First Published on The Drum 05/10/2010

New paradigms notwithstanding, the first week of the 43rd Parliament of Australia has confirmed a continuation of the gladiatorial contests that have characterised Australia’s model of presidential politics.

And that means a confronting truth for both Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott: the public’s perceptions of their personal strengths and weakness are central to the success of their respective political projects.

There was a time when character research was a dark art, the province of party focus groups, only dusted of at election time when attacks would be constructed around a candidate’s lack of ticker (read weight) or stubbornness (read age). The modern opinion polling means today it’s all out in the open.

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There’s nothing like a grand final to make grown men cry and grown women dance on the ceiling.

The AFL definitely won the pre-game entertainment versus the League, and while it will be a tough year ahead for all those who aren’t a little a little pie-curious.

Now they’re over, and people can sober, time to settle in for the long stupor of summer with the cricket.

If only politics captured the nation’s attention in the same way.

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