What has happened to our democracy?

2 August, 2010

Two weeks into the Federal election campaign and the issue is not who has the best policies for the nation, but whether former PM Kevin Rudd is a serial leaker.

The now PM Julia Gillard is now in the absurd position of fighting for her political life and opposition leader Tony Abbott looks like he will cruise into the lodge off the back of rats in Labor’s ranks.

We are now preparing ourselves for an onslaught of negative campaigning. While Labor looks likes it is fighting the last war with its anti Work Choices campaign, the coalition is sticking to familiar themes of Labor fiscal mismanagement.

From the outside, both campaigns look ridiculous and the Greens look likely to control the Senate, giving Work Choice revival little to no hope.

The coalition’s campaign is even more absurd. The Rudd/Gillard government steered this country through the greatest global economic meltdown since the depression. Our unemployment rate never exceeded 6 percent, while the US unemployment hit 9.8 percent. Many respected economic commentators are looking at the Australian model for a clue on how a country should behave in times of economic stress.

The real long-term issues have not been dealt with. The debate about population and Australia’s capacity has never got off the ground. A real debate on asylum seekers and Australia’s role hasn’t happened, the parties’ plans for our economy in a carbon constrained economic environment haven’t been revealed. Instead, we have had piece meal announcements totalling $16 Billion from both parties on short term politically hot issues.