The electorate deserves a clear choice on important issues

Too often governments claim a mandate on issues that were never debated or contested – at a federal election we should have a plebiscite on consequential national issues.

The result of the race-based referendum is a clear sign that we need more direct democracy in this country.

There is no good reason why at a federal election we cannot have a plebiscite on consequential national issues; to give the Australian people a say on the shape and direction their country takes on matters such as population, energy, national security and even spending priorities and cultural issues.

The triumph of the No vote against the so-called “Indigenous Voice” shows that there is a deepening divide between mainstream Australia and the political, media, academic and corporate class who heavily backed the Yes campaign.

Too often governments claim a mandate on issues that were never debated or contested.

A plebiscite would give the Australian people a say on the shape and direction their country takes on matters such as population, energy, national security and even spending priorities and cultural issues.

At the last election we had both major parties pushing daft, economy-damaging, energy-cost-raising net zero policies.

At state level, the groupthink was even more pronounced, with the thoroughly useless Victorian Libs backing Labor on everything from a treaty with the Indigenous population to extreme climate policies with bolder targets than those planned by the Anthony Albanese government.

We may not have much choice at state level but at national level it looks like the Coalition is beginning to find its mojo.

In the aftermath of the failed referendum, the usual suspects in the media are again furnishing the Liberal Party with the worst possible advice.

Leftist wishful thinking masquerading as analysis is being published and shared on the airwaves but thus far Opposition leader Peter Dutton is ignoring the advice.

On Thursday we saw the Albanese government capitulate in spectacular fashion after a week of pressure from Dutton following a High Court decision that led to release of more than 80 criminals, including murderers and child rapists, from immigration detention.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton is ignoring the advice of the Left. Picture: Martin Ollman

In what is a huge backflip Labor accepted the Opposition’s six amendments, enraging the Left including their unofficial coalition partners, the Greens.

Greens leader Adam Bandt posted this on Thursday: “Labor is dancing to the Liberals’ tune … Labor is letting Peter Dutton write anti-refugee legislation and silencing anyone who tries to stop them”.

But looking beyond this emergency legislation what would be the result if at the next federal election the Australian people were asked about the level of annual immigration they would like to see for the next decade?

You can be sure that a clear majority would want to see less than the current 500,000 figure. In a plebiscite they could be asked to pick between less or more than 200,000.

What about a plebiscite on energy policy such as removing the ban on nuclear power?

And there’s no reason why you couldn’t ask multiple questions including covering cultural issues such as Australia Day or whether the medical transitioning of children should be banned.

On Thursday, Liberal senator Alex Antic’s request to refer his Childhood Gender Transition Prohibition Bill – seeking to ban gender reassignment treatment and surgery for children – to a Senate hearing was blocked by Labor and the Greens.

This is another issue where public opinion is dramatically at odds with the “ruling class’’ of politicians, bulk of the mainstream media, academia and corporate Australia.

“Over the past decade or so there has been an enormous increase in the number of children experiencing confusion about their own gender,” Senator Antic told the Herald Sun.

“I sought to have my Childhood Gender Transition Prohibition Bill referred to a Senate committee to allow evidence from both sides of the debate to be taken in advance of the Bill progressing to a vote. Sadly, Senator Nick McKim from the Australian Greens moved that the

Bill not be referred, and his motion was supported by the Australian Labor Party.

“Once again, the opportunity to hear evidence in relation to this critical matter has been shot down by Labor and the Greens.”

Shame on Labor and the Greens and also shame on the Liberal MPs such as Simon Birmingham, Maria Kovacic, Dean Smith and Jane Hume who failed to support Antic or abstained from the vote.

The electorate deserves a clear choice on important issues and under Dutton there has been a resurgence of Liberal values that were abandoned under Turnbull and in Scott Morrison’s last two years.

But they need a clear, consistent line on major policy issues such as energy and immigration as well as cultural issues.

Weakness equals electoral oblivion.