Pretty soon we’ll be approaching the 40th anniversary of the December 1984 snap Federal Election that Bob Hawke called, just over 18 months after Labor’s historic win in early 1983 had ousted Malcolm Fraser’s government.
Hawke was enjoying very high popularity (75% approval rating in ACNielson polls) and he thought this was a smart tactical move, and a chance to level up both Houses of Parliament. But surprisingly Andrew Peacock did well in the first ever TV Leaders Debate, and the Australian people voted to return Labor with its majority reduced from 25 seats to 16. Ouch…
In that campaign young people and women played an important role, and Peter Garrett drew lots of attention campaigning around the country for the Nuclear Disarmament Party, before he later joined the ALP front bench and went very quiet on many issues.
But Hawke had ‘read the room’ and realised he needed to up the ante with young people. So he brought the Office of Youth Affairs over to Prime Minister & Cabinet, from the sleepier confines of the Canberra suburban Woden home of John Dawkins’ Education Department.
It was also very timely that 1985 was International Youth Year (IYY) and Bob decided he needed to reach out to the nation’s youth. So a phone line was created where young people could call in from anywhere and ‘Talk To Hawke.’ Yes, it was a cheesy bit of 80’s PR BS, but it was something.
So it was that in January of 1985 I turned up at the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet to start work in the International Youth Year Secretariat, having been a journalist on Education and Youth Affairs for some years.
In our first week, the whole Office of Youth Affairs was summonsed into a large meeting room, to be addressed by Alan Rose, Deputy Secretary of PM&C. A solemn occasion indeed.
Alan is a lovely bloke, and was good mates with Hawke. But on this day he had one bone shaking message for all assembled: “Don’t settle in and get comfortable here! You’re all tourists. We’ll be using you up and sending you on. Most of you won’t be here long, so make your work count.”
The whitening faces of long-settled comfortable Canberra public servants shone around the room just like at a funeral. Everyone was sh… themselves. And every word Alan spoke was true. We’re all tourists – it’s a good metaphor for life.
Which brings me to Albo and Dutton.
Whatever we may think of Anthony Albanese, he’s a decent, well intentioned bloke, trying to bring the Nation and the Parliament together. To work at improving life for everyone.
Peter Dutton on the other hand is a spoiler, with a main game which follows the Tony Abbott school of politics, Disrupt At All Costs.
Policy content-wise, Albo has led a team of hardworking ministers trying to maintain progress with all their portfolios, in a time of tight constraint. They have sought bipartisanship and cooperation in the Parliament. Many of us might complain there isn’t enough socially progressive action, but at least they’re trying to move forward.
Meanwhile, the Coalition falls in behind Dutton’s naysaying, happy to enjoy the shallow media obsession with reporting on the tactics of adversarial politics, rather than the substantive issues of Government, where Labor is progressing.
So when rumours of double dissolution triggers lining up started a while ago, I was reminded of Alan Rose’s words.
It made me think of the defining aspects of these two leaders and their parties. What are their dominant Intentions and Aspirations, as they complete their ‘tour of duty?’
Dutton and the Coalition clearly practice Deception and Denial to achieve Division. Albo and the ALP, for all their faults, seem to me to be heading in the right Direction, with a level of Decency that still passes muster.
Hopefully the Australian people will see through the mediated puppet show and cast their votes for the tourists in Canberra who aim to leave the place in a better state than when they arrived.
Dr Robbie Lloyd has been a national journalist, public affairs director, education and community health reformer for over 50 years. He works with First People and those with Lived Experience of mental health challenges, disability, alcohol and other drugs, DFV, ageing and trauma. Robbie now works in community wellbeing reform.