Keating wants Sydney as the new capital

His client’s probably that dick Kevin Rudd’s misses!

I hope he’s being paid the correct entitlements!

Seriously, you all need a cynicism transplant or something.

Keating is being paid to raise the profile of Garden Island in Sydney for development. You’ll notice that almost every piece mentions it as an ‘ideal location’ for developments ‘such as’ Parliament House.

He knows damn well relocating Parliament to Sydney won’t happen, but he did manage to get free advertising for Garden Island on every single major media outlet in Australia.

His client (whoever that may be) is very very happy right about now.

I don’t think it is Canberra-centric to acknowledge the fact that there is no need to move the capital anyway. Canberra functions as the seat of power, has all the necessary infrastructure and people in place, and has been the capital for nearly a century.

What makes a capital? The fact that parliament meets there? The biggest city? The most popular city? The most central city? The one with the best public transport system?

To me, serious consideration of moving the capital would be like seriously considering New Zealand as the next state.

But how will we be protected from Naval ballistic gunfire if we move to Sydney ?

Sydney is as good as any other spot in Australia to put the seat of power, its Canberra-centric to think otherwise. Personally, I think we should build a massive concrete bunker world under Ayres Rock, to be truly central. Or join America like Howard wants us to.

I don’t believe for a moment that Keating is getting senile.
There has to be a purpose behind coming out with this pointless observation right now.
I think it is designed so that Rudd can fire back that it’s silly, and thus be seen to distance himself from Keating, and the various things Keating that Howard and co are trying to get the media to rise to of late.

Who’s Paul Keating?

Boomacat: yeah I’ve traditionally been a fan of Keating too. But we can only trot out the “our prosperity is a result of the previous government” line for so long. It was probably correct (I’m no economist) for the first few years, maybe even up until the 2001 or 2002, but after that I think the credit would have to go to the economic policies of the incumbent government. Especially considering the major changes such as the GST. Sure, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for everyone, but it wasn’t the end of the world as predicted by the left wing fringe. Remember when the Libs were about to take control of the senate? Nobody would be spared!

South Africa has three different capitals: Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontain (judicial) and Cape Town (legislative). I wonder how it works out for them. Personally I think this idea is completely lacking in merit.

– “Transport, communications, housing – all these real things are camouflaged in Canberra,” he said. –

I’m not sure what he’s getting at with this comment. He doesn’t like a nice green landscape, he’d prefer concrete and traffic?

And if he wants to move Parliament to Sydney because Howard has effectively moved it there anyway, does that mean it has to be moved every time a PM from another city gets in? Move it to Brisbane if Rudd gets in?

And “they all fly into the bush capital, then fly out again” as a problem. Right. ‘Cause if Parliament was in Sydney, no pollies would have to fly in because that’s where they all live… oh, wait…

Keating’s brain is seriously in meltdown mode with this comment. 😛

Keating has indicated Sydney should be the national capital for reasons of international image. Keating has always been one for the superficial where image is everything and substance is absent. That’s why he arrogantly told his detractors to “get a job” as he pranced along in his Armani suit. That’s why his government ramped up billions in debt and brought about a recession we just “had to have”.

Well, that arrogance is why he’s no longer Prime Minister – if he hasn’t worked it out yet.

Sydney is clearly the de facto capital of Australia in the sense of it being the country’s major centre and its only truly international city, whilst Canberra is the formal and administrative capital of the nation.

I think moving the administrative capital to Sydney would spoil the place (Sydney I mean), putting even further pressure on a city who’s infrastructure and housing market are already inadequate aint a good idea…

PS Paul Keating is a god who is substantially responsible for the prosperity this country enjoys presently, and whom tried so desperately to drag this country’s head out of its arse and into the 21st century.