It’s been a fascinating few days for Australians and followers of Australian politics. From the first stories on Monday that K-Rud was checking his numbers to the ‘bloodless coup’ of Wednesday morning, Australians have been glued to the Internet and TV screens to watch history unfold.
It’s not just that we have our first female Prime Minister. Or that she is Welsh by birth. (Although as a naturalised Australian, and mother to a one year old girl, I’m delighted that the two highest offices of the land – Governor-General and Prime Minister – are both occupied by women).
The thing that is really grabbing the attention of my fellow Australians is the (apparently suprising) revelation that the Prime Minister of the country can be replaced without an election.
The events of this week have illuminated a remarkable ignorance of how the Australian political system works. News sites and other forums are rife with comments expressing the writer’s shock and dismay that such a thing can happen.
I have news for you, guys. Unless you live in the electoral division of Griffith, Queensland, you did not vote for Kevin Rudd. You may have voted for a local Labor candidate, but at no stage were you issued with a voting card urging you to choose between ‘Kevin Rudd’ or ‘John Howard’.
Kevin Rudd contemplates the World Cup trophy before his career goes the same way as the Socceroos
We do not have US-style presidential elections here. Your voting options (for the House of Representatives) are limited to candidates standing for election in your electorate, who may either represent a political party or be standing as an independent candidate. When sufficient candidates of one party are elected, that party may form government. And that party may choose to change its leader at any time.
Yes, it’s unusual. And yes, given the presidential quality of the ‘Kevin 07’ campaign trail, we could be forgiven for thinking that we were electing Mr Rudd personally – but it just ain’t so.
Yes, it seems that only those who worked for the state or federal government seem to understand these rules, or if they have lived long enough to learn from experience. It is also surprising that many forgot how Tony Abbott got the position of opposition leader by using the same tactics.