Libs rise as reality of Labor dawns

The latest Newspoll reveals it’s not over for the Coalition just yet

At last the polls show mature generations have not given up on the Government (“Coalition in new year bounce”, 29/1). Even with all the muscle from unions, the ABC and GetUp, Labor should not be complacent.

Scott Morrison could maintain momentum by shaking up the sleepers who hold portfolios beyond their ken. Yes, an election is nigh, but what’s to lose except government? The Prime Minister might consider some radical, strategic moves:

Christopher Pyne should relinquish defence to Jim Molan or Andrew Hastie, who have defended their country in battles other than verbal. Has anyone heard Mitch Fifield actually, er, communicate? Pyne would enjoy communications and the overlooked creative cohort might be heartened with a fresh insight for the arts, often treated as a tag-on.

Zed Seselja would suit immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs. And forget gender quotas, Marise Payne is invisible on the world and national stages. Finally, if Tony Abbott were given a portfolio worthy of his experience the grey vote would turn around. Many have not forgiven the MPs who installed Malcolm Turnbull, who installed same-sex marriage without the promised safeguards for freedom of religion. Surely there’s a niche somewhere in that abyss for a deposed landslide-winning former prime minister.

Ruth Bonetti, The Gap, Qld

The latest Newspoll results are a mixed bag with perhaps Scott Morrison being a little better off than Bill Shorten. The race to the election is a marathon, not a sprint. Most Australians know what the Morrison Government stands for, but the same cannot be said of a Shorten government. Shorten and his treasurer, Chris Bowen, must lay down in detail their policies for all to see. Australians are sick and tired of fly-by-night politics. They want something substantial.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

Despite a sustained campaign to depict the Government as chaotic and on the way out, the uptick in polling for the Coalition is likely to continue. Voters are beginning to focus on the coming election and what awaits them should Labor win.

Of particular concern are: higher taxes for property investors; unfair treatment of small investors who have funded their own retirement; still higher electricity bills due to Labor’s unnecessarily high renewable energy target; the strong likelihood that Bill Shorten’s promises will mean nothing and illegal boat arrivals will restart; a decline in business activity due to Labor’s tax and energy policies, and a consequent drop in job opportunities for young people.

There is also concern that a win by Shorten won’t necessarily mean he is running the government. For many people, allowing Australia to fall under the control of unionists would be unthinkable.

Philip Temple, Larrakeyah, NT

Some would have it that a vote for the Labor Party would, because of its dangerous and potentially destructive policies, only result in a one-term Labor government. However, Australia historically re-elects for at least a second term.

Why is this so? Most pundits would have you believe that we like to give the incumbents time to work their magic. My theory is that the three-year term is so short most voters haven’t had time to work out what is happening and are so disinterested and complacent that by the time they have woken up the pirates are back in control of the palace.

So be afraid and be very careful.

J. Coughlan, Five Dock, NSW

Maybe, just maybe, voters are recognising that despite the disunity and other goings-on within the federal Government, its policies are more in line with the nation’s needs than those proposed by Labor. Perhaps the realities of a Shorten-led government are starting to hit.

Scott Morrison has just four months to get the Coalition’s house in order. He is not helped by the few self-interested deserters that have so far poked their heads above the parapet. But perhaps people are looking on the bright side; the opportunities this presents. Here’s hoping.

What Morrison must do post haste is clean up the front bench. Those who have tendered their resignations need to take a back seat. Let’s get the new blood in the chairs so we know what the next government will look like. Morrison can win this election if he gets all his ducks in a row.

John George, Terrigal, NSW