So what is this "MP" thing the Midnight Oil guy wants to be?

Has anybody told Howard that "US Forces" is on an album that didn't sell well over here at all? Now, if Diesel and Dust had more blatantly anti-US sentiment on it then it might actually make a little sense.

Of course, you'd think that Labor would have gotten this whole "star recruits" idea out of their system with Cheryl Kernot...

This would be right in-line with U.S. orthodoxy. The article was kind of vague, but Garrett sounds like he'd get along famously with Ralph Nader.

So unless something really weird happens, John Howard's Liberals are about to lose the election in Australia. That means Labor is in...and that means Peter Garrett is about to become Minister for Climate Change, Environment & Heritage, Arts.

Not necessarily. If Rudd (opposition leader) gets in, he will shuffle his cabinet.

Garrett did some cock-ups in the election campaign, so I wouldn't be holding my breath to be honest.

Ah, thanks -- I thought it was one of those automatic deals.

Nah, not here. Cabinets are always shuffled after elections, and Rudd has refused (publicly) to guarantee Garrett a place on the front bench.

But Rudd will win the election, definitely, failing something mental like a shopping centre bomb planted by the Tories in order to scare people.

Ned, amusing piece on Garrett here

starts about 3:20 in.

The whole thing's pretty amusing really.

Jocular, even.

Officially Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts.

Nutty. Well, bring it on. How high profile a ministerial role is it compared to others?

pretty high these days

i'm very surprised after all that "gaffe" hoo ha

Actually it's not quite as high as it sounds: that list now explicitly excludes climate change and water - i.e. the two most controversial and (arguably) important issues that fell under "environment" previously. Those two responsibilities have been given to Penny Wong, one of the campaign's best performers.

Basically Garrett hasn't so much been punished for his gaffes as placed in a position where any future gaffes are unlikely to result in much fallout - the only likely exception being if forestry issues heat up again any time soon.

Not that Wong is a "safe" choice in every respect: she's smart, highly articulate and fast on her feet, but putting a Malaysian lesbian in charge of such highly topical issues is something the Howard government would never have done.

I'd imagine, Tim, that, allowing for the fact that Labor getting in is still a solidly mainstream party more than anything else, you've been spending the last few days feeling rather more content than before.

putting a Malaysian lesbian in charge

This is the most exciting time ever.

"I'd imagine, Tim, that, allowing for the fact that Labor getting in is still a solidly mainstream party more than anything else, you've been spending the last few days feeling rather more content than before."

Oh definitely! Have you seen my facebook profile pic?

Still left of centre though. There's loads of lefties all through the party. And the conservative opposition has softened considerably this week, so it's good all round for those of us who are not bigots.

To be precise, Penny Wong is a Malaysian Lesbian from Adelaide.

Oh definitely! Have you seen my facebook profile pic?

Heheh. Good choice.

is ned australian?

in spirit

TOO RIGHT

Rock star/environment minister in 'not allowed to talk about climate change' shocker

But he can interpretive dance it as much as he likes.

Oils still oils...

Yes, Minister!

http://images.theage.com.au/2009/03/12/415545/svGARETT420x0.jpg

whether or not he'll toe the labor party line on, say, mandatory sentencing will be interesting. he's already revoked his former stance on pine gap.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Friday, June 11, 2004 9:00 AM (fifteen years ago)

You have some funny people down there.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, June 11, 2004 9:00 AM (fifteen years ago)

This Tanya Plibersek thing reminds me of the time Labor listened to every Midnight Oil song, made a list of all Garrett's favorite causes and then made him keep announcing policies that were the opposite of his beliefs until he quit.

— John Macgowan (@john_macgowan) January 25, 2020