Bob Katter is no loony

By Darren Stones

The 2010 Federal Election has given Independent MP Bob Katter the opportunity to put an important issue into the public domain – suicide. Whilst the majority of discussion surrounds which major party the Independents will side with, Katter has taken the bull by the horns and is the only elected representative in the spotlight willing to mention an issue which many people are reticent to discuss.

With Katter constantly being referred to as a ‘loony’ on Twitter, and in comments by readers in various online newspapers, it’s his ability to get the message out at an opportune time that is worthy of credit.

Katter has said that one farmer commits suicide every four days in his electorate of Kennedy. The sense of despair felt by those farmers who are taking such drastic action is not to be ignored. These are real working people from real working families who see no future for themselves. They are people who see no reason to live and cast a vote in the future.

Mental health has been in the spotlight during 2010, but Australia's political leaders became more concerned with the non-issue of Work Choices and stopping the boats during the election campaign.

It will be interesting to see if the leaders from each of the major parties act on what Katter is saying, or simply dismiss him as a ‘loony’. Time will tell if Katter’s comments lead to a paradigm shift.

Shirley Grant flying the flag for short-changed pensioners

By Darren Stones

Australian age pensioners are as mad as hell and they’re not going to take it anymore. Pensioner activist Shirley Grant, 72, of Glenroy, Victoria is leading the grey power charge and wants a fair increase to the age pension.

Pensioner activist Shirley Grant
Photo: Darren Stones

In recent weeks, Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan and Deputy Leader Julia Gillard have conceded they couldn’t live on the age pension. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has said that age pensioners are finding it difficult. Yet they seem slow to act in addressing the situation and the pensioners are gathering a head of steam.

Mrs Grant, along with Family First senator Steve Fielding, organised the fair go for pensioners protest that was held on 16 May 2008 at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets in Melbourne.

During the 200 strong protest, a woman stripped down to her 10-year-old bra, a man stripped to his jocks, and Senator Fielding bared his slim torso in support of the pensioners.

Mrs Grant is a mild-mannered articulate lady who is up for the battle. She lives in a humble suburban unit with husband Vince, and they say they’re fighting the fight for the pensioners of today and tomorrow.

“Sorry”, but where is John Howard?

By Darren Stones

The Australian Parliament said “Sorry” to Australia’s indigenous people on Wednesday 13th February, 2008.

The apology, delivered by Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, at Parliament House in Canberra, was directed towards Australia’s indigenous Stolen Generations.

Rudd’s speech was well received and it’s instilled a new sense of direction for all Australians. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally happened.
A cloud has been lifted due to Rudd’s willingness to “close the gap”. The gap he refers to is; the difference in life expectancy and opportunity between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Federal Opposition Leader, Dr Brendan Nelson spoke and was subsequently criticised for part of the content of his speech. Many people were appalled by his words and they turned their back on him as he continued to deliver his speech.

Nelson said there shouldn’t be a compensation package, but that is a key issue Professor Mick Dodson, Director of Aboriginal Studies at the Australian National University, is intending to pursue in due course.

Nelson was in a difficult situation due to the Coalitions’ stance up until recent times, but Rudd was willing to lead him through the process.

It’s questionable whether Nelson’s words were offensive, as it seems there’s a hangover from the Howard years. It could be assumed that indigenous Australians were ready and willing to direct a protest towards the Federal Liberal Party. Fair enough – the Liberals had 10 years to say “Sorry”, but it all seemed too difficult for them.

Former Australian Prime Ministers, Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating, attended the announcement. But, there was only one living Australian Prime Minister absent – John Howard.

Howard was Australia’s prime minister for 11 years, and he led the coalition to a crushing defeat in the November ’07 Federal Election. Is Howard still hurting from losing his long-held seat of Bennelong to Maxine McKew?

Howard has rarely been seen in the public eye since being defeated. On the day that Rudd said “Sorry”, Howard was photographed whilst taking his morning stroll. It was a day that Howard should have been standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Keating and Rudd.

Maybe time will heal Howard, maybe not. Rudd’s fired the starting gun and the vast majority of Australians are willing to join the race. Maybe Howard will get caught in the slipstream, maybe not. It’s up to Howard to move forward. Australia is looking for John Howard to step forward and show leadership.