Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch Is Dead.

Today is a new day for Australia. The electorate has voted to reject the jaundiced, execrable and viturperous conservative governement of John Howard. In the process the former Prime Minister lost his own home seat of Bennelong. It remains to be seen how deep the changes will be under the new Centrist Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. However, his acceptance speech (cited in The Guardian) makes it clear what the social task will be for this new leader of the “lucky country.”

“In a pointed reference to the social divisions that grew during the Howard era, he said: ‘I will be a Prime Minister for all Australians, a Prime Minister for indigenous Australians, Australians who have been born here and Australians who have come here from afar and who have contributed to that great diversity that is Australia.'”

I wish Mr Rudd and his new government all the very best as they set about trying to heal Australia.