I'm conflicted ...

On the one hand, Australia now has its first woman Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. And she's a ginger! Or a ranga, as they say here (yep, short for orang-utan). And she's Welsh!

She was sworn in at lunchtime, by Governor General Quentin Bryce, who is also a woman, and who is the representative of the Queen for non-Commonwealth readers. So we finally have a full set of women governing the country in a political sense, and I am very fond of all three of them.

Alas, on the other hand, Julia's victory means Kevin Rudd's defeat. And I am also very fond of the RuddBot. He is that unpopular thing in these times of soundbites and immediate over-reactions to polls: a politician who is about the policy and public service. Absolutely he could have been better at communication and consultation, but  when all is said and done, his policies have been pretty right, if at times autocratic. Excellent article here on what a waste it is to toss him at this point. He has said that he will stay on in parliament and will be happy to serve in the cabinet in any capacity. Which is humble and gracious. I hope he gets Foreign Affairs!

During his resignation speech he was overcome with emotion a few times, even to tears, especially talking about the Stolen Generations, who finally received an apology as one of his early acts. He spoke of many successes of his government, and said that he was proud to have served. "What I’m less proud of," he said, "is the fact that I have now blubbered." I, too, had a little eye moisture moment at that point.

Gillard has invited the Rudds to stay on at the Lodge (the Prime Ministerial residence) for as long as they need to, especially given they still have a kid in school. She really is a decent person, from what I know of her, though also a hardarse, in the good ways. Interestingly, she is not a religious person: making her only the first or second non-Christian PM of the country, and I think the first not to be married. Her long-term male partner is a hairdresser, and before you ask, yes, she has fabulous hair, but it is as nothing compared to her collection of what Americans would recognise as Hillary-esque pantsuits ;-)

In excellent news, the Australian dollar dropped against the greenback. I say this wholly because I am so concerned about those poor wee starving exporting miners, and not at all because I failed to cash my cheque in US$ the other week when we were several cents lower. We're a risk! Dump us! And then pick us back up when I say it's okay!

And England beat Slovenia -- after which I stayed up to watch some of the tennis, and it was Mahut/Isner -- I gave up at 42: 42 because I was exhausted, I can only imagine how they feel! Tonight I failed in my bid to have NZ win a World Cup game, but am very happy watching Stuart Broad take wickets as I do, bless him! Must go to bed before 4am!

I'm conflicted ...

On the one hand, Australia now has its first woman Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. And she's a ginger! Or a ranga, as they say here (yep, short for orang-utan). And she's Welsh!

She was sworn in at lunchtime, by Governor General Quentin Bryce, who is also a woman, and who is the representative of the Queen for non-Commonwealth readers. So we finally have a full set of women governing the country in a political sense, and I am very fond of all three of them.

Alas, on the other hand, Julia's victory means Kevin Rudd's defeat. And I am also very fond of the RuddBot. He is that unpopular thing in these times of soundbites and immediate over-reactions to polls: a politician who is about the policy and public service. Absolutely he could have been better at communication and consultation, but  when all is said and done, his policies have been pretty right, if at times autocratic. Excellent article here on what a waste it is to toss him at this point. He has said that he will stay on in parliament and will be happy to serve in the cabinet in any capacity. Which is humble and gracious. I hope he gets Foreign Affairs!

During his resignation speech he was overcome with emotion a few times, even to tears, especially talking about the Stolen Generations, who finally received an apology as one of his early acts. He spoke of many successes of his government, and said that he was proud to have served. "What I’m less proud of," he said, "is the fact that I have now blubbered." I, too, had a little eye moisture moment at that point.

Gillard has invited the Rudds to stay on at the Lodge (the Prime Ministerial residence) for as long as they need to, especially given they still have a kid in school. She really is a decent person, from what I know of her, though also a hardarse, in the good ways. Interestingly, she is not a religious person: making her only the first or second non-Christian PM of the country, and I think the first not to be married. Her long-term male partner is a hairdresser, and before you ask, yes, she has fabulous hair, but it is as nothing compared to her collection of what Americans would recognise as Hillary-esque pantsuits ;-)

In excellent news, the Australian dollar dropped against the greenback. I say this wholly because I am so concerned about those poor wee starving exporting miners, and not at all because I failed to cash my cheque in US$ the other week when we were several cents lower. We're a risk! Dump us! And then pick us back up when I say it's okay!

And England beat Slovenia -- after which I stayed up to watch some of the tennis, and it was Mahut/Isner -- I gave up at 42: 42 because I was exhausted, I can only imagine how they feel! Tonight I failed in my bid to have NZ win a World Cup game, but am very happy watching Stuart Broad take wickets as I do, bless him! Must go to bed before 4am!