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October 29, 2005
This is the ALP, our federal opposition in Australia. Or lack of opposition. At the moment they are judged to have become largely ineffectual as an opposition.
Alan Moir
You can see why people have lots of doubts about them these days as an opposition. On some issues there is more opposition coming from within the Government's own ranks than from federal ALP. The ALP's identity is that it is the party of reform when it gets its hands on the levers of power. Now, however, Labor has no clear reform agenda. It is floundering politicially and the policy reform ideas are not flowing. That is why some are saying that it needs to dev erlop soem policy options on the big issues that will confront all Australian governments over the next 20.
The federal ALP finds itself in a difficult situation. It is squeezed between a vigorous economy and a strong safety net, between individual liberty and national security, between social tolerance and moral tradition, or between military strength and international cooperation. Federal ALP is squeezed by the conservative movement led by that astute politician John Howard who occupies the centre and who has made it is own since 1996.
Update 31 10 05
So what does the ALP leadership do in reponse to the squeeze?
Kim Beazley, the leader, not only supports John Howard's draconian "anti-terror" laws but moves to go even tougher as the ALP becomes ever more divided. Few are impressed, especially the left faction of his party who are deeply concerned about the loss of civil liberties under the proposed anti-terrorism laws. And rightly so.
What is going on? Why did federal Labor let itself be boxed into a corner by the Labor state premiers? Why didn't they form behind Beazely as the leader of their formation which stood together? Why did they shoot one another in the foot? Why did they not work together? Aren't these rightwing premiers guys mean to be astute tactical operators? Why leave their Kim Beazley fighting for his political life?
Gone sailing is one answer.
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