Federal election shows Australians disenchanted with Labor and Coalition
Before our very eyes, Australia’s political landscape is changing forever and the major political parties are facing the prospect of extinction, writes Peter Gleeson.
Peter Gleeson
Don't miss out on the headlines from Peter Gleeson. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has lost the Liberal Party base, and, before our very eyes, Australia’s political landscape is changing forever.
The Labor Party, too, has turned its back on its traditional voters, and many have walked away.
Seven out of ten Australians have not voted for Labor at this election, yet it looks increasingly as if Anthony Albanese will form government with the support of the teals and Greens. The ramifications for the major political parties are obvious. They either need to be more fair dinkum with their grassroots policies – and people – or face the prospect of extinction.
The emergence of the so-called teals, and the fact Pauline Hanson, Clive Palmer and even Jacqui Lambie polled higher than previous polls, suggests Australians are disenchanted with Labor and the Coalition.
For Labor, they have clearly walked away from their traditional voter base, the battlers, and are courting the Chardonnay Socialists.
For the Coalition, not properly meeting climate change issues and a wholehearted rejection of Scott Morrison’s leadership, have hurt them badly.
The emergence of other independents, even in a Northern Rivers seat like Cowper, is a wake up call.
And the fact that Labor may form government with a reduced primary vote suggests a much bigger issue for the major parties.
Yet Labor, despite coming up with a climate conscious narrative, have been abandoned largely in favour of Greens and the teals.
What that means for the country – and the way it is governed – is going to be a source of great conjecture.
There is no doubt that if Anthony Albanese becomes prime minister, he will be forced to acquiesce to the independents and Greens at every turn.
That means an acceleration of renewable targets and a federal corruption watchdog, as first priorities.
In Victoria, Labor’s votes have come down in their safer seats, meaning the battlers have woken to their elitism.
The same applies in a seat like Griffith in Brisbane, former PM Kevin Rudd’s seat, which has been a Labor stronghold.
The Greens have shouldered into that electorate off the back of issues such as the second airport runway and aviation noise.
For the LNP, the prospect of losing Josh Frydenberg is a real kick in the guts. Peter Dutton is clinging on and will be opposition leader if he retains Dickson.
This was always going to be a tough election for Scott Morrison to win – chasing a Coalition fourth term.
For Scott Morrison, this has been a rollercoaster past term. He has been portrayed as an uncaring, soulless leader, which has been unfair. He kept Australians safe, as well as ensuring they did not go broke.
Of course, Morrison has made mistakes. Of course he has regretted his leadership style.
But he and Frydenberg steered the country through a massive challenge around the pandemic and ensuring Aussies did not go broke with JobKeeper.
For Labor, the challenge will be monumental to deliver on its promises around wages growth and helping battlers.
It will have a leader who has buckled under pressure during the heat of a campaign. It has massive issues around border protection and defence.
It has bullying and culture issues which it refuses to address. It will find government much tougher than opposition. It has the potential to be a hot mess.
The great thing about a democracy is that the people elect governments and then get the chance to judge them during the next term.
For the ALP, with economic headwinds blowing at gale force, and with challenges around national security, especially the China syndrome, this will be no walk in the park.
And the teals and Greens will be nipping at their heels, at every opportunity.
The Liberals must reset and reclaim its base. It has no other choice now.
