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Let's review.

Governor General

Wee Johnny: suffers through the whole term of an unmanageable rabble-rouser with a conscience; replaces him with an ex-priest who should be able to toe the line; discovers too late that he didn't do his homework and the man is, and was, utterly hopeless, so hurriedly gets rid of him in favour of a career soldier of no distinction whatsoever, who disappears completely from view as instructed.

Chairman Kevin: makes history.

Human Rights

Wee Johnny: -- look, let's just gloss over this, OK? The man deserves some self-respect. Don't dwell on the past.

Chairman Kevin: makes history.

Aboriginal Reconciliation

Wee Johnny: does his best, honest he does, but can't bring himself to say sorry because, after all, it wasn't his fault. His lawyer sense is tingling!

Chairman Kevin: makes history.

Climate Change

Wee Johnny: isn't entirely sure there's a problem, and doesn't want to risk his economy just because a couple of scientists are a little nervous.

Chairman Kevin: makes history.

Right at the moment, Chairman Kev is dealing in symbols: a speech here, a signature there. You might say, why not stop talking and actually do something? But then I have to ask: if these symbols are meaningless, if they're just good domestic PR with no lasting effect on the world, why didn't John Howard ever do anything like them?

Because he knew, and Kev knows, that words have power. Our PM is changing the world by changing the words. That's a very interesting path, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes.