“The speech the PM gave on recognition of a Palestinian state is one of the best I’ve heard this decade in federal parliament… Will there be dramas here? Absolutely. Not everyone thinks this is a smart move, great speech or not,” writes political columnist ANDREW HUGHES.

Okay readers, think of a political leader, local or federal, now or then. Done? Good. Now, what’s the one thing you know them best for? 

Can you stretch that list to three? Hard, right?

Now, think about how long that person was in public life. Sometimes it’s decades. A life of sacrifice for whatever it is you can recall about them. That’s called legacy.

In a political leader’s career the aspiration is to move past the electoral cycle, or essentially just implementing promises that keep you elected, and emerge into the rarefied air of legacy defining.

Usually a political leader is only offered this chance through large majorities, both on the floor of a lower house and in the opinion polls. It is less mandate, more political capital. They want you to celebrate the achievements, live the aspiration and know and see that they changed our lives for the better because of what they did.

That political capital is essential, though. So often these legacy defining policies come with enemies internal and external, large obstacles and a team willing to sacrifice as much as you.

When we see this, it is amazing to think that a leader did this. For once, for the greater good.

Examples? Gillard: Gonski and the NDIS. Howard: gun control laws that are the envy of the world.

Albanese is entering that rarefied air

The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese right now is entering that rarefied air. You can hear, see and feel it. He’s perhaps at a zenith very few leaders have reached this century. And yet this legacy defining term, that of the 48th Parliament, is also full of traps and obstacles.

If he can succeed at even just a few of the life-changing policies he’s now slowly letting us know about, then he may yet be the one leader we remember as doing the most.

So what are those legacy defining policies?

The left, the now dominant faction in Labor, were restrained in the first term as they worked on the long-play strategy of building trust in the Labor brand through effective delivery on election promises.

That restraint is now being lifted somewhat. First off was recognition of a Palestinian state. Conditional, yes, but long desired by many in the left.

The speech the PM gave on this issue is one of the best I’ve heard this decade in federal parliament. Rational, logical, well measured, a strong speaking style, it was the reminder of the steady hand in rough times he wants to be remembered as being. The Australian-centric PM.

Will there be dramas here? Absolutely. Not everyone thinks this is a smart move, great speech or not. And, when it comes to the Middle East, there will always be dramas. But this one is ticked off early in the term.

Next, and not in any order, more opportunity. The Uluru Statement from the Heart will be implemented. A First Nations Assembly is already being discussed, a treaty would be in draft somewhere secretive and, of course, a Makarrata Commission. Voice. Treaty. Truth.

Where the gap numbers are shocking

How about constitutional recognition? If I was PM, I would implement the three pillars first, then seek a rerun of the Voice at a much later date, even if under a different PM. Once people see how Uluru would work in practice then, I’m guessing, most would understand and accept the constitutional recognition as being a logical step.

Closing the Gap and Reconciliation can’t wait much longer though for our First Nations peoples, especially here in the ACT where the gap numbers are shocking.

To the economy: nation-defining taxation reforms ARE coming. Governments nationally are broke (other than WA) and not getting better. The current business model is no longer fit for purpose. We either embrace austerity or change the system.

It is going to be a generational change and has to be linked to productivity to work. But if it does, we will see a lower income tax burden, a more broad-based tax system, universal child care, governments paying less in debt and maybe housing fixed – it is the one key which opens so many other doors. Yet it will also burn the most capital and the hardest to knock off.

The work on this is already happening. The right faction is leading the effort, as they rightly sense opportunity for their leadership aspirants, notably Jim Chalmers, to publicly define how they see and may lead an Australia in the late 2020s/early 2030s.

Is there more? Should there be? For mine that is a legacy we will remember for a long time. Still hasn’t happened. Yet.

Special PS: shout out to BuzzzACT for a wonderful Science Week performance at Tuggeranong! 

Dr Andrew Hughes lectures at the ANU Research School of Management, where he specialises in political marketing.