Wayne Swan: Connecting With The Missing Middle – Reforming The Parliament And The ALP

Jan 30, 2002

Wayne Swan, the ALP’s Shadow Minister for Families and Community Services, has made a major speech analysing the outcome of the 2001 Federal Election and proposing a series of constitutional, parliamentary and electoral reforms, as well as reforms to the ALP.

SwanSwan delivered the speech to the Fabian Society. It is titled: Connecting With The Missing Middle: Reforming The Parliament And The ALP. The full speech appears below.

Swan, the member for Lilley, advocates radical reforms to the ALP’s structure and organisation, in the wake of the party’s third successive election defeat last November. Swan has also proposed a number of parliamentary reforms to revitalise the political process. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2001 Federal Election, A.L.P., Constitutional Reform, Electoral Reform, Howard, Parliamentary Reform Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Kim Beazley’s 2001 Federal Election Policy Speech

Oct 31, 2001

The Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, delivered his 2001 Federal Election policy speech at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre in Sydney on October 31.

“I want the job,” Beazley told his audience, claiming that he was committed, qualified and “here for the long haul”.

  • Listen to Beazley’s speech (37m)
  • Watch Beazley:

Text of Kim Beazley’s 2001 election policy speech.

Men and women of Australia:

Today I offer myself as Prime Minister of this great country.

I want the job — I’m committed, I’m qualified, and I’m here for the long haul.

I have a plan to deliver a fair share, and a secure future, for all Australians.

I stand for the best possible education for all, not just the rich.

I stand for a health system where your Medicare Card is more important than your credit card.

I will put the care back into aged care.

I stand for making the GST simpler and fairer, for relieving the burden on small business, and on families. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2001 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Video Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Liberals Attack Beazley Over Knowledge Nation

Oct 23, 2001

The Liberal Party has launched a new television commercial attacking Kim Beazley’s Knowledge Nation policy.

The commercial appears against the backdrop of the flow chart diagram designed by the ALP’s former President, Barry Jones. The government has ridiculed the diagram as akin to a “spaghetti” policy. The Treasurer, Peter Costello, regularly refers to the “noodle nation”.

Noodle Nation

The voice-over accompanying the commercial claims the policy hasn’t been costed and suggests that the ALP isn’t interested in basic questions such as literacy testing of students and apprenticeship places. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2001 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Election Advertisements, Industry-Innovation Tagged With: , , ,

Kim Beazley’s Knowledge Nation Policy

Jan 24, 2001

The Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, has outlined the ALP’s plan for a Knowledge Nation.

Beazley began the political year with an address to the National Press Club.

Text of Kim Beazley’s Address to the National Press Club.

Opposition Leader Kim BeazleyOn Monday, I set out our priorities for government – education for all, rebuilding Medicare, better living standards for all Australians wherever they live, and building a Knowledge Nation.

Today I want to expand on one of those priorities – building a Knowledge Nation.

The terms and conditions of success for any nation in the 21st Century begin with its investment in its people and creating an innovative society.

A successful nation must be a fair nation. The new opportunities must be spread as widely as possible to win the support of all our people for change.

In Australia’s case this is doubly important. Because our population is so small, we need to harness everyone’s talents and energies, not just the wealthy few, if we are to succeed this century. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2001 Federal Election, A.L.P., Industry-Innovation Tagged With: ,
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