid of change, out of step (perhaps half a step ahead) of the rest of the country, unashamedly urban in outlook, aided no end by an opposition mired in division, desperately clinging to fringe death beast ideals of bucolic white agrarian mythology. Modern Australia was born in Brisbane, and y’all ought to be proud of it.
“Whether they wish to enslave or simply consume us, remains to be seen”
But most of these “Queenslanders” come from the part which is known elsewhere in the state as “northern NSW”.
Bring on the day when a big chainsaw cuts inland from the sunshine coast & makes a crescent down to Stanthorpe. Norfolk Island, NSW, somebody can have the surplus.
This should do no end of good to Qld’s financial situation.
Perhaps he’s implying that the current government’s noble predecessors were above gaming the news cycle to the hilt.
I like most people I suspect don’t give a shit about what state she comes from, as long as she’s up to the job.
How insecure would you have to be to be worried that the new GG is a Queenslander?
Given the state of the Labor party in NSW Rudd is very sensible in choosing luminaries from other states. He would be wise to let NSW players know that they will have to clean up their acts if they wish to get anywhere
David Rubie, the corruption in NSW isn’t just a post 1980 thing, it was ever thus. (Askin’s government made the current bunch look like choirboys.) My theory is that, no matter the flavour of government, NSW is still run by the Rum Corps.
The post title is an example of a ’snowclone’ and was described at Language Log four years ago, when the template I, for one, welcome our new * overlords yielded some 2600 google hits. Today’s figure is closer to 100,000.
This is an excellent use though.
(Just thought you might like to know.)
Right on Pavlov’s Cat, unless of course they were warning us about evil foreigners slinging their ankle biters off sinking ships and had the doctored photos to prove it.
What Kim at 4 said.
David wrote:
That’s an interesting idea. Perhaps we should plot the political and economic fortunes of our country against the influence of NSW.
The Rum Corps, eh?
As a working hypothesis it explains much.
And Victoria run by Presbyterian Bankers with pastoral properties?
South Australia: German & Italian winemakers & fruitgrowers??
Tassie: still the Apple Isle??? run by bushrangers and snarling Tasmanian Devils; a whole island as sea-girt penitentiary….
how far can a handy cliche stretch in modern Australia?
South Australia may be largely _populated_ with German and Italian winemakers and fruitgrowers, but it’s still run from the Adelaide Club.
David, I stand corrected. Waiter? Another Chivas for young David here, please!
I doubt they’d drink anything as down-market as Chivas in the Adelaide Club.
Sorry, old chap. What’s your poison?
I drink beer, Ambigulous, and cheap red wine when I can get it.
I have no idea what they drink in the Adelaide Club.
The blood of small children I think.
small virgins, I trust; or that of near extinct species; served by wenches whose beauty would take one’s breath away