First published in Progress magazine
Changing leader was enough to save key bits of furniture. The much-predicted domino effect in western Sydney never happened. But neither did the great seat pick-up in Queensland.
Paradoxically, Kevin Rudd’s second stint as prime minister has secured the substantial achievements of Julia Gillard, both his successor and predecessor. The Liberals do not have a majority in the senate and will now struggle to get through key policies, and will find it harder still to undo Gillard’s reforms, including the Gonski ‘better schools’ plan and DisabilityCare Australia. They have even had to accept significant parts of these changes into their party platform. (more…)