What Australian newspapers say, Saturday December 1, 2007

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2007
What Australian newspapers say, Saturday December 1, 2007

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - Reforming its political parties is vital to modernising the country,
The Weekend Australian says in its editorial today.

Prime Minister-elect Kevin Rudd started the process of reforming Labor almost a year
ago by imposing a pragmatic, economically credible, reformist agenda on the party. Now
he has further modernised the ALP by overriding the factions and choosing ministers based
on merit.

The newspaper says: "Australia cannot meet the challenges of the 21st century with
nine governments overlapping and operating at cross-purposes. Mr Rudd wants to eliminate
duplication, wastage and create uniform national markets, but state governments are bound
to resist initiatives that reduce their power."

Modernisation is even more vital for the Liberals, whose undisciplined, state-centred
structure has rendered it unelectable in every jurisdiction.

It needs a federalised, centralised structure to attract and select electable candidates
and impose discipline on rogues at state level, and get in touch with key constituents.

The Sydney Morning Herald says a spring election has put a spring in the nation's step
and cleared away cobwebs.

Kevin Rudd, by choosing his ministry instead of letting Labor's faction leaders do
so, has stamped his authority on the government early, modernising his party and doing
a service to the nation in the process.

The newspaper says: "The Rudd cabinet draws together youth and experience, left and
right, and men and women, including Australia's first woman deputy prime minister. It
is talented, and reflects the face of modern Australia."

Factionalism has now become the Liberals' problem. Brendan Nelson inherits a party
divided by ideology and factionalism. The Liberals need to reclaim the middle ground.

A strong, constructive opposition is the need of the hour to keep Labor honest.

"Democracy has won in a nation where ideas and ideals matter more than ideology, and
where results, rather than rhetoric, are given the most respect."

Sydney's The Daily Telegraph says transparency is needed when the NSW government tops
up by more than $50,000 the salary of the director-general of the Department of Premier
and Cabinet, Robyn Kruk.

In the 2005-06 financial year, her predecessor Col Gellatly was paid as much as Ms
Kruk before the latest pay rise.

No-one begrudges the salary increase, but where is the transparency?

The newspaper says: "As voters and taxpayers, surely we're entitled to know why senior
government bureaucrats have been granted seemingly disproportionate pay rises."

Melbourne's Herald Sun says most of Melbourne remains safe, but parts of the CBD and
some suburbs are plagued by bashings, knifings and unprovoked assaults on any night of
the week.

The newpaper says: "We are in the grip of a violence epidemic, fuelled by four persistent
factors: alcohol, groups of young males, illegal weapons and, increasingly, cultural differences
involving immigrant youths.

"Stronger policing can only tackle the symptoms, not the causes."

Melbourne's The Age says Mr Rudd's ministry bears his personal stamp and reflect the
priorities of his government. By its actions, his government will show what Labor stands
for and voters will judge whether it has rewarded their trust.

The newspaper says: "The Howard government had a rocky first term after 13 years in
opposition, and Mr Rudd and his team face an equally challenging adjustment, particularly
as global economic conditions look slightly less balmy than before.

"Even so, the adjustment to opposition is likely to prove at least as difficult for
Dr Nelson and the coalition, with the Nationals also having to find a new leader."

Both sides need to find their feet fast in their unfamiliar roles. All Australians
who desire good government -- of which effective scrutiny of policy and ministerial conduct
is a vital element -- must hope they do so.

Brisbane's The Courier-Mail says the way Mr Rudd governs will force people to re-evaluate
how they see Queensland, his home state.

Queenslanders conduct themselves in a very practical way, rooted in their past and
tied to the present by Australians moving in to seek a better life.

The newspaper says: "The state is a place where people do things. There has already
been commentary on the Prime Minister-elect's desire to govern from the centre and his
wish to be as inclusive as possible -- a very Queensland approach.

"It is founded in a political sense in the historic alliances between the regions and
the city, between rural workers and city workers -- and the necessity to find common ground."

Queensland'ts pragmatism is very simple and Queenslanders respond quickly to crises.

Its people expect governments to take a role and will tolerate governments letting them
down -- to a point. And then they are punished them severely.

AAP jat/rs

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

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