Policies, not personalities, key to best election result

Rather than boring Australian Open tennis television viewers with wall-to-wall facile commercials, Clive Palmer would have used his money better repaying some of the $300 million his company reportedly still owes after the 2016 collapse of the Queensland Nickel refinery. Contrary to his characteristic bombast about winning the Townsville-based seat of Herbert, the Newspoll published today confirms his candidacy is a sideshow. Mr Palmer’s 8 per cent primary support is just short of Katter’s Australian Party and Pauline Hanson’s One Nation, both on 9 per cent. Almost two-thirds of Herbert voters polled on Thursday evening had a negative opinion of Mr Palmer, unsurprisingly. Preference flows in the nation’s most marginal seat will be critical, with Labor incumbent Cathy O’Toole and the Liberal National Party on 32 per cent apiece on the primary vote. As Herbert voters face a cacophony of populist bluster in coming months, they would best serve their interests, and those of their families, by looking beyond the competing characters and examining how the major parties’ policies, in particular, would affect their hip pockets and quality of life.

In a region with an unemployment rate well above the national average, especially among young people, jobs, investment, workplace relations and economic policy are crucial issues in Herbert. The future of the Adani coalmine, impeded by the state Labor government, is crucial to the area, as is the pragmatic recognition of the importance of coal as part of Australia’s and the world’s energy mix for decades to come. It is up to the Morrison government to explain in clear terms in Herbert why Bill Shorten’s pandering to trade union leaders on penalty rates and greater business regulation would hurt local workers by discouraging business from investment and hiring more staff. The same imperative — policies over personalities and populism — will serve voters’ interests in other Coalition seats where members are retiring from politics.

Labor is portraying the departures of three ministers, Kelly O’Dwyer (industrial relations), Nigel Scullion (indigenous affairs) and Michael Keenan (human services) — on top of those of Andrew Broad and Julia Banks — as indicative of a government limping to the end of its time. There is widespread speculation about the future of former foreign minister Julie Bishop and former small business minister Craig Laundy, although Scott Morrison wants him to remain in his Sydney seat of Reid. The exodus is numerically significant. But it is also a chance for renewal and secondary to the policy debate. After 25 years in Warringah, Tony Abbott is bucking the trend. In an intriguing race, he will face skier-turned-barrister Zali Steggall and ex-Turnbull staffer Alice Thompson.

The Prime Minister, backed by Josh Frydenberg and key ministers, must not let personalities distract from the main game, economic debate. Dissecting Labor’s tax grab on dividends, capital gains, negative gearing and super remains the Coalition’s strong suit.