Friday, 21st January, 2005
A quarter of a century ago Labor had a leader with a voice that grated on many who heard it. Whenever Bill Hayden got a little excited and raised his voice, his pitch went up and it sounded like he was whining. A bit like the howl of a drover's dog really.

During the 1980 election campaign Bill had a bad case of laryngitis which temporarily solved the problem becaused he physically couldn't raise his voice and people started saying how much better he was performing. That encouraged him to seek a permanent solution by employing the actor/director George Ogilvie to give him some voice training.

If Julia Gillard is serious about ever becoming Prime Minister she should follow Bill Hayden's example. Her accent is appalling and would surely turn-off voters in droves.