Today, Bernard Keane cites some Essential Research numbers on which party leader best encapsulates ‘Australian values’.
Essential asked:
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard recently said that hard work and education, regarding everyone as equal, showing respect and plain speaking are Australian values. Do you agree or disagree that this is a good definition of Australian values?
Almost 80% of voters agreed with this definition as a description of Australian values — the result was fairly uniform across demographics, but particularly found support among older voters.
Really? Plain speaking?
Asked whether the values described Gillard, Abbott or Bob Brown, voters were more inclined to favour Gillard — 65% of voters agreed the values described Gillard, and only 17% didn’t. Voters were evenly split on Abbott — 39% thought those values described him; the same number thought they didn’t. Brown fared better — 34% thought those values described him, 29% disagreed.
Part of the challenge for the media covering this pretty much policy-free (thus far) election is to drill into soundbites.
So here’s our question: what makes this particular set of attributions uniquely Australian? Can any specific set of ‘values’ seek to represent us as a nation? And if so, why does Gillard supposedly reflect them better than Abbott, or Brown? Or Steve Fielding for that matter?
We want to know what you think about that oft-bandied-about term ‘Australian values’? Is it bunkum or is there something to it?
Send your own personal set of Australian values to boss@crikey.com.au (put ‘Oz values’ in the subject line). And if you think the notion is poppycock, tell us why. Really, we’d like to know.
Maybe it is my age creeping up on me, but I am feeling a general sense of malaise about this election. So far I have been viewing the proceedings from Vietnam and China (through the great firewall…) but I just cannot seem to get excited about this. It seems to be the same set of stupid stunts (baby kissing, visiting fruit shops, signing pledges etc) and the pursuit of the sound bite, rather than anything decent about a solid policy – particularly policy than might challenge the standard course we are on in Australia – carbon burning, short sighted xenophobic mineral tarts… harsh I know, but when you look at it externally and shut out the noise, that is exactly how it appears. I know when you are on the course to an election, you do not do anything – anything at all – to frighten the horses. But what this means is that until the polling day we will get nothing. So the media confects ways of turning sound bites into news or policy.
Based on previous form, and substantial policy announced during the election cycle is rarely enacted, and if it is, not in its promised form. So – why do they waste our time with their empty campaigning? Spending OUR tax dollars on promoting them themselves with endless TV and radio advertising. (Yes folks – that is our money they are spending. wasn’t that supposed to stop?)
I just want it all to be over. I’ll fly back to Australia just in time to vote, and then hide under my doona for a while…
Wha t happened to “a fair go”? Was this not the iconic Australian Value or has it reached its used by date becasue it is no longer politically palatable.
Hard work and education, regarding everyone as equal, showing respect and plain speaking are Australian values- hell they dont even rhyme! Is this the best we can do or is this the political dictum being handed down from on high?
It is bunkum – Oz values generally seems to be “me first”, “I’ll win”‘ and “ever one else is a loser” – oh – and of course “look at me and what is mine”
‘Regarding everyone as equal’ to me doesn’t mean treating everyone equally. Until we have such things as gay marriage, how can you say everyone is even regarded as being equal?
I’m with John Donovan – I am bored and disengaged from the process because I already know how I am going to vote and really, we’ve seen it all before. Once upon a time, our pollies got out and spoke to real people and attended public meetings – now its just day after day of carefully crafted media stunts. Its farcial and I feel as if I am being treated with contempt. (sorry, bit off topic there…..).
How about Fat, Racist and Greedy, that about sums up the current Australian ethos.
Mike Crook