View From the Paddock

Unfortunately, it is human nature to only recognise a strong leader once their time in the sun is over.

Ask the average punter on the street to name an inspiration leader and typically they will regurgitate the name of a person long gone from this world.

Someone usually personified by strong quotable speeches or whose name has graced the silver screen – names such as Menzies, Churchill, Thatcher, Kennedy or Gandhi.

The fact is many of these bastions of leadership had their own issues with garnering popular support during their reign.

In many cases either issues with their own party or constituents ultimately led to their political death. Popular during their time maybe not, but respected for courageous decision making, most definitely.     

One could argue the same is happening to the depiction of the Howard government.

Howard’s leadership through the ‘relaxed and comfortable’ years is now regarded as a period of strong leadership and stability for our nation.

Yet we should remember that Howard was not popular during his time. The electorate voted his government out convincingly at the end, to the point that Howard lost his own seat.

Yet as time moves on we reflect on his courageous reforms in taxation, foreign investment and gun control. 

So here we sit in a post-Trump/Brexit world and a great deal of political uncertainty on the home front.

People argue that the system is broken and modern politics is doomed. Well we do not have to look too far back in Australia’s history books to find similar events.  

Look at the turbulent times of 1941. Then-Prime Minister Robert Menzies was deposed by his party and Arthur Fadden was installed as Prime Minister.

Fadden only lasted 39 days in the top job before John Curtin’s Labor party succeeded in a no confidence vote and took power. 

Fast forward a few decades to the time from the death of Harold Holt to the dismissal of Gough Whitlam.

Australia went through five Prime Ministers (Holt, McEwen, Gorton, McMahon, Whitlam) within a space of five years, including constitutional calamities involved in Prime Ministers disappearing in the ocean or being dismissed by a wayward Governor-General.

On reflection, a few accidental dual citizens do not seem like the end of the world.

Instability in the democratic political system is not something new. In fact, it is something that we should cherish.

The very fact that people are fighting for the top office in the land should be expected – I would be disappointed with less.

The circumstance that the transfer of power can occur without revolution on blood on our streets is to be admired and respected.

The parliament is after all a reflection of our society and we all have a role to play in the continual debate about what is best for our nation.

So next time someone at the water cooler suggests that politics is dead, challenge them to a discussion about the issues rather than the front man.

History can teach us that popularity is not crucial in good leadership however courageous decision making is.

We have big issues in front of us to debate and the outcomes will not be easy.

Be it marriage, budget repair, house prices or republicanism, these will not be easy debates for either side of the ledger to drive through both public popularity or the parliament. 

Apathy should never win – we are after all a great nation of immigrants with pioneering spirit flowing through our veins.

We must not be afraid to debate the issues confronting our nation and we should be debating these issues at the dinner table, footy field or barbeque.

Let us not focus on the popularity of our leaders but rather their preparedness to tackle the major decisions required in our time.

I want fearless decision making not frivolous Facebook posts.

 – Bryce Camm, Camm Agricultural Group, Wonga Plains feedlot, Bowenville