>>Besides I had always assumed that the ALP was for the underdog. Who was it that gave us Medicare, a fair wage for workers, Supperannuation,and the list goes on. Sure they're not perfect -what party is. But I'd sooner trust a party that sees the bigger picture and does provide us with at least the basics in services - than one who's obsessed with budget surpluses and the cutting of services, while providing all sorts of tax loopholes for the rich.<<

Yes Lexi, they were the party of the working class. The social benefits and the infrastructure they implemented in the brief periods that they have held power over the past 80 years is almost everything decent we ever received from a government or built for ourselves. That sort of committed passion blows a gasket regularly, hence the faction infighting that split the party in two in the 1950’s.

If one thinks the lawyers that hold most of the prominent positions in the Labor party now are akin to old Labor, then one would have no idea of the passion for our brothers and sisters that old Labor carried.

Lexi you have exampled what old Labor achieved let me give you an example of new Labor.

Julia Gillard:
“Don’t give the pensioners a pay rise, they don’t vote for us anyway”

November 2012”
Gillard government dumps r$40 million ebate for chemotherapy drugs.

Lexi, I have told Belly ad nauseam that I am not a conservative, but if Labor is this, then I am not that either.

Lexi I am not happy with Abbott, and particularly Hockey, but I am not voting for these clowns again.

Onthebeach,

Have just finished reading the link you posted.
My conclusion was that Penny Wong was a very fluent speaker, but could poke holes in many of her statements.

It sounded very much like a pre-election address to me. I noticed she took the opportunity to attack both the Opposition and the Greens in her speech, as well as the Queensland premier, and portrayed her own government as one which could be trusted.
Also noted that her speech made on July 12 maintained Labour would be back in surplus this year. Is there something she should be told?
I also noted an implied critiscm of her own P.M. when she said we should not shout at those who disagree with us.

My conclusion was that she makes good speeches, but overall it wouldn't inspire me to vote for her.

Susieonline and Lexi,

If labour had an outstanding candidate, I fail to see why gender or sexual preferences should prove a deterrent.

You both like Penny Wong, and I agree she is an accomplished and calm speaker. Please read the link posted by onthebeach, and tell me if you think she is outstanding leadership material.

One doesn't have to calm or even a good speaker to qualify for leadership. They should be able to inspire us, fire us with enthusiasm, and set out clear agendas of which we approve at the polls.
Indira Ghandi, Benazir Bhutto were P.M's in a patriarchal society.
Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel are prime examples of respected leaders.
Sad fact is, we don't currently have a woman who can attain the same stature, so it's not a gender problem.

Dear SOG,

I'm not familiar with the factional workings of
either political Party. As I've stated time and
time again on this Forum - I tend to go for
policies that make sense to me and ones that I
feel will be good for me and my family and also
the country. No one's perfect and in politics
things can change overnight and often are beyond
the Party Leader's control - such as having a
minority government and being forced to make
certain compromises.

Dear worldwatcher,

Who knows what sort of leader Penny Wong would make.
I certainly don't. I merely stated that she possesses
qualities that I admire and with her background as a
lawyer - she would be capable of lateral thinking.
I can't think of anyone else in the Labor Party apart
from Bob Carr who I can see as a good alternative
Labor Leader - but I'll keep working on it and see
who else I can come up with. I agree that gender should
not be a deterrant - but unfortunately for some voters -
it is. In Penny Wong's case - some voters would also
hold the fact that no only is she a female, but being
gay, and Asian, would also be held against her.

Julia Gillard is the best one they have in the ranks at the moment. Greg Combet, while still finding his feet, will make a good future leader I think.

Julia Gillard has made mistakes there is no denying that and hopefully she is learning from them but she is better than Kevin Rudd and a better manager of programs.

Greater transparency and increased democratic participation by citizens would improve the system as well as a competent leader.

Lexi,

I think most of us decide our preferences rationally, and yes, we should think of the effect of policies put before us on our families, as well as our country.

One would have to be very small minded to judge Penny Wong on anything other than the policy she promotes.

However, it has been my experience that a clever lawyer can be very convincing, and turn any argument presented to them to their advantage. Trust me on this - I have a son who is one, and have seen it in action for years.

Instead of using so many lawyers in government, don't you think people who hold these high positions should have qualifications in the fields they represent? A mining engineer can't to the job unless they hold the relevant qualifications, neither can a ship's captain - well you get the drift. Yet we have a lawyer in charge of a whole country. I have to wonder what other qualifications she has to bring to her position.