Channel 6

Pete's Perspectives # 1

My views on many things

Article Dated: 2 November 2009

Where is the Victoarian State Opposition?

We are very lucky to live in a democracy. We are able to publicly say what we feel. And subject to the laws of defamation, libel + sensible laws against stirring racial & religious hatreds we may publicise our views without fear.

My idea of the "Westminster System" is there is an alternate government available to the people. This, in UK, is referred to as "Her Majesty's Opposition". The prime role of the opposition is to, in my view, to robustly take public positions which may be contrary to government policies & operations.

So where is the Victorian State Opposition? The answer to my way of thinking is:-

 

Almost Invisible and totally ineffectual.

We the people, are entitled to have an opposition that really does, at least, try and carry out their remit. What have we got instead?

To my mind and to that of many people I have spoken to we have:

a) An unappealing & ineffectual opposion leader. Clealy a most unlikely winner of the next election. That election being against an incompetent, tired and mostly dis-trusted as well as a widespread unliked government.

As a person, the current Opposition Leader is in no doubt in my mind, an honest and decent man. But that is NOT what being Opposition Leader is all about. We expect and are entitled to hear his alternate views, policies & proposals. Instead we are treated to the occassional, and rare, public whining session about the government. All whine & no body. His performances in the public eye remind me of the Keating expression abou t" being thrashed with a warm lettuce leaf". Clearly the government hold the same opinions and simply dismiss any form of dissent with the contempt it deserves.

b) His so called "team" of invisible, mostly unknown and under performing dullards. All too scared of "the party" or more than likely, too lacking initiative and the wherewithal to actually do something to bring the public attention to concerns within their shadow responsiblities. In other words they are not doing (all of) their jobs properly.

c) Too much attention being given to parliamentary performances. To the general public State Parliament is seen as an expensive waste of money since so very little is perceived as being of value. The Opposition lack of performance only serves to bolster this general opinion.

I am of the opinion most of the electorate would vote to rid ourselves of state governments throughout Australia.

d) The only thing really going for the cuttent Opposition Leader is there appears to be nobody capable of being an effective replacement. I would defy 99.9% of the popu;ation to name more than four Opposition Ministers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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