Labor is going to an election and finds itself in serious trouble

Photo from SkyNews: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Contributed by Jim Hayes

Australia must have a federal election by 17 May and the official campaign at least 33 days before. The reality is the campaign has already started all be it unofficially. The actual lection could be called any day.

How is the state of play? Most importantly, the Albanese government is in serious trouble. The Australian public, at best, sees it as lack lustre, and a government has delivered little to improve the life of the average citizen. At worst, the Albanese government is seen as one that has failed miserably to address the cost-of-living crisis and is generally seen by its critics as being far too close to the corporate elite.

The rising cost of living has been the main issue in Australia since the start of Covid in 2020. It could be addressed. But there is no appetite in the present government to do so, ad it is leading itself to a major defeat. All the polls are suggesting this.

Image from The Nightly

The Liberal led opposition under Dutton is trying to make some noise, even adopting some aspects of the United Sates Maga style but doing it ineptly. More than a few commentators suggest Dutton will be the next Prime Minister. They use the two-party preferred measurement system to show this. The trouble here is that these commentators are wed to believing that voting patterns are the same as they have been for more than a century.

They fail to see that a seismic shift is underway. One where the vote for both Labor and the Coalition is in decline and that for alternatives is on the rise. This will play out in the coming election. Victory prospects for Peter Dutton are not very secure.

Australia may be on track for a minority government. Vested interests will do all they can to talk this down and even prevent it if they can. The reason is that this signals that the Australian public is starting to find its voice, starting to want change, and this is [potentially dangerous for the one percent who enjoy the real political power. They need to silence the voice of the majority.

One point where Australia feels Labor and the Liberal led Coalition are nearly the same is the fawning and subservience to Washington. The growing opinion is that proper political leadership demands a level of independent thought and action. The performance of the parties in relation to the slaughter in Gaza has been a big part of this. So has Australia’s embarrassingly awkward $368 billion purchase of nuclear submarines that might not even be delivered. The polls have long been saying that most Australians do not support the main parties on these issues.

Labor could win if it had the gumption to offer far more than it is offering. A freeze of supermarket prices could be imposed. More could be done to enforce cheaper housing. More could be channelled into restoring health and dental services. More could be done to rebuild Australia’s manufacturing base.

In dealing with the rest of the world, there could be shift towards less subservience to Washington and building better relationships and trading opportunities with the rest of the world, including China, which is the largest part of the global market. Labor could remodel itself as the party for peace, instead of being the party for war.

Perhaps this is too much to hope for. The best alternative would be a minority government, and this will put the maximum pressure on the incumbent to change course.

1 Comment on "Labor is going to an election and finds itself in serious trouble"

  1. Lalitha Chelliah | 28 January 2025 at 11:55 am | Reply

    Yes all great but a tax increase on the very rich would go a long way to address the shortfall in the budget. It would also address housing issues, health funding and public transport. Not forgetting the important issue of climate change. More solar farms and increased support for electric vehicles.
    Include of course so many other issues like youth problems violence against women and make suicide

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