Hung parliament would be ‘chaos’ for regional communities

Former chief of staff to Tony Abbott Peta Credlin says the next federal election resulting in a minority government would be “diabolical” for regional Australia.

A hung parliament in next year’s federal election would be “diabolical” for regional Australia, according to former chief of staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott Peta Credlin.

Speaking at the Herald Sun Bush Summit series in Bendigo on Monday, Credlin, who grew up in Wycheproof and whose sister runs a dairy farm near Terang, said she expected next year’s election to result in a minority government.

“First term governments tend to get the benefit of the doubt from voters, but I think because cost of living is such a huge issue … people are hurting more than they ever were, and I think that makes (the Albanese government) vulnerable,” she said.

“Can the Coalition win enough seats? That’s the issue … I think (Prime Minister Albanese is) increasingly seen as weak, his ministers are increasingly seen as overpromising and under delivering.”

Bush Summit in Bendigo 2024, Weekly Times editor James Wagstaff and Peta Credlin Picture: Nicole Cleary

With the election to be called before May 17, Ms Credlin said a minority parliament would be “chaos” for regional communities.

“The people in control if it was a Labor minority government would be the inner city Teals, and the hard Greens dictating policy, so if you think you’ve got it tough now with renewable energy, it would be that times ten,” she said.

“Our wealth comes out of our regions, but what dictates votes and how policy is developed comes out of our urban centres.”

“I think the problem for regional Australia is too few politicians know and live your concerns.”

Roads, health and education are also the main issues she expects to dominate.

“I drive the Western Highway a lot of the time and it’s horrific. For a state the size of Victoria to have roads in the shape that they are in is a national disgrace.”

Ms Credlin said the results from the Northern Territory election over the weekend, in which the Country Liberal Party pulled off a resounding victory to claim a majority government, was a case in point.

“Labor will say it’s Territory issues that don’t apply to Canberra, but if there is one jurisdiction in Australia that is more responsive to federal government policy it is the Northern Territory,” she said.

“That was a big win for the CLP, they didn’t think they’d get a majority government and they did.”