A BBC news item contains an interesting story about how we arrived at the present political situation in Australia, with the opposition party strongly favoured to win the Federal election scheduled for 24 November. According to the writer, it all started with a gaffe by former Labor leader Kim Beazley, when he mistakenly gave condolences to “Karl Rove” (former chief aide to the US president) rather than to TV personality Rove McManus, on the death of his wife Belinda Emmett.
Embarrassment arising from the mistake led to a leadership crisis, which resulted in Kevin Rudd replacing Kim Beazley as leader of the opposition. Rudd has become the most popular opposition leader in memory, and as a result the current government is expected to lose the upcoming elections in spite of the strength of the national economy and the record low unemployment rate.
The real story is probably a bit less favourable to Mr Rudd. The Australian public seems to have become disaffected with the apparently intolerant attitudes demonstrated by the government on a number of issues, and accordingly the anticipated loss of government is more likely to be a protest vote against the present incumbents, rather than any endorsement of the opposition. The economy was the main issue last election; this time round it is unlikely to be so.