But Australians want more than a strong economy. We want a strong economy with compassion.

We Australians value our ingrained sense of ‘fair go’. That sense of ‘fair go’ was under pressure under the Liberal/National Coalition. Work Choices created a lot of suspicion, even among some true blue Howard supporters who have skills that are in demand. These people would probably be able to negotiate decent AWAs for themselves, but they were concerned about others who may not have the bargaining power of the winners in the system.

A society can be judged on how it treats its vulnerable and marginalised. Those opposed to Work Choices were saying they want to live in a community that lends a hand rather than makes life difficult for its poor and vulnerable.

In a clever balancing act, Kevin Rudd has managed to appeal to both our self-interest and our sense of fairness.

On one hand, we want economic success and the trappings that brings. We want the benefits of a booming economy. We want low interest rates and high employment. So he’s run the economic conservative line, and we feel comfortable our financial interests are being looked after.

But he’s also run the social justice line, to appeal to the better side of our nature; the side that cares about others, the side that wants to live in a caring community. He has offered us our cake and said we can eat it too, and as a nation we’ve jumped at the chance.

Kevin Rudd has wasted no time getting down to work, and one of the important jobs he has done is to set the wheels in motion to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol.

Signing Kyoto is important as it allows us to be included in the world discussions on how to tackle climate change. We can take our place alongside 170-odd nations of the world to try to develop solutions. Kevin Rudd will be a bit like the prodigal son returning to the table when he fronts up to Bali, but at least he’ll be part of the discussion and we’ll be part of the solutions. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.