Today we have seen Rudd & Gillard bury the hatchet and Abbott make more noise about refugees and Nauru, ahead of his "campaign launch" on Sunday.  Two weeks to go....and perhaps Tony Abbott may have been thinking....

"Ruddy hell, Kev's back on the job!
Him fronting up with Julia? I wouldn't have bet two bob.
Now I'll need something new
Mmm, perhaps those reffo's and Nauru!

But hark! its Sunday looming
And I must get on with grooming
Policy, perfect in preparation
For the launch and our salvation!"

Rudd and the Ranga in Queensland sat
For photographs, coffee and to chew the fat.

For Colour, Perhaps A Dab of Brown!

     Today, we saw former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer quoted as running former PM Kevin Rudd as a double agent, and then deny it. We then saw PM Gillard get stuck into Liberals for their "disgraceful attack" on Rudd.  All this while Liberals accuse Labor of a dirt campaign against Opposition Leader Abbott (see "disgraceful attack" report).
     Meanwhile, the Greens got on with the election with Leader Bob Brown officially launching their campaign.

A little bit of innuendo
A little bit of spite,
A touch of "oh no, it wasn't me!"
"The quoting is not quite right."

A little bit of indignation
A little bit of "shock, horror"
A touch of "how dare you, sir"
But not a scrap of honour.

Policies hardly worth a crumpet, little to call profound;
Perhaps, if we're seeking green, we'll need to try some Brown.

Election 2010 - Homelessness A Neglected Issue? Not Many - Too Few!

Although only in its early stages, our Federal election campaign does not appear to have made an issue of mental illness and homelessness.  Perhaps it is on the horizon, who knows?  One would hope so, for it is true that elections, generally, are magnets for the big ticket items, the wow factor, the sexy issue of the day.
Perhaps there is something, waiting in the shadows, to be announced down the track, by someone who cares.  Yet, there is no doubt that, in the eyes of some, this issue is one that doesn't attract votes.

A cry for help untended, a heartless act of folly!
The homeless and the helpless, hanging on by dubious thread,
The weary, wronged and beaten - defeated but not quite dead;
Those hidden by the system, to keep them out of view,
Their votes so unimportant, not many - too few!

And all their songs of melancholy
Waif-whisper, oh so pensive,
Slipping, quietly missed, by the oh so inattentive.
Wishing, waiting, wanting  - for notice, just on cue,
Alas, so unimportant, not many - too few!


Homelessness Australia
The Australian on Mental Health
AMA - Mental Health

Asylum Seeker - A Journey's End

On Tuesday, the Australian government announced a new policy on the handling of asylum seekers who attempt to come to Australia by illegally engaging people smugglers.  The Opposition and Greens also made statements on this subject.
http://www.australianetworknews.com/stories/201007/2945919.htm?desktop


Falling...
Breathless...
Gently falling.
No panic now, no noise.
Breathless!
I hold her peaceful face
Against my breast,
My hand rests upon our unborn child.
This is our journey's end,
Our resting place,
Our release from war and fear.
My hand feels the gentlest kick,
Then...no more...no more
Nothing!

The cold embrace of an ocean tomb
Enfolds yet more within its womb,
While others gather to debate
How the lost will be dealt their fragile fate.

Laurie Favelle, Canberra 7 July 2010