Ian Hodge | On July 2, 2013

AFP

On Wednesday, June 26 2013, Australian politics came to a head. Specifically involving the Labor Party, which is a minority in the Australian Federal Parliament, yet carries the Prime Ministership with the aid of independent members of the house.

But the Labor Party has been torn about by its own factionalism. In 2010, then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was “dumped” by his party because he was considered to be “unelectable.” Julia Gillard picked up the title as party leader and Prime Minister, Australia’s first woman Prime Minister. In this latest event, she has been dumped as “unelectable” and Kevin Rudd returned to the party leadership.

Unfortunately, Julia Gillard was not of the same caliber as former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. In fact, these two ladies are poles apart in their policies. For the one, lowering taxes, balanced budgets, and principles such as a strong work ethic and self-reliance were important. For the other, higher taxes, more national debt, and a government support system that undercut a strong work ethic and self-reliance, governed policy.

On more than one occasion Kevin Rudd and his supporters attempted a comeback, forcing a vote within the Labor Party on its leadership. The last attempt before this one saw Kevin Rudd walk away from the contest. But he waited, and his patience paid off.

With a federal election due in September, the pollsters showed Labor under Julia Gillard would be decimated. They would be “lucky” to get much more than 30% of the vote on Australia’s two-party preferred system. Under Kevin Rudd, the polls showed that Labor could at least get into the mid-forties as a percent of the vote.

So, the Labor Party finally succumbed to what was patently obvious to most Australians. The people did not like the way Julia Gillard obtained the key position, and the Labor Party’s policies under PM Gillard were extraordinarily unpopular. For all the debt expansion to “help” Australians, very few found themselves helped in any meaningful way. Welfare payments to many in need were reduced, not increased, as the current budget blew out beyond the Labor Party’s expectations.

The leader’s seat was vacated for the internal Labor members’ vote. Two contenders, Gillard and Rudd, knowing that whoever lost would resign from politics. It was a high-stake call by Julia Gillard, and she attached the condition, which Rudd accepted. Australians woke on Thursday morning with a new Prime Minister, no Federal Treasurer, no Minister of Education, for example, as about a third of the existing cabinet resigned, refusing to serve in a Cabinet under Rudd’s leadership. But having a non-functioning parliament might be the relief Australians need for a while.

Kevin Rudd has about two months to get the Labor Party united for the election. For a party that appears unable to remove schism within its ranks, he has a near impossible and unenviable task. But an increasing number of Gillard supporters are quitting politics and not standing at the next election. If Labor is to survive and regain office, it has to get rid of its factionalism.

But even with the Liberal-National Party (LNP) lurking in the wings, Australians, should not get too excited about their future. Not yet, anyway.

Ian Hodge

Ian Hodge is an accomplished musician and music teacher, an executive manager and a management consultant to business owners.

Dr. Hodge began his working career as a professional musician. His interest in Christian economic theory, however, led to a move into the investment industry, where he made his way to the ranks of executive management. His first position as a CEO outside of his own company was a turnaround situation, and he found this was “his” place in the business world. For the past 16 years has been a business consultant to help turn around struggling businesses. He has clients in USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

He actively uses his consulting skills to help train church pastors, elders and deacons in leadership and church growth practices.

As a musician, he worked with several singers around Australia and the South Pacific as their accompanist and music director.

A current project is the development of SonCross Academy, an online school that starts with the Bible, providing lessons in music theory and piano, economics, business, history, philosophy and theology for ages 8+. www.soncrossacademy.org.
 
Ian Hodge received his Ph.D. degree from Whitefield Seminary in “Christian Intellectual Thought – Economics”. He has written over 500 articles on topics such as business management, economics, education, law, finance, health, philosophy, politics, theology, and music as he explores the application of a biblical world view. He runs his own blog at www.biblicallandmarks.com.
 
He is the author of:
 
· Why Would Anyone In Their Right Mind Believe the Bible? An introduction to the Christian Faith.
· Baptized Inflation: A Critique of “Christian” Keynesianism.
· Is This The End of Religious Liberty? The Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief.
· Making Sense of Your Dollars: A Biblical View of Wealth.
· How To Be Diabetes Free . . . For Life. An analysis of the biology of diabetes, and how this disease can be prevented and even halted.
· Ian Hodge’s Read, Write & Play Music, a self-teaching program that instructs young students on how to write (compose) music.
· Powerhouse Piano, online video and live lessons in classical piano.
· Publisher, editor, William the Baptist. A classic in Christian literature, reissued with an introduction by Dr. Hodge.
 
In his spare time, Ian can be found actively debating atheists on his city streets and elsewhere (anywhere) whenever the opportunity arises.