Oakeshott: A Profile in Courage

Rob Oakeshott has got to be the most courageous independent to sit in a parliament in memory. No, the most courageous backbencher.

I thought the pressure would overwhelm him.

But today, in an interview on ABC Radio National he showed he knew what the stakes were. He said a carbon tax was inAustralia’s interest.

The science was conclusive and he was simply doing the right thing and living with the consequences:

This is now a policy contest, not a science contest and the question is how do we get to those targets in the best way possible…

And to the hysterics of the anti-tax protestors:

…[W]hat I do as an Independent… is weigh up all issues on their merits… and I won’t respond to the noisy mob of the moment.

…There is an attempt to try and play some broader political games whilst I am involved to try and get a genuine outcome in the national interest.

We’re told form time to time that there’s not enough difference between the parties, not enough substance in Australian politics. Here is someone prepared to sacrifice his seat in parliament taking a stand for the cause he believes is right.

He deserves more credit for doing it.