Come-uppance for Kennett:
Victorians reject privatisation and cuts

The massive loss of seats by the Kennett Government in the State 
elections in regional and rural Victoria is a vote against the State and 
Federal Coalition's economic rationalist agenda. It is a rejection of 
privatisation, particularly education, health and transport; a rejection of 
the Coalition's attack on workers' rights; a rejection of "corporate 
Victoria" and the corruption that goes with it. During its two terms of 
office the Kennett Government carried an all out offensive against workers 
and trade unions.

It ran roughshod over democratic rights, drove out the independent auditor 
general, and introduced penalties for divulging the details of government 
contracts with the private sector.

As public accountability went out of the window, stories of corruption 
emerged over the handling of contracting out to the Government's private 
sector mates. Corruption became a hallmark of government.

Health Services Union of Australia (HSUA), Victorian No 1 Branch, Secretary 
Pauline Fegan told The Guardian it was "a huge backlash, especially 
about the cutting away of services in the rural areas. We're very pleased 
about the result [of the election]...."

In regional areas, traditional Liberal or National Party voters turned 
their backs on the Coalition, angry over the loss of essential services and 
the failure of the Government to listen to them.

The cutbacks to services such as health, education and transport, 
especially in regional areas, are really starting to bite now.

"I think people have realised that if they want another four years of 
selling off of services, a government more interested in running casinos 
than looking after health and education, then they will continue along the 
same line. But what they've said instead is that we've had enough of not 
being listened to", said Ms Fegan.

Before the elections the Kennett Government made it very clear that it 
would continue privatising, not only hospitals, but also with the selling 
off of aged care beds, Ms Fegan said.

The union movement fought hard to defeat the Kennett Government.

The Kennett Government was a testing ground for other governments in 
dismantling awards, introducing individual contracts, trying to abolish the 
Industrial Relations Commission, attacking workers' compensation and 
sacking public sector employees.

Victoria was seen by conservatives as a model; ploughing a bold path of 
pro-business, anti-worker, anti-people "reforms".

Kennett has been idolised by sections of the media and business community, 
and given celebrity status.

The election results show that Victorians, including many in the most 
conservative rural electorates, have had enough and want progressive 
changes.

The policies of Victoria's celebrity are hurting a wide section of the 
population: parents and teachers who fought against school closures; 
building workers and others angered over the attack on workers' 
compensation and trade unions; sacked public servants; public hospital 
patients who experienced "case-mix" and long waiting lists; community 
groups who saw their park turned into a Grand Prix race track; disability 
workers who took strike action against cuts to services and staff ... The 
list goes on and on.

The MUA's National Presiding Officer in Victoria, John Higgins, said 
Victorians have voted for "health, education and essential services" and 
rejected "the slash and burn policies of the Liberal Government of this 
State" and "the arrogance of Mr Kennett".

In response to John Howard's dismissal of the result as "a protest vote" 
against Kennett's policies, but not against a Coalition Government, Mr 
Higgins said, "the protest was to get rid of them".

People have had a gut full of economic rationalism. "They're sick and tired 
of the arrogance of the conservatives", said Mr Higgins.

The education sector campaigned hard against Kennett because of his attacks 
on public education and his refusal to consult with teachers.

Mary Bluett, President of the Australian Education Union, Victorian Branch, 
told The Guardian that people were strongly opposed to Kennett's 
philosophy of "winners and losers" (a two-tiered education system) and 
self-governing schools have received a lot of heat.

She urged any future Victorian Government to halt the self-governing 
schools program — a form of privatisation.

"We believe privatisation was a significant factor in this campaign, along 
with increasing class sizes and the increasing burden on parents to pay 
fees, fund raise, etc.

"People have said, if we pay taxes for quality public education, then 
"enough!', it's about time the government owned the system and don't rely 
on parents to fill the gap", said Ms Bluett.

The swing was against the Coalition, Labor did not promise much, and it is 
not clear to what extent it might reverse Kennett's cuts and privations.

As The Guardian goes to press, the final results were unclear, with 
the Coalition appearing to fall short of a majority without support of 
several independents.