Hans Lovejoy, editor
A game of musical chairs was played last week, where the boss told a few of his people to switch tables that they are not in charge of.
Well, that’s how I explained it to a nine year old anyway.
It’s no secret that Federal Labor’s front bench reshuffle ruffled feathers last week in the left faction of the party.
Alas Labor appears to be lurching towards the right.
Within all political parties, members are generally aligned either left or right. In the case of left-aligned Mark Butler MP, he lost his climate and energy portfolio to the right-aligned Chris Bowen.
Additionally, leader Anthony Albanese stripped skills portfolio from his rival Tanya Plibersek and gave the unremarkable Richard Marles MP a super portfolio.
Still with us? It’s important because the nation needs a disciplined and organised alternative to an emboldened and nauseatingly confident Morrison government for the upcoming election.
It’s held by one seat. Just one!
Labor MP, Joel Fitzgibbon, from the coal mining area of the NSW Hunter region, appears the biggest threat to the party’s stability and future. His recent Murdoch Daily Tele op-ed tried to demonise climate change action as an ‘obsession’ that is alienating Labor’s voter base.
Unlike the sociopaths in the Coalition party who represent the one per cent, Labor’s problem will always be trying to be a party for all seasons.
And those seasons are becoming more chaotic and extreme owing to climate change.
The ALP Campaign Review 2019, is a great resource into why they lost, how mainstream politics view strategy, and how they treat the public.
The review stated that in the election run up, there was a ‘perception that Labor was not supportive of the mining industry… Labor should recognise coal mining will be an Australian industry into the foreseeable future…’.
While the local federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot, may believe the science on climate change and push her party to support renewable energy, Labor still takes fossil fuel donations (according to the election donation data dump yesterday).
Aside from coal-based Qld communities, Labor also saw 2019 election swings against it in most of southeast Qld.
The review stated that groups of voters who swung most strongly against Labor were ‘self-described Christians and economically insecure, low-income voters who do not like or follow politics’.
‘These voters are heavily represented in Queensland’.
Yet ‘following politics’ could be argued as a cornerstone of an informed and healthy society.
Without it, tyranny takes hold. Tyrants become more emboldened and nauseatingly confident. Corruption gets bigger and trust diminishes further. It’s not a good path anywhere.
‘Following politics’ can also help make more informed choices, which can in turn help elevate voters and their children from a low-income existence.
Labor’s challenge is to make politics interesting, explain a better path and keep its messaging clear on climate change. And convince God-bothering Qld bogans. Good luck with that!
Labor’s Lurch is a lot like “The Adams’ Family” on a bad day. Albo, if you are not going
to stand for what you are at risk of pretending to be – then step down. Your slip sliding
away is the un-needed fall of the Labor Party. You have an opposition leader who’s
a fool & a go-getter if ever there was one… quite easy to take on & win. Stop the
dithering or hand over the leadership – you know who I mean – he’s young & worthy
of the risk.
Labor needs a lift more than the musical chairs program. It needs a new leader so memebers can follow.
Federal Labor’s front bench reshuffle had a few feet dancing when Labor appears to be lurching towards the right.
To lurch to the right that leaves a gap between Labor and the Greens. Labor can’t win without the Green vote.
When there is a gap the Greens can put their preferences with whoever they like and that means a loss for Labor.
For a Labor win there has to be consensus between Labor, the Greens and the unions. The unions and the ACTU also are a loose canon.
When Labor has no conciliatory leader it is a forgone conclusion Labor will lose.
Yes, Alice. And there’s no need for Labor to lose. What is the Aussie public supposed to do –
tell Albo & the rest what to do? How it’s done? What to focus on? The parliament must, on
both sides, see the illusion for the sick foolery that’s presented. We are paying both sides
to do nothing & help wreck the country.
Add on – now that Trump’s got away with his left-over Republican money-mafia by stealth we need to keep our
ears tuned to our own LNP cock up. Don’t let Acquittals slip through here.