Peter Garrett ends the speculation and joins the Labor party. Time to examine if drafting him is a good idea.
I have a problem with the concept of an individual joining a party one day, and being nominated for a (virtually) guaranteed parliamentary seat the next. The well publicised dissent within the local ALP branch was warranted and unsurprising. How disappointing and demoralising this must be for such a strong and committed ALP local organisation to be overridden by head office in this way.
Garrett has always been outspoken about the disarmament, the US alliance, US foreign policy, and the environment. The question is, now that he looks like getting a parliamentary seat, how will he perform under the yoke of party discipline when he's been so used to speaking his mind without fear or favour? How will he find it when the party makes an expedient political decision which goes against his well documented past views?
The Liberal Party will have a field day dredging up his past political and environmental statements. They are experts in pressing the Australian electorate's fear buttons. I wonder if the advantage to Labor is worth the trouble.
Lastly, the most often stated advantage of having Garrett in the team is said to be his effect on the 'youth' vote. Depends on you definition of 'youth!'
Garrett is my generation. He's 51, I'm 48. I've damaged my hearing at quite a few Oils concerts over the years, including one years ago at the Hordern Pavilion when he was running for a Senate seat for the Nuclear Disarmament Party. I'm hardly 'the youth vote!' I can't see he will have much impact on the under 30s vote at all.
We can only hope that the negatives don't torpedo Labor's chances in the coming poll.
On a final, more positive note, he may insert some ethical backbone in the government if Labor win power. Would be interesting to see.
yes but if the best the branch can offer is a couple of political hacks there are enough grey men in federal parliament now
Garrett seems to be paying off for the Labor party already - Howard has tried to use the US alliance and the current neocon administration as a 2004 version of the Tampa and Peter Garrett has taken all the focus away from it.
You are upset over someone parachuted into a seat because the committed local people are upset!
Both our political parties are riddled with useless seat warmers and time servers who run nepotistic regimes that suit themselves and not the taxpayer-or don't you know anything?
Get real man,the more people like garrett in parliament the better.A self made man who has travelled the world without a penny from the taxpayer.Would howard turn down steve waugh as a candidate-of course not,what a great sledger to have in the house.