I agree James. The fear of a minority government was a key factor. Also key was the campaign by Advance that targeted the sitting Green lower house MPs and 5 other Green potential seats. The Greens have never before been subject to a focused counter campaign. And Advance core attack was that 'The Greens are not what they used to be'. This exposed the Greens pivot to Marxism and away from the environment in a most effective way.
I'll come back to the thesis that the swing voters in particularly vote 'backwards' (ie) the party they dislike the least ends up at number one after all others put below. And Id argue that avoiding a minority government was one of the factors that was 'disliked.'
A very fair reflection, Ken. While I’m less sanguine than you about the outcome, at least we know who to blame when it turns to custard. Voters ensured Labor has no one to blame but itself.
I hope you are correct Alan. But unfortunately I think the Liberal Party as an institution is a corpse. I agree with you on the talents of Jacinta and perhaps Tim Wilson. But they are loners. My assessment is that the institutional structures of the Liberal Party are so decayed as to be unable to support people like Jacinta. The Liberal Party displays all the features of a business that is trading on its past and thats death
But also note that there was a major fear of a minority Labor govt controlled by the Greens; by voting Labor, the electorate prevented that.
For which we should all be grateful.
Of course, Labor still needs the Greens in the Senate - so if the Liberals don't pull their socks up, in future elections we may see Liberal voters switching to Labor in the Senate, to make the Greens completely powerless.
I doubt people specifically voted Labor to avoid a minority government with greens in control. How was anyone to know the outcome? We’ve been surprised with recent election results more often than not here & America…
Generally I agree with you , (as always) but not about "This is the result of a rotted and rotting institutional structure of the Liberal Party." I see great hope. In fact even greater than that, a "one in a hundred years" opportunity if guided right and all else pans out. Jacinta has moved already to the right party for PM. Now she needs to move to the lower house, wait, look and learn. then after the next lost election,become the leader of the Liberals and lead the coalition to success in2031 as first Liberal indigenous, female PM. What a game changer.
Both the Greens and the Libs chose the same misinformed path that's paved with hubris and fenced with delusion:
- Greens thought they could ride on the coat-tails of hatred for Israel and (to a lesser degree) fear of Climate Change.
- Libs thought they could ride on the coat-tails of the MAGA wet dream plus their belief that they could repeat a result such as the No vote on the Voice., but as you say, that result was because of a hatred of division.
In other words both parties couldn't or wouldn't read the room. Their utter conviction of their own ideologies makes them blind.
Labor is pitiful, lazy and a do-nothing mob, but was less of a threat than the others. Time for them to stand up and put their big-person's pants on.
I agree James. The fear of a minority government was a key factor. Also key was the campaign by Advance that targeted the sitting Green lower house MPs and 5 other Green potential seats. The Greens have never before been subject to a focused counter campaign. And Advance core attack was that 'The Greens are not what they used to be'. This exposed the Greens pivot to Marxism and away from the environment in a most effective way.
I'll come back to the thesis that the swing voters in particularly vote 'backwards' (ie) the party they dislike the least ends up at number one after all others put below. And Id argue that avoiding a minority government was one of the factors that was 'disliked.'
A very fair reflection, Ken. While I’m less sanguine than you about the outcome, at least we know who to blame when it turns to custard. Voters ensured Labor has no one to blame but itself.
I hope you are correct Alan. But unfortunately I think the Liberal Party as an institution is a corpse. I agree with you on the talents of Jacinta and perhaps Tim Wilson. But they are loners. My assessment is that the institutional structures of the Liberal Party are so decayed as to be unable to support people like Jacinta. The Liberal Party displays all the features of a business that is trading on its past and thats death
I think the Libs have abandoned a belief system, other than the need to get elected, hence they are unelectable.
Yes, I think you're on the money here.
But also note that there was a major fear of a minority Labor govt controlled by the Greens; by voting Labor, the electorate prevented that.
For which we should all be grateful.
Of course, Labor still needs the Greens in the Senate - so if the Liberals don't pull their socks up, in future elections we may see Liberal voters switching to Labor in the Senate, to make the Greens completely powerless.
I doubt people specifically voted Labor to avoid a minority government with greens in control. How was anyone to know the outcome? We’ve been surprised with recent election results more often than not here & America…
Generally I agree with you , (as always) but not about "This is the result of a rotted and rotting institutional structure of the Liberal Party." I see great hope. In fact even greater than that, a "one in a hundred years" opportunity if guided right and all else pans out. Jacinta has moved already to the right party for PM. Now she needs to move to the lower house, wait, look and learn. then after the next lost election,become the leader of the Liberals and lead the coalition to success in2031 as first Liberal indigenous, female PM. What a game changer.
Dutton lost his seat - good
Bandt lost his seat - super good
Both the Greens and the Libs chose the same misinformed path that's paved with hubris and fenced with delusion:
- Greens thought they could ride on the coat-tails of hatred for Israel and (to a lesser degree) fear of Climate Change.
- Libs thought they could ride on the coat-tails of the MAGA wet dream plus their belief that they could repeat a result such as the No vote on the Voice., but as you say, that result was because of a hatred of division.
In other words both parties couldn't or wouldn't read the room. Their utter conviction of their own ideologies makes them blind.
Labor is pitiful, lazy and a do-nothing mob, but was less of a threat than the others. Time for them to stand up and put their big-person's pants on.