With another election looming I started reflecting on our state premiers.
Well let me say first I frankly don't think we need state Governments but that's never going to happen so here is my list from best to worse.
BEST:
RUPERT HAMER... I bet that shocked a few! Yes a LIBERAL!!
Cultured with a great love of the arts and unlike his predecessor he had a sense of social justice. Environmentally he was remarkable. Hamer set up many national parks and his legacy lives on. He worked hard to protect the helmeted honey eater eater even though he was laughed at. His economics were sound yet showed humanity. He got the gay law reforms passed in Victoria. Small business flourished and did much for Australian owned industry. The man with the most vision who had an abillity to reject the past and look forward. He wins my vote as our best .
JOHN BRUMBY
A real little battler. Feisty and not scared of much at all. He was certainly clear on issues of education and economy. No one could ever accuse John of not doing anything... his biggest test will be will he do too much. Some decisions have been like a bull at a gate. Still great leadership qualities. His biggest battle will be keeping the faith of the left because he is going to struggle against the growing popularity of the Greens. He is prone to taking risks which can be economically questionable. He is certainly introducing controversial schemes.. if they work he will leave an impressive legacy. He is a DOER but does he do too much? A man of great compassion and loyalty.
JEFF KENNET
A real enigma. There is no doubt that Kennet did have a vision for the state and a true Liberal. He was not however a conservative, he was a Menzies style LIberal but not a Howard conservative. Like Hamer in some ways but often went for quick fixes like selling assets to soften the economic worries. Mostly very fair, intellectually he often expressed (courageously) his admiration for Gough Whitlam.. the man. Kennet was a man of contradictions. While he often neglected rural issues he once said he wanted Victoria to be the pink state. Perhaps not just because of egalitarian matters but because of the obvious impact of the gay dollar. Not scared to express a view on touchy issues like voluntary euthanasia. Spontaneous, gutsy and intellectually astute.
Although he had the ability to encourage confidence he became a little cocky and lost touch with the electorate. Pity because he was brilliant with the so called common touch.He went on to great things for mental health. I know many will be shocked but I actually admired much about Kennet.
LINDSAY THOMPSON
A real trier. A fine man but not sure if he was a fine leader. He did his best.
JOAN KIRNER
Courageous and dignified but inherited a mess in many ways. She was a victim of a misogynistic media campaign who focused on her weight and polka dot dresses. Intelligent and compassionate. She could have been more but by the time the election came along the electorate were demanding change. She was no match for Kennrets unpredictable, abrasive yet at times charm.. Still a remarkable woman. Its a shame we have lost this formidable talent in Government.
JOHN CAIN
Intellectual, clever and at times quite eccentric. A great leader who could have been so much better. A tough little battler almost street wise and a great sense of vision. His great schemes were visionary but unfortunately not well thought out. The checks and balances were not thorough. A fine speaker but he lacked the common touch which surprisingly, Kennet was actually very good at. A great promoter of social justice, the arts and a fine vision but he also lost touch with the regional areas and started losing his core voters.
At times he lost touch and started selling assets.
STEVE BRACKS
A complete disappointment. Affable and blokey and his gentle manner handled the hung parliament well but in time it seemed his heart was not in the job. Key decisions were often left to their real talent John Brumby.
He procrastinated and seemed to eager to please and not stand on anyone's toes. Bracks worked too hard at being the nice guy... he was but he lacked true conviction to the ideals of his own party. Frankly Bracks was a religious conservative which is something he would deny. hHe was certainly less progressive and (small L) liberal than Kennet.
WORSE
HENRY BOLTE
Our absolute worse, to be remembered only for being elected often by a conservative society afraid of change. Boosted by a sense of conservatism in the community.
Bolte was a buffoon. I am afraid I have absolutely no positives to say about him. His smug support of the revolting Arthur Rylah was a disgrace.
Well let me say first I frankly don't think we need state Governments but that's never going to happen so here is my list from best to worse.
BEST:
RUPERT HAMER... I bet that shocked a few! Yes a LIBERAL!!
Cultured with a great love of the arts and unlike his predecessor he had a sense of social justice. Environmentally he was remarkable. Hamer set up many national parks and his legacy lives on. He worked hard to protect the helmeted honey eater eater even though he was laughed at. His economics were sound yet showed humanity. He got the gay law reforms passed in Victoria. Small business flourished and did much for Australian owned industry. The man with the most vision who had an abillity to reject the past and look forward. He wins my vote as our best .
JOHN BRUMBY
A real little battler. Feisty and not scared of much at all. He was certainly clear on issues of education and economy. No one could ever accuse John of not doing anything... his biggest test will be will he do too much. Some decisions have been like a bull at a gate. Still great leadership qualities. His biggest battle will be keeping the faith of the left because he is going to struggle against the growing popularity of the Greens. He is prone to taking risks which can be economically questionable. He is certainly introducing controversial schemes.. if they work he will leave an impressive legacy. He is a DOER but does he do too much? A man of great compassion and loyalty.
JEFF KENNET
A real enigma. There is no doubt that Kennet did have a vision for the state and a true Liberal. He was not however a conservative, he was a Menzies style LIberal but not a Howard conservative. Like Hamer in some ways but often went for quick fixes like selling assets to soften the economic worries. Mostly very fair, intellectually he often expressed (courageously) his admiration for Gough Whitlam.. the man. Kennet was a man of contradictions. While he often neglected rural issues he once said he wanted Victoria to be the pink state. Perhaps not just because of egalitarian matters but because of the obvious impact of the gay dollar. Not scared to express a view on touchy issues like voluntary euthanasia. Spontaneous, gutsy and intellectually astute.
Although he had the ability to encourage confidence he became a little cocky and lost touch with the electorate. Pity because he was brilliant with the so called common touch.He went on to great things for mental health. I know many will be shocked but I actually admired much about Kennet.
LINDSAY THOMPSON
A real trier. A fine man but not sure if he was a fine leader. He did his best.
JOAN KIRNER
Courageous and dignified but inherited a mess in many ways. She was a victim of a misogynistic media campaign who focused on her weight and polka dot dresses. Intelligent and compassionate. She could have been more but by the time the election came along the electorate were demanding change. She was no match for Kennrets unpredictable, abrasive yet at times charm.. Still a remarkable woman. Its a shame we have lost this formidable talent in Government.
JOHN CAIN
Intellectual, clever and at times quite eccentric. A great leader who could have been so much better. A tough little battler almost street wise and a great sense of vision. His great schemes were visionary but unfortunately not well thought out. The checks and balances were not thorough. A fine speaker but he lacked the common touch which surprisingly, Kennet was actually very good at. A great promoter of social justice, the arts and a fine vision but he also lost touch with the regional areas and started losing his core voters.
At times he lost touch and started selling assets.
STEVE BRACKS
A complete disappointment. Affable and blokey and his gentle manner handled the hung parliament well but in time it seemed his heart was not in the job. Key decisions were often left to their real talent John Brumby.
He procrastinated and seemed to eager to please and not stand on anyone's toes. Bracks worked too hard at being the nice guy... he was but he lacked true conviction to the ideals of his own party. Frankly Bracks was a religious conservative which is something he would deny. hHe was certainly less progressive and (small L) liberal than Kennet.
WORSE
HENRY BOLTE
Our absolute worse, to be remembered only for being elected often by a conservative society afraid of change. Boosted by a sense of conservatism in the community.
Bolte was a buffoon. I am afraid I have absolutely no positives to say about him. His smug support of the revolting Arthur Rylah was a disgrace.
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