We Have a Winner

Where were you, when it all went down, the momentous, game, life and nation changing bits of this truly historic day? That's what it was, right? Truly historic. Sky News told me so. ABC24 did too. And Tony Windsor suggested it himself, in the presser that was probably the actual history changing moment itself, thus indulging in a little meta po-mo hi-jinx as a way of toasting his favourite novelist., David Foster Wallace*. 

Me, I was in my office, about 120 metres away from where it happened. What a strange and actually magnificent space our Parliament House is. The visitor doesn't know the half of it. The grace and genius of the place lay in it's courtyards, the actually-soothing way the halls take you places, the detail and timber and colour and light. It's a building I wish the nation really knew and paid respects to, because it's a fucken marvel. However, it does tend to feel a bit empty. Even when there's a Prime Minister to be called. 

I saw Bob Ellis in Aussies before 8, and he looked up from his vast mound of newspapers to see if I was someone important. It's a strangely disheartening feeling, turning a corner or entering a room and having the nations press and the press' hangers-on look up, poised to pounce if you're a man of newsworthiness, only to turn their gaze once they recognise you as a nobody. Fran Kelly did it to me later, as did Michelle Gratton at morning tea. Never mind. I work for the building, for the flow of process, and its my job to keep the head down. It's a good job in a good place. And today was a good day.

The morning was all speculation. News came that Oakeshott met Abbott six times yesterday. That was a worry. As was news that Abbott was sighted sporting a huge grin the Parliament car park. That filled a lot of airtime. As did a lot of experts, who spoke a lot of what they didn't know. Then the SMH broke it. 

Brilliantly, Fairfax snapper Nicholas Walker nabbed these shots, and it came to pass that this was the script from which Oakeshott read (more on the more that our Rob plated up later...). The supporting text indicates the number 77 crossed out, with 76-74 underneath, alongside the name Ted Mack, and a few other key bits. Soon after this story hit the webs, Katter called the press to his office, and led them and us through one of the strangest conferences ever heard. He meandered. He squawked. He berated. He did it all bar jumping on the table and taking a dump into his hat. He said that he was supporting the Coalition and the tweeting classes assumed this was because the others were going Labor. Bob was sorting his deck. Kinda. Cos he later said that if his mates were going the other way (of course, he didn't know which way they were headed! Of course! Hence the solo presser!)  he might support Labor too. It depends. On bananas or flying foxes or somesuch. So it went. A Bob each way. 

And then, and then, the moment arrived. Windsor was brief but thorough, announcing his support for Gillard, and we knew, because they weren't going to play their cards and then force anther election, thereby associating with a party and losing all their bargaining chips. But Oakeshott saw a spotlight and demanded it for a little longer. A little too long. 26 minutes later he too had announced his support, but he lost a lot of goodwill in the press core. 

Either way it was done, and our returned Prime Minister spoke humbly and well. Abbott did so too, although he probably didn't need the third and fourth reference to winning both the popular vote and more seats. Still, he showed more grace than Bob Baldwin and Barry O'Farrell, who tweeted 'To think Windsor & Oakeshott were going to vote any other way was a folly, the 17 days was nothing more than grandstanding to say the least' and 'so clear proof that a vote for Independents and The Greens is a vote for Labor' respectively. Way to stay classy, losers (you'll have your turn Barry, cool them big heels). Just like that, 2 months, 17 days of extra time later, it was done. It'l be a rough ride. But Gillard is the one you want in this game. 

The questions and blood letting and associated difficulties will start soon. Arbib and Shorten are time bombs. Rudd's ministry will be tough to sort. The continuing strength of Conroy might be a problem. But Gillard, if she has her way, can do plenty of good. She'll need to pull the finger out on Climate Change, but the deal with the Greens will assist that. And she'll know that Labor won't overthrow another PM anytime soon. 

WHAT JULIA NEEDS TO DO 
1. Not get married. That'd be a sideshow. Stay de-facto. Bring the nation to an understanding that a woman doesn't need to be married, a mother, or god-fearing to be formidable. 
2. Sort climate change action, and get gay marriage on the table. In order to do so, shift the Labor rule and
3. Allow conscience votes in the Labor party. It'll be a shitfight, but it is one the people want in their Government. We want human beings and we want heart, and debates of this type, even if the result goes the 'wrong' way, will hearten the people. 
4. Go to every Dogs home game. Be a fixture of the people, every week where it's possible. I wouldn't ask this of Keating or Rudd, but she believes in the Dogs, so make it real and let the people see you, Prime Minister, in red and blue each weekend. We want a person, not a machine, in case that whole Kevin-thing had been forgotten. 
5. Get this boat thing sorted. Detail the scenario. Explain why we're not 'under threat'. Fucks sake, it's a long way overdue. Maybe do so by bringing those involved in the criminal dealings surrounding Tampa to a court. That means Liberal ministers of 2001. Let it happen. 
and
5. Slowly but surely remind us what the Labor party is for. What discriminates it from the other lot. It'll have to be a steady process in this hung parliament, but it must, must occur. We don't need another party of the centre right. We need a party that explains why Trade unions can be great. Why safety nets are actually critical. Why the cult of the individual is a soulless, brutal trap that renders us, collectively and ironically, individually, less satisfied and less useful. This country needs a little taste of duty to something bigger again. Start that conversation, by reminding us Labor leaners that it is a party worth believing in, worth working for. 


It's a good day. And I predict it'll last. And Labor will win in 2013 with a decent majority. And Gillard will be known as one of our best Prime Ministers. Mark my words. 

* Might be a bit of a stretch, that. He's probably more of a Don DeLillo kinda guy.