Halloween and Health Minister

In today’s posting I want to talk about 2 issues - Halloween and the Health Minister.

Halloween in Oz

Yesterday was Halloween; Halloween is not part of Australian culture. But because of the influence of American television, movies and the Internet children want to take part in it. Yesterday on the morning radio shows, many adults were very anti-Halloween. Saying it was an American tradition and not Aussie. Today on the radio morning program there were many parents calling in and saying their children were getting doors slammed in their face. Children go Trick or Treating and target any house. Because it is not a tradition in Oz that have not adopted the Jack-o-Lantern rule we have in Canada. Where a Jack-o-Lantern or even lights turned on, signal that a house is accepting of Trick or Treaters.

As Halloween gains more popularity in Australia I think this should be adopted. I don’t think this time of year is pumpkin season in Oz. Just even turning the lights on and having a decoration on the door would do. This would make it easier for Trick or Treaters and not have so many unhappy children. I may pose this to the Mayor’s of Melbourne and its suburbs.

Federal Health Minister – A disgrace

Right now the campaign for a Federal election is on. Yesterday was not a very good day for the Health Minister – Tony Abbott. It was a “bad day” that included 2 apologies for mistakes he made. First he had to apologize both personally and publicly to a terminally-ill asbestos campaigner, Bernie Banton. In a public outburst the Health Minister suggested he was not “pure of heart”. Mr. Banton has been petitioning for the inclusion of a drug (Mesotheliomia) to be put on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.

Then he had to apologize for arriving 35 minutes late for a health debate with Labor’s health spokeswoman Nicola Roxon. At the end of the debate there was a terse exchange between the two as they shook hands. Ms. Roxon stated – you could have been here on time if you really wanted to. Mr. Abbott’s reply was “That’s bullshit. You’re being deliberately unpleasant. I suppose you can’t help yourself, can you ?”

Mr. Abbot did not apologize for “That’s bullshit” comment and later stated you can say that to someone and still have respect for them and the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) used that word all the time.

I was very angered at the Health Minister’s demeanour and actions yesterday. He seems very arrogant and out of touch with how to treat people. Coming from Canada, the country that always say “excuse me or sorry” it was a shock to me that a politician act this way.

Although Canadian politicians are not always kind to other politicians I can’t seem to recall in recent memory that kind of behaviour especially to constituents.

This is a different country than Canada, a country where men are men. They act tough, blokey and swear. Not all of them; see Labor leader Kevin Rudd and his team. Maybe that’s why they(Labor party) won’t get elected. They seem too intellectual, calm and reserved. No Aussie charisma! I hope that’s not the case. The people of Australia deserve better than a Liberal/Howard government. Even if they don’t know it and stick with what they know because they feel “ok and comfortable”.