No homework costing pollies ahead of election

Is it that hard to do some homework on your candidates?

Opposition leader Bill Shorten's handling of candidate controversies has cost him plenty of credits. Picture: Matt Taylor GLA090419BILL

OPINION:

IS IT that hard to do some homework on your candidates?

Seriously.

It's not like this election sprung up on anyone.

We've seen Liberal candidates axed for anti-Muslim stances on social media and Labor candidates dis-endorsed, belatedly, for appalling rape jokes.

But what are these parties doing?

How hard is it to do a basic background check?

The empty condemnation of anti-Muslim stances by Scott Morrison had to be made, after the posts came to light.

And Bill Shorten's bumbling over his dealings with NT Senate candidate Wayne Kurnoth and his anti-Semitic posts were just as painful.

But his biggest stumble of what has been a fairly slick campaign so far was the handling of Luke Creasey.

The Melbourne candidate stood down, under plenty of pressure, after it was revealed he'd shared rape jokes online.

Shorten originally tried to stand by his man, but defending the indefensible cost him plenty of credits, and he eventually caved and cut Creasey adrift.

What a mindless position to take.

It's not quite as disturbing as John Howard writing a character reference for convicted child sex offender George Pell, but it's right up there in terms of stupid positions taken on an issue which needs immediate condemnation.

Steve Dickson had an absolute shocker, and fell on his sword, again, belatedly, but for good reason.

But there's a common thread here.

Mainstream political parties appointing candidates, who pass pre-selection, who hold views completely at-odds with what most consider reasonable.

It leads one to think that, at least in the case of the Coalition, whose stance on all things asylum seeker makes it pretty clear, perhaps these anti-Muslim stances are views more widely held within the party.

It's a terrible look for any party when one of its candidates is forced to resign in disgrace.

But it's not just the parties at fault.

In this day and age it's near unfathomable that someone wouldn't think to check over their social media platforms and clean them up before running for public office.

Someone, somewhere, is going to find it if you've posted something unsavoury, rest assured.

It's been a fairly drab campaign so far.

Labor has projected an image of a united team while Scott Morrison is running a presidential-style campaign, big on shouting, thin on substance.

The number of pre-poll votes indicates many voters had made their minds up long ago, much to the chagrin of those seeking to use a five-week window to assure that everything will be different, despite what the past six years would indicate.

Like many I suspect, I'm urging May 18 to hurry up. These empty vessels are getting way too much attention.