Dean Jaensch: The crossbenches will be crucial in terms of achieving good government

The Shorten approach was essentially confrontational, invoking a style of class warfare. A new Labor leadership needs to use the approach of Bob Hawke – seeking consensus, writes Dean Jaensch.

Why did Labor lose what almost everyone called the unlosable election?

To some it was a product of publicising Labor’s whole agenda. But that is exactly what all contesting parties should do in a democracy.

The errors were actually in the agenda: Proposals which annoyed some key elements of the electorate. For example, the constant assertion Labor would take money from the big end of town and distribute it to the people.

The Shorten approach was essentially confrontational, for example, constantly using the “big end of town” as a target for criticism and blame.

Shorten invoked a style of class warfare.

A new Labor leadership needs to use the approach of Bob Hawke – seeking consensus. He brought together the top end of town, the top end of the union movement and the top end of politics, and carried a positive and valuable Prices and Incomes Accord.

Some of that success depended on the moderate leader of the ACTU, Bill Kelty. Compare that to the current ACTU leader, Sally McManus, who has stated laws can be broken if they are unjust.

Of course, Hawke could be decisive where necessary. When the Builders Labourers Federation was wreaking havoc, it was deregistered by Hawke in 1986. The CFMEU does not seem to face any real criticism from Labor, despite its appalling industrial record.

If Labor under new management wishes to win the 2022 election, it needs to rebuild itself, including its industrial wing, in a more consensus direction.

In many ways, the Hawke government gave the clear impression that its aim was to govern in the best interests of Australia and the Australian people. The new Labor leadership needs to return to that focus.

The product of the 2019 election will be a test of that. When the count is finally completed the Senate, and possibly the House, may be hung parliaments. The crossbenches will be crucial in terms of achieving good government and fair and just legislation.

Both major parties need to give careful consideration to how they relate with the independents and minor parties.

Labor failed miserably in Queensland, and it was well short of its hopes in Victoria and Western Australia.

This should remind the party that the Australian society is not uniform. What mattered to the voters in Queensland was clearly something very different to the standard emphases that Labor used elsewhere.

It is obvious that the party needs to tailor its appeals recognising different needs and desires in different area of the nation.

After the shock of the defeat, it is up to Labor to rebuild itself.

Originally published as Dean Jaensch: The crossbenches will be crucial in terms of achieving good government