As an Australian living in Brisbane I think the article is pretty accurate.
However, it is rather disappointing the author fails to mention the big problem is that Labor has become the party of wealthy elites with their “luxury beliefs” and the radical activism that goes with it.
Think of the obsession of pushing extreme race,trans and gender ideology in schools, work places etc, along with pie in the sky climate change interventions that only the truly wealthy can afford and that might provide a clue as to why a fairly useless PM with no backbone (as we saw by his refusal to challenge the Labor State Govts on arbitrary lockdowns, border closures during Covid) has a good chance of being re-elected.
I think Labor has a problem with their ‘brand’, which originated as a party that furthers the interests of the working classes. They don’t really do that anymore (even many unions don’t represent the interests of their members anymore) because the working class shrunk and Labor has become a party of and for the middle-class.
This leaves them in a difficult place … how to support environmentalists, and also the jobs of miners? How to make housing affordable without upsetting property investors? How to reconcile their past with their present – to speak to the middle class as well as the less well off? Their answer is mostly epic ‘spin’ which can just look like hypocrisy. The conservatives can wholeheartedly push their message of small government and low taxes and at least you know they mean it.
I agree about Labor’s dilemma, which you’ve articulated well.
The supposedly conservative Libs may talk small government and low taxes but they don’t deliver, seemingly confident that their alienated core have nowhere else to go.
Anyway, the massive growth in government has been largely created by the states, who are mostly returning Labor governments responsible for this. Or ditching Tweedledum Libs like Marshall in SA whose policies were indistinguishable from Tweedledee Labor.
Perhaps I could have been more succinct: Labor wants the money it gets from the unions, but to win the votes it needs from the middle class. Not easy to reconcile.
I can’t agree it’s accurate, in particular the bit about “The one area where the government does claim success is its management of the pandemic”, when in fact it has been trumpeting economic success quite loudly, in particular the now-infamous 4% unemployment figure. Never mind the debt incurred, but “the economy has bounced back impressively, with respectable growth rates and record low levels of unemployment” is no small thing and worth more than the light skip given it here.
Yes, you have to wonder why the author studiously ignored the elephant in the room – the contemporary left’s obsession with radical identity politics. That is what is keeping Scomo’s chances alive. And though you say he’s spineless, at least he has pushed back against gender whisperers in schools, and will have no truck with trans ideology.
Last edited 2 years ago by Ludwig van Earwig
Malcolm Knott
2 years ago
The photograph is unfortunate. It suggests, at first sight, an activity other than voting.
Unprecedented support for people during lockdown? They made the lockdown happen, and the fact that Australians don’t hold that against them tells me a) what modern Australians are made of and b) that they deserve everything they’re obviously going to get after the election, regardless of which lot get in.
I’ve been a pretty close follower of politics here in Australia for the last half century and I think this article is 100% accurate – a very good summary of the situation. I haven’t read as good and unbiased a description anywhere else.
Last edited 2 years ago by Russell Hamilton
Neil Cheshire
2 years ago
Underwhelming leadership in both major Australian political parties. For the Liberals – Morrison who has many of the attributes of a low end used-car salesman and for Labor – Albanese who appears to have had a charisma by-pass operation and has been promoted beyond his capabilities.
do they have a first past the post model as per UK? that would explain the lack of alternatives, as per the UK!
Graeme Cant
2 years ago
Written before Katherine Deves got her dander up. Somebody I can – and will – vote for. A worthwhile successor to Tony Abbot. And Morrison has decided to back her. At last something he’ll fight for..
This just might be an election that changes the discussion around the world.
Last edited 2 years ago by Graeme Cant
Brian Villanueva
2 years ago
Based on this article, Australia has the same problem as America: two parties talking past each other on issues the public doesn’t gives a hoot about. The solution to that is called “populism”.
Tone down the tribalism would you. Just because the writer is critical of the centre right government (fairly in my view) doesn’t mean that it’s anything remotely like the biased tripe you see in the Guardian.
If you think he’s wrong, then state where you think he is incorrect or where you think Morrison has actually done a good job. To me the criticism of the Aus PM and opposition seem justified, and largely back up what I’ve heard from friends over there
As an Australian living in Brisbane I think the article is pretty accurate.
However, it is rather disappointing the author fails to mention the big problem is that Labor has become the party of wealthy elites with their “luxury beliefs” and the radical activism that goes with it.
Think of the obsession of pushing extreme race,trans and gender ideology in schools, work places etc, along with pie in the sky climate change interventions that only the truly wealthy can afford and that might provide a clue as to why a fairly useless PM with no backbone (as we saw by his refusal to challenge the Labor State Govts on arbitrary lockdowns, border closures during Covid) has a good chance of being re-elected.
I think Labor has a problem with their ‘brand’, which originated as a party that furthers the interests of the working classes. They don’t really do that anymore (even many unions don’t represent the interests of their members anymore) because the working class shrunk and Labor has become a party of and for the middle-class.
This leaves them in a difficult place … how to support environmentalists, and also the jobs of miners? How to make housing affordable without upsetting property investors? How to reconcile their past with their present – to speak to the middle class as well as the less well off? Their answer is mostly epic ‘spin’ which can just look like hypocrisy. The conservatives can wholeheartedly push their message of small government and low taxes and at least you know they mean it.
I agree about Labor’s dilemma, which you’ve articulated well.
The supposedly conservative Libs may talk small government and low taxes but they don’t deliver, seemingly confident that their alienated core have nowhere else to go.
Anyway, the massive growth in government has been largely created by the states, who are mostly returning Labor governments responsible for this. Or ditching Tweedledum Libs like Marshall in SA whose policies were indistinguishable from Tweedledee Labor.
Perhaps I could have been more succinct: Labor wants the money it gets from the unions, but to win the votes it needs from the middle class. Not easy to reconcile.
interesting! the similarities with the UK are striking…
Sounds just like the Labour party here in the UK!
Just like Labour in Britain.
I can’t agree it’s accurate, in particular the bit about “The one area where the government does claim success is its management of the pandemic”, when in fact it has been trumpeting economic success quite loudly, in particular the now-infamous 4% unemployment figure. Never mind the debt incurred, but “the economy has bounced back impressively, with respectable growth rates and record low levels of unemployment” is no small thing and worth more than the light skip given it here.
Yes, you have to wonder why the author studiously ignored the elephant in the room – the contemporary left’s obsession with radical identity politics. That is what is keeping Scomo’s chances alive. And though you say he’s spineless, at least he has pushed back against gender whisperers in schools, and will have no truck with trans ideology.
The photograph is unfortunate. It suggests, at first sight, an activity other than voting.
clearly was attempting to spoil his vote
Unprecedented support for people during lockdown? They made the lockdown happen, and the fact that Australians don’t hold that against them tells me a) what modern Australians are made of and b) that they deserve everything they’re obviously going to get after the election, regardless of which lot get in.
Australia has a federal system – state governments were responsible for the lockdowns.
Ah, nothing to do with me, guv. My mistake.
I’ve been a pretty close follower of politics here in Australia for the last half century and I think this article is 100% accurate – a very good summary of the situation. I haven’t read as good and unbiased a description anywhere else.
Underwhelming leadership in both major Australian political parties. For the Liberals – Morrison who has many of the attributes of a low end used-car salesman and for Labor – Albanese who appears to have had a charisma by-pass operation and has been promoted beyond his capabilities.
do they have a first past the post model as per UK? that would explain the lack of alternatives, as per the UK!
Written before Katherine Deves got her dander up. Somebody I can – and will – vote for. A worthwhile successor to Tony Abbot. And Morrison has decided to back her. At last something he’ll fight for..
This just might be an election that changes the discussion around the world.
Based on this article, Australia has the same problem as America: two parties talking past each other on issues the public doesn’t gives a hoot about. The solution to that is called “populism”.
Hear hear!
Why did I subscribe to unherd when I can read the same stuff in The Guardian for free.
Tone down the tribalism would you. Just because the writer is critical of the centre right government (fairly in my view) doesn’t mean that it’s anything remotely like the biased tripe you see in the Guardian.
If you think he’s wrong, then state where you think he is incorrect or where you think Morrison has actually done a good job. To me the criticism of the Aus PM and opposition seem justified, and largely back up what I’ve heard from friends over there
Funny. The Guardian keeps trying to make me pay. Maybe they have stopped now?
If you’re going to start the last paragraph with the words, “in short”, then why not just give me a tl;dr at the top?