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Peter Garrett has so far proved a much more accomplished rock star than politician. Politics seems to confine the former lead singer of Midnight Oil, a free-wheeling presence on stage but a strangely listless figure at the dispatch box.

As a front man, the sheer physicality of his jerky dancing-style and head-banging delivery was mesmerising. As an environment minister, many complain he has lost both his voice and "mojo".

During the campaign, the Chaser team , claiming he would only speak his mind with a band playing behind him. Then, on reaching government, Garrett was forced to the side of the stage. Kevin Rudd handed the climate change portion of his shadow portfolio to Senator Penny Wong, and barred him from talking on the subject in the House of Representatives.

This week Australia's rock star politician met America's movie star politician, the California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger - "Oil be back" ran the headline in the Sydney Morning Herald. But the Governator has been much more successful at transferring his star power to the political arena than the Gyrator.

I mention all this because Australian rock and roll celebrates its 50th birthday this coming weekend. The midwife, apparently, was Johnny O'Keefe, whose landmark song, The Wild One, was released on July 5, 1958. To mark this happy occasion, Midnight Oil has been adjudged by a panel of judges assembled by the to have produced Australia's number one album.

Its choice was 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1, the band's 1982 breakthrough album. Diesel and Dust, which featured the band's biggest international hit, Beds are Burning, also ranked in the top 10. As the Age notes: "If this poll is any indication, they are this country's favourite band and the most uniquely Australian." A musical variant on "Peak Oil".

Here is the top ten, by the way:

1 10-1 - Midnight Oil (1981)

2 Radios Appear - Radio Birdman (1977)

3 Living in the 70s - Skyhooks (1974)

4 Hi Fi Way - You Am I (1995)

5 Stoneage Romeos - Hoodoo Gurus (1984)

6 Gossip - Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls (1986)

7 (I'm) Stranded - The Saints (1977)

8 Kick - INXS (1987)

9 Diesel and Dust - Midnight Oil (1987)

10 Back in Black - AC/DC (1980)

For those who do not want to wade through the entire top 50, I can report that no former Neighbours' stars appears in it. (Is it mean to add the word "thankfully" to that sentence?) More controversial is the omission of the Bee Gees or Men at Work. Rolf Harris, who this week was inducted into the ARIA musical hall of fame, does not make it either.And poor old Johnny O'Keefe doesn't make the cut, despite holding the Australian record of 29 Top 40 hits. But, then, singles were all the rage during the Menzies era rather than albums.

So Midnight Oil is the best Australian band of the past fifty years. And uniquely Australian. Fair dinkum?

PS: Another cheesy headline of the week, again from the subs desk of the Sydney Morning Herald. This one announced the marriage of golfer Greg Norman to the tennis great, Chris Evert: "Norman gets his birdie".

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