Nationalists hate him, minorities love him, many aussies love him too. He made the sorry speech that other PMs (who were tied in with One Nation policies) did not want to make. It was a breakthrough in Australian history, and many have become proud to call themselves Australian. Though, can he hold his office?

He has already began building homes for the aboriginal community, he is reinforcing the Australian multi-cultural values by having closer ties (wisely) with Asia rather then geographically distant western nations. He is totally non-racist, his daughter is married to a Chinese immigrant from Hong Kong who's only been in this country for around 10 years. He is a peaceful fella it seems, totally unlike Howard who jumped at the opportunity to war against Iraq, totally led on by Bush's OBVIOUS lies about 'the threat of terrorism' and all that bull$hit. He's totally unlike the previous prime ministers - but does he have a backbone?

Aboriginals, though I even went out with one when I was 17, majority of them don't seem to have any spirit to work. Their 'gimme gimme' attitude is not pride, it's one of shame. I wonder if they will start shaping up by now, start wearing suits and shock the ignorant Australian public. However, all this multi-culturalism is well and good - but will he last? Will he stay in office? Your thoughts?

I like Kevin Rudd.
To be honest, I think him making all this effort is great.
Of course it's still the early days and he might slip up later on.
But so far, so good.
He has my respect, for the moment.

sif you went out with a coon! ha ha

naww.. i kid, i kid

Yeah I get that all the time, and worse - "is her pussy fly-infested?"

Like seriously

^lol fukn australians...

friend: I heard K.rudd is gonna give out laptops to all aussie students.
Me: really?
friend: yeah that means we have extra space for porn *cough*
Me: LOL

Happy ANZAC Day!

there are many things i would argue here:

- the issue of the stolen generation was risen from during the howard years, only the howard govt had the power to say "sorry". i don't know what one nation policies would have to do anything about regarding saying sorry
- can the rudd government put words into action? i don't know, this is something that i wouldn't like to speculate so only time will tell.
- building aboriginal homes isn't anything new or incentive, the previous governments were doing the same thing so yet to see any new policies.
- just because his daughter is married to a chinese migrant does not necessarily mean he's a non racist. his daughter's marriage shouldn't imply anything to kevin rudd nor should anyone make assumptions of it
- the war in iraq is a tricky business, there were many reasons to australia's involvement to the war to remain close ties with the US, that close tie itself leads to many more benefits.
- and what do you mean he's totally unlike previous prime ministers?
- aboringial culture is vastly different to the anglo-australian culture, they don't see the necessity to work just to merely live. ofcourse this is lazy in the eyes of people who don't understand aboringal culture where their culture is not emphased on individualistic mentality along with the capitalist culture that australian culture has (when i say australian culture, the commonality, regardless of race is that there is a need to be rich and buy $hit that we don't need.)
- getting them into suits is like destroying their own culture, something that i don't believe should happen.

another thing i will point out is that multiculturalism has been happening in australia for decades, since the whitlam government introduced it in 1972 so this isn't all new.

what are high school kids getting that? damnit my brother will be getting a laptop

- the issue of the stolen generation was risen from during the howard years, only the howard govt had the power to say "sorry". i don't know what one nation policies would have to do anything about regarding saying sorry
howard was part of the one nation movement before becoming prime minister, he denied the aboriginal community an apology as you know
- can the rudd government put words into action? i don't know, this is something that i wouldn't like to speculate so only time will tell.
yes but in my opinion he's made a good start
- building aboriginal homes isn't anything new or incentive, the previous governments were doing the same thing so yet to see any new policies.
true, to be honest it was rather funny that the prime minister was absent from office but instead spending his time with natives
- just because his daughter is married to a chinese migrant does not necessarily mean he's a non racist. his daughter's marriage shouldn't imply anything to kevin rudd nor should anyone make assumptions of it
very true, but it seems his son-in-law has a lot of political influence with rudd thus far, rudd did not flame China, but expressed his concern and encouraged china to sort out its internal disputes - so he did not see tibet as an occupied country
- the war in iraq is a tricky business, there were many reasons to australia's involvement to the war to remain close ties with the US, that close tie itself leads to many more benefits.
benefits are there, but morally it was out of the question especially with all the bull$hit conjucted to justify it
- and what do you mean he's totally unlike previous prime ministers?
historical apological speech is the prime example, made many australians including myself to be proud of being australian
- aboringial culture is vastly different to the anglo-australian culture, they don't see the necessity to work just to merely live. ofcourse this is lazy in the eyes of people who don't understand aboringal culture where their culture is not emphased on individualistic mentality along with the capitalist culture that australian culture has (when i say australian culture, the commonality, regardless of race is that there is a need to be rich and buy $hit that we don't need.)
yes but squeezing out our tax money for them to live while everyone else works is rather one-sided in my opinion
- getting them into suits is like destroying their own culture, something that i don't believe should happen.
i don't believe so, wearing a suit just means one can claim an occupation that others feel is impossible for the native community, it doesnt mean that they've forgotten their history, but are part of both their ancestral and modern culture

another thing i will point out is that multiculturalism has been happening in australia for decades, since the whitlam government introduced it in 1972 so this isn't all new.
the laws and principles were always there, but reformation of the racialist culture is what is happening now endeavouring to cover and unite all ethnic groups in australia without assimilation

what are high school kids getting that? damnit my brother will be getting a laptop
[/quote]

you also have to look at the economic shape the howard govt left to the rudd govt and this is a time where the global economy isn't in a good shape esp in the US.

I thought Mr Rudd was generally copying the economic policies of Mr Howard, whilst giving them a progressive spin.
The media often implied that he was the copycat Prime Minister.

Mr Howard's pragmatic industrial reforms (mainly workplace agreements) were hugely unpopular, while Mr Rudd's populist image appealed to the majority of voters. Mr Rudd's spin doctors tried to emulate Mr Howard's tough stance on economic policy and at the same time appealing to that large sector of the population which had become disgruntled with workplace agreements. Mr Rudd inspired the voters with his apparent desire to engage with marginalised groups, such as the indigenous population and non-English migrants. He has captured the imaginations of many young voters with his appearance as a progressive leader. However, Mr Rudd's ideas summit was criticised for being all spin and no substance.

Nonetheless, we should consider that the current government has inspired the general population.
And an enthusiastic population thinking along progressive lines must surely have a positive impact on Australia.

china is quite interested in kevin
there was a lot of coverage during election, i saw many chinese reporters here in melbourne during rallies and public events

I think Kevin Rudd promised too much to get votes...he's going to start breaking some promises...
The "Education Revolution", which was flawed from the start, is getting cut back, with Gillard saying 2 students per computer is effectively every student can access a computer when they require one, with the 1 to 1 ratio being a "long term goal".

And there's that back flip about Japan's whaling too

Kevin Rud is the bomb. but the drinking policy is ridiculous

^ word.
apart from that, I heart k rudd
he looks like mr. sheen

lol go him

KEVIN 07

Kevin (BS) Rudd,, oh so good with the spin. The hard part is actually making it all work.
As we have seen time after time Labour cannot resist spending on idealistic crap, wont take long for them to get bogged down in in-fighting left vs right factions and the country will end up with a huge budget deficit and a whole load of white elephant projects. Look what has happened to NSW, what happened to Victoria until Jeff Kennet rescued them now Brumby is slowly sinking them back into the mire. South Australia has never been able to drag its sorry @$$ out of the mud. Labour in W.A has been unable to spend fast enough to destroy their booming economy and yet the people have given them the boot.
Don’t hold your breath if you are hoping for a brighter future,, soon people will be asking “So Kevin what have you really done????? Watch the spin then, should make us all dizzy.

we can go in circles, but to add my short few cents, at least australia has more of a moral backbone now under rudd