Broken promises
Some people I know slightly got married last week. Twice. Once at a Hindu temple, and then again at an Anglican church. Finally, everyone partied at Crown Casino. They pretty much covered all the bases — gods, God and Mammon.
Every time this happens I get angry and frustrated — when is it going to be my turn? Mind you, I think I’ll give the pearl-encrusted rose-pink sari a miss. And I think we’ll give the casino the flick too.
But I’m feeling a lot more optimistic after the prime minister injected a much-needed dose of realism into the political debate.
Julia Gillard, sounding rather cross, pointed out that in the current political situation, all pre-election bets are off.
It is “no longer business as usual” for major reforms, she said, sounding like a kindergarten teacher coming to the end of her patience.
Key promises made during the election campaign might have to be broken because of the “new environment” created by a hung Parliament.
She was responding to criticism over breaking her promise on carbon tax, but the same principle holds true for any promises made during the election.
Government policy is now decided by the Parliament, not the Labor Party. If the party wishes to stay in power for a full three years, it will have to change its policies to suit.
One promise that might have to be broken is the one she gave to Jim Wallace of the Australian Christian Lobby.
“We have very strong commitments by Julia Gillard that the Labor Party will retain its policy of marriages between a man and a woman,” he said.
But that’s a Labor promise — like the promise on carbon tax — and it’s no longer worth a damn.
Labor policy is no longer automatically government policy. Labor promises are now subject to a process of continuous assessment, amendment and, if necessary, disposal. Government policy is now whatever a majority of both houses can agree on.
Julia Gillard was frank. “I’m recognising the political reality. I campaigned as prime minister in an election campaign with policies for the Government.
“[But] We are in a new environment where in order for any action to happen in this Parliament, you need more consensus than the views and policies of the Government.”
She was talking about climate change, but the same applies to all policy. Including marriage reform.
On climate change, she has proposed an expert panel to craft a policy that can command a majority. She will have to do something similar on every issue — including marriage reform.
Making marriage reform in this Parliament more than a dream. Ms Gillard just brought it a whole lot closer to reality.
