I want to believe this country is special, as special as I thought it was when I arrived from America 33 years ago and found myself astounded at the egalitarian nature of Australian politics.
Rather than the perpetual onslaught of Reaganomics and Thatcherism, with their brutal union-busting and trickle-down theories of economics, Australia’s Labor governments were negotiating accords with unions that guaranteed living standards while reducing inflation and making ground-breaking admissions to Indigenous peoples about the horrendously negative impact of white settlement.
But we all know how that story ended: with John Howard in the Lodge for more than a decade and me — by then a naturalised Australian — realising I’d been mistaken. My adopted country hadn’t bucked the neo-conservative trend sweeping the globe at that time. It was simply late to the party.
I wonder if history is repeating. While our democratic prospects look good as those of our democratic allies and counterparts are plummeting, are we simply behind the global turn towards autocratic forms of governance, or are we wise and forward-thinking enough to avoid it?
Will Australian democracy keep defying gravity, or is the autocratic trend sweeping the globe written in our future?
By and large, I think we’re looking good. Nationally, we’re moving towards the long-overdue independent national commission against corruption required to maintain public trust in our laws and leaders. Trust in the impartial and independent electoral system we are blessed to have remains high, and justifiably so, as it polices the sort of foreign and domestic interference in the voting process seen in the UK and US, either debunking it or handing it to the AFP to prosecute.
On the down side, the decision of the national Liberals to ignore the message from teal voters in their former blue-ribbon seats by electing Peter Dutton as leader may be an early sign of the same trend that set Republicans on their path towards extremist ideology and violence: a refusal to moderate their policies to keep small-l liberals in the tent.
The misinformation funfest online continues to confound us and the rest of the free world despite our collective realisation that without shared facts, the civilised dispute mechanisms characteristic of democracies cease to function. The crazies we’ve always had persist but, in the shade of the US example and COVID, have become more violent and irrational.
Who can forget the nooses arrayed in Melbourne’s CBD by those who disagreed with the federal and states’ COVID stance? Or the Trumpian claims of voter fraud made before and after the 2022 election by Clive Palmer’s UAP?
The price we pay for freedom has always been eternal vigilance. Given the crises of democracy across the globe, and our nation’s history of following pernicious political trends, Australians should remain alert.
Do you think Australia is in danger of heading far to the right? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
Imaging ourselves to be “special” strikes me as incredibly complacent and I think the recent federal election shows that the majority of us have realised complacency isn’t something we can afford.
I expect that the new crop of community independents will continue to contribute meaningfully and more of us will look for the kind of accountability they offer. I also think that the Tall Poppy Syndrome will help ensure a Trump type never gets control here.
If we didn’t have climate change hanging over us, I think I would feel more positive about our political situation than I have in decades.
definitely time for a (peaceful) Socialist Revolution. a good start would be to ban the very existence of billionaires.
Yeah, that suggestion would definitely be peaceful – as billionaire Jay Gould, a 19thC US railroad robber baron said, “I can easily hire enough of the working class to protect me from the rest.”
Young males are always trouble looking for somewhere to happen and especially keen if paid for being so.
Vigilant, yes. NACC, yes. But at least 2 other things are required to ease the load off vigilance: 1. Sever the corrupt connection between big money and politics (America’s toxic problem) – Michael Yabsley has the perfect answer. 2.Legislate for having all public appointments made by an independent panel. Then we can work away at many other sources of corruption of democracy, rebuild a competent and independent public service, grants allocated by the public service, a decent moratorium for at least 3 years after a minister leaves office from taking up a corporate or lobbying position inane way related to any portfolio that former mister held. All the things Bernard justifiably bangs on about. All things well understood by the independents and The Greens. So, with the coalition essentially irrelevant, there is hope.
At least Clive Palmer’s allegations of electoral fraud didn’t get traction – I for one was unaware of them.
It was difficult to extract information from the noise. There was Knutter yelling about I dunno what, Barmier lecturing us on family values and the entire COALition front bench and their senators bouncing around like hot frogs in a box. The Lying Rodent was wheeled out of the mausoleum and the Mad Monk read a few sermons.
Dutton and the LNP continuing move to the hard right (He is just as terrible as Morrison) is likely to keep them in opposition for at least three terms. The Teals are likely to pick up more heartland Liberal seats in Victoria and NSW.
After the election Dutton stands about middle of the field of survivors.
As Grattan noted in TC article today, “Those from the uncompromising right (some of them, installed via branch stacking, coming from religious groups) appear to have a strong grip in a party that is hollowed out at rank and file level”.
The conservative takeover of the Liberal Party is mimicking that which Trump effected on the GOP. Whether or not they regain control of the formal levers or not, the effect of driving divisiveness has the potential to damage the centrist sensibilities of the electorate. Hanson was a challenge. Palmer was a challenge. Both seen off for now, but our societal habit of walking in US shoes is good reason to stay alert, as the author says (not to mention the express warning of ASIO).
Quick scan of Shadow Cabinet reveals no Liz Truss-like challenger, a legacy of sticking with the boy’s club, with most of the 10 female shadow ministers in the other place (Senate). The Liberals problem with women will make their return to treasury benches a less likely proposition.
The rejection of quotas is casting a long shadow. The negative feedback loop created makes it nearly impossible to absorb teal-like women into the Party. If all the teals were starting now as LP MP’s, in a few years time the LP would be spoilt for choice of female leadership contenders. As it stands, if Ley stumbles, that’s game over.