Tony Abbott

Australians went to the pols today to vote in a new Prime Minister and government. And they now have one.

After a heady period where we had Kevin Rudd as leader, then we had Julia Gillard, then we had Kevin Rudd again, we now have a man called Tony Abbot as our leader.

Unlike the last two votes, this time the people of Australia voted – not a political party. The problem is, no one knows what sort of leader Abbott will really be!

He’s espoused almost no real policies and won his party leadership almost by default – by one vote, if I recall. And now he’s won the Prime Ministership of Australia also, I believe, by default. Thanks in large part to a huge helping hand from every newspaper billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch owns, which is most of Australia’s papers.

Australians were sick of the party in-fighting which plagued the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Labor Party – the more grassroots, more-democratic of our parties.

And despite the fact that the Labor ethos is more in alignment with the incoming energies of looking out for one another – as opposed to the Liberals’ desire to protect big business and look after the rich – Australians seem to have had enough of intra-party political games.

My prediction, however, is that they’re not going to like what they’ve just decided to do: vote for Mr Abbott.

He’s been around in the Liberal party – Australia’s conservative party – for as long as I can remember. Nineteen years I think. But in all that time, he’s never exuded the sense that one can trust him.

One thing that’s definitely on the cards is that Abbott and his team are likely to take an axe to many public welfare and other more inclusive societal policy areas – schools, hospitals, unemployment – things people actually need.

They want our budget tight and in surplus – hey, why spend it on the people, right?

They’ll also likely take aim at our public service men and women – slashing jobs within key government departments; departments that serve the people.

We’re also probably going to have an even tougher policy on refugees who arrive by boats – while those with the money to pay can get what’s called a Gold Visa, which allows them to arrive, spend their billions on property, and not even live here.

Some also believe we’re going to have a long wait for gay marriage to come in; or for any genuine caring, sharing types of policies to look after everyone.

Or are we?

Something tells me Mr Abbott’s actually going to have to do what he has promised, and listen to the people.

I think he’ll be showing his true, conservative, mean side pretty soon. But it will be instantly noted – and he won’t be able to get away with it. The people are fed up with the BS of politics here; so the honeymoon will be short.

The rising energies will also ensure he wont be able to hide his true colours nor his motives for long.

And then there’s the long-awaited global government changes. I doubt they are very far away.

So somehow, I doubt Tony Abbott will be our Prime Minister for very long. Thank goodness, real goodness, for that!