Election campaigning the Aussie way

These are busy times in Australia, the election is coming up in a few weeks. Almost every channel is showing political programs, TV-debates and interviews with the two major candidates for the job as the Australian prime minister; the current minister Kevin Rudd – leader of the Labor party – and Tony Abbott – leader of the Coallition. I can’t say I take much interest in Australian politics and as a non-Australian citizen I’m not allowed to vote. What I have noted is that in order to be a politician in Australia, you must have a very thick skin. The ad campaigns on TV are not about sending out messages on what the parties stand for and what changes they will implement if elected. Instead they are attacking the leader of the opposite party. Picture this: a photo of Kevin Rudd and a list of things he has done wrong, a serious voice is reading: ”last time Kevin Rudd was prime minister, he increased the debt of Australia by xx million dollars every day. He also blahblahblah...”. At the end of the ad, a voice is urging people to vote for Tony Abbott. Kevin Rudd said that he wanted a nice and friendly campaign and since a couple of days his TV campaign shows a mother chopping fruit in her kitchen, the kids sitting at the table. She’s looking a little haggard and talks into the camera, asking Mr Abbott what he intends to about certain things; ”you who always used to be so angry, negative and aggressive. Why have you gone so quiet Mr Abbott?” she demands to know.                    

On Thursday I was watching a great news program on channel Ten called ”The Project”. I always enjoy watching this show but especially yesterday as my celebrity crush Dr. Chris Brown was one of the guest hosts. He was wearing a suit and a tie and interviewing K-Rudd’s 30-something daughter over video chat. He was more handsome than ever and Miss Rudd was clearly not unaffected by him. Her smile would have gone all the way to the back of her head if her ears hadn’t been there to stop it. She giggled like a little school girl and was blushing – which I didn’t when I met him nine days, 22 hours and thirty-seven minutes ago. I kept my cool, I even mentioned my husband. Slightly in passing, sure, but still, I did mention my husband.

Earlier this week, Tony Abbott made new headlines by introducing Lindsay Scott, one of his candidates,  as ”young, feisty and having a bit of sex appeal”. Of course this comment created a media storm with many upset people protesting. One of the more unusual protests came from another politician whose name I didn’t catch. He was indeed upset about Mr Abbott’s comment about Miss Scott and exclaimed somewhat revolted: ”how can Tony Abbott say she has a bit of a sex appeal?! I’ve seen her up close and I don’t think she has any sex appeal at all!!!”.

Mr Abbott delivering his now (in-)famous introduction to Ms Scott on ABC news

And so the election campaign and the mudslinging continue in Australia. I know who I think would make an excellent prime minister in Australia: Dr Chris Brown; he has a university degree, he’s well-spoken, animal- and environmental friendly, he’s healthy, handsome and he has a great deal of sex appeal. Just what the Australians want in the politicians, right?

Dr Chris has it all! He will always get my vote...