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Ladies and gentlemen, hold on to your seats because we have a new Prime Minister! Well, not exactly. But it seems she just may be giving it a crack…
After a very big week in politics, it seems that the Australian media aren't missing a beat. Not only have we been saturated with the big announcements regarding Gillard, but it seems they also took time to notice another big change: her hairstyle. And quite frankly, I'm astounded. Not because the media noticed (it's their job), but because the haircut happened at all.
It's been a monumental week and, let's face it, Gillard has been under the pump from everybody. Her own people, the opposition and, of course, us, the general public. So my question is 'What on earth is she thinking?' Surely she has a lot more to think about than a trip to the hairdressers and a change in hair-style? The nation is breathing down her neck and the spotlight has been 'spotted' so tightly on her that I'm surprised she can think at all. But in a classic 'I need a change' style, Gillard has opted to take time out to alter her appearance.
Perhaps her advisors are hoping a change to her look means a change to our outlook? Are we to assume that this 'fresh and new' Gillard is going to turn a positive spin on the media circus that is surrounding her? Maybe. But I doubt it. I just can't even imagine the thought process of a PM who has time for a haircut when so much else is going on. It's not like the pokies are going to fix themselves and the boat people certainly aren't hanging up their sails, so why on earth is Gillard giving her scalp a makeover? There's much more housework that needs attending to than a trim of the hair.
"People are allowed to get haircuts." I hear some of you saying, and you're right, they are. But not Julia Gillard. She should be worrying about the other things. Like being our Prime Minister. At this stage, with what Gillard and Abbott have shown us, I want to see a PM with long, grey hair, red circles around his/her eyes and a trail of Red Bull cans everywhere they go. I want a leader who is sleep deprived and stressed out all because they care and are trying so hard to lead our nation that they deem sleep a second priority. That's my dream. But instead I'm forced to settle with the clean-cut Gillard.
What makes this worse, is that people have actually begun a discussion as to how much more credible she is with a new cut. Are we all being punk'd? Do Julia and her friends hope we'll forget about everything that has happened because she got a new haircut? Julia, this isn't a revival, you can't just pretend the past never happened and start again. It's just like if Tony Abbott began sporting a new beach towel. We still wouldn't forget he wears budgie smugglers, would we?
The other thing is, the haircut isn't even good. If anything, I think she looks more like a boy than before. Actually, she looks like a boy that decided to lose the girly haircut. And surely, if she was planning on an appearance change, she'd ditch the red hair? I don't have anything against redheads, I mean, my beard is so ginger you could be forgiven for thinking it was Lindsay Lohan's cousin, but surely a drastic appearance change could have included a dye-job, too? At this stage, it certainly couldn't hurt.
I beg you all, let's team together and not let political haircuts like this slide. Certainly not while there's plenty of other stuff happening. And if it's about a gaining popularity, she shouldn't have to get a new haircut to lead the political race when there are far more pressing issues at hand. To me, it just says that she knows she's lacking and needs a quick jolt to her popularity. Well, Julia, it didn't work. You may see a small change in the polls with a quick snip to the hair, but in the long run, no amount of styling can fool us. You are and always will be Julia Gillard, and unless you fix the issues at hand and do something of substance for our country, we don't care what you look like. I wouldn't even care if our PM looked like Robin Williams' hairy knuckle. If they can listen to us and do the job, then they should have the job. Simple as that.
Follow Brad on Twitter at @bradwingquay
The opinions expressed in The Side Project blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Project or the Ten Network.
