Keep Australia Great!
In this last federal election Australian voters rejected many things. Yes, they rejected Dutton, but they also rejected the two-party system, they rejected culture wars, they rejected Murdoch media, they rejected extremism (both left and right), and they comprehensively rejected Trumpism.
Despite the most concerted efforts of Sky After Dark they rejected MAGA drivel. Australians instead chose the ‘sensible centre’ that the LNP completely ignored and the new Opposition leader Sussan Ley now wants to pursue. And she’s right to head in that direction.
The Liberal Party would be better off discarding extreme conservatism (begun during the Howard era, turbo charged by Abbott) and return to their roots. Instead of trying to accommodate the last vestiges of the rabid right, and the Nationals, they’d be better off courting the Teals, who are socially progressive but embrace elements of the economic conservatism of old Liberal ‘wets’. Unlike most Liberals, the Teals understand that equality and inclusivity are good for business, but most importantly they recognise that climate change is the most pressing planetary emergency of our times.
As a result of the Liberals folly the ALP is now in an extraordinary position, and Australia has its most progressive parliament in history. So convincing is the swing against the Coalition that it’s hard to imagine Labor losing the next election. Or the one after that.
So now is the perfect time for Labor to tackle things they’ve previously been too hamstrung to attempt; end negative gearing, implement equitable tax reforms, address media ownership laws which have created information monopolies, end fossil fuel subsidies, and completely decarbonise our energy sector – to name a few.
There was no need to ‘make Australia great again’ because Australia already is great. In my humble opinion it is the greatest country of all.
So let’s make sure that the ALP, and the rest of this new parliament, keep Australia kind, keep Australia healthy, keep Australia fair, keep Australia beautiful (nod to the 70s) and, Keep Australia Great.
