So we enter another moment in history...after having recorded the hottest night in history, the coldest may morning in history, the worst natural disaster in Australia, the deposing of a Prime Minister in his electorate, the deposing of another one before the end of his term, three Liberal leaders in two years...we now find ourselves facing a hung Parliament and the real possibility of another election in a few months if it all falls apart. What a great country and a great time in our...well, history.
I have read so much analysis and opinions on what has happened that you could pick almost any theory and someone will have espoused it. The last thing any of us need is another opinion.
So then, let me give you that last thing.
It is getting harder and harder to ‘read’ the electorate. Past assumptions and trends don’t seem to cut it and the number of declared ‘undecided’ voters literally seem to be making up their minds in the queue on voting day (like me). It is not so hard to deduce the reason for all this is the inability of the parties to communicate their messages clearly, to connect with the voters, to understand their audience or to make obvious what their policies are and what the differences are between the parties. This election result to me speaks volumes on the premise ‘if you can’t show me how you are different I can’t give anyone a clear advantage’. Obviously the Greens did manage to do that and their improved results suggest that it paid off for them. Unfortunately if they don't prove themselves with this opportunity then they will remain a 'protest vote portal' rather than a decision maker or a positive influence. They have to start proving their worth and not simply be a part of the problem or they are doomed to go the way of the Democrats. They can make a difference especially for rural areas and on the environment. They are a real danger with some of their policies but that shouldn't be a discouragement to being brave and demanding to be listened to on behalf of the people who voted for them because they believed in their policies (and not the vote whores who only voted for them because they didn't want to vote for the majors).
When Julia says something along the lines of the electorate having spoken but we’re not sure yet what they have said that indicates both arrogance and ignorance to me. About 6 million people could tell you what they were saying PM! When Tony says labour has lost its legitimacy to govern that bespeaks a disregard for those who voted labour and maybe even many of the people who took the easy way out and lodged an informal vote. If you don’t listen to us we won’t make it easy for you.
The campaigns were woeful and again so removed from the target audience it was a disgrace. All that money and airtime spent bagging, deriding or trying to be ‘oh so clever’ just came across as half assed, petty, negative and ill prepared and frankly we deserved better. If in an ad campaign you can’t find the capacity to produce high quality, sensible commercials that tell me why I should vote for you (what’s in it for me)and what the future will be under you then why would I even think of voting for you? I thought the ad with the construction guy was the only one that came close, albeit a negative message but he was obviously an actor and he didn’t actually offer anything to us apart from bagging Tony. Let’s face it he would have been preaching to the converted and how does that actually advance the political ‘conversation’ in an election? Don't we simply deserve better?
I think the Independents have an awesome responsibility. They truly represent their own electorate so have a deep onus to do the right thing by them primarily and to advance the interests of that electorate. Added to that is the need to be aware that they are carrying the wishes and are the focus of the nation and have responsibilities to all of us. I think Mr Okeshot and Mr Windsor seem very reasonable but Katter has always been oddball. The Melbourne Greens bloke is worth watching and I am hopeful that Wilkie eventually wins. This country owes that man so much and he could prove very interesting as a Parliamentarian given his knowledge of the intelligence service and the machinations of the public service.
My hope is that as tumultuous as all this might be it does bring something worthwhile. The lessons are there, they just need to be heeded. Advertising must be reviewed and scrutinised, I want information, i want to know the differences,I want to know why I should vote for one side over another. I want the launches at the start of the campaign, I want two debates, one at the start and one at the end with the one at the end being a town hall style. I want to see the leaders talking at town hall forums and let loose from the shackles of the spin doctors and to be given permission to take risks and not surrounded by cotton wool. I want the small parties and independents funded so that they can get information out to potential voters. That might be as simple as a couple of ads in the local paper to leaflets for letter boxing.
We live in a democracy often in name only. Many people believe democracy is about the majority rules - that is NOT the basis of our government...it is the party with the most seats that rules not the most votes. Democracy is actually about a style of government, how much is decided rather than a 'type' of government. It's also about being inclusive and informative, open and transparent but most of all it is about being representative for, to and off the people.
I wonder if what we have had u[p to now and currently have fits that model?
