High noon for the undinkum PM? The current Australian Prime Minister Mr Howard has overseen all sorts of tricks on the Australian public. Sure he has his nice side, the one where he beams a smile and shakes the hand of anyone in his path during his inspirational daily walks. But for all that he could be described as never being really dinkum with the Australian public. During his terms of office there seems always to have been some secret agenda at play to which the Australian public has not been privy. I suppose this is what he would define as good leadership.
We shouldn't be surprised. The Liberal Party
glib manifesto contains many contradictions. The link above features eight supposed core beliefs of the Liberal Party, but many don't seem to have translated very well with Mr Howard at the helm. Maybe they should have added a ninth just to be sure. "If it feels good for corporations, then do it."
We've seen a few major environmental decisions hastily pushed though in the past week or so - before Mr Howard calls the date for the election. One was the pulp mill in Tasmania, another happened yesterday with the go-ahead being given for the development of the Pluto undersea gas field off the northwest of Western Australia. This one has been quietly festering for at least a couple of years. Now its been confirmed by the Howard government that most of one of Australia's largest natural energy resources will be flogged off overseas in exchange for some quick bucks.
I say most of the resource. It would have been 'all' if the private enterprise developers had their way entirely, but the WA State Premier Allen Carpenter insisted on retention of fifteen percent of the gas for use by Australians. For this loyalty to our nation's own energy needs he has experienced substantial criticism.
On the Burrup Peninsular where an onshore gas condensation and export facility is to be constructed is one of the world's greatest cultural treasures. Thousands of ancient Aboriginal petroglyphs have been carved into the outcrops of natural stone.
See here. Better still, type Burrup rock art into your search engine and take your pick.
It's been known for some time that these carvings have been at risk. The developers have been adamant that their gas facility and foreign energy needs are more important. They've come up with the solution of moving any rock art which in the way and stockpiling it out of context somewhere else.
The local Aboriginal people don't seem too fussed. With a bit of sucking up, they've been persuaded that jobs and prosperity will be forthcoming. Well, anyone who has watched the Australian Aboriginal arena over decades has heard that one before. Somehow these ideas always seem to always collapse. In years to come, the same Aboriginal people will probably be saying they were manipulated, and they'll be correct.
Mr Howard has not been noted for his effective communication skills with the indigenous folk in years gone past. However a couple of days ago he reached into his little bag of tricks and announced that if he is reelected he will organise a referendum to alter the Australian Constitution to formally recognise Aboriginal people as the first human inhabitants of the continent. He said:
"There have been low points when dialogue between me, as Prime Minister and many Indigenous leaders dwindled almost to the point of non-existence. I fully accept my share of the blame for that. I announce that if I'm reelected, I will put to the Australian people, within eighteen months, a referendum to formally recognise Indigenous Australians in our Constitution. Their history as the first inhabitants of our country, their unique heritage of language and culture, and their special, though not separate place, within a reconciled indivisible nation."
He's become so humble. The message is clear, it's a political stunt. It may even be a diversionary tactic to take attention away from the awful vandalism which is about to happen on the Burrup Peninsular.
One thing is for sure, not all Aboriginal people are fooled so easily. I rather liked the reaction from Central Land Council spokesman David Ross on TV last night, who likened Mr Howard to a snake shedding its old skin. He said it then slithers off with its shiny new skin, but underneath it's still the same old snake.
With the contentious environmental decisions out of the way, Mr Howard is expected to announce the election date today - possibly for 24 November. Who says we don't live in interesting times?
© MMVII Paul R. Weaver.
About the writerCheck out each month's subject index on the Calendar Page for my "common-man" monologues about survival in 21st century Australia – plus a little history occasionally. An original essay is added most days as part of an undertaking to write a couple of million words.
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