An intimate fireside chat with Jeff…
And Jeff gets post-medieval on your ass.

Bruce Berger reporting, fireside.

Q. Mr Kennett you are the definitive 90's man and a man that has always had a strong and clear vision for the future, can you share with us what the future will be like?

A. Yes Bruce, you are absolutely right. The future is important, but no vision for the future is complete unless it is firmly embedded in the past. I like to think that my own personal past is a good enough yard-stick of how the future will be.

Q. So, please tell us Mr Kennett what do you see as some of the key features of the next few decades.

A. Well, I would like to think that the Liberal party will still be in power, in fact the present political system is extraordinarily inefficient. We are looking at passing a bill that limits the political parties in this state to one. Two or more parties is just doubling up and all the other parties seem to do is complain. I see a future where no one complains. Too many people complain today.

Q. So no one complains, that sounds nice. Efficiency is a good way to stop people complaining I suppose. Selling our transport system to that private English company was a good way to get the trains to run on time. And CityLink has made everyone so happy. That was extraordinary vision Mr Kennett. The sculpture at the start of the Tullamarine Freeway has really put us on the map.

A. Yes Bruce. It is the gate to our fine city. In this post-medieval world so few great cities have gates now-a-days. I would like to see more gates, more walls, perhaps even a moat or two.

Q. So what exactly do the orange and yellow rods at the start of the freeway mean Mr Kennett. You know, what's it all about because it's more than a gate really, you know it's a little bit abstract.

A. It is symbolic Bruce and I'm glad that you are sensitive to its subtleties. The rods are symbols or Authority or Justice and Force. Rods are an instrument of the Ancient Roman magistrate, they are instruments for punishment. They show to those outsiders that our fine city is a disciplined city, a clean and orderly city where the trains run on time.

Q. And Docklands Mr Kennett, we now have our own Docklands just like Canary Wharf in London. What is your vision there? What's it all about?

A. It is a place for our type of people Bruce. The great European leaders of the mid-century all took large chunks of the city and redesigned it in their own image. This is exactly what we are doing here. It is a much more controlled environment, clean with radical architectural monuments with bits jutting of them pointing at the glorious future. A future of masculine strength and vigour and the trains will run on time. And no council because all they do is complain. Anyway, that's all I have to say to you Bruce I have an appointment with Bruno at 3.00PM. We are going to have the biggest building in the World Bruce! Just like the Americans had in 1930. Now this will really put us on the map!