Former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone has delivered a scathing assessment of contemporary Australian politics, accusing some current politicians of having small dreams for themselves rather than big visions for the nation.
The Keating Contrast: Leadership with Courage
In her November 20, 2025 column, Vanstone contrasted today's political players with former prime minister Paul Keating, whom she described as not a great parliamentarian but a leader and great politician. She recalled Keating's memorable parliamentary moments, including his hilarious cooee to Bronwyn Bishop and his withering line about doing John Hewson slowly.
What set Keating apart, according to Vanstone, was his direct approach to leadership challenges. He confronted Bob Hawke openly about leadership transition, lost the first challenge, went to the backbench, and won the second time around. This demonstrated discipline and courage rather than the weakness she sees in current political undermining.
The Modern Political Disease: Self-Service Over Teamwork
Vanstone didn't mince words about what she sees happening within the Coalition parties in Canberra. She described individuals who entered politics primarily to fulfil their desired destiny of becoming leader, regarding this ambition as more important than being part of a winning team that delivers good government.
These politicians show no respect for the choice of the party room or their fellow members, she argued, despite using the party's name and resources to get elected. They exploit tough political spots to advance their personal ambitions, sometimes even creating difficulties to position themselves advantageously.
Vanstone revealed insights from her two decades in politics, noting that while voters can spot self-serving behaviour immediately, some politicians remain oblivious to how ridiculous they appear. They don't realise that you get recognised not for wanting a better job but by doing a better job, she emphasized.
Personal Lessons in Political Resilience
The former senator shared a personal story from 1996 when the Howard government was elected. She was given what she described as an aircraft carrier of a portfolio outside her expertise and tasked with finding significant savings. After successfully completing this brutal assignment, she was sacked from cabinet.
Faced with this setback, Vanstone followed her chief of staff's advice to treat it as a break from the forward line rather than cracking mentally. She continued working hard, even doing a Boxing Day press conference about AFP efforts against fraudulent Don Bradman memorabilia. This persistence eventually paid off, with colleagues recognizing she would need to be brought back to cabinet.
Her central message to aspiring politicians is straightforward: Just do your job as well as you can. Australian taxpayers, who work hard themselves, recognize and respect those who focus on their responsibilities rather than self-promotion.
Vanstone concluded that voters can easily identify undermining, self-promoting schmoozers and whiners in politics, just as they do in their everyday lives. These individuals represent what she termed small-minded people with small dreams, in contrast to true leaders who harbour bigger dreams for Australia's future.
