Dean Jaensch: This election seems to be a test of whether the two-party system is coming to an end
The most important test in this election is whether the new phenomenons of minor parties and campaign groups like GetUp! will threaten the core of democratic structure in Australia, writes Dean Jaensch.
Analysis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Analysis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The coming Australian general election is essentially a means whereby the voters indirectly select a government.
The election directly elects 151 members of the House of Representatives who then decide the government.
But this election seems also to be a test of whether the century-old two-party system is coming to an end.
Minor parties are flooding the lower house contest: Clive Palmer’s collection of 151 candidates; 59 from Pauline Hanson; 48 from the Anning party; seven from Bob Katter; and eight from the Shooters Fishers and Farmers, with a host of independents.
Many of these will disappear post-election, leaving hardly a trace of their existence. All of these minor parties are more or less on the conservative side of politics so, in theory any votes they receive should logically flow to the Coalition through preferences.
The problem is that in recent elections there have been significant leakages of preferences to Labor.
On the left of politics, the Greens also face a test in this election.
Recent results suggest that they may have reached a plateau.
Certainly their policy mixture seems to be almost exclusively focused on climate change and “dark green” issues rather than on a breadth of mainstream policies designed to attract swinging voters.
The most important test in this election is whether a new phenomenon is a real threat to the structures and processes of democratic politics in Australia, even to the democratic political culture of the nation.
GetUp! is a new and radical phenomenon.
There is no doubt that Australian society is increasingly infested with a growing number of vaguely “left moral” causes, most of which are claimed to be “progressive”, and which have their roots in the “politically correct” movement.
GetUp! is something very different. It is an organisation awash with money. It does not have members, but is flooded with loyal and supporting acolytes who are willing to be spear-carriers, and give the impression of being close-minded.
It is essentially a negative organisation, which seeks to defeat any and all forms of conservative politics, and to electorally defeat all conservative politicians.
All of this activity is carried out by the group lacking democratic responsibility.
The appalling case of GetUp!’s campaign against Tony Abbott is a classic case. Attempts have been made to have GetUp! declared an “associated entity” under the Electoral Act, so that it would be under the same restraints as political parties.
But this has been blocked on the ground that the organisation has no formal relationship with the Labor Party.
This is easily resolved: simply have parliament change the Act.
Originally published as Dean Jaensch: This election seems to be a test of whether the two-party system is coming to an end
Prepare for a summer of discontent
The timing of the next federal election is likely to condemn us to an excruciatingly long unofficial campaign, sapping all the fun to Christmas and beyond, writes Patrick Carlyon.
Campbell: Why are Australians so bloody miserable?
It’s taken a Pom to point out that we are richer – much richer – even than countries we think of as our peers. But it’s not something we really grasp let alone celebrate.