ONE WEEK DOWN

Well, one down five to go. This week signals the end of the first week of the six-week long Federal Election campaign. The week ends with the 90-minute Debate in the Great Hall of Parliament on Sunday night.

Kevin Rudd played hard to get. He wants three debates with John Howard late in the campaign. Howard offered one. And with Rudd saying throughout the year that he wanted to debate Howard on this and on that and ‘anywhere anytime’ he really had nowhere to go. He had to accept.

They go head to head with the polls now much closer than they have been all year. The Coalition has picked up points since ambushing Labor with its $36 billion dollar tax cut plan and John Howard has improved his position as Preferred Prime Minister. Still trailing Rudd but the rot has stopped and the worm (which won’t be there for the debate) seems to have turned.

Rudd says he won’t be stampeded or panicked on a tax policy. All in good time. All in due season. He says. But he has been campaigning for about a year. Even launched a bogus campaign some time ago and surely they have a plan in place.

The fast disappearing Democrats are making one last gasp. Andrew Bartlett is saying that one of the major issues  of the campaign must be indigenous issues. Cruel but true… that aint about to happen.  Doesn’t make the top ten in most people’s book.

As always it’s the hip pocket nerve. What’s in it for me? How much more will I have in my kick? Worthy letter writers to the newspapers may say they would  rather forgo their tax cut and have the money spent on health and education. Others say why can’t we have both.

At the end of week one the biggest flood of e-mails I have received is from the relentless, self-promoting Family First party. People conveniently forget that Victorian Senator Steve Fielding got there by fluke. By accident. He actually received less than 2% of the primary vote. His extended family could have all voted for him to achieve that.

And news from Queensland. Guess who is slowly picking up support. Pauline Hanson!

Friday 19th October 2007

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2007