Yesterday Australia voted overwhelmingly for a new Federal government. The people rejected the Liberal Coalition with a swing of 7%, the same margin that installed the Whitlam Labor government back in 1972.
Government casualties included prime minister John Howard, whose seat of Bennelong fell to newcomer Maxine McKew - and it was noticeable that the Green vote expanded solidly from the level of the last election. Despite this, not a single Green won a seat in the lower house. Green preferences flowed to Labor and made the difference in many knife edge electorates.
Kevin Rudd will form a government and the electorate has served notice that they want action on climate change, improvements in the areas of health and education - and restoration of worker's rights in employment.
This latter poses something of an enigma. Rudd has been careful to avoid promising restoration of the " unfair dismissal " laws because they removed the right to " hire and fire " essential to a healthy economy - and were the cause of high unemployment.
Despite anathema from the unions, AWA's are welcomed by many workers and there will be no immediate cancellation. Most will run their course and be dealt with at a later stage.
The big question is whether Rudd can maintain discipline in the faction ridden Labor party. Will his government be able to control the inevitable cluster of trade union figures who will serve as ministers or will events swing out of control as happened to Whitlam, leading to his dismissal three years later ?
A change of government is an opportunity for this country to take a fresh stance on many issues. Rudd is charismatic and we can expect a sharp change of direction in everything from our foreign affairs policy to internal management of services and facilities.
Changes will not please everyone - but that is the whole purpose of our democratic system. The majority have spoken - and when the term of this new government has run it's course they will speak again. On such occasions the signal of a thumbs up - or a thumbs down - will depend on how that government's performance is perceived !
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