Hi,

I'm writing a profile feature on former speaker and Federal MP for Scullin, Harry Jenkins.

If someone who lives in the Scullin electorate (Mill Park, Thomastown, Lalor, etc) has a view on Mr. Jenkins and his work, I would love to speak to you.

i suggest his own words
http://www.openaustralia.org/?keyword=house%20hansard&creativeid=1117913217&gclid=CMGSzPi5rKcCFQXabgoda1BHAA

will reveal much more

than his press
agent..replying shortly

he was fine
but not a good speaker

too much has been lost under succesive bad leaders
the new guy..is willing to test..but he too
in histry wont rate best

so far

ilaskari,
I'd think there would many more interesting characters whose daily battles for making ends meet would make far more interesting & enlightening reading.

Dear ilaskari,

Welcome to the Forum,
and what an unusual moniker you've chosen.
Finnish ancestry?

Anyway, I wish that I could help you however
I don't live in the MP's electorate. If it's
of any use to you at all - I can simply say
that I've watched many sessions of "Question
Time," in Parliament and Mr Jenkins was always
very fair, even-handed, and extremely patient
in his position as Speaker. From what I've read -
his resignation came as quite a shock to many
MPs. He was extremely well liked and respected.
But obviously the pressures of the job finally
got to him.

I hope that you shall get the responses that you're
hoping for here. If you live either in or anywhere
near his electorate - you could give his office
a ring and try to arrange a meeting if not with him,
perhaps with his staff. Just a thought.

Google his name - and his contact details should
come up online.

Good Luck.

his resignation came as quite a shock to many
Lexi,
I thought it was just a callous political tactic.

Dear Individual,

Who knows - people can speculate all they want -
and of course the media will nit-pick the more
"sensational" aspects for after all "wedge politics"
("them" and "us" instead of just "us") attracts
wider audiences doesn't it. That's the name of
the game. Perhaps one day the truth will out - for
now I prefer to think it was the pressures of the
job that finally got to him. It certainly couldn't
have been easy.

Perhaps one day the truth will out
Lexi,
That's one of my pet gripes with these things. We always have to wait for the next generation to get the truth, when it's too late. Meanwhile we're living with lies & deceit.
Just look at some of the stuff that's surfacing now about those "great Statesmen" of the past.

Dear Individual,

Cheer up. That's politics.
We can only deal with things as they come up
and do the best we can and hope for the best.

Interest groups, self-interest and antagonism
between citizens permeates political policy-making.
The much-touted notion in liberal democracies that
governments govern for all, is not believed by
significant members of voters. It is all too obvious
that governments actually don't do this.

This destroys social capital, that is, trust,
togetherness, and the tender feelings of a caring
society. There is "them" and "us" rather than simply
"us." and much effort is employed in partisan politics
which could be much better utilised in positive
pursuits.

I keep hoping that somehow we can get a consensus-building
concept into practice. Some sort of middle-ground.
Yet I have to wonder whether a mean or a middle-way can
actually suppress the excess demands (if that's what they are)
of a majority, or of the politically powerful?

I guess we have to be patient, and keep on trying.