The Advertiser’s Editorial: Turbulent times call for Turnbull to be our leader
SATURDAY’S poll will have far-reaching implications. The stakes are high. It’s the clear view of The Advertiser that Malcolm Turnbull is the right choice to deliver the strong and stable leadership needed in tumultuous times.
Analysis
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AUSTRALIANS may be glad to see the end of this marathon and largely lacklustre election campaign but tomorrow’s poll will have far-reaching implications for our future.
The stakes are high and it’s the clear view of The Advertiser that Malcolm Turnbull and the Coalition are the right choice to deliver Australia and South Australia the strong and stable leadership we require in these tumultuous times.
When Mr Turnbull deposed Tony Abbott nine months ago, he became Australia’s fifth prime minister in five years.
For many, Mr Turnbull has failed to live up to the lofty expectations of his early days as leader. His short-lived thought bubbles on taxation reform quickly eroded the electorate’s confidence in his skills as an economic manager.
Labor capitalised on Mr Turnbull’s errors and, combined with a revitalised performance from Bill Shorten, the opposition is now in with a fighting chance.
But the long campaign has exposed what many feared about Mr Shorten and his party, and delivered a stark choice for voters.
Labor remains addicted to spending, adding billions to the nation’s unsustainable debt burden.
Mr Shorten’s party is deeply divided on border security and has waged a class war influenced by his close union connections. As voters looked to Labor to provide a strong alternate government, Mr Shorten instead resorted to a desperate and duplicitous scare campaign on the privatisation of Medicare.
Mr Turnbull has attempted to strike a more positive message of jobs, growth and a focus on innovation.
His company tax cuts have been attacked as rewarding the top end of town but they are acknowledgment that businesses, small and large, rather than bloated governments are the real driver of employment and economic growth.
Conservative forces remain wary of Mr Turnbull but he’s embraced some of the key legacies of the Abbott years, such as strong border protection.
One welcome departure from the Abbott era is Mr Turnbull’s decision to build 12 future submarines in Adelaide.
Mr Abbott’s backflip on this clear Coalition promise cost the party credibility and votes in our state.
SA has become a key election battleground, with the popularity of Nick Xenophon posing a significant threat to both major parties in the Upper and Lower houses.
The Coalition and Labor have no one but themselves to blame for the rise of Mr X. He is appealing to a growing band of voters disillusioned with their policy positions and internecine battles.
There is a real chance Mr Xenophon will be kingmaker if we wake up Sunday morning with a hung parliament. Unlike Mr Xenophon, his candidates are relatively unknown quantities. This is the reason a vote for them in either house must be cast with the utmost care and scrutiny.
Mr Xenophon paints himself as an anti-politician but he’s a shrewd Canberra operator.
He will seek to extract the best deal for SA but there are no guarantees his candidates will not splinter and add to another chaotic Senate.
Australia remains a great nation but we are staring down significant economic and political challenges at home and abroad. SA will be tested by the closure of Holden and uncertainty in Whyalla. The recent Brexit bombshell and airport terror attack in Turkey highlight the turbulent global times we live in.
As prime minister, Mr Turnbull has much work to do to fulfil his promise and vision for the country.
But Mr Shorten has failed to build the case and earn the trust required to take a risk on returning to a Labor Party that so recently tore itself apart.
It’s vital Australia has a decisive leader who can deliver a strong plan for the nation’s people and our economy. A vote for Mr Turnbull and the Coalition is the best way to ensure we are on a clear path to prosperity.
Originally published as The Advertiser’s Editorial: Turbulent times call for Turnbull to be our leader
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