As usual he is correct and this is the reason that I have welcomed his sub-editorial role. I imagine that most bloggers have a sub-editor. It is good to have constructive criticism. The little I know about politics, does however, make me a little cynical about such appointments.
See his email to me on the subject......
Kev You said in your blog that one thing you will never see in Australia is the kind of bipartisanship that saw Pres Obama appoint four Republicans to his cabinet. Of course, the US cabinet members all come from outside the legislature (Congress), or if they are in it, they resign before their appointment. In Australia, to become a member of cabinet you have to be a member of parliament and usually a member of the governing party or coalition, though that latter bit is not required. You would have to, at least, guarantee that you would support the government in votes in the parliament. Sometimes members of the parliament change sides, though it is very rare. Remember when Cheryl Kernot of the Democrats joined the Labor Party? It turned out later that she and Gareth Evens were having an affair at the time. Billy Hughes was a member of three parties (Labor, UAP and Liberals-I think it was those three) during his time in parliament. When asked why he had never joined the Country Party he famously said that he had to draw the line somewhere. When Kevin Rudd became prime minister, he appointed Brendan Nelson as Ambassador to the UN, Alexander Downer to a special role with the UN on Cyprus and Tim Fischer as Ambassador to the Vatican. That is an impressive form of bipartisanship. John Howard was known for his obsessive overseeing of all appointments his government made to ensure the appointee had no Labor connections, however remote. Graham
Early tomorrow we are visiting Cottesloe Beach to view the Sculpture by The Sea exhibition. Joan and I visited it every year it has been held.
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