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- Blog: Howard faithful left sobbing after moving concession speech
The first thing new Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd did last night was pay tribute to John Howard's years of service to Australia as an extraordinary political career came to an end.
He also saluted a dying Aussie battler, Bernie Banton, who has won the hearts of the country for his fight for compensation over asbestosis and to "the great Australian trade union movement" that fought for him.
Rudd had to shush up his own over-exuberant troops in Brisbane to conduct the tribute to Howard in his victory speech. It was etiquette, but it was probably genuine.
Over 11 and a half years in office, Howard's energy, doggedness, and dedication to his work is legendary. His qualities as a real politician in a world full of contrivances may have made his defeat last night a more personal affair, beyond those who supported him.
He received the welcome of a saint as he arrived at the Liberals function at the Wentworth hotel to give his concession speech to Rudd and to the Liberals, as usual with no notes.
"I accept full responsibility for the Liberal Party campaign and I therefore accept full responsibility for the Coalition's defeat in this election," he said.
But his many attempts at self-deprecation were flatly rejected by the crowd.
He said he owed the Liberal Party a lot more than it owed him in his 33 years in Parliament, 15 years as leader and 11 years as Prime Minister.
But they wouldn't hear of it.
His speech was punctuated with declarations of affection."We love you John." "Thank-you John." "We'll miss you John."
There wasn't a hint of humiliation from Howard despite the thrashing in the election (Labour gained 22 seats) and in his own seat on Bennelong which hangs in the balance and may go to journalist Maxine McKew.
But so forgiving and lionising were his faithful, that they almost deprived him of humility as well.
That was at least allowed for his moving tribute to his family, including a declaration of love for his wife, Janette, and the debt of gratitude he owed her.
He left the audience sobbing, the young women in their young Libs jeans and t-shirts, the Middle-eastern immigrants and the families who looked born to rule.
Howard endorsed Peter Costello twice for the Liberal leadership - that's not why they were sobbing - and challenged the new Labor Government to pick up his policy of a referendum on giving Aborigines a special place in the Australian constitution, which Rudd indicated this week was not a first-term priority.
With only nine years in Parliament and less than a year as Labor leader, Rudd is a less accomplished speaker than Howard.
Rudd's prepared victory speech, in Brisbance, has echoes of his repetitive election "future" rhetoric.
"Today we, the Australian nation, have decided that we would move forward, to plan for the future, to prepare for the future, to embrace the future and to get us as Australians to unite and write a new page in our nation's history, to make this great country of ours, Australia, even greater."
He said he would be a Prime Minister for all Australians - "indigenous Australians, Australians who have been born here, Australians who have come here from afar and have contributed to the great diversity that is our nation, Australia."
Unlike his campaign rhetoric where he tried to avoid using the word "union", he mentioned unions and the work they had done in advocating for the fatally ill Bernie Banton who only this week reached a confidential settlement with James Hardie.
"I say to Bernie if he is watching tonight: 'mate, you're not going to be forgotten tonight. The values for which you have stood and fought, the fact that you have been supported in your fight by the great Australian trade union movement... Bernie you stand out as a beacon and clarion call to us all about what is decent and necessary in life and, mate, I salute you."
Rudd confirmed left-winger Julia Gillard as Deputy Prime Minister. And he singled out the United States for having an especially close relationship with Australia - a goodwill gesture given that Labor will begin a staged withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Rudd was flanked by his wife, mega-millionaire Therese Rein, who made her money in an employment business. They shared a tender moment when he called her "darling" as he thanked her for her support and she kissed her hand and placed it on his neck.
