On your mark, get set, go!

well be a stronger motivation for this.

PAWAN LUTHRA

Despite the hovering ghost of Kevin Rudd, Prime Minister Gillard used her first major speech in 2013 at the National Press Club to announce the date of the next election – September 14. With 227 days to go, it is designed to be the longest election campaign in Australian history. Why the Prime Minister made the announcement so much in advance has the pundits guessing, and has given rise to a number of conspiracy theories.

It will take very poor poll numbers for the Labor caucus to move against the Prime Minister and make changes at the top. Though ex-PM Rudd has maintained, after his failed attempt in 2012, that he will not challenge the leadership, it is doubtful he will refuse the top job which might be offered to him by those trying to make amends for the coup against him by the faceless men within the party. The sceptre of losing their own seats may

Knowing that Rudd’s elevation might bring back voters, perhaps the necessary action is to stop the further decline of Labor’s popularity before the election. PM Gillard, who has never backed away from a scrap, is hoping that Labor’s poll numbers rise to stem off any challenge by Rudd’s supporters. Her strategy will be to draw out the Coalition party and particularly Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on his plans for Australia, should he win. If she can draw the voters’ attention to any gaps in Abbott’s policies, she has a better chance on the day of the final vote. PM Gillard is playing for the ultimate prize, the ongoing Prime Ministership of Australia, and will need much to go right for her.

In the meanwhile, PM Gillard’s announcement is seen as the start of a de facto election campaign.

The Indian community in Australia holds a considerable vote bank which will be of interest to both the major political parties. As evidenced in the NSW and Victoria state elections, politicians are more than keen to capture the goodwill of the Australian Indian community. We also seem to have suddenly found advocates of major political parties, now willing to bridge the gap between the community and the politicians.

With various Holi and Diwali melas, Republic and Independence Day functions and other events, do not be surprised to see high-level politicians pitching for your votes. Already we can see many claimants to the positive decision by the Australian government to sell uranium to India.

That this happened so soon after US President Barack Obama spoke about the US-Australia strategic partnership in Asia particularly to counterbalance the influence of China, is a convenient fact which has been forgotten by a few, especially those on the Labor side of politics who have opposed the sale for years. The federal election campaign will be a great opportunity for our community leaders to seek better benefits for their members, such as assistance in aged care or for new migrants, or a consolidated identity for Indian Australians. It will be interesting to see how our leaders –in the community and at the federal government level – approach the Indian Australian vote bank.

SPIRITUAL Chinmaya Mission Australia activities

Mon 25 Feb – Sat 2 Mar

7:30- 9pm Public talks on “The Supreme Knowledge, The Supreme Secret”, Free talk on the 9th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita by Br Gopal Chaitanya, one of the disciples of the current Master of Vedanta H.H. Swami Tejomayananda. This chapter contains some of Sri Krishna’s powerful instructions on ways of achieving freedom from worry, despair, fear and guilt.

Details Mahal 02 9482 7178. Dance and Drama Auditions

Auditions for the Sundarakanda / Kishkinda Kanda dance/drama and major 2013 youth play Sita will be starting in 1st week of February.

Bala Vihar

A children’s program (Grade K to 6) called Balavihar

(which covers learning of veda and stotram chanting,