Citing economic statistics, such as , Victorians today have new jobs and the unemployment rate is at its lowest since the s, he said that he was personally proud that Labor is now seen as a 'responsible financial manager. The issue of financial management is particularly acute for the Victorian Labor Party who was previously seen in an opposite light due to the massive debt and unemployment figures that the State accumulated as it was going through an economic downturn in the late s and early s.
The Premier has also outlined the early initiative the state government took to tackle climate change such as buying green energy, encouraging renewable power generation and cutting domestic and industrial consumption.
However, for some Christians he is infamously known as introducing the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act in which had landed two pastors in court for making 'offensive' remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
Ironically, given his public image, Bracks is leaving partly because he is smart. This reporter once sat down for an interview and had to wait until a press secretary returned. Bracks talked fluently about books, US politics and national business affairs. Once the formal interview started and the tape recorder was running, he reverted to polly-waffle and often tortured syntax. Once, over a few drinks at his Christmas party, Bracks put on an amusing turn by hearing journalists tell of loaded questions being put to other politicians.
He mused for a while and trotted out samples of how to spin good answers back, showing he was able to flip between the personal and political modes but also revealing that it was a conscious effort. An act if you like. But state political leaders also face a particular type of scrutiny through the repetitive, parish-pump nature of their political patch. Kennett often got into trouble when he got bored, only to discover that his idea of fun was not universal.
All politics is ultimately local, but federal pollies at least have a bigger canvas. Their state counterparts have to seem to be concerned about everything and to have a plausible comment for everything. Like many Labor politicians of his era, Bracks is a keen student of politics even if he doesn't brag about it like members of the NSW Right.
He has a particular interest in wartime prime minister John Curtin and told last year of how Curtin "overcame great personal difficulties with his alcoholism to be one of our best. His consensus style was later repeated by Bob Hawke. Those two are, well, not exactly role models, but useful points of reference. I also read a lot of Tolstoy. Anna Karenina, War and Peace. The autobiography he wrote is quite remarkable".
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A valid email address is required Please provide a valid email address. Please select the editions you would like to sign up to Morning Afternoon Please select at least one edition. Sorry, it looks like an error occurred Please refresh the page and try again. VIDEO: 'Right time to step down' He said he was proud of his time in office, leading the "great state of Victoria", but that the time was right for a new leader.
Difficult decision "As you can imagine no decision of this nature is easy," he said. Earlier this month Mr Bracks' eldest son Nick, 20, a P-plate driver, allegedly crashed the family car into a tree while drunk. Mr Bracks had earlier met cabinet colleagues to tell them of his plans to leave politics altogether, giving up his roles as leader of the parliamentary Labor Party, and as representative for Williamstown, as well as the post of Premier.
The year-old will remain in the top job until 11am on Monday, when caucus will decide his replacement in a vote. Life outside politics Mr Bracks threw his support behind state Treasurer John Brumby, who he said would make an outstanding leader. Please select the editions you would like to sign up to Morning Afternoon Please select at least one edition.
Sorry, it looks like an error occurred Please refresh the page and try again. Mr Thwaites said Mr Bracks' resignation had prompted his own decision to quit. Now is the time to give someone else a go and to bring in some new blood. He said Mr Bracks telephoned him this morning before announcing his decision at a press conference in Melbourne, when the state Labor leader also ruled out entering federal politics.
Mr Carpenter issued a statement saying he was shocked by Mr Bracks' resignation. Mr Kennett said he had a quiet respect for Mr Brumby, who was opposition leader for much of the time that Mr Kennett was premier.
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