We await the people’s verdict on May 18, but I’m panicking.
It should have been a landslide. A deeply divided, deeply cynical, deeply corrupt government incapable of concerted action on climate change, protecting the rorts and lurks of the wealthy at the expense of the rest of us, bereft of policy ideas or vision, is in the hunt.
It’s easy to play the blame game: a massive, hard-right media apparatus spreading poison and downplaying or lying about Labor policy; a press gallery aiding — even promoting — an outrageous image makeover by the prime minister and incapable of piercing his smug, diversionary approach to questioning; an opposition leader incapable of selling a vision, an absolute must when Labor chose a crazy-brave, big-target agenda, and a lawless Facebook-promoted fake Liberal story on imaginary death taxes…
I’m reliving the John Hewson experience: a big, bold, honest agenda destroyed by Paul Keating; and Trump — all word-salad salesmanship and aggression — winning in 2016.
Yet here we are.
Australia pauses…
It’s funny, in a dark way, that Australian voters say over and over that we hate politics as usual, we hate the lies, we want politics lifted from the gutter, we want the focus on us, not political egos, we want collaboration. We say we hate growing inequality, we believe the system is corrupt, that climate change action is a top priority.
Yet when Labor produces a comprehensive program to enhance equality, to address climate change, fights a blatant tax-scare campaign based on four per cent of voters whose lurks the government has spent the campaign defending, we pause.
What’s happened here is that Morrison has, while in government, adopted Tony Abbott’s small-target plan from opposition in 2013. Fear and scare. Lies.
Divisive agenda
Make no mistake, if the government retains office, no political party will ever again be honest with the Australian people about its agenda.
Make no mistake, if the government retains office, moderate liberalism is dead. The hard right’s amoral tactics and divisive agenda will have triumphed.
We will no longer be a centrist democracy. We will have moved hard right, and, as in the United States, we will be less stable and less free.
And make no mistake, there will be no reforms to our democracy to make it more honest. There will be no donation overhaul, no serious national integrity commission, no truth in advertising laws, no caps on the outrageous spending by the Coalition in some seats to literally buy a win.
Unequal fight
My niche this election has been in reporting and supporting quality Independent candidates in safe Coalition seats, seeking strong action on climate change and serious efforts to improve the honesty of our politics: Independents seeking to assert the central role of moderate liberalism in our nation.
It’s been an honour. In the main they are new entrants to politics, eschewing successful careers to have a go for Australia’s sake. Those who are competitive have been deluged by personal attacks and massive spending by the Coalition to prevail in a grotesquely unequal fight.
So, do Australians care enough to want to improve our politics? Saturday will tell the story.
I still believe
I’ve watched United States politics for years now, horrified. I had thought the horror would never happen to us: the collapse of public ethics; the buying of politics and political decisions by big money and utterly vested interests; the demonisation of minorities; the mind-blowing inequality; the annihilation of truth; the descent of right-wing media into propaganda designed to instil fear and hatred into their audience — but it is here.
American politics will certainly have arrived if the government is re-elected.
I pray Australians get it right on Saturday. If we don’t, I’ll retire, again…
I still can’t quite believe that a one-man marketing shill — who’s hidden his team because he hasn’t got one, and hasn’t given voters any idea what they’re voting for in the next three years — can win.
Yes, I still believe Australians can pick a snake-oil salesman. I still believe voters know we’re in trouble and will vote for hope and fairness. I still believe.
Listen to Margo’s preferential voting explainer and read her strategic voting guide.
Strategic #IndependentsDay voting
South Australia#MayoVotes – Vote 1 Rebekha Sharkie (MakeMayoMatter)
ACT Senate
Vote 1 Anthony Pesec (anthonypesec)
Victoria#KooyongVotes – Vote 1 Oliver Yates (Oliver_Yates)#FlindersVotes – Vote 1 Julia Banks (juliabanksmp)#MalleeVotes – Vote 1 Ray Kingston (MalleeRay) and follow his ticket by voting 2 and 3 for indies Moar and Modica #IndiVotes – Vote 1 Helen Haines (HelenHaines1)
New South Wales #WarringahVotes Vote 1 Zali Steggall (zalisteggall)#WentworthVotes Vote 1 Kerryn Phelps (drkerrynphelps)#MackellarVotes Vote 1 Alice Thompson (Indy_Ally)#CowperVotes Vote 1 Rob Oakeshott (RobOakeshott1)#NewEnglandVotes Vote 1 Adam Blakester (adamblakester)#LyneVotes Vote 1 Jeremy Miller (JeremyforLyne)#HumeVotes Vote 1 Hugh Kingston (Huw4Hume)#FarrerVotes Vote 1 Kevin Mack (Mack4Farrer)
NSW Senate
Vote 1 Rod Bower (FrBower) Group Q
Thank Margo. For putting the independent and climate change and change to politics on the agenda.
Like you I’m incredulous that this lot have a chance of winning. They are just so bad at the politics. They have a political tin ear.
Hoping that lots of Greens and green independents make it on Saturday. If not it will be time to put all efforts into business and community sector to address climate change.
Evan
Thanks for all your efforts over many years Margo. I too am very disheartened by Australian politics but on the bright side, Tony Abbott’s gone.
What a horrible result.
So well said Margo. I gather the ‘BusinessCommunity’ does actually see $$$s in renewables so govt won’t be necessary.
Zali will be just another neo-lib. The only difference is she doesn’t hate gays and wants to pretend that she can make the Libs do anything about climate change.
She’ll be gone at the next election when her electorate realises they need to vote to stop Labor and not just because they hate Abbott.
Zali will do nothing for the country, and nothing for the people in her electorate.
If you want real progress tell people to stop voting independent and start voting #1 Labor.
Voters in Warringah won’t vote Labor. Defeating the leader of the Liberal hard right is a win. Even though many progressives don’t agree with her economic policies, her progressive stance on climate change and social issues is a net gain for many traditionally progressive causes.