FED:Editorials, Saturday February 19, 2011

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2011
FED:Editorials, Saturday February 19, 2011

SYDNEY, Feb 18 AAP - Labor now sits on a primary vote of only 32 per cent because
it has failed to know what it stands for and who it truly represents, The Weekend Australian
says in its editorial today.

The last election showed it has not grasped the changes in the electorate and the emergence
of an enterprise class not much interested in crude class warfare.

The party's challenge now is to find a way to reconnect with this heartland - by championing
the interests of workers through an open, productive economy and value-for-money service
delivery in areas such as health and education.

The Sydney Morning Herald says the Coalition's immigration spokesman, Scott Morrison,
is right to raise the issue of Islamist extremism. The debate is essentially healthy.

From his colleague Senator Cory Bernardi's comments, it appears it is part of a concerted
push against the policy from within the coalition.

Multiculturalism's success has pushed it almost beyond criticism or analysis: There
seems to be an assumption if the multicultural ideal is examined too closely, it will
vanish. Instead it must be followed without question. That is not healthy.

Issues and pressures can build up that if left unventilated, will eventually burst.

Islamic extremism is one of those.

Scott Morrison's attempt to pick at one fraying thread in the pattern in order to garner
populist support for the opposition is surprisingly gauche. It is even more so coming
from someone who is supposedly a slick political professional.

Sydney's The Daily Telegraph says the greatest dilemma in modern Australian politics
is how to find a balance in the various ethical and practical complexities presented by
asylum seekers.

It doesn't help locate this elusive balance that the government seems to be startled
by each individual incident regarding asylum seekers.

The case of eight-year-old Sinan Khaligy, orphaned by the Christmas Island disaster
and then subject to an early-morning post-funeral return, is the most obvious example.

The government suddenly got tough. Yet at the same time we have no signs of haste in
tracking down dozens of asylum seekers strolling around the country for months.

Some balance is needed.

Melbourne's Herald Sun says Melbourne Victory chairman Geoff Lord has made a bizarre
defence of the club's fans against claims by Victoria Police that they are the most violent
of all codes.

Mr Lord tried to shift the blame on to the police, the AFL and this newspaper.

The colour and passion he talks about should not be an excuse for mass taunts such
as `All cops are bastards'.

Mr Lord says other football codes love to see soccer in trouble.

The Herald Sun gives strong coverage to soccer as well as AFL and rugby. The paper
is right to publish the complaints of police and Mr Lord is wrong to attack other football
codes.

Brisbane's The Courier-Mail says Prime Minister Julia Gillard seeming inability to
hear what Queenslanders are saying - and respond with empathy and understanding - has
been obvious again in recent weeks as local government in the state sought some certainty
about which infrastructure and assets would be covered by disaster assistance.

As happened when Ms Gillard was inspecting flood damage with Ms Bligh, there was something
missing from her responses.

When John Howard was prime minister and talked about Queensland, he would describe
common sentiments and concerns that he knew people in the state held because he had spent
time and talked with them.

Ms Gillard should perhaps reflect on the kind of conversations Mr Howard used to have
with Queensland and the ones her deputy still engages in.

AAP jxt/rs

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

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