The Sweetest Victory of All!

After twelve long years! So long that my 13 yo daughters had trouble grasping the concept of a change of government.

Winners are grinners! Maxine looks like being only the second person in Australian political history to defeat a sitting Prime Minister.

The tragic figure of the night. Should he have challenged for the leadership when he had the chance? Would things have been different if he had?

Gave a wonderful speech in defeat, but I couldn't help feeling contempt for the position he found himself in. If he'd resigned 18 months ago, it could've been so different. He would have left at the top of his game, and been revered as a legend in global conservative circles. Now he's just pathetic. A new Liberal leader could have distanced himself from the baggage of the past decade. The truest statement of the evening was Howard taking responsibility for the government's defeat.

Kevin's victory speech was true to image, safe and bland. We can only hope that he will, in fact, change a lot (if not all) now that they've made government. Labor governments don't last that long (federally at least) but they do produce lasting reforms. Let's hope Kev maintains the tradition.

Later: A late night and a few drinks play havoc with writing skills. Going over the last two sentences ... Let's hope Kev maintains the Labor reformist tradition.