Federal (non) election
[Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:49:57 +0000]
National politics has been at the forefront of most media commentaries for the past few months. In what many have described as an underwhelming campaign, voters were asked to choose between two political leaders who appeared to morph into one, each attempting to out-do the other in the art of blandness.Â
 In theory, we should have been spoilt for choice. On the one hand, a strong, feminist leader from a left-leaning background, unmarried, female and an atheist. On the other, the epitome of conservatism. White, middle-class, married-with-children male ' a devout catholic who once studied for the priesthood.
 At the time of writing, Australia is still without an elected government. Historians and social commentators will dissect the election result (or lack there of) for years to come.
 Advertising gurus will blame a poor media campaign, political experts will look to softening of ideology and lack of policies, talk-back shock jocks will examine the banal such as hair colour, clothes and the gossip of backroom wrangling.
 President of the Uniting Church, Alistair Macrae, believes a lack of leadership is an important factor contributing to the political stalemate.
 “My sense is that Australians were looking for something deeper and more substantial from the campaign,” he said. “We were looking for true leadership.”
 “Good leadership does more than merely reflect the opinions and values of the community. It calls us to attend to the core values and vision of our community. Biblical wisdom tells us that ‘where there is no vision, the people perish’.Â
 “If this aspect of leadership is neglected then leaders will inevitably seek lowest common denominator approaches which, in time, diminish any community. From within the Jewish and Christian traditions there are many examples of courageous visionary leaders ' Moses, Esther, King David, St Paul and of course Jesus himself. We could all recall leaders in our national and local spheres who call us, often in the face of strong opposition, to the higher values of justice, peace and compassion.”
 Mr Macrae expressed optimism for the future, and believes society will reassess the issues it holds important.
 “It is my hope and prayer that out of this election will grow a commitment to a new political leadership: leadership that is principled, bold and courageous,” he said.
 “Forced by a political context where a very few people are being called to declare their principles and their priorities for our country, that we are finally having some serious public discussion about matters of substantial policy.
 “Out of the political mess that has resulted from a totally unedifying campaign, my hope is that our political leaders will refocus on how we can work together to build a more creative, generous, hospitable, equitable country that deals honestly with the challenges that face our nation.
