Meet The New Boss...
May. 21st, 2022 11:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
waitingmanWell, we've changed government in Australia... Out with the Liberal/National Coalition, in with the Labor Party. Expect a lot of spiteful hand-wringing from loudmouth bigoted right-wing media figures who can't see a future that doesn't look like the 1950s...
Neither of the major parties performed very well in the primary vote, only getting about 1/3 each, with the rest going to a variety of minor parties & independents, which will make the next Parliament an interesting prospect. The election seems to have been more a collection of local referendums than a decisive shift in National policy. At a time when things in the South Pacific region are getting a little fraught with tensions over China & its extended reach, we've apparently decided as a Nation that things in our own individual back yards need more attention than our neighbourhood. Not that there was much evidence that either the departing Liberal government, or the incoming Labor one have much of a competent handle on foreign policy & trade anyway...
This is the underlying problem with Australian politics at the moment. The election & its result have shown that we don't have much faith in either of the 2 'preferred' parties to be any better than each other - the Liberals have been elitist, sexist, climate change sceptics with no regard for how the increasing costs of living are affecting younger people (& some of us older ones too!!)... The Labor Party have been none of those things, but haven't really said what their overall vision for the Country is either. There has been a complete lack of substance, commitment & leadership throughout the whole campaign. In the end, the Liberals weren't so much defeated by Labor as by their own hubris...
Fortunately, I suppose, we're a pretty stable country & society, so while there will be the usual grumbling from the usual quarters, we'll all just knuckle down & get on with things as best we can, domestically-speaking. It's how we'll confront & deal with the bigger, global picture that has me a little worried...
On a more satisfactory note, the objectionable Liberal candidate for my electorate lost her bid... & both Craig Kelly & George Christensen look to be gone from our political landscape. So there was some political climate change for the better, at least!!
Neither of the major parties performed very well in the primary vote, only getting about 1/3 each, with the rest going to a variety of minor parties & independents, which will make the next Parliament an interesting prospect. The election seems to have been more a collection of local referendums than a decisive shift in National policy. At a time when things in the South Pacific region are getting a little fraught with tensions over China & its extended reach, we've apparently decided as a Nation that things in our own individual back yards need more attention than our neighbourhood. Not that there was much evidence that either the departing Liberal government, or the incoming Labor one have much of a competent handle on foreign policy & trade anyway...
This is the underlying problem with Australian politics at the moment. The election & its result have shown that we don't have much faith in either of the 2 'preferred' parties to be any better than each other - the Liberals have been elitist, sexist, climate change sceptics with no regard for how the increasing costs of living are affecting younger people (& some of us older ones too!!)... The Labor Party have been none of those things, but haven't really said what their overall vision for the Country is either. There has been a complete lack of substance, commitment & leadership throughout the whole campaign. In the end, the Liberals weren't so much defeated by Labor as by their own hubris...
Fortunately, I suppose, we're a pretty stable country & society, so while there will be the usual grumbling from the usual quarters, we'll all just knuckle down & get on with things as best we can, domestically-speaking. It's how we'll confront & deal with the bigger, global picture that has me a little worried...
On a more satisfactory note, the objectionable Liberal candidate for my electorate lost her bid... & both Craig Kelly & George Christensen look to be gone from our political landscape. So there was some political climate change for the better, at least!!
(no subject)
Date: 2022-05-21 03:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-05-22 01:27 am (UTC)Our new Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese came from one of the more left wing factions, but has moved more centre-wards with the times...
(no subject)
Date: 2022-05-22 02:41 am (UTC)