Rebooting Australia

 

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We are just over a week into our newly elected parliament and government . In some ways it has been like watching paint dry because there has had to be a lot of counting postal postal, phone, pre polls and then election day votes. AEC has had a big, complex job on its hands and has managed it all with good grace,  patience and tolerance. We live in an instant gratification world so it is hard for some to grasp this notion of waiting until all the boxes have been ticked and all the processes have been duly completed. 

We have run into similar problems with a 24/7 365 news cycle. Social media and internet access mean we want news and good news now. Right now. It should not mean, though, photographers are out getting photos of our newly elected PM in his pyjamas at home  getting his newspaper. That is disrespectful, a gross invasion of privacy, ill mannered, creepy as anything and totally intolerable. Treating others like that so you an feed a rabid news cycle needs to be resisted at all costs. 

Our government has not yet been sworn in so some things cannot yet be done. Our parliament has a number of climate change active independents, a few more greens senators, a Labor majority and a decimated Liberal party. The Nationals have an inordinate number of seats givens how many votes they have. Whether we wish to do something about that remains to be seen. 

Mr. Dutton is now leader of the Liberal party and Mr. Littleproud is now leader of the National party. Mr. Morrison does not , as yet, appear to have moved out of Kirribilly House where he was living with the two mothers, two daughters and his wife. Mr. Albanese and Ms. Wong have been making strong connections and conversations with overseas leaders and communities. It has also been established just how important the first nations people will be now in the same way Mr. Malinauskas in SA  put that front and centre as soon as he was elected. There is also relief in sight for the Murugappan family who have been treated horrendously . They will hopefully get home to Biloela really soon and will able to become permanent residents. The cost financially, emtionally and healthwise has far exceeded any attempt to put refugees and asylum seekers off. We have been deeply hurt by this and the cost has been exorbitant. It has proven nothing. That family has shown us a lot about strength, courage and a capacity to endure. 

Soon everything will be in place and we can get on with our agenda : human rights, healthcare, respect, a bright future, climate change . I'd like to think ,as we progress, we become less sick and have the capacity to overcome the barriers to keeping us well. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

 

As of 21st May 2022 we have a new , Labor Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. We should be shouting from the roof tops. We should be singing and chortling. We voted in a number of the so called teal independents ,who support climate change initiatives, and we endorsed more Greens candidates. We want the nastiness and the greed of the LNP gone and we want a positive country with vison, hope, growth and fairness. We want to look at climate change, human rights, standard of living and just being able to know our country will forge ahead as a strong unit again. 

Much of the media is still focussed on the old names and parties. They cannot tear themselves away from looking to rubbish news about less than inspiring people. It is not news ministers are moving out of their offices or losing their position in government. Labor was nearly broken last election with the cruelty of the result which we still haven't faced up to honestly and truthfully. There's a narrative. Is it the truth? They just had to move out and carry on.

We had a hard won election and a price has been paid. We have lost Kristina Keneally and Rex Patrick and that hurts. There are other good people we have lost and we need to consider that carefully. Too easy to come up with the glib and poorly thought out explanations. That'll do. That reads and sounds okay. Is it the truth , though? In time the truth will be out. We have drawn a line in the sand and we don't want rubbish reporting about rubbish people doing rubbish things. We are so sick we cannot even notice how sick we are . We cannot wake up and respond to the number of deaths we have from covid and how much we have spread it. 

It will change. Sooner or later we shall work out we have a good government with a good parliament. We have Dr. Monique Ryan who exploded onto the scene with her deft capacity to problem solve and get everyone a vote. We have a chance to work on climate so the bushfire and flood affected people can be helped. We shall stop fretting and being in denial and we shall take strides to improve ourselves and our lives. 

Meanwhile , media need to be aware we are on a new agenda. We are no longer negative and destructive. The Quad meeting has been a big success for Australia. Our new Prime Minister and Foreign  Affairs Minister have put us in a good light and we have been well received. It has been heartening to see the number of overseas leaders who have contacted us in a warm way to congratulate our new prime minister. 

We are hoping the Toto account ,which was on Twitter, might be taken up and endorsed by the PM and PMO. Anthony Albanese's dog was such a strong part of his campaign. It almost seems right for us to have an official  account for Toto which is run by the PM and his office. It is healing. Animals are healing and we do need to heal ourselves and get past all this illness. 

One week to go

 

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How did that happen? The longest campaign in history is nearly finished. Some have been battling covid or I can't believe it's not covid. Some have had other family issues to deal with. There is plenty of sickness around and it is unpleasant. We have had various sorts of debates which have created interest. We have the cheerful turquoise colours of the independents to brighten the dull days. We have valued Simon Holmes à Court's support of climate action via political platforms and candidates because how on earth are we going to otherwise get it on the agenda? His plan for creating change has been a good one. We have valued the contributions of energetic , intelligent candidates who may or may not have been confused with other candidates. We have enjoyed watching journalists learn that the campaign is not about them . It is about us and our country. So many candidates have been busy, positive and hard working. They have been visible in their electorates. So many candidates have gone unseen and unpresent. Postal votes and early polling have been bubbling along. The change will come. We know last time everyone and everything we trusted pointed to a Shorten government. We have not forgotten the pain of how that felt that this was not the case. That still has not been properly explained. Oh yes, there are the Palmer millions, the gullible franking credits public and a few other things . Mr . Morrison won by one seat. One seat. We are wary but in a week, our life will be different because we have found our voice, our intellect and our humour. This time next week we shall be winding up for election evening and it will be great. 

Where to start?

 

Where do I start? Consider this as tipping my head out because it is one way to cope with increasing Covid infections and electioneering.

Two weeks of this election campaign to go and shall we survive? Yes, yes we shall. If you go to the source,  you generally get good information which is helpful and enlightening. If you  only pay attention to the campaign, then there is a lot to be concerned about. Smiling family photos somehow equal good government. Really? Have you looked at the facts and what has or has not been achieved? Too many  media people  are playing daft games and thinking they are stealing the limelight and the campaign narrative. The lack of thought and literacy in some of them is embarrassing and not worthy of us. Baffling why any public platform finds it acceptable . Candidate corflutes have been removed, damaged , defaced and remastered to the extend some independents have been recreated as Greens candidates. Is that because the people doing it think Greens are a liability.? I do wonder what goes on in some people's heads when they get up in the morning. And why would they actually print and distribute false signs? So much wrong with these false campaign corflutes and the vandalism. AEC is investigating it. Pity they have had to put up with some people thinking they are not. Whoever is behind this misrepresentation of candidates needs to be established and dealt with. It is awful. 

Our coronavirus infections are escalating and the deaths as well. We are not getting enough people vaccinated and boosted. We are not getting enough people tested. If you are sick with covid and vomiting or have an upset stomach, testing would be hard. Some are thinking , why bother and just carrying on. Masks are being abandoned and that is irrational because they stop the spread! Sanitising stops the spread. Social distancing stops the spread. It simply is not logical to think this is not a problem when our numbers are going up and up. We have no leadership in this matter other than some medical people who keep trying to put sensible messages out on social media.

Then we have our medical system. It is hard to get a doctor's appointment if you have suspected covid. Some doctors don't seem to want to know you or your child. So you ring the covid helpline and get told to go to emergency and emergency isn't the place. You need a proper consultation if you have a child with a fever, vomiting and not eating and drinking for more than a day. There are adults who can't get proper consultations. I accept clinics want to keep themselves safe. RATs can come up negative even though you have symptoms on the Covid  list. We need to know. This is not going away. We keep supplying hosts. Maybe we need a possibly covid clinic  so people with covid symptoms can get timely and effective help. No one wants to go to emergency but how can they get proper medical advice if there is no one to see? It is especially important for older people and young children. 

We have no leadership and we need it. Two more weeks of things being as they feel like being with these negative undercurrents means we shall grow weary. We need direction. 

Election fatigue

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We are over it. Clichés are the only way to describe how we feel. We have Covid confusion and exasperation fatigue. It is now SARS-2 , apparently. The masks are off and people are just getting sick. Coupled with that , each day we face another lot of election stuff and nonsense, mostly brought to us by crabby media people. Today we returned to gaffe territory. Phone reliant press attendees fire off questions from their trusty phones and woe betide any politician who fails the daily speed and accuracy questions. Shame on any politician who might need to consult with someone who can provide an accurate answer. These media people would only need to stand in the shoes of a politician to know that a barrage of questions when you have been campaigning non stop for weeks, with or without  Covid, is daunting. Some politicians can keep smiling. Other don’t. Some don’t fall for the speed and accuracy , chook shed slapping approach and just continue to provide good information. It is not a competent way to get rounded answers from anyone and considering these people can’t even remember a question and need their phones to prompt them , then it is just very silly and petty. Media people are going to have to dig deeper, remind themselves of their real skills and forget this quick and dirty approach to interviews and questioning. Some journalists are doing a great job. They are relaxed. They showcase their skills and they give the person being interviewed an opportunity to delve into their knowledge and policies. Those journalists are allowing us to know candidates and parties. They even allow for some genuine humour and lighter moments. Questioning on fast forward is pointless. It just creates frustration for viewers/listeners and participants. 

Then there are the teal candidates. The colour of their brochures isn’t teal. It is turquoise and I am sure a Pantone colour chart would identify the colour accurately. The teal candidates are independents but some Liberals have also adopted this colour. It is a good colour but for a Liberal candidate, it is not their colour. Candidates are their character and history. Independents are independent and we have a strong field of them this election. Many of them are well credentialled, articulate, thoughtful people. The Liberals not flying under their blue colour means what? They don’t identify with their party? They love teal which actually not teal? They want to be thought of as independent? They haven’t explained it so we don’t know. 

Our early voting polling booths  will be open on Monday next week. Many can’t wait to vote because most people just want the election done and dusted. They know how they are going to vote. Since 1901 Australia federal elections have been by secret ballot. Always bothers me there are phone and online  polls and social media people who want to know how you vote. We should respect our silent vote. Meanwhile, it is back to the election trail and may the last couple of weeks be worthy of us. 

Half way through Election 2022

 

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Are we there yet? No. It is going on and on with very little of great consequence and a lot of people loving the sound of their own voice and image, though perhaps that isn't very fair to those who are doing a sterling job. Much of it is drowned out by mass media white noise. Classic was electorates holding meet the candidates evenings. LNP candidates in key seats were often missing. Mr. Frydenberg held his meeting in Kooyong at the pub while the other candidates were gathered elsewhere. Today he had big coverage in newspapers because his seat is  hotly contested by an independent, Dr. Monique Ryan.  We have had some film noir photos of Anthony Albanese, opposition leader , as he spoke with Grace Tame  for In Style magazine. We have great photographers i in Australia. They are being underutilised and unchallenged on our election trail , so the black and white photos of Mr. Albanese were a refreshing break and so good. Art and elections can co exist. WA's Senator Jordan-Steele put up a Tik Tok asking why we couldn't have a person with disabilities become the Minister for Disabilities? He would make a very good person for that position because he articulates his experience and case well. Bill Shorten has also done a stellar job of advocating for NDIS funding and improvements. He has a genuine interest in disability support. 

Mr. Albanese had to isolate for a week because he had contracted Covid. This is happening to various politicians and is part of the potholed campaign trail. Mr. Morrison strangely said he had worked much harder than Mr. Albanese when he was in isolation. Jaws dropped across the nation and the air was filled with speech bubbles with question marks. 

A lot has happened and nothing has happened. We have had cranky press conferences and cranky media people. Grumpy has thrived and lack of social graces from media pack has often been noted. Maybe because someone slapped the shed just before they were sent into the conference and off they have squawked?

We are wondering how we shall survive the next three weeks but we shall. We shall go to the source. We shall ignore favoured special pleading in the press and we shall be patient and tolerant with those who cannot filter their thoughts as most well mannered people can. The gems are there in this campaign. You have to go looking for them. 

Surviving the election 22 campaign

 

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If this week is anything to go by , surviving the election 22 campaign will require skill and a plan. The emphasis seems to be on pain. It is painful to listen to the nonsense masquerading as election programming. We have had politicians and journalists forming coteries. We have had journalists playing daily trivia games. At times, we do have to lighten up but, heavens, the campaign has hardly started. Officially, that is. We have had months of PM photo ops and his photographers can come up with some interesting images. Many people don't like them, but some of Adam Taylor's photographs are really worth contemplating. 

So how to survive this campaign? Some have tuned out completely and are staying in their own bubble until they need to vote. Some will keep an eye on it and just catch up every few days. 

1. Cover a variety of sources: different radio stations, different TV stations, Twitter, different websites, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube . By covering sources widely you get to see more and can sort out the brainwashing messages from relevant information. 

2. Do image searches for politicians. Get an idea of how they present photographically.

3. Keep your eye on coronavirus information and spread. It is still there. Masks work. We need to pay attention and not get distracted and know how to manage this for ourselves. Dumping health measures will not make the virus go away. We have been increasing cases. See the comparison of countries image with this post. 

4. Listen to National Press Club speeches. You will hear people who play significant roles in our society make speeches. The politics around those speeches is worth taking in and thinking about. A good speech will make you think more. A bad speech will remind you how not to think. 

5. Know how the media creates bias.  OpinionFront gives you a start. There are other websites which go into more detail. Be aware of how media manipulate messages when they want to. 

6. Talk to real people about what they are thinking. It might be quite different from you. Have boundaries. There are times when polar opposites in thinking cannot find common ground. There are also times when the way somebody thinks about something is enlightening. 

7. Have other things to do and plenty of them. Now is a good time to start some projects. 

8. If you can't stand what you are reading and hearing , find something else to read and hear. 

9. Look at politics in other countries and how it is reported . Let some of their ways and views inform your own but also start noticing global patterns and how and where they occur. 

10. Get out into nature or be with others. Go for a walk, go in the garden, get outside and look at the sky.  Go to the beach or for a walk in a forest area. Don't just sit there ...do something :) Phone home. Cuddle your pet. Play with children or grandchildren. They aren't worried about politics and have some hilarious takes on life which cut through.