Cartoonists love to portray federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as a zombie; cold as ice, a man stuck in the past, with a tendency towards authoritarianism. Last weekend the dead man walking analogy acquired new meaning with the loss of the once-safe Liberal seat of Aston, in outer Melbourne.
It marks the first time in 100 years that a government has snatched a seat from the opposition in a by-election. Mr Dutton was so sure things would go the other way that he made the election a referendum on himself and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, declaring that the result would be ‘a verdict on the leaders, no doubt about that’.
With an extraordinary six per cent swing, the winner in Aston, Labor’s Mary Doyle, a breast cancer survivor and former unionist, replaces Scott Morrison’s old mate Alan Tudge (one of the architects of Robodebt), who quit in February. As Ms Doyle said on election night, ‘We were the underdog, but boy, have we shown that we have a big bite.’
The Aston contest was made stranger by the fact that the seat is deep in mortgage-belt territory, with interest rates climbing steadily since the election of federal Labor, as well as the price of pretty much everything else.
But the voters appear to have had their minds on other things. The Liberal party (described by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews as a ‘nasty, bigoted outfit’) now holds just seven of Victoria’s 39 seats.
Interestingly, the Victorian seat of Aston was named for Matilda Aston, a blind activist and teacher who died in 1947. Despite facing a less than perfect Albanese government, the Liberals now appear to be walking blindly into oblivion, and irrelevance.
Having lost his moderate faction to the teals, Peter Dutton seems condemned to remain on the fringe unless he can do something positive to regain the centre. But does the former policeman have what it takes?
In normal times, a result like this would mean curtains for the federal leader, but it appears there is simply no better option available than Mr Dutton. For how long can a dead man keep walking before he and his party topple over?
The Liberals must be praying that Scott Morrison does not bring on another by-election by leaving Cook early.
No, yes and maybe
The Liberals’ decision to formally oppose the Voice to Parliament this week has further entrenched them as the party of ‘no’. It worked for Tony Abbott, until it didn’t. When the other team are fractured it can achieve short term political success, but otherwise it might be just a short cut to irrelevancy.
The other opposition in Canberra, The Greens, perhaps empowered by their recent modifications to Labor’s carbon abatement scheme, have been very vocal this week about the shortcomings of Labor’s $10 billion housing plan, which essentially involves gambling a large amount of money on the stock market, via the Future Fund, and spending the proceeds, if any, on housing, rather than using the principal for more immediate outcomes.
With $368 billion being proposed for submarines into the future, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to prioritise a much smaller amount to deal with what is now a national crisis.
As the Liberals fracture, and continue being pushed further away from popular support by their coalition with the extremists in the National Party, Anthony Albanese appears to have an increasingly clear run to achieving whatever he wants in the near future.
Hopefully he will raise his ambition, and achieve something meaningful, before this moment passes.
Originally from Canberra, David Lowe is an award-winning film-maker, writer and photographer with particular interests in the environment and politics. He’s known for his campaigning work with Cloudcatcher Media.
Long ago, he did work experience in Parliament House with Mungo MacCallum.
Dudton is safe as Lib Leader, no one game to take on the poisoned chalice.
Get into those weak Vic LIbs, David.
They fully deserve it – so put the boot in!
‘Labor Light’ simply doesn’t cut it and policy changes are indicated by the large independent/minority party support.
But proper debate is also needed overall in Australia – rather than blindly following “The Vibe’ or blind beliefs.
With the current ‘Progressive’ triumphalism, it always pays to remember (yes – even with a ‘nasty, bigoted outfit’) – your side may get paid back in kind with the ‘swing of the pendulum’ in a very few years time.
OK – the Labor-Green coalition has currently an extended “honeymoon period” – but nothing lasts for ever.
[Remember Kevin 747 ?]
That’s right! My electorate keeps voting One Nation, due to lack of a real right option, and they just miss out every time. We can’t figure out who all these closet leftists are that keep voting for David Littleproud. Only a few of them will admit to it, and only in private. FYI If we have a greens candidate, it doesn’t show it’s face in public. Liberals are firmly left-wing at this point – They are Labor driving with the handbrake on.
Christian I assume your electorate is David Littleproud’s electorate of Maranoa.
From the Australian Electoral Commission website in the 2022 David Littleproud obtained 56.26% of first preference votes while Pauline Hanson’s One Nation obtained 11.89% of first preference votes with the Australian Labor Party obtaining 15.29%. Therefore, I am confused by your statement that ” My electorate keeps voting One Nation” and that ” they just miss out every time”. Also there must be thousands of “closet leftists” who “keep voting for David Littleproud” in Maranoa.
I am also unsure how you can claim that those who vote for David Littleproud are “closet leftists” and that the Liberal party are “firmly left-wing.”
Nicola, our Christian has the habit of just makings stuff up.
Or being sarcastic. We know where the Liberal and Labor voters are. Have a look at a map of Maranoa. That tiny bit of the land to the East that is on green grass, that borders the Northern Rivers, that reads the Echo, are the people that determine the elections, even if Dalby and Roma were to vote the other way. Much the same situation as in Capricornia, Kennedy, Leichhardt.
I can drive 100kms+ in any direction and find nothing but One Nation and the occasional Shooter party voters, apart from a few hidden Liberal voters, most of whom I can name. Once you eliminate the 4 coastal centers, you get a result where One Nation would have almost won last time. See how your local politics effects me? See how the liberal party continues to exist?
More conspiracy theories Christian like the one from the state election imagining Kevin loughley vote was deliberately stopped from counting by the electoral commission otherwise he would have won like one nation= truly?
That’s called a joke. I didn’t actually expect the Northern Rivers to suddenly swing towards Emperor Kevin. The left not only can’t be funny, but can’t identify a joke. That’s why meme warfare is so effective for my lot. For example, the ‘It’s OK to be White’ campaign.
Christian, from the AEC website I have just looked at the 2022 first preference results in a random sample of polling places in Maranoa avoiding the “four coastal centers” but including Dalby and Roma. The One Nation vote was typically between 10 and 15%. Except at Dulacca where it was 21.57% and at Winton where it was 9.24%. Compared with 62.75% and 61.96% respectively for David Littleproud.
Therefore, I cannot see how you can say that “Once you eliminate the 4 coastal centers, you get a result where One Nation would have almost won last time.”
Mr ROB L, I can see Liberals like you, even after a string of humiliating defeats in every mainland State, are still not getting the message. Forget Kevin 747, the ALP has learnt from those costly mistakes, your Liberal Party is hemorrhaging votes to Labor as well as to progressive right-wing Independents at an unsustainable rate because the extreme right of the Liberal Party still doesn’t get it. There is NO “Labor-Green coalition” and if the Albanese Labor Govt continues to govern from the centre as the voters elected it to do, this “honeymoon period” is going to last for some time, so get used to it, there is going to be more pain coming for the Conservatives.
Keith “Albo “is not governing from the centre.
If it was true .. he would listen to others
Views and opinions opposite to his own .
The left often speak of tolerance..
The left have no tolerance & nor
Has Albo .they shutdown debate
Never been any different… !
Again where is this supposed labor greens coalition existing in Australia? The only coalition is the secretive Tory coalition who never release their agreements when in government. Notice that if not in coalition couldn’t form any government at all. All the Tories can do now is say no to every policy the government was elected on, very Abbott like and well he was a success, wasn’t he?
The problem is to much focus on imaginary culture wars and not looking at issues affecting the population.
I agree with Rod. It’s not cultural, it’s genetic. R/K selection theory at work.
Uh david unless you need reminding.. how many times have labor/ Greens coalition ..held power
In the last 50 years ? And if albo & co keep up
This green madness .. and push this voice for his
Own legacy.. no details !! ..know this if it is voted in ..
Those groups will have a say in everything from
Submarines to fines.. it will have unprecedented powers.. the closing of Mount Warning will only
Be a start ..incidentally this is about those
Aboriginal people’s most in need .. a resent report
Claimed that of the 30 billion given annually
To those regional groups only 25 cents in the
Dollar gets to where it is most needed ..the
Majority sucked up by nose in the Trough
Answerable to knowone individuals..
Acknowledge our Aboriginal people’s in our
Constitution 💯 percent .. and the mere
Suggestion that aboriginal people’s are not
Represented in our parliament is incorrect..
Maybe the Prime Minister and attorney General
Should heed the advice of the solicitor general
And three constitutional law experts who have
Adviced against the voice .. this was commissioned
By the labor party.. but have chosen to ignore
This taxpayer funded advice.. Why David ..?
Barrow, we feeling your pain. Where is your recovery going to come from?
Uluru was closed to climbing over 3 years ago, where is your campaigning to reopen the trampling up and down Uluru?
Instead , hit up on Mount Warning with another faux horror, yeah.
Voice and details, you just parroting the nonsense you get from Sky In The Dark TV and Murdoch’s Liberal Party Newsletters that pretend to be newspapers. Barrow use your head, just for once, think for yourself.
Ken Wyatt has quit the Liberal Party over your man Dudton’s lies about The Voice and ‘details’. That’s the end of ‘details’ story.
One thing that the Liberal Party can be relied upon, stay the course when it comes to Indigenous matters of substance.
Mabo, Wik, The Apology, The Voice…. what say the Libbies……No, No, No and NOOOOOO.
Its a No-a-thonery from The NOalition!
Mr Barrow, there is NO “Labor/ Greens Coalition”, that only exists in the minds of politically naive and extremely conservative people and possibly the crazy Greens: Judging by the popularity and the ongoing successes of our Labor Govt, it’s highly unlikely they need any advice from people like you.
I see Keith ..so in layman’s terms could you please explain to the punters ..as to the reason why labor just abolished the
The 1500 dollar tax offset for individuals
Earning less than 127k per year ? This
Country is in a cost of living crisis keith .
and yes keith politicians
are employed by the Taxpayer’s ..
and iam one of them ..
Constituents give advice at the polling
Booths Keith.. let’s just see how many more
Times albo & Co can take from the most
Vulnerable…
Mr Barrow, the punters most likely already know that so called tax was set to expire all by itself, the Labor Govt didn’t abolish anything, anything more I can correct you on?
Point taken Keith ..was not privy to
The expiry date..however in these
Dire times ..and that is what it is
Keith..wait until the majority of those
Who exit the honey moon
Lock in interest rate period..
This now and in the future will not
End well.. !
Have you gone all socialist on us Barrow. Next you’ll be suggesting they abolish the stage 3 tax cuts!
Say barrow aren’t the coalition called coalition for a reason. Can you also tell me who is in cabinet from the greens in this labor/ greens coalition?
Labor is trying to fix up 10 years of do nothing coalition government. I suggest you also check the greens didn’t exist 50 years ago, maybe you mixed it up with reds under the beds scare mongering. Also how do you know what the solicitor general said as per normal practice the findings aren’t released? How is the voice going to affect you barrow except for you having fomo envy over the ability to consult.
Rod.. mate get with the program..i want
To visit Ayers Rock go to the very top ?
also want to climb mount warning..?
With my kids .. ! That’s not going to happen
Is it Rod ! This will only be the start
Of beaches..national parks, Land’s
Locked up if this Voice is voted in..
Unprecedented powers this committee
Will have ..!! Look what has happened
In NZ ? knowone owns lands in this
Country or any other country for that matter
“we belong to it ” as so many aboriginal people’s have suggested many times..
Barrow, you having a bit of trouble with ‘The’Voice’.
Try a bit of education before your hysterical scribbling, get yourself onto ABC Iview and dial up last nights 7.30 show – The Voice explained in simple language for you to understand.
The Liberal Party under Dudton and his ‘Voice’ lies, should rename itself The Resignation Party – Ken Wyatt resigns his party membership, Julian Lesser resigns from the frontbench, next…..?, next….?, next….?
Next…?, we welcome Karen Andrews having resigned form the frontbench, Next….?, Next….?
When the Dutton orchestrated the Liberals knifing of their leader Turnbull, the party voted for Morrison knowing full well how horrible a person he was, instead of the electorally poisoned Dutton. Friedenburg was always “supposed” to replace Morrison disaster.
Dutton was never and has never been in the equation. But Friedenburg lost his seat and there was no one else!
Well Dutton has now been there less than a year and already there are no LNP Govts left on mainland Australia. How much more damage will Dutton inflict before he is ejected?
Well, just watch the blow back from his treacherous betrayal of the LNP’s own Ken Wyatt formulated voice to parliament?
Nationals Andrew Gee has quit in disgust, Ken Wyatt resigned from the Liberal party last night in absolute disgust over the Dutton orchestrated betrayal of the Wyatt Voice to Parliament. This is just the beginning of the carnage, grab some popcorn and watch Dutton lay waste to the LNP!
Dutton has the markings of self implosion and his lemming mob is following him. The only thing that can remotely save the Lib/Nats is a strong political elevation of prejudice to bark on about…. and of course Morrison’s favourite….the moral panic whipped to justify warfare. Australians are suffering badly in economic terms. The overall urge of the Nation is survival in the truest sense of the word.
I doesn’t matter who you vote in, if the US goes to war, we will be going to war. If the people are not on board, there will be protests, and we will still be going to war, armed or not.
Good to see that side crumble.
Your predecessors were for ‘One party Sates’ as well.