Rudd names his cabinet

[Andrushka]

Some interesting inclusions, and Garret has ended up with Environment, contrary to some predictions I saw before today. Gillard certainly has her hands full - workplace rels, education, and employment? Wow.

What do you guys think of who he has and hasn't named?

Details here: http://www.theage.com.au/news/federal-election-2007-news/rudd-reveals-new-cabinet/2007/11/29/1196037026866.html

[Matilda]

1. Glad John Faulkner's in the Ministry,

it will be interesting to see how he performs in Government. He was very good on the Senate
Estimates committee, and Libs had to resort to out and out lying to try and squirm off his hooks.

Is it Robert McClelland as A-G, or Steven Smith as Foreign Affairs who will go after the Japanese
whalers? That's something I'd like to see happen quickly.

[Andrushka]

3. Could be one of their first big tests

Yes, the whaling issue could really turn out to be interesting under this new government.

As an aside, was reading the Japan Times on the way back from work today here in Tokyo and they had an article that shone a big f'ing light on the sheer hypocrisy of the J-gov't when they say that whaling is a "traditional right for coastal communities". Said article said that the Ainu have absurdly strict limits on their catch of salmon in Hokkaido. So, fine for industrial ships to do their "traditional" high-tech hunt of whales, bad for Ainu to do some fishing the traditional way. Bloody amazing. Love living here, but sometimes... ughh.

Back to Aus, though... Looked up a bit on Penny Wong today. Seems like an interesting, and formidable, character, and I will be keen to see her do well. First Asian-Australian with a cabinet possie (she was born in Malaysia) and first "openly" lesbian member of national parliament (has been quite an active voice in the same-sex marriage debate). Hope she is not steamrolled as her post is one of the most important, IMO.

[Matilda]

4. Is the attitude to fishing the same as their attitude on logging?

The Japanese have strict rules about logging their own forests for woodchip, but they're happy to
let us do it for them (and we're stupid enough to allow it). It sounds as though they guard their
own fish supplies, but are happy to poach from us. And under Howard, we've let them. I really do
hope we'll make a stand about this issue - it's embarrassing when New Zealand refuses to allow port
access to whalers, but we just roll over.

We've been rolling over for too long.

[Andrushka]

5. Pretty much

And you are right about those domestic logging laws. Out of sight, out of mind rules, and even if it is in sight, you pretend it isn't there (power lines, garbage piled up on streets, garbage piled up on Mt. Fuji, etc!)

I always wince when I see the small packs of woodchips here when I shop for flowers at the local 'home centre' - I can't help thinking that they may well have come from Aus native old-growth forests.

[no safe haven]

2. Also glad of John Faulkner's elevation

He's one of my favourite ALP politicians - knows when to put the boot in. Just loved him grilling the Libs in Senate Estimates.
Surprised that Lindsay Tanner didn't get a more prominent post, although finance is okay. But what on earth is 'business deregulation' about? The man has talent and has a particularly sensitive social justice side to him.
Glad Simon Crean hasn't missed out after all the hard slog he's put into the ALP.

Not surprised that Bob McMullan has gone, and Laurie Ferguson as well; they're leftovers from the Beazley era. Bob Debus is a surprise considering his lukewarm performance in the NSW govt.

And Maxine, well, she's a bit of a star as parliamentary secretary to Kev. Good on her. (But I really, really miss her on Friday Lateline; guess she won't be back any time soon to replace the wooden Trioli.)

All in all, a good lineup. Let's hope they kick arse.