Island Magazine
Andrew Wilkie, the Independent Member for Denison, discloses new details of Julia Gillard’s proposed deal with him, amongst other critical reflections on Australian politics, in a 5000 wd essay to be published this week in Island magazine, a leading quarterly of ideas, writing, and culture.
A live radio interview with Andrew Wilkie will be on Statewide Mornings with Leon Compton, 936 ABC Hobart at 10.05am today to discuss these revelations.
A 1700wd edited excerpt has been published today online at Crikey.com.au.
Highlights of the essay include:
On Gillard Deal
“A curious twist in the story is how Gillard effectively offered me Denison for keeps in mid-2011. We were holding one of our frequent meetings in Canberra and out of the blue she said I needed to think about my future and, in particular, whether I wanted to be the ALP Denison candidate at the next federal election or wanted Labor to not even run a candidate there at all. The alternative, clearly, was business as usual – and by implication a tough Labor campaign directed at me come election time.”
On 43rd ‘hung’ parliament
“The popular misconception at the time, that the ‘hung’ parliament was dysfunctional and somehow illegitimate, was to a large degree the mischievous work of the Liberal–National coalition and some in the media. The reality was that it was simply a power-sharing parliament similar to many effective power-sharing parliaments right around the world; the logical outcome of an effective democratic system where voters are required to elect the members of a parliament, and not a majority government as some critics of the Gillard Government would have you believe.”
On Independents vs Political Parties
“History shows that governments often crave the imprimatur of well-regarded independents and will just as often pork-barrel their seats if only to try to win such sanction, or the seat itself, off them. But of course, much of this effort can be counterproductive because the more a government talks to and about an independent, and the more it dispenses largess, then the more the electorate sees the benefit in holding on to their independent. It’s not lost on some mainland politicians and commentators that the Abbott Government is pushing ahead with the $16 million grant to Cadburys in Hobart while at the same time refusing SPC’s plea for $25 million in federal government investment in Victoria.”
On Political Parties
“Examples of party members failing to follow their conscience, or to effectively represent their constituents, are many, but none are more striking than the parliamentary votes on asylum seekers, marriage equality and animal welfare. Time and time again otherwise good members of parliament have been on the public record making principled statements on these important areas of public policy and then walked in to the Chamber, sat with their party and made a complete mockery of their previous behaviour.”
On the Greens
“In early 2008, I left the Greens and have been on the receiving end of the Greens’ vitriol ever since. There were many reasons for the Greens’ behaviour. Among the rank and file, and even among some of the party leadership, I enjoyed a pleasing level of support. But key figures had taken quite a strong personal dislike to me for reasons, as far as I can tell, as diverse as my army and intelligence background, my moderate views and my preoccupation with social justice and peace issues rather than a strong track record in environmental activism. One very senior Green in particular seemed to be mindful of the possibility that I might one day succeed Bob Brown in the Senate and replace him as party leader.”
On Independents
“There’s certainly a hunger for more independents by many in the community who are sick and tired of politics, politicians and the political parties. But it’s a tough road to hoe for independents and the parties will do their best to make it all the tougher. After all, the parties like their cushy duopoly on power and don’t take kindly to those who come along and threaten it. Bad luck, I say, they’d better get used to it because we’re here to stay and hopefully prosper.”
Island will be available from today (12 March 2014).
