Jeff Kennett: Blue collar voters are walking away from Labor, like they did to US democrats

The US election was about the economy — people want employment and to improve their living standards through their efforts. The tone-deaf Allan government should be taking notice.

The US election was all about the economy, and its blue collar voters sent a message loud and clear. Picture: AFP

The US has exercised its democratic choice, and we could not have seen a more complete victory for Donald Trump and his candidates.

Not only did Trump overwhelmingly win the popular vote, but also majorities in the senate and congress. Rarely has a successful candidate for president won such a clear mandate.

But exercising that mandate carries not only responsibilities but also challenges.

Compare the US now with Daniel Andrews, who overwhelmingly won Victoria’s election in 2014 and control of the legislative process. Of course, Victoria is smaller with almost no international responsibilities.

Without an effective opposition and with the support of Greens and independents, Andrews embarked on a period of leadership that devalued the Westminster system of government, and a priority of infrastructure expenditure that was not managed or controlled, and resulted in debt levels that are every day further dividing Victorians.

We can only hope that president-elect Trump will have a greater sense of responsibility and community than has been shown by ex-premier Andrews and current Premier Jacinta Allan, who is pursuing the policy agenda set by Andrews.

As an optimist, I look forward to what a second Trump administration will deliver. It will be exciting, and the world, including Australia, will have to adapt to some of his policies.

Jacinta Allan and her predecessor Daniel Andrews have divided Victorians through their governments’ actions. Picture: Melbourne Press Club

One thing is sure: Trump popped the woke balloon. Or, should I say, the majority of those who voted Republican did, saying they wanted leadership, not vanilla comments, nor actions that cave in to the most vocal.

Without a doubt the US election was about the economy. People want employment, value and recognition for their efforts, and to improve their living standards through their efforts.

What has occurred in the US will influence our federal election in May and the state election in 25 months.

Here in Victoria the government is totally tone deaf to what the community is feeling and saying.

The community has said stop increasing our debt by building the Suburban Rail Loop, a railway line without a publicly released business plan that few people will use and that will significantly increase state debt.

This paper reported on the weekend that many Victorians were refusing to pay their land tax bills. It’s not that they were refusing to pay, most simply cannot afford to pay. They are neither income nor asset rich. Many have put their investment property or beach house on the market because of the imposition of the extra land tax. The final straw for many.

But how would you like being a family or business in rural or regional Victoria? Most of the government’s expenditure, and the massive debt it has built up in our name, has been in metropolitan Victoria.

Yet all Victorians are paying for that expenditure and debt, even though most in the bush and regions will never use the infrastructure or ride on the SRL, while their roads are deteriorating.

Even with 25 months to the next state election, there is no way the Labor government can ease the pain increasingly being felt by Victorian families and businesses.

The CFMEU has broken with Labor and blue collar workers are walking away from the party. Picture: Getty

The debt will continue to grow because of the growing interest the state pays every day on that debt.

Confidence levels are declining, aspirations being destroyed. Services are under mounting pressure, in particular for those employed at the coalfaces delivering those services.

In the US, blue-collar workers, historically supporters of the Democrats, increasingly voted Republican.

It is happening here in Australia. Hardworking blue-collar workers are deserting the ALP. They want a government that manages the country’s affairs well, that won’t tax their aspirations and income.

But the biggest losers will be the Greens. People are now rightly asking, what do they stand for?

Under Bob Brown, we knew it was for conservation, the environment and climate issues.

No longer.

Today under Adam Bandt it is about division rather than unity, as demonstrated by their attendance at rallies and occupation of university buildings over the Middle East conflict.

The Greens were rejected at the Queensland election and have serious internal issues in Victoria and Western Australia.

And that’s before we even mention the fairies at the bottom of the garden, the Teals.

The US election showed most people want a strong government that will focus on and deliver on thing that matters: the economy.

In Australia, Labor governments spending money to buy votes will no longer work. It did not in Queensland, it certainly is not in Victoria, and it won’t work federally.

The public is not stupid. Increasing government expenditure fuels inflation and adversely affects us all, ensuring interest rates remain high.

In Victoria, the Labor government is attacking middle-income earners.

Baseball bats to the ready!