Former deputy prime minister John Anderson has made clear for months he is worried Australia’s future is on the line.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Instead,he said,he wanted to offer from the backbench his accumulated life experiences,his long period in politics,and the knowledge gained from speaking to scores of what he calls “world’s great thinkers” – mostly conservatives – on his recent podcast and video series,“Conversations with John Anderson”.
He has made clear for months he isworried Australia’s future is on the line. He sees it as burdened with a mountain of debt – inter-generational theft,he has called it – and poisoned by “identity politics”.
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“This is not something I’ve undertaken lightly,” he said. “I am less than sanguine about Australia’s future.
“I believe every hand will be needed at the wheel as we confront this period of super-charged state-ism and big spending with no clear plan about how we are going to pay for it.”
However,Mr Anderson’s bid to return to Parliament after retiring in late 2007 has inspired muted criticism from some MPs within his party who believe younger aspirants – or a woman – should be given the chance ahead of a man who has already had his turn at politics.
Mr Anderson responded that his long experience as an MP,a minister,leader of The Nationals and deputy prime minister to Mr Howard from 1999 to 2005 meant he could serve the party and those aspiring to politics as “an encourager and mentor”.