There are two fascinating policy decisions coming up for the Albanese government: vehicle efficiency standards and gambling advertising. I find them fascinating not because of how significant they are for the future of the country, but for what they say about the Albanese government.
In both cases Labor has passed up the opportunity to decisively take progressive, low cost action. Instead, they have promised action soon, presumably while dithering frantically in the background. We’ve seen what Albanese is capable of when he’s decisive and certain (the Voice Referendum, Stage 3 tax cuts, HAFF), so it will be very revealing how he behaves when he doesn’t have a predetermined position.
Another reason I find these decisions fascinating is because they share traits which reflect the rot in our democracy. They are near-unanimously supported by experts and supported by the majority of voters but they challenge noisy, organised vested interests who wield significant political power or political donor power.
Finally, what gambling advertising and vehicle efficiency standards have in common with the other issues mentioned above is they will once again test Labor’s ability to fight battles on their terms. They lost control of the conversation on the Voice and HAFF to the right and left respectively. If they end up fighting these two battles in terms of lost weekends, towing capacity and sporting clubs with no goal posts, there’s no hope for any progressive action on any front without significant change (ie. minority government and a new leader).
As a first term government, the ALP has largely disappointed their support fringe. While being careful to please the union movement, the ALP government has done little to improve the real wages and livings standards of middle income earners. This is where the ALP got a lot of votes at the last election. It’s meanness and budget austerity is not going down well in the suburbs and is toxic in regional Australia. Even 18 months out, the ALP look like a one term government. Their poor performances in parliament over the last sitting period was the nail in the coffin of their re-election hopes. It did not help that the ALP has now alienated the muslim communities and some green groups. This ALP government is now a train wreck. Of course it may get a bail out like the ALP got back in 1993. But the LNP would have to do something pretty stupid to hand the election to the ALP.
What can the ALP do to give itself half a chance?
Get rid of the Treasurer for a start. Charmers has never been up to the job of outsmarting Treasury boffins. They have run rings around him and bluffed him out of taking any concrete macroeconomic reforms. The new Reserve Bank governor has also just pulled the wool over his eyes. That’s two strikes against the Treasurer. One more failure and he must be dumped. But he won’t be alone on the backbench as an ex minister. After 18 months the ones not coping on the front bench are being exposed. There are a few notable ones. The environment minister is coasting and failing to deliver. The immigration minister is out of his depth.The sports minister is hiding. Some of the junior ministers are not performing. All this reflects badly on the prime minister. Not only was he strangely quiet about the atrocities committed in the West Bank by the IDF; but Albanese also clings to a delusion that the electorate will reward him for running budget deficits when real GDP is falling. This makes one wonder about his political judgement. If he is not a canny politician then he will soon be an ex PM.
Yes! Labor just doesn't get it. You're not in government in order to get a cushy position in the private sector post-politics. You're meant to be there to create policies which provide for everyone. Australia is an extremely inequitable society and it goes without saying that societies where there is greater equality, enjoy a higher standard of living.
What is the difference between Labor and the LNP? Neither addresses an issue with a plan and enough funds to provide a solution; they just chuck a bit of money at something which is making a noise. They don't explain the processes for overcoming a problem nor inspire people with any aim to make things better.
When was Labor last Labor? Not only do you have Nathan Albanese unquestioningly accepting a Chairman's Lounge membership but both Josh Frydenberg and Jim Chalmers gave their children $20 for a lost tooth. Some children grow up knowing that they don't have to do anything to get money. And a significant proportion of Labor politicians send their children to private schools. So the $6 billion over endowment to private schools won't change (public schools are underfunded by $3 billion).
Labor needs to champion public schools. They need to get rid of the tax rebate to people who take out private health insurance. They need to get rid of the additional fees which tertiary students incur if they study Humanities. Under the threat of climate disaster they need to fund more and electric bus services in dedicated bus lanes. Train and tram projects would be great but it takes a much longer time to get them up and running (I know state governments fund a lot of this but Federal Labor might be appreciated for the funding of quick and efficient projects)
Who needs a two-party system if those parties are Tweedledee and Tweedledum? The huge task is to encourage voters to examine the policies and the record of independent candidates and parties (!)
Even allowing for 60-odd years of inflation, $20/tooth seems like a lot compared to the sixpence apiece that my baby teeth fetched. The Tooth Fairy must really be feeling the cost-of-living crisis!
I'e voted ALP for the last 20 years but will switch to the Greens at the next federal election because the ALP has moved too far to the right. I really hate some of the Greens policies but will hold my nose and vote for them anyway.
There are two fascinating policy decisions coming up for the Albanese government: vehicle efficiency standards and gambling advertising. I find them fascinating not because of how significant they are for the future of the country, but for what they say about the Albanese government.
In both cases Labor has passed up the opportunity to decisively take progressive, low cost action. Instead, they have promised action soon, presumably while dithering frantically in the background. We’ve seen what Albanese is capable of when he’s decisive and certain (the Voice Referendum, Stage 3 tax cuts, HAFF), so it will be very revealing how he behaves when he doesn’t have a predetermined position.
Another reason I find these decisions fascinating is because they share traits which reflect the rot in our democracy. They are near-unanimously supported by experts and supported by the majority of voters but they challenge noisy, organised vested interests who wield significant political power or political donor power.
Finally, what gambling advertising and vehicle efficiency standards have in common with the other issues mentioned above is they will once again test Labor’s ability to fight battles on their terms. They lost control of the conversation on the Voice and HAFF to the right and left respectively. If they end up fighting these two battles in terms of lost weekends, towing capacity and sporting clubs with no goal posts, there’s no hope for any progressive action on any front without significant change (ie. minority government and a new leader).
As a first term government, the ALP has largely disappointed their support fringe. While being careful to please the union movement, the ALP government has done little to improve the real wages and livings standards of middle income earners. This is where the ALP got a lot of votes at the last election. It’s meanness and budget austerity is not going down well in the suburbs and is toxic in regional Australia. Even 18 months out, the ALP look like a one term government. Their poor performances in parliament over the last sitting period was the nail in the coffin of their re-election hopes. It did not help that the ALP has now alienated the muslim communities and some green groups. This ALP government is now a train wreck. Of course it may get a bail out like the ALP got back in 1993. But the LNP would have to do something pretty stupid to hand the election to the ALP.
What can the ALP do to give itself half a chance?
Get rid of the Treasurer for a start. Charmers has never been up to the job of outsmarting Treasury boffins. They have run rings around him and bluffed him out of taking any concrete macroeconomic reforms. The new Reserve Bank governor has also just pulled the wool over his eyes. That’s two strikes against the Treasurer. One more failure and he must be dumped. But he won’t be alone on the backbench as an ex minister. After 18 months the ones not coping on the front bench are being exposed. There are a few notable ones. The environment minister is coasting and failing to deliver. The immigration minister is out of his depth.The sports minister is hiding. Some of the junior ministers are not performing. All this reflects badly on the prime minister. Not only was he strangely quiet about the atrocities committed in the West Bank by the IDF; but Albanese also clings to a delusion that the electorate will reward him for running budget deficits when real GDP is falling. This makes one wonder about his political judgement. If he is not a canny politician then he will soon be an ex PM.
Fraudulent lot. Particularly on housing and coal mining
Sadly John you are right.
Yes! Labor just doesn't get it. You're not in government in order to get a cushy position in the private sector post-politics. You're meant to be there to create policies which provide for everyone. Australia is an extremely inequitable society and it goes without saying that societies where there is greater equality, enjoy a higher standard of living.
What is the difference between Labor and the LNP? Neither addresses an issue with a plan and enough funds to provide a solution; they just chuck a bit of money at something which is making a noise. They don't explain the processes for overcoming a problem nor inspire people with any aim to make things better.
When was Labor last Labor? Not only do you have Nathan Albanese unquestioningly accepting a Chairman's Lounge membership but both Josh Frydenberg and Jim Chalmers gave their children $20 for a lost tooth. Some children grow up knowing that they don't have to do anything to get money. And a significant proportion of Labor politicians send their children to private schools. So the $6 billion over endowment to private schools won't change (public schools are underfunded by $3 billion).
Labor needs to champion public schools. They need to get rid of the tax rebate to people who take out private health insurance. They need to get rid of the additional fees which tertiary students incur if they study Humanities. Under the threat of climate disaster they need to fund more and electric bus services in dedicated bus lanes. Train and tram projects would be great but it takes a much longer time to get them up and running (I know state governments fund a lot of this but Federal Labor might be appreciated for the funding of quick and efficient projects)
Who needs a two-party system if those parties are Tweedledee and Tweedledum? The huge task is to encourage voters to examine the policies and the record of independent candidates and parties (!)
Agreed. If there's one word that doesn't fit this government in any way it's "inspiring".
Even allowing for 60-odd years of inflation, $20/tooth seems like a lot compared to the sixpence apiece that my baby teeth fetched. The Tooth Fairy must really be feeling the cost-of-living crisis!
I'e voted ALP for the last 20 years but will switch to the Greens at the next federal election because the ALP has moved too far to the right. I really hate some of the Greens policies but will hold my nose and vote for them anyway.