federal politics

15 Apr 2008

Dial a Queenslander

By Mark Bahnisch

Governor-General designate Quentin Bryce with Dame Edna in 2007.

Quentin Bryce's appointment as GG shows that in Rudd's Australia talented people can get top jobs - even if Southern journos have never heard of them

Kevin Rudd's announcement of Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce's appointment to replace Major General Michael Jeffery was perfectly timed on Sunday afternoon to make that night's TV news and to allow journos to file copy for Monday's headlines in the press.

Yesterday, the media were on the hunt for reaction quotes. Interestingly, I received a few phone calls from Southern media asking me if I could suggest people to comment about Bryce's ascension to the top job. I was a tad surprised to be contacted, so I asked one producer why. "Oh, we don't really know anyone in Queensland," was the reply.

And therein lies a tale.

Speculation about Jeffery's replacement had barely begun. Sure, there was a brief flurry of Beazley-for-GG stories back in January, but Jeffery doesn't leave office until September. Because of the symbolism of the job, there had been a fair bit of discussion about whether Rudd would appoint the first woman to hold the office. NSW Governor Marie Bashir had been mentioned in dispatches, but as far as I can tell, Bryce was completely off the radar.

Indeed, although Bryce had earlier held several national appointments - including a high profile stint as Sex Discrimination Commissioner - and had been Principal of Sydney University's Women's College, journos set off on an obvious scramble to find out exactly who this woman from Queensland was and what she'd done with her career to date. Rudd had obviously picked the fact that a key theme would be her State of origin, and was at pains to pour water on a possible claim that Bryce was part of some Queensland mafia, along with himself and Wayne Swan, noting that he didn't know her well.

Such questions would not have been raised had she been one of the numerous appointments to government positions from NSW or Victoria, and had (as most frequently happens) the PM and Treasurer hailed from NSW and/or Victoria.

Lest I be thought to be taking a parochial banana bender angle on Bryce's elevation, let me observe that there are several layers of symbolism inherent in this appointment - all undoubtedly intended by Kevin Rudd.

As with the 2020 Summit's call for the best and brightest across the land to descend on Canberra, Rudd is demonstrating by deed as well as word that in modern Australia, careers should be open to "all the talents". Regardless of whether journos and commentators from the Sydney-Melbourne-Canberra triangle have Bryce - or any other prominent Queenslanders - in their mental card indexes, people of talent and resolve, he's suggesting, should be able to ascend from rural Queensland to the highest offices in the land. Sound familiar?

That Bryce will be the first female Governor-General only reinforces this symbolism. And the fact that Bryce's career - unlike those of other potential female appointees - has had as a key theme the promotion of women's rights, feminism and equal opportunity for all Australians won't have escaped the Prime Minister's sharp eye.

We often hear, apropos of Kevin Rudd's governing style, that symbolism somehow excludes substance. That's always been a false dichotomy, and Rudd has demonstrated - through showing that anyone from any part of Australia can achieve the peaks of public and professional life - that the power of example is truly significant. He's seized the moment not just to smash a glass ceiling, but also to make a subtler point about equality of opportunity and the sort of meritocratic land he sees a modern social democratic Australia as being. It's an important appointment, and one that says much about both Kevin Rudd's personal and political values and the values he sees as being fundamentally Australian.

Bryce is, in fact, very highly regarded in Queensland, and won't put a foot wrong in the top job. But along with all the usual qualifications for a "safe pair of hands" in a sometimes controversial position (legal and Gubernatorial experience, for example), Bryce's nomination sends an important message to all of us - no matter where in Australia we live, or where we hail from.

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Kevin H 15/04/08 12:23PM

Quentin must be a rare talent. Not many could overcome the seemingly fatal combination of being Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner and making a sexist notation on a file.
I’m relieved to be informed that she did not attend Nambour High School.

DougMe 15/04/08 12:54PM

I would note that at least one ‘Southern Journo’ put Bryce into the running in a back page article in the Canberra Times. Megan Doherty take a bow.

regards

bigaloscar 15/04/08 12:55PM

Speaking as unbiassed expatriate Queenslander it is high time that the
southern state columnists realised that the vital States of this country are those on the periphery. If they wish to remain relevant
perhaps they should go on a "listening tour" out of their comfort zones.

Kevin H 15/04/08 1:06PM

Bigaloscar

What do you mean by "vital" ? It will take some gargantuan Joh B-P style gerrymandering to make Sydney and Melbourne less "relevant" at future Federal elections.

Tom McLoughlin 15/04/08 4:06PM

Oh my gawd.

Mark, I have no doubt you know heaps more about Qld stuff than I. Your praise of next GG Bryce is no doubt merited.

I defer to your quite human and understandable Northern gush, as I would too if she was say from windy cold Warrnambool where I was born and bread before poisoning my lungs in Sydney.

But frankly I am worried people might take this analysis of yours seriously. Okay, I’m pretty brash and opiniated and I’ve read way too many Christian Kerr articles for my health. But really.

As I’ve blogged maybe 3 times in the last several days: All last week brand ALP was about to self immolate. Tas deputy premier self destructs lying about a judicial appointment no less. Gunns pulp mill implicated no less.

In NSW the ALP are in moral and reputational meltdown climaxing with the rather excellent Sarah Ferguson 4 Corners about developer annexation of the financial donations drip of influence on the state machine. It’s ugly and its oh so real.

The Bryce announcement has all the hallmarks of playing the big media ruthlessly. A decision completely within their control. A Qld public official and therefore well road tested by the Qld ALP machine.

You even admit the succession is way down the track in Sept 08 no less.

Doh! She is the older more expert version of the Donna Moss character in West Wing as per marvellous quote in last series 6 " a long cold drink of milk" meaning wholesome, trustworthy, pure etc. All the good PR stuff. And then to totally give the game away of sanitising the broken corrupt ALP brand she is front of several press today parading a gaggle of innocent grandchildren.

Yet she appointed by the same regime that appointed Joe Scimone to a $200K job in the NSW Maritime Authority as a safety haven from ICAC and discrimination claims at Wollongong after a decade of branch stacking in their heartland.

The same machine that gave Rudd his numbers as PM? I mean come on. There is a reason why Keating’s hyperbole about everyone outside Sydney is just camping out. There is some truth to the notion these guys are the best or worst at what they do … depending of course on whether you are inside or outside the tent p*ssing. I am for one am definitely outside. And Mark I urge to be so too, Qld or no! If only for your own sanity down the track despite all the bruises this approach inevitably invites.

revilo 15/04/08 10:49PM

Following on from Tom,

I look forward then to the dism(al)issal, some time around say Nov. 11.?

Let’s see if the House of Repre(hensibles)sentatives has its supply blocked by a senate majority.

Will she have the courage (balls) to sack Kevin and make whoever caretaker?
Then will the Aus public see the error of their ways and vote back the beleaguered (buggered) libs.

I for one will be maintaining the rage (hangover).

Well may we say god save the queen… because nothing can save , the governor general. Vive la predidente!

Jonah Bones 16/04/08 10:25AM

Ah that great Australian value of parochialism.
It is obvious that party politics has failed us , so took a positive outlook , New Zealand and German Parliaments point the way ahead , to once and for all rid us of the scourge of a two party political system that only reinforces the negative aspects of political behaviour.
Agitate for constructive change rather than write the nonsense written so far.
For me our new GG reminds me that there are some great people out there suited for the post of President.