By Cagerattler

Thank goodness the seven month political campaign is finally over. What a saga. Now  we can watch the Labor recriminations and the Coalition gloats and smirks with apparently a ‘mandate’ to stop the boats, scrap the carbon and mining taxes, change the NBN rollout,    confront the public sector to help get that budget surplus including job cutbacks, and who knows where the GST, education and health are going.

I have always voted ALP and did so again this time despite the internal and factional issues because I still think that even given the egocentric nature of the majority of  politicians, they were the best available. At least they didn’t shirk climate change and attempted to     recoup some of the billions of dollars going offshore in the mining boom. IF the new government does scrap the Carbon Tax, I pray they have a decent alternative to try and send a message to the really big polluters so that the certainty of climate change can be offset somewhat  for our future  generations…

I don’t agree with Greens policy very often, not least at a State level but one of their fights – the handling of the boat refugees – I considered political point scoring at its worst. Where has our sense of concern gone and how can we really claim to be a caring society if we can’t  come up with a more humanitarian way of  dealing with these almost completely desperate people hoping to find a better life?  Refugees need to be treated better than this so long as they meet the requirements of genuine  refugees – the escaping of political, religious or military persecution. Those who come with other agendas get sent back immediately this is determined…simple and fair.

If the ALP is clever it will learn a valuable lesson here, on a  Federal and State level – minority government is a recipe for failure. It has let them down at a national level given the backroom negotiations required with independents and minor parties, and will cause a      decimation at the Tasmanian State Election, unless the Liberal Party make a monumental mess of the next half year. Time to learn and take stock.

At least from now on we don’t need to endure the poxy rhetoric and grandstanding other than on the nightly news.

Peace at last…what do you think?

Rod McGiveron.