On the eve of the election, I’ve punted $300 on Julia Gillard being elected as Australia’s first female Prime Minister.
I’ve also already voted – on Tuesday – joining over 12.5% of my fellow Australians who voted before Saturday. (I voted Labor, in case you were wondering, both in the House of Reps and the Senate, above the line.)
There are lots of reasons for this.
Labor’s climate change policy isn’t the best, but it is the only policy that will set us on the right track. The Greens Party’s carbon tax is a terrible idea, and the Liberal Party don’t even believe in climate change. I hope that once the new Senate comes in, we can accelerate introducing a price on carbon, but the sad reality is that until mid-2011 we won’t see any major movement here. (Although there will be, and should be more, investment in renewable energy technology and infrastructure.)
Labor’s industrial relations policy is superior, although there is unfinished business. The Fair Work Act – with a few exceptions, minor and major – is an excellent set of IR laws that improves workers’ rights and makes it easier for workers to get union representation. It’s committed to abolishing the ABCC and removing the coercive powers.
On education, Labor has met its commitments to higher education – indexing funding, and accepting most of the Bradley Reviews. It has come through with funding for the VCA. It abolished full-fee places. It’s increased funding for innovation, research and made it easier for low income students to get to uni. Compacts could be a concern, but that’s a local issue mainly. Labor has committed to legislating academic freedom. On early childhood, primary and secondary, it’s done the right thing with increasing funding, and – MySchool aside – it’s heading in the right direction with things like the national curriculum. Trade training centres in schools are a great idea, although I don’t support demand-driven TAFE funding.
Labor acted during the Global Financial Crisis to protect jobs and stimulate the economy. The Keynesian approach was the right approach, and we are now the envy of the world. Tens of thousands of Australians have jobs thanks to Labor’s policies. I bought a new watch with my $900. Labor has also started to roll out the National Broadband Network – the next generation of broadband technology that will take Australia into the 21st century.
On equal rights (I’ll post in a few weeks about same-sex marriage), Labor has removed discrimination from 82 pieces of Commonwealth law affecting same-sex couples, including superannuation, health, social security and more. In Victoria, Labor introduced the relationship register.
Labor apologised to the Stolen Generation and committed to the Close the Gap principles. I’ve written about the Intervention here.
On asylum seekers, Labor is committed to a regional solution, which I’m informed is supported by many refugee rights and advocacy groups. Labor abolished temporary protection visas and the Pacific Solution, as well as mandatory detention.
On social security, Labor will increase superannuation from 9% to 12%, and introduce (an admittedly limited) paid parental leave scheme. It’s also increased funding for mental health and public housing.
On health, Labor has increased funding for hospitals by 50% and that will mean 1000s of new nurses and doctors. I think the GP Super Clinics are a great idea and I hope more open.
In just 2 and a half years, Labor has made some enormous changes to undo the decade of damage caused by John Howard. We all wish Labor could have done more. The reforms of the last two years hopefully will continue to last for generations. Children today will benefit from the things happening now.
The other day, I spent a few hours calling people in a marginal seat. It was very rewarding and worthwhile and I think everyone who supports a political party (no matter what one) should make these calls. It is politics in the raw – you hear from people directly what issues they are concerned about. You hear good stories, you hear bad stories and you hear from people who are really doing it tough.
Without a doubt in my mind, Labor deserves to be returned to Government tomorrow. That’s why I have voted for Labor in Batman (the safest Labor seat in Australia) and that’s why I voted above the line for Labor in the Senate.
I’ve also put my money where my mouth is. I’ve bet $300 that Julia Gillard will win tomorrow. This is based on the polls, my gut feeling, the doorknocking I’ve done, the leafleting, and the phone calls.
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