Alexander Downer

July 1, 2008, 7:06pm,  170 views

Alexander Downer’s impending retirement from the Federal Parliament is no surprise.

It’s disappointing from the taxpayers’ perspective that he isn’t seeing out the term, or that he didn’t quit at the same time as former Cabinet colleague Peter McGauran.

That said, Downer was one of the best performing Howard Government ministers and has drawn praise from both sides of politics.

Although he stumbled in his brief reign as opposition leader he performed well as Foreign Minister. He was a distinguished representative of the nation.

Downer took a parting shot at today’s Liberal Party — a little harsh I thought considering he’s part of the machine.

He made some forthright comments to The Australian about Labor’s “nanny state” mentality.

“Labor wants to tell us how to run our own lives,” he says. “Labor wants to tell us whether we are fat or we’re thin. Or whether we should have four drinks or three. Well, who cares whether we’re a bit fat or we drink four drinks or have a fag out the back. Who’s business is that but your own business?”

He hasn’t ruled out a run at state politics.

South Australia has the best-performed opposition in the country at the moment, and personally I don’t see that Downer would make a positive contribution there.