Christmas Presents

Christmas 2009 was upon us and it seemed sure to be a long, hot summer. TV, radio and newspaper journalists all seemed to be saying it was a sure sign global warming was here to stay. Although they did not use that term. 'Climate change' was the term of choice.

Another term of choice was 'climate change deniers', which seemed to have superceded 'climate change sceptics'. Had this issue become the new religion of our time? Time would show this was most unlikely, but this was an unknown quantity around Christmas. Kevin Rudd's view that climate change was "the moral challenge of our age" was still popular amongst many. But issues have a way of falling from grace rather quickly, it seems.

At the time of the Copenhagen Summit, Kevin Rudd's view remained as popular as ever. Copenhagen was to be the ground-breaking summit of world leaders that would not only ensconce Rudd as 'Kevin 747' but would also prove him to be a Prime Minister of quality, concern, leadership, diplomacy, and a true 'arrival' on the world stage. Or at least that was the plan.

Back home, leadership spills were taking place and by-elections were being held. The Coalition seemed to be coming together again under an Abbott/Joyce umbrella. The Centre Unity faction of the NSW ALP was organising backroom coups run by faceless men with a female puppet the end result. Albeit a young, fresh-faced, female puppet, who would prove over time to be popular with the people.

In South Australia, a premier sometimes referred to as 'metrosexual,' Mike Rann, was fighting off allegations of late night parking 'trysts' that seemed to be diverting his attention from the issue at hand - getting re-elected.

Meanwhile in the Northern Territory, the government was alleged to be diverting millions to be spent on indigenous health and welfare projects to shore up support in regional Labor electorates.

Although things were to change by April 2010, at Christmas time, the Abbott/Joyce team were the only ones smiling. Joyce's role as Finance Spokesman for Abbott's Coalition was like placing a round peg in a square hole - it just didn't seem to be a good fit.

As Abbott appeared on the beach in 'budgie-smugglers,' the cartoonists and social commentators were having a field day - not since Harold Holt had a federal leader been so attuned to beach culture. A blessing or a curse for Abbott?

Coming home from work on December 1st to see the news on in the family room, David Speers was on screen, looking somewhat quizzically at the camera. His eyes were raised, his brow furrowed as if he was wondering to himself how 42 Liberal Party colleagues could possibly have considered Tony Abbott to be the man to hold the best alternative for the Party's chances at the next election. It was clear that many 'scribes' considered Abbott's view on the ETS and climate change in general to be impractical and reactionary.

As Abbott stood before the press gallery and the many voters at home in their living rooms, he could be heard saying he wanted to apologise for all his errors of the past as he asked the public to judge him on his actions from that moment on. Humble and humorous, was one way of seeing it.

One thing was certain as a result of Abbott's elevation to the leadership of the opposition - Rudd's ETS was in trouble. Abbott's view that the ETS was simply a "great big new tax on everything" was a line that would prove to be most effective.

Graham Young in The Australian on January 1st, 2010, said:

"the Government has been put on notice...If it (the contest) is about whether Rudd has got a bit too pompous, narcissistic and self-satisfied, then the straight-shooting gadfly (Abbott) may do suprisingly well. Particularly if voters don't think he can win."

One thing was for certain as 2010 arrived. Climate change of the political kind was real. The year ahead would tell the story of just how much change the general public was willing to accept - and how soon?