Grandstanding government right off-side – Message from the Editor |
I have never been cynical about politics. At my 1980s high school, I confused many by having then Prime Minister Bob Hawke plastered across my A4 binder instead of Bruce Springsteen or Boy George. After starting life in journalism, where there were plenty of cynics, I horrified my editor by leaving to work for the Federal ALP. He dubbed the move the worst decision I had ever made. But I was unmoved.
Even after seven years working day and night, in opposition and in Government, through the Kevin07 landslide and the anarchy that followed, I still believed.
I took pride in being pragmatic, not pure, and understanding that politics is about making tough choices – in the national interest – not making everyone happy all the time. I thought hating politicians as a group was lazy, unthinking and blame-shifting. I believed that, mostly, parliamentarians had good motives, and wanted to change........