Peter Garrett, Australia's Environment Minister lacks power and the passion

[Annces]

WITH the 2008-09 whaling season coming to a close Liam Bartlett gives his stinging assessment on the man who gave up his public morals to satisfy his personal ambitions.

THEY grew up in different countries but with similar values. They shared the same dreams and worked tirelessly for many years with the same aims, based on exactly the same principles.

They became crusaders in their own right and were lauded by those who respected their commitment, zeal and, on the face of it, genuine passion for what they believed in.

Only three years separates them in age and you would be forgiven for thinking they should still be brothers-in-arms. But, inexplicably, Peter Garrett and Paul Watson now differ in perhaps the most defining quality of character _ integrity.

In his short road to becoming a federal minister, Garrett has smashed his moral compass and jettisoned any ethical baggage that may have made him uncomfortable in the grey corridors of Canberra.

Capt Watson, on the other hand, as Master of the Steve Irwin, still throws himself between Japanese harpoon vessels and majestic whales at great personal risk while copping public criticism, even from minister Garrett's office, that he is an ``extremist''.

The contrasts couldn't be greater, so where or when did the divergence begin? The easy answer would be one word _ politics. More precisely, a safe seat with the promise of a portfolio.

Full article
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25086985-5008620,00.html


(I have to think that he is going to wake up some day and regret the course he took in not being a true leader).