Make no mistake: this will be an election for the ages

The past decade has wrung all hope and decency from what passes for national affairs. But as the election looms, it’s time for our political parties to pave new routes to victory, writes Dennis Atkins.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg made an unintentional slip this week, referencing someone suffering from mental illness as having a weakness.

As he explained later privately, he was quoting a friend who had told him about his mental illness, someone who referred to himself as having a weakness.

I don’t think Frydenberg should have used this reference and he privately agrees. He is excused because he was quoting someone else, but he should have edited the quote. Mental illness is not a weakness. It’s an illness.

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Some of the strongest people I know live with mental illness. They have to confront demons and otherwise inexplicable happenings and sensations that are bigger than anything most people could imagine in their worst nightmare.

This aside, the Coalition’ss action on mental health — promising a big boost in spending, introducing an adult trial for the successful (and already stretched) Headspace program and a comprehensive plan to tackle youth suicide — is giving the issue a seat at the top table of policy making.

Both Liberal and Labor budgets promise big-ticket spending in the health sector. Picture: Kym Smith

There are plenty of “but what about” aspects to the Government’s mental health plan, but they are proposing to do more than any government before and should be congratulated, cheered and encouraged to expand these efforts.

Also, the lazy, seemingly uncaring, state governments should get on board and match the Commonwealth’s spending and develop further programs. All you can do is never enough when it comes to tackling mental health.

This big positive from the Coalition was one of two genuine, very welcome highlights in what was otherwise a so predictable, paint by numbers Budget week.

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The other was Labor’s $2.3 billion cancer plan, funding up to six million free medical scans, three million specialist consultations, doing away with out of pocket costs for existing and future cancer sufferers.

There’s also $600 million for free X-rays, ultrasounds, mammograms, computed tomography scans and magnetic imaging scans. The package is rounded out with money for oncologist consultations. The key to all this is the services would be accessed only if your doctor or health professionals bulk bills through Medicare.

The Coalition’s promise on mental health and Labor’s new plan for helping those being diagnosed for cancer and receiving ancillary treatment are the kind of visionary policies we once could expect.

The past decade — a time of political chaos, leadership bingo, cheapjack short-term policy from all sides and focus group tested bribes — has wrung all hope and decency from what passes for national affairs. Let’s hope the conversations the Coalition and Labor have started can continue with meaningful exchanges and respect for each other’s point of view.

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It’s probably too much to ask because when the election is called, with the starter’s gun being fired as early as Sunday, according to the usual suspects, we will probably see both teams assume their usual positions and start the tit-for-tat attack and counter-attack.

If this is what they’re planning, both the Coalition and Labor should pause.

There’s never been a time when the mainstream political parties and leaders have been held in lower esteem, as our comprehensive Galaxy/YouGov poll today shows. This means the contest will need smarter minds than we’ve seen at work in recent elections.

There’s never been a time when the mainstream political parties and leaders have been held in lower esteem. Picture: AAP/Dean Lewins

There’s plenty of scientific and anecdotal evidence saying people are fed up with harsh, ad hominem attacks, replacing meaningful policy debate.

Some senior Coalition strategists believe Labor’s Bill Shorten was given a leave pass in 2016. This thesis holds the Labor leader’s past as a union leader, role in politician assassinations in Canberra and general character issues should have been key features of the Liberal-led campaign. The fact this didn’t happen gave Labor room to run its “Mediscare” campaign which many Liberals believe almost cost them power. At the same time, some in Labor think they should be running a no-holds barred assault on inequality — effectively launching a class war against the Coalition.

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There might be strategic merit in both these approaches but if either the Coalition or Labor is considering flicking the switch to negative, they should do an exhaustive political cost-benefit analysis of such action.

Going negative in 2019 means boxing smart. AC/DC’s Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap won’t cut it — it’s more like Johnny Cash’s Cry, Cry, Cry.

There are bear traps aplenty between now and polling day and they are all easier to fall into than get out of.

Dennis Atkins is The Courier-Mail’s national affairs editor and co-host of the Two Grumpy Hacks podcast.

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