Character matters

This was unsuccessfully submitted for publication to a newspaper's letters column. The good thing about having a blog is that enables opiniated people to self publish instead. You have an alternative outlet. 

Reports of Labor caucus dissatisfaction with Premier Jacinta Allan's leadership, combined with the Victorian government's challenging fiscal situation, and endemic maladministration, invite comparisons with the former Cain/Kirner governments (1982-1992), but with one important distinction.

Rather than spin and obfuscation, the likes of former Premier John Cain (1982-1990), his deputy, Robert Fordham (1982-1989), and Treasurer, Rob Jolly (1982-1990), resigned from their positions because of their conviction that it was the only way to take responsibility and accountability either for their, or the government's failed policies.

By comparison, their present-day successors seem to be lacking in such character and integrity. 

 

The annoying know it all who nobody talks to at parties

Former Premier of Victoria, John Cain (1982-1990) has died. Television news obituaries were mostly accurate, except for one minor detail. They credited him with introducing Sunday retail trading in the state, but this is not correct. His government introduced reforms permitting retail trading on Saturday afternoons, whereas they previously closed in the early afternoon. Later state governments fully deregulated trading hours.