Banjo Paterson,

Struggle Streets? Let them eat cake and pretend they don't exist, eh?

Do try that out on the Parisiennes you waft by in the street.

You are frivolous, putting your 'progressive' idealism ahead of the very real and serious challenges (I listed a few) that confront Australia.

Quite obviously, the Australian public doesn't agree with you, or with that vain wealthy knob wearing that red nappy.

'If it ain't broke don't fix it' makes good sense where there are pressing priorities concerning the public good and the future of their children.

-Besides, who would allow the 'Progressives' -who steadfastly refuse to even acknowledge the unforeseen (by themselves!) negative consequences of their dabbling in social reengineering- anywhere near a system of government that has worked well for donkeys' years?

Hi Is Mise,

If that's not General Lee on that white horse then who is it?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/349851-general-robert-e-lee-gentlemans-gentleman.html

p/s Is that you behind the camera/canvas?

"if the people of a State decide to leave the (Union) there is very little that anyone can do, other than lament."
Yeah! try that one on President Lincoln. Seriously what state is going to sussed from the Commonwealth based on Australia becoming a republic? Queensland! I told you Old Joh is dead.

Hi Beach, if we have had a "system of government that has worked well for donkeys' years" why do we still have people on Struggle Street. There must be something wrong somewhere, nothing's perfect.

Paul1405, "why do we still have people on Struggle Street"

That is a question you might direct at your buddies in the Greens and Labor, but Mark Latham ventured this explanation,

<Former Labor leader Mark Latham slams Labor over gay marriage

FORMER Labor leader Mark Latham has slammed his party’s “obsession” with gay marriage saying it should focus on the nation’s “Struggle Streets” instead.

He told 3AW radio Bill Shorten’s private members bill to push for changes to the marriage act to allow same-sex couples to tie the knot, to be introduced into parliament on Monday, was nothing more than a symbolic gesture.

He said the biggest social issue facing Austalia was unemployment, drug use and homelessness in suburbs such as Mt Druitt which was the focus of the SBS documentary, Struggle Street.

“If you are interested in equality and social justice in Australia then what was the really big event in the month of May,” he said. “We had the Struggle Street documentary which revealed that in the nation’s public housing estate, most notably in Mt Druit people live in conditions that you wouldn’t wish upon your dogs. Absolute chaos, despair and hopelessness in their lives.

“And surely, you would have expected a serious national response from the party of social justice?

“We didn’t hear anything.

“They’re obsessed, instead, by gay marriage.”>

Now you can add stuffing around with the structure of government as a diversion.

Bend over Australia, the Greens and Labor are advancing from behind.

Paul,

That is indeed Gen. Robert E. Lee on his favourite horse 'Traveller'.

Traveller was a grey with a black mane and tail, you have become used to colour photography, they diden have it back then.

Beach, I do not think the Labor Party or The Greens are "obsessed" by gay marriage. In my opinion Mark Latham has an axe to grind with the ALP because of some perceived failure on their part to deliver what he thinks was an entitlement of his viz The prime ministership of Australia, something I believe he would have proven himself to be a complete failure at, given the opportunity.
Your linking of "Struggle Street" and its issues to gay marriage is irrational, just as it is to link it to the republic debate, Just like so many conservatives you don't want "Struggle Street" on the agenda, no more that you want gay marriage or the republic on the agenda, contented to leave things as they are.

//Traveller was a grey//

Gray horses are sometimes white in colour, see this photo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_(horse)#/media/File:Andalusier_3_-_galoppierend.jpg