Author Archives: Lance Lawton


About Lance Lawton

Husband, father of 3 young adults (2 sons, 1 daughter). Anglican minister serving in Anglican and other churches. Preacher, teacher, mentor, story sharer, encourager, team player. Living in Werribee (outer suburb of Melbourne), Victoria, Australia.

A softer Ted?

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Well I admit it. I’m starting to warm to Ted, moderate leftie though I am. The trigger is the new Premier’s recent more-than-perfunctory, warmly human and gracious comments on his predecessor’s legacy and the intersection of their lives. And yet these very remarks arouse the cynical voter in me, and I suspect numerous others.

The open question now is whether Mr Baillieu as Premier will resist the politics of personalised spin and invective patois played ad nauseam by modern day opposition leaders, himself not least. We now wait to see whether civility in Victorian political discourse has come to stay, or whether the Premier’s grace will display all the persistence of Tony Abbott’s “kinder and gentler polity”.

You’ve started well, Ted. The rest is up to you and your colleagues.


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Pollie text

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I’m all for a quick hobnob over a cuppa at govvy house. But surely in this age of digital communications and carbon conservation, we could have dispensed with the premier-elect making the trek to the Domain just to tell the Gov what he doubtless already knew from Facebook without leaving his chair. A few taps on the iphone and it could have been as simple as: “gday dave. water bracing, mind racing, votes counted, brumby dismounted, winners grinners, shame abt the cricket, needed wicket, gotta fly, ready when u r, ted”


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Let me speak

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It seems there’s a crisis even before parliament gathers, over who sits in the chair. I’m prepared to offer my services to resolve the impasse. The chair looks reasonably comfortable for my crook back, and I like a glass of water occasionally. As a seasoned preacher, I’m sure I could do a tolerable job of barking “Awdah!!” at respectable intervals, and there doesn’t seem to be much else to it. I do admit to being a novice on parliamentary procedure, but it looks easy on the telly. And I’m sure the house will be forgiving, as we enter the brave new world of “kinder and gentler politics”.


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A small price

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I’m perplexed that someone professionally concerned for women’s safety (Jan Cooper, Letters, 18/9) would object to police advice on how women might protect themselves. Short of filling every police lockup with males found on the streets, what would Ms Cooper propose that police might do? A sex attack has occurred, the perpetrator has not been found, and further attacks are feared. What kind of political correctness opposes safety messages, lest potential victims might possibly feel blamed?

As a member of the public with a wife and a daughter, I’m thankful that Victoria police give safety advice in the face of human danger. Unplugging the earphones while jogging is a mighty small price for security.

Like I said, I’m perplexed.


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Sirs, you go too far!

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Good grief! Is nothing sacred to these men from the bush? Next they’ll be wanting total honesty and transparency from all politicians. And then where will it end? People nodding off in the public gallery during question time? ABC ratings plummeting? Journalists laid off? Street violence by bored citizens? No sirs; you go too far. We must be entertained!


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Jumping for blood

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What kind of state leadership permits a racing body to continue a “sport” on the expectation of three cruel, senseless animal deaths per year? Probably the kind that’s driven more by electoral pragmatism than moral courage. Animal cruelty is a crime, eliciting stiff penalties on conviction and widespread condemnation. Our cars carry bumper stickers about pets being far more than Christmas presents, and responsible parents teach their children to protect and care for animals. Perhaps Messrs Brumby and Hulls could explain to those families why horses are different when entertainment and money are involved. I sure can’t.


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