The transformation of Australian politics into a reality TV show gathers pace. Licking their wounds after their catastrophic electoral defeat, Labor have decided that one way to bolster their electoral chances next time around is to run more football personalities as candidates. In particular, they've got an eye on running Eddie McGuire in a Melbourne seat, and a few other high-profile footballers (and they must be high profile if I recognise their names) also being considered. There's nothing to instill respect in the meaningfulness of the democratic process like running footballers as celebrity candidates. Then again, who needs respect for democracy when you've got compulsory voting?

Reports that the Tories are in talks with Sam Newman, and that the Greens have recruited Ella Hooper of Killing Heidi and Tyrone Noonan of george to help them bust the major-party preference blockade, have not been confirmed.

Posted by: Graham | http://grudnuk.com/ | Mon Apr 11 11:34:50 2005

Well, Justin Madden's already the Victorian Minister for Sport, so...

Posted by: steff | http://ofterdingenandkropotkin.blogspot.com | Mon Apr 11 13:27:03 2005

When was democracy not a pop-contest? Choosing Sam Newman is guaranteed a good laugh in any case, what's he gonna say about "the poofters" this time ?

Posted by: threeze | http://neuralvoid.com | Mon Apr 11 14:04:09 2005

so, what are ella hoopers credentials apart from looking cute and having bad teeth?

Posted by: acb | http://dev.null.org | Mon Apr 11 14:16:02 2005

You mean that's not enough?

I'm sure she believes in the environment and peace and stuff too.

Posted by: datakid | http:// | Tue Apr 12 02:14:59 2005

On that note, what are the green's credentials?

And just because she's not a football personality, what excludes Mary Delahunty from criticism? Nothing...oz politics has a long history of pop politics...

Now, if only we could get some decent looney parties up....

Posted by: acb | http://dev.null.org | Tue Apr 12 08:56:07 2005

Wasn't Delahunty a journalist, though? Journalists (at least of the serious news stripe) seem somewhat more qualified for politics than footballers.

What's Murgatroyd doing these days?

Posted by: Graham | http://grudnuk.com/ | Tue Apr 12 14:16:13 2005

*ahem* Justin Madden *ahem*

Posted by: Graham | http://grudnuk.com/ | Tue Apr 12 14:18:42 2005

Ah hell I've already mentioned him.

OK, well Dawn Fraser was a NSW state member once, and John Landy is the governor of Victoria (tho' that's vice-regal, so doesn't really count...)

Posted by: acb | http://dev.null.org | Tue Apr 12 14:32:58 2005

From what I gather, a governor is a ceremonial role, much like the chancellor of a university; or, indeed, the Queen.

Posted by: dj | http:// | Wed Apr 13 05:37:02 2005

In SA he Liberals are running a former AFL footballer for the seat of Norwood.

Posted by: dj | http:// | Wed Apr 13 06:28:52 2005

In SA he Liberals are running a former AFL footballer for the seat of Norwood.

Posted by: dj | http:// | Wed Apr 13 06:29:31 2005

crap!

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