How marvellous it was to see Tony Abbott popping up at the Liberal Party wake on Saturday night, commiserating with the fallen Peter Dutton, while vowing to fight back. “If we can create a clear contest we can certainly be competitive,” declared field-marshal Abbott, knee-deep in casualties, but pointing to the way back again. Abbott was back to the role to which he was born: leading the opposition. He revels in these moments. In fact, you could argue he creates them. It was Abbott, after all, who set in train the events which led to the rise of Dutton and his catastrophic tenure as a hard-right leader of the opposition.
In cold blood
When the Liberals assess the causes of their disaster they’d be tempted to dwell on the five weeks of the campaign. A better place to start would be August 24, 2018, the day Abbott finally tore down Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister. It was an act of pure vengeful bloodletting, led by Dutton, Abbott’s ideological twin. Even then Dutton failed to convince his party that he was fit to lead. Victory on the day went to God’s man, Scott Morrison. But the purge of the party was well underway. Turnbull remarked at the time that the hard-right Abbott forces would rather destroy the party than accept the views of the moderates, especially on climate change and energy. And so it has transpired. Abbott lost his own seat in 2019, but the hard right ploughed on, oblivious to the evidence.
Deaf, and dumb
What future does a political party have if it refuses to listen to the electorate? The answer came on Saturday night: none. Abbott is the most destructive force ever to hit Australian politics. After destroying the Labor government of Rudd-Gillard-Rudd he turned his attention to his own side of politics. He is so addicted to destruction that he even managed to wreck his own prime ministership, an act of self-sabotage he achieved in record time. Burning with revenge, he moved straight on to destroy Turnbull, the man who replaced him. For reasons known only to the Liberal Party, Abbott was let loose to campaign in this election. Before dashing up to Brisbane to oversee the Dutton debacle, he spent time in Tasmania which became a Liberal graveyard at the weekend. Not one Liberal has been left standing, not even the unfortunate Bridget Archer who did all she could to dissociate herself from the Abbott-Dutton Liberal brand. The two men who conspired to bring down Turnbull seven years ago were reunited at the weekend, this time as epic losers. Abbott and Dutton share the fate of being party leaders who lost their own seats. And by no small margin.
She’ll be Right
If Dutton had any hope he could escape his fate, this must surely have disappeared with the sight of Abbott arriving at the election night party at Brisbane’s W hotel, like the Grim Reaper taking up his position in the crowd. Yes, he is here for you, Peter Dutton. And there is nothing you can do about it. Abbott’s habit is to mourn the loss of political allies without ever admitting responsibility. On Saturday night, true to form, he claimed ownership — not for the loss, but for the way back, which appeared to be: go harder to the right. On any sane assessment, Abbott should have nothing more to do with Liberal politics. But that’s not how it is. He’s deeply embedded with the Murdochs, creating a web from which there is apparently no escape.
Crashing the party
A probable next contender off the Abbott-Murdoch production line is Angus Taylor, who played a leading behind-the-scenes role to install Dutton in the August 2018 putsch against Turnbull. Taylor is self-evidently not up to the job. But that doesn’t matter. Neither was Dutton. Nor was Abbott. The Aug18ers, the Abbotteers, are locked in a civilisational struggle of their own imaginations, caught up in battles of the past. They have a proven record of failure. All the more reason, one assumes, for the party to look to them for the future.
No wonder Anthony Albanese is wearing a big, broad smile. His political opponents appear not to have even a basic survival instinct. Nevertheless we here at The Politics are grateful to the Liberal Party for delivering on our suggestion last week that it should be crushed and ground into the dirt and that Dutton should lose his seat — all in aid of building a better conservative force that is relevant to modern Australia. It turns out we were reflecting the views of mainstream Australia.
The Grim Reaper takes out Voldemort
Very funny… you did give me a good laugh.
Not sure how old your commentator is, but I dispute the claim that Abbott is “the most destructive force ever to hit Australian politics”. Surely that title belongs to that unlamented toad, John Howard, who originally sowed the seeds of the divisive and destructive ideology that became the Liberal Party’s raison d’être. Howard and Abbott are unremittingly vengeful haters who live in their own parallel universe where everyone got it wrong except them. Despite each losing his seat, neither can accept his irrelevance to the Australian electorate.
I accept it’s a close call but I still think it’s Abbott.
I understand Abbott has shown unique form at destroying himself and the Liberal party, however, I do see Pamela’s point. Howard was destructive at a continental level. My friends and I always say that everything that is toxic about Australia today, had its year dot during the Howard government. Think about it, culture wars, Irak war over non-existent WOMD, children overboard, vicious denial of the international refugee convention that led to other countries following Australia’s example, erosion of Medicare into a shadow of its former self, and on and on…
No I agree with Pamela. Howard mentored Abbott and set him on his destructive path.
To be clear, perfectly clear……
I absolutely agree. I think it was Howard who said that ‘If you change the government, you change the country’. And when he became PM he set out to change the country but not for the better. We’re still getting over him. So long as the Coalition continue to see him as their ‘God’ they will remain in the political wilderness.
It was Paul Keating rather than Howard but I’m sure John Winston would agree wholeheartedly
Great article DH, and I say ‘let him at it’! The longer they stay in this political quagmire of their own making, the better.
There is a cult-like quality I reckon where the Liberals have lost sense of how removed they have become from normality. (and thanks!)
I resigned from the party when destructive misogynist Abbott took over. Whatever happens the NSW Liberals must have NOTHING to do with the review. There are still liberals in Victoria hibernating in embarrassment. Wake them up!
Charles. Prahran. Vic.
Great perspective, they are now RUNNING down the road to nowhere.
Dutton the Dud, gone.
But Abbott the Crusader continues, these fanatics never go away.
Ever vigilant
No doubt about it, they feel they’re fighting the 21st century’s version of the Crusades. There’s only one thing that’ll remove Howard, his “son” Abbott et al from our political sandbox. That which comes for us all . . . Even then they reckon they’ve special status in the “after life”.
While Murdoch survives the hard right won’t die
Who knows, but if he’s as sensible as some of his supporters say, Dutton will retire from politics with some of the grace he displayed at his concession speech. If not, I’m sure there are plenty of cashed up oligarchs who will give him a genrous speaker fee to wander around with Liz Truss bemoaning the blobs and swamps who did them in.
You’ve set out well the undeniable downwards path from Abbott’s brief pinnacle to the decimation of the Liberals this election. Trump has laid bare what Voting for Nasty can become, and luckily Australia has been saved from doing so. At least, for now. Labor has another chance not to be disappointing – and although frankly it rarely exploits them, at least the next three years will be politically sane in this country.
I had a conversation with a friend of a conservative persuasion and asked him what it would take to change his mind. Nothing, he said vehemently. Reminded me of Tony Abbott.
I hear you Dr. I haven’t spoken to my siblings but am certain that my brother will be ranting and raging, wondering what is wrong with the stupid voters in this country, and my very religious sisters will know that we are all damned to hell.
The Trump and Abbott effects have been noted.but after seeing a Gina Reinhardt speech this morning where she urged adoption of Trumpian policies here, I wandered whether there was a silent ” Gina ” effect. After all she is a friend of Peter Dutton’s, flew him to her birthday party and was seen celebrating Donald Trump’s return at Mar a Largo.
Did we really want Australia’s weathiest woman close to the ear of Peter Dutton as Prime Minister ?
She’s not very bright that one. Somehow she thinks inheriting a fortune makes you smart.
Is it possible that Dutton is just not very bright?
Yep!
We should not ignore the consideration that this hard right malaise of the coalition actually started with Howard. The best lesson he learned from years in opposition, was from the faction ridden ALP itself. Stack em, and make them in your image and likeness, to perpetuate the likeness. Howard was the ultimate culture warrior, badge set this up.
As a Victorian, we don’t seem to tolerate hard right anything, so long may the Libs suffer!
Yes Howard set up the demise of the Liberal Party. I will never forget his pounding on the rostrum and yelling at people attending a conference for indigenous rights, or the callus treatment of people seeking safety on the Tampa – he began the movement to limit the moderates and better minds of the party. Abbot who claimed to be the offspring of Howard and Bronwyn Bidjop claimed his inheritance
I had a couple of Abbots and Duttons as opposition in my business past. Often praised them on their success, didn’t want someone smart to take over.
It goes back to Pig Iron Bb, when he founded the Liberal Party. There has always been a Pro-Nazi and pro-Fascist element within LNP from the 1930s, continuing into the early 1940s, when they called themselves the UAP, and, that party, (under both Lyons and Pig Iron Bob (Menzies) distinguished itself by sending German anti-Nazis (including Jewish people) back to Nazi Germany and Italian anti-fascists back to Fascist Italy. It also gaoled wharfies who refused to load pig iron bound for Japan, which would be used in imperialistic aggression against the Chinese workers and peasants. It was also banning anti-Nazi and anti-fascist books and films because they were offensive to friendly nations such as Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy(up until 3/9/39) and examples included George Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia”. Erich Maria Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front”, both book and film, and the film, “Confessions of a Nazi Spy”. Also, I must not forget that in the 1930s many UAP federal and state ministers expressed open support for Hitler, Mussolini, and Generalissimo Franco and tried to deport the anti-Nazi Jewish activist, Egon Kisch, who was also Jewish, back to Nazi Germany. So in fact the now thankfully departed former Premier of NSW, despicable Dominic being revealed as wearing a Nazi uniform is not all that much out of character, going on the past history of the potato head/Dopey Dave toxic totalitarian LNP Mobsters.
I reckon you are right on the button there.
It has been clear for some time that Dutton is just plain unintelligent. Maybe he has rat cunning but that’s not intelligence. What else can explain his actions?
I am sure Mark McGowan said similar
Too right. Amazingly dull. BTW Did you notice his pitch for a job in the defence industry when he gave his concession speech.
Definitely, as well as lazy and disorganised.
Fantastic commentary David. Thank you so much for all the work of you and The Politics team. It has kept many of us sane and with a little glimmer of hope than turned into an avalanche of joy on Saturday night.
Keep up the great work – we need you!
Well, even poor old Paul Kelly at the Oz says he’s not seen the like of it in all his 50 years as a journalist. I think that says something about the right wing media bubble … but it is a big moment and big moments cry out for the right words.
Please don’t put all Christians in the liberal basket
Real Christian values are fully aligned with the kind programs of the labor party
We vote for kindness and passion
Not the liberal fake Christians
My sentiments exactly, MG, but I suspect that most of we ‘fans’ also expect The Politics team to mercilessly apply the blowtorch to the returned Albo regime should valid criticism for poor performance / squandered opportunities become apparent.
Hopefully albo will grow some balls, and extact himself from the seppo rectum
I agree, maybe that’s why he’s so scared of being wedged by conservatives!
My real fear is he might now think he has some kind of mandate to keep talking the talk (eg “…nobody will be left behind”) but being too afraid, esp. of the mainstream media, to walk the walk and get us closer to being a better country for all.
Yep. That’s what I fear. He seems prone to stubbornness and certain arrogance.
Some rusted-ons have been assuring us for the last three years that he’s only waiting for the right moment to pounce and do great things to and for this country. And apparently – according to them – this moment has arrived. I really hope they’re right. Alas… I’m a tad pessimistic.
Yes I’m afraid I’m pessimistic too. Early this afternoon he was quoted as saying that anyone from any party or no party who has a good idea is welcome to meet him. Later this afternoon he’s quoted as saying the independents and teals can stay right out of their housing policy
The highly anticipated nature laws reform and an EPA never eventuated. Sarah H Y and Tanya had finally come to an agreement just before Christmas ’24 . After Roger Cook got in his ear Albo scuppered the deal He says he will revisit. We shall see
I too am sadly pessimistic about any show of vision or real courage on the big issues from Albanese. I’ve voted ALP for 50+ years [started with Whitlam]. I see Albanese moving more to the right as he gains confidence. His gov’t has made necessary reforms that support the masses; but they’re surely basic gov’t services, reinstated after winning back gov’t from the conservatives, & paid for by taxes, not outstanding accomplishments to crow about. While the critically urgent and long term, really big ideas that will impact generations to come & the earth itself, sometimes mentioned in passing, sound like hollow words. You’d think with all those bright, committed people they could support more than one concept/perspective at a time!
I fear such views, neglect the fact politicians need to win elections. AA gave Dutton nothing. As LGBin the House, he didn’t get every piece of legislation through in Gillard’s minority government, without skills as a tactician. I want more too, but I give him credit for what they’ve achieved in government and for winning as they have.
Yes I agree wholeheartedly
I am sick to death of people saying Albo has no balls..he is a much stronger man than any of you, who makes that disgusting remark..And he is more of a decent man than any of you..
That is the type of crap that is making the world the way it is and this country, if you don’t like him join the RWNJS..
Val, be careful of dismissing anyone who questions Albo’s (or anyone else’s) authority. He is wobbly on some things and firm on others, but he does he have the courage to change a position and explain why and then be firm on it? How about the environment ahead of “jobs, jobs, jobs”? How about making the unemployment benefit a livable wage – say 90% of the Age Pension and similarly Assets Tested? Don’t be rusted on to Albo: always test what he and anyone else is saying and doing. I’m sure he’s twenty times better than the Abbotts, Howards, Duttons, etc, but he has his flaws and needs to grow further. What I would say is that he’s a leader who almost always (maybe not Tanya) allows his ministers their head and mostly that’s why they like to work in his team. Let’s see how he goes and encourage him to do what’s needed, rather than just what’s promised. AUKUS needs a review, for starters!
I agree with you Mr Carman. Mr Albanese is probably a decent compassionate man. Just needs to develop more as a leader with the courage of his convictions. Having R Marles as his deputy & having to defer [?] to that Right cohort probably doesn’t help.
L9 🙈think he has removed Marles from front bench? with another as well? We shall see when he announces it all tomorrow
Exactly!
Unfortunately, Val will have some bitter pills to swallow.
This ‘decent’ man continues the despicable refugees policy, provides moral and material support to a country executing a genocide and ethnic cleansing, keeps unemployed people in abject poverty while squandering billions of public funds on AUKUS, continues to drag his feet on climate action and protection of Australia’s unique environment, presides over the erosion of the right to dissent and protest and apparently thinks that him having grown up in public housing is an achievement that excuses his refusal to take effective measures to at lest reduce the number of homeless Australians.
It’s very clear that your and mine definition of decency are very different.
Totally agree, Agatha. We desperately need much greater distance from tRump’s Benighted States of America and the genocidists in the Middle East. My hopes, on this front, are not high.
The issues and problems you listed haven’t suddenly occurred over the last 3 years but you expect Albo to fix them up overnight. In the last 30 years the Coalition have governed for 21 of them. Most of the problems you raised had their origins during those years.
The
Ah, the old (and disingenuous) ‘overnight’ argument…
No-one is expecting him to fix anything over night. But actually wanting and planning to do it would be a good start.
Brilliant analysis of a violently turbulent few years in politics, Oz style. Perhaps the single most satisfying outcome from Saturday is the prospect of Labor getting a third term in three years time
Violent is right
Well said last week DH the other one they should pack away forever is john Howard the old fossil
Oh, I don’t know . It reminds people of how old the party and it’s politics are. As for Abbott, he is welcome to campaign back in his old seat and Mackellar. Dear old Bronwyn was seen at Avalon talking to the Libertarians . I just hope the Libs listen to the warriors of old .
That should give the new Australia about 10 years of breathing space. And NO , we don’t need an effective oppostiion . Not when it has nothing to offer.
I will never forgive Abbott for destroying an already effective ETS by Gillard’s government. The idiot man is a walking catastrophe – everything that he touches, he kills. Imagine if the ETS had remained!
Let’s hope he has a similar impact at his new employer, News Corp!
Yes, amongst the LNP had much time for Bridget Archer. A good, sincere person.
Pity she did not run for a better crowd. But great respect for her
I’m very much hoping Bridget Archer will become a Community Independent to represent the community she loves – and loves her.
Agreed, Bridget would fantastic as a Community Independent.
If she really was sincere she would have lost pre selection.
She was grandstanding. What did she accomplish?
Apart from being used to push the “broad church” myth and getting media attention she was ineffective
Turnbells fate was sealed due the the results of those super Saturday by elections, with better results he would have stayed leader even though he lost more poll surveys than Abbott, a record turnbells used for turning on pm Abbott, the trigger to topple him was his wanting emissions reduction legislated, imo.
The antics of Abbot remind me of those of Hartley and Crawford when they controlled the Victorian branch of the ALP in the 60’s. Much more interested in controlling the ideological ‘purity’, than achieving electoral success.
The ABC caught the Mad Abbott in a cameo shot as he arrived at the Coalition wake on election night. He’d missed being made camera ready, but by the look of him he’d spent a bit of time in the green room. And to think we’re still paying him a prime ministerial pension.
Spent a bit of time in the green room. Hilarious.
It is a relief to read your article. I have been saying for years that Australian politics took an ugly confrontational turn when Abbott appeared on the scene. Time for the Liberals – and the Murdochs – to show him the door. But, hang on, I don’t really want them to get their act together…
I think this is what it means to be conflicted.. and fair enough!
I’m a Labor voter and very happy with the results. However I am also an historian and know that Australia is always centrist in its politics. We have been governed for the vast majority of the time since federation by social liberals, in either Labor or liberal guise. The problem for the current liberals is that they are not liberals but Tories. If they don’t become a modern social liberal party like Labor, they have no chance. The voters have experienced Abbott-Howard-Dutton style politics and don’t like it. It is not good for democracy not to have a civil contest of ideas, so i do hope they can reform themselves to become a viable alternative rather than a values free and corrupted force
Well said.
Yes but every election there will be new voters who don’t remember Howard, Abbott and Morrison and the mess they have left behind. Seems to me that if we as individuals spend our lives learning and growing intellectually, political parties should do the same, today’s policy will most likely be out of date in 5, 10 or 20 years time. I’m mostly thinking energy when I write that.
I get the feeling that Bridget Archer thought that she could be an agent for change from within the party. Unfortunately for her she chose the wrong vehicle to try that experiment, being a woman and from Tasmania were two strikes against her that she would never have been able to overcome.
I have been saying for at least 4 years that she should have stood as an independent, she had the numbers behind her in her electorate, I believe the she would have won as an independent, but she probably did not have the funds behind her and she needed the liberal party machine.
Amy Remiekis’ article in The New Daily also hits it on the head for Labor. They have to abandon the view that were constrained by the hard right. Not anymore is the way I read Saturday night’s result.
Yes. Agree. It is Liberation Day… just not Trump’s version
Agree. Also a brilliant article. Have to hope Albo gains some mettle from this landslide, and does the things Australia desperately need him to do – including defying the unsustainable fossil fuel, gambling, salmon, cotton industries; definitivly sorting our unfair taxation system; enhancing the NACC; extending Medicare to dental; balancing defence spend with soft diplomacy over sabre rattling – in fact all the things independents would have forced him to do in a minority government.
“defying the unsustainable fossil fuel, gambling, salmon, cotton industries”
Yeah, but what about all those lovely donations…?
I agree with everything you have written Caroline. Labor has three years to make some inroads into fixing the important issues you mention. They will do well to remember how quickly things can turn against you in politics.
The results of this election clearly demonstrate that these days Governments can no longer afford to underestimate the intelligence of its citizens.
And, keep up the good work David!
Can’t wait for Dan the Man Tehan to take over the reins. That’ll keep the Neanderthals out for 6 years at least!
I might move to Wannon to add to Dan’s misfortune.
One can only hope, Mulloes. Of course Ol’ Dan will need a remedial elocution program and a charisma transplant first.
Some time ago a perceptive observer remarked that Dan’s demeanour and delivery suggested he’d been homeschooled by (the recently late but forever great) Chad Morgan. Always a humble and gentle soul, I’m sure the Sheikh from Scrubby Creek would have been amused rather than insulted by that statement.
I totally agree Ross: elocution lessons and a charisma transplant might make a bit of difference, but I’m not holding out hope. And I loved Chad Morgan at the Brisbane Show in the 70s! There was no equal to Chad back then, or now! Maybe there’s an opening if Dan doesn’t get the job! And while I’m at it, why not elocution lessons and charisma transplant for Michaelia Cash as well?! But I digress!
I love The Politics!
I recall Abbott telling the Coalition faithful he was in the Opposition, that ‘the job of the Opposition is to oppose’. It isn’t. It’s to assess, suggest amendments or produce well-founded reasons for opposing any bill up for debate. He is stuck in his school and university debating headspace where a debate was intended to be about winning or losing, not as in Parliament where refining and amending can often produce improved legislation. Knocking it down because the other side proposed it is idiotic and childish. Grow up, Tony.
Thoroughly agree! The past three years have been the LNP arguing black is white. We need consensus, collegiality and compromise in a turbulent global environment.
” Grow Up Tony ” ? = never going to happen. Phoney Abbott has always been Aggro Man. Very similar to Donny the Douche ( although less successful). All Bullshit and Bluster = remember he was going to shirt-front Putin ? That went well. As someone else wrote = a Bully and a Mysoginist and don’t forget, he is STILL saying that George Pell should be Australia’s Next Saint. That tells you everything you need to know about Phoney Abbott.
Bridget Archer has been in the wrong party for some time.
Great article. Thanks again. Will Labor grow early and go early on banning gambling ads? They’ve got the research, had the Senate enquiry, done the strut with the industry lobby, and don’t need to appease the Murdochs or the clubs. Bed it down and move on with a big tick from a grateful community.
It’s actually the second worst result we could have had (behind a Voldemort victory). A large ALP majority always results in ALP infighting and there’ll be little pressure for do-nothing Albanese do take any meaningful climate action. Instead, he’ll look after his mining industry mates and just attack the Greens.
🙄🙄
I’m concerned that the Far Right Party (LNP), aided and abetted by the Super Right ‘Trumpoids in the Murdoch Media regime and the likes of Peta Credlin and Channel 9’s really nasty political reporting haven’t been mentioned for their continuously negative and destructive carry on which has gutted the LNP . . . . The root of the LNPs problems is a lot bigger than just its Elected Reps.
In one important way, this outcome (the large winning margin) is unfortunate. Good government relies on there being a competent Loyal Opposition to hold the government to account. Fat chance.
I agree. A minority Labor govt would have been a better result. But we have to hope that Labor uses the opportunity to do the right things for the betterment of the people of this country
There is an opposition. It’s called the Greens in the Senate.
The same Greens that put their foot on the the throat of Labors housing policy just for political points scoring ?
Can’t agree more than enough with sentiments over the destruction of the Dutton Liberals. However let’s not lose sight of the fact that our democracy works best when there is a relevant and effective opposition. Let’s hope they can find someone who can step up and reform them.
There is an opposition. It’s called the Greens in the Senate.
After the bloodbath of 2022 someone in Labor referred the Libs as the “leftovers “. Now they face the task of sifting through those “leftovers “ which have piled higher with more 2025 leftovers to find a leader. Find a comfortable sofa, get the snacks ready, this could be worth the price of admission.
Yes thanks for the article DH – well done – and you are so right.
But the danger is that Tony the Trasher is not alone – read the Antics of Alex, the SA senator who says they lost because they weren’t far enough to the right.
And can we ever forget that Malcom T, covert Labor man that he may be, was ruthless in his demolition of Peter King the sitting member for Wentworth?
And I could go on forever but what about the Messiah from the Shire (Morrison) who was complicit in slurs against a fine man who was running for Cook?
Ken, I agree. I think there are degrees of nastiness and ideology. I think the libs have a future if they can come back from extremism.. but extremists don’t give up easily. It will actually be fascinating to observe the unfolding of it all.
With all but eleven seats done and dusted, Albo’s ALP has 86 seats and the Tories have just the 40, with eleven independents, Bob Katter and Rebekha Sharkie also confirmed. Labor could even have up to five more when the close seats are finally called. It is a landslide to rival Bob Hawke over four decades ago when deposed Labor stalwart Bill Hayden declared that a drover’s dog could lead Labor to victory.
Albo has a mandate for change. He can steer the Labor mindset back left-ward to a spot a bit past centre. He doesn’t need the massive bribes of the fossil fuel barons. He can make them pay their fair share of tax and require the same of the multinationals. He can raise the benefits payments for the unemployed and the pensioners. He can expand Medicare and make a full, critical review of AUKUS and re-examine our global alliances, especially while the USA is in such a volatile state. The time to strike is now, while the euphoria is still in the air.
And Dutton is dumped. Joy, bliss, jubilation, #duttonisdumpedfromdickson. The hand-wringers have begun, begging for a return to Howard’s ‘broad church’, albeit modelled on a church so narrow it could be a model for Dutton’s mindset at the height of his career as Minister for Manus Concentration Camps. Alex Antic wants to lurch further to the Right, which will take the broad church into a zone with a needle that starts on reflexive No Voters and hard-clapping evangelistic faux Christians and wobbles out into extremities populated by neo-Nazis and Attila the Hun.
More sensible Tories want to pivot back to the broad plains encompassing socially conservative but progressive economic think tanks, the place where Bob Menzies positioned the party in the first place. Any potential leader for that type of Coalition has lost their seat. The current three candidates are Angus ‘Nice Move’ Taylor, Ssssussssan ‘Hey, she’s a woman, imagine that’ Ley, and Dan ‘Captain Boring’ Tehan. If the talent vacuum were to be any more deficient of oxygen, the party vote would be occurring outside one of the space stations in orbit, the place to which the Coalition has been whacked from the park.
Albo has the priceless opportunity to reintroduce fairness and egalitarian Australian values back into our society. His margin is so huge that a third term from here looks to be a shoo-in. Now he has to show some balls, tell Gina and the rest of them to fuck off, slap taxes on the multinationals, reintroduce Australia’s capacity to manufacture, go full ahead on renewables and zero carbon and move to shore up public health, aged care and education.
And it is up to us progressives to keep urging him to do those things and to heap scorn and mockery upon the pathetic yelping of the Tory nay-sayers, and silence them by the unequivocable change for the better in Australian society that has resulted from the smashing of the Tories. Bring it on.
Thanks Jon. I wish I’d written that 🙂
Thanks, Jon. Great comment/analysis.
Love the piece. Although you nominate the 2018 dumping of Turnbull as the starting point perhaps we should start a decade earlier when the same Tony rolled Malcolm as opposition leader by one vote when a Liberal moderate was absent?? From that point Captain Tony became Dr No and set about his wrecking ways. Pure joy to see him back with Dr Evil Saturday night.
Thank you, this is superb, as was the article. What’s this funny “hope” feeling? 🤷
I do like the overview 🙂 Please, let’s not forget Howard in orchestrating Australia’s political arena onto the slow and vicious ship to the bottom (no pun intended but marked no less by the horrors of Tampa and Siev X). If I recall, Menzies was a master at appearing to do much while achieving sweet nothing, unless we consider his capacity to hold Australians in the socially conservative vice for so long that the country was considered ‘permanently constipated’. Fortunately, that genie is out of the bottle and the christian lobby and its political ‘plants’ can wobble in and out of the Hill’s lobby as much as it wants, Australians are independent by nature and culture, and we are not buying.
Virginia, well said. I can’t believe how many people don’t know about Howard’s lies regarding “children overboard” and the election that occurred at that time. David Marr’s book Dark Victory was a revelation and should be compulsory reading! It seems like there’s an awakening happening, but I don’t think there’s much happening in the tortured brains of the Coalition at the moment…. a bit of buck-passing maybe. And post election, Littleproud says he’s sticking to their nuclear policy! Wow! where was he on Saturday?!
I think, Anita, that Australia’s view of Howard as basically a harmless elder-statesman type gets it very wrong. He was an evil bar steward who allowed his henchmen (mainly Abbott, then Dutton) free rein on intolerance, racism and classism. May he soon rot in that special place in hell reserved for disingenuous politicians…
Absolutely agree with your analysis Jon
There was euphoria after the 2022 election and he did none of the things he could’ve done then if he wanted to. So, yes, now he can do the things you list. But will he? I’m afraid Labor has decided a while back what they want to be and it isn’t the Labor Party that they would need to be to do all those things.
I’ll happily admit that I misjudged them should my pessimism turn out to be unwarranted.
With both the hypocrisy and corruption of Potato Head reaching stratospheric heights, as we can see with the political (possibly the other kind as well????) canoodling (A FAT LOT OF GOOD IT DID HIM!!!! MAYBE JURASSIC GINA CAN NOW MAKE HIM A LITTLE LAP DOG DOGSBODY IN HER ROBBER BARON EMPIRE!!!!). between Potato Head and Jurassic GINA, along with her mob of fellow untaxed plutocrats, and oligarchs and What do you expect in a nation where both LNP and Labour governments, especially under Joh Bjelke-Pertersen, Brian Burke, Bob Askin, Neville Wran, the scummo scorpion and many other federal, state and municipal politicians from both the toxic totalitarian LNP mobsters and the canary coloured Labour jellyfish were notoriously corrupt and bed with organised crime? Here in Victoria, Henry Bolte and Arthur Rylah were equally corrupt and in flagrante delicto with the Mob.
I can’t remember his exact words on Saturday night but Sen James McGrath said something along the lines of the voters not aligning with the values of the Coalition. I think this is the basis of their problem. They are totally out of touch with the modern electorate and keep trying to foist their revisionist views on us instead of listening to the concerns of the public. It remains to be seen if this increased majority will embolden Labor or if we will get more of the same reform timidity. A minority Labor government would have been preferable.
I haven’t laughed so much as I did on Saturday night than I had for a long time.
It was an avalanche of emotion from the LNP MAGAts and flunkies
The self confidence giving way to deluded self reassuring, then onto denial and finishing off with apportioned blame.
What a night for the ages and from a squiz around other hate media outlets today what’s left of the Liars ‘N Privatisers are going to keep entertaining for some time.
There’s talk of “well done Angus” Taylor putting his hand up. I hope he is successful
Yes I agree with you Philip Rice, and I hope Angus Taylor is successful! Hollie Hughes will be annoyed if he gets the job! She’s whining and bitter already. I’ll be delighted if it’s Taylor, Hastie, Ley or Tehan, no difference as far as I’m concerned. They’re all in their rightful place!
A diminished party with a paucity of talent will be at the mercy of the Christian right who now infest its ranks. The Liberals are on track to follow the DLP into oblivion.
No amount of Murdoch clammer, Gina’s deep pockets or the insidious activity of the IPA and Advance can rescue the Liberals from the disastrous years of Howard, Abbott, Morrison.
The question now is where will the conservative vote find a home? Will it split between the ludicrous and illiberal offerings? Or will a new force emerge? (Malcolm) Interesting times.
Is it possible the Teals might congeal into a kind of genuinely liberal party?
The community relief at the comprehensive besting of the Coalition is palpable so
good on Albanese for an excellent seat yielding campaign.
Fighting Tories is what he does and very successfully this time.
His essential decency and steady hand will stand the country in good stead given the troubles that seem to be heading our way. No gloating just hard work.
His campaign manifesto gives his government plenty to get on with plus big issues to grapple with that weren’t dealt with in the last term. My list includes gambling reform, a more open NACC, Medicare for dental health, and as much help as possible for education and a serious AUKUS review
I’m hoping that Albo sees this as a 6 year opportunity. He has the opportunity to roll out six big(gish) Labor initiatives every year (one per year). Yes, he could do them faster, but a) people generally are wary of too much change too fast, and b) it allows for reasoned discussion and improvement to what is implemented. In no particular order, the six things I would like to see:
• adding dental to Medicare
• removing the CGT concession on assets [NOT negative gearing!], making sure it’s grandfathered appropriately
• act in a thorough fashion on gambling ads
• a shift to renewable energy through both a 3 year moratorium on new (and expanded) coal and gas mines and exploration, and also doing what Labor does well: a comprehensive reskilling program for affected workers to help them transition to the renewable economy. Bring in Kim Carr as an advisor on this if need be.
• proper royalties on miners and other extractors
• ditch AUKUS and spend big on increasing housing supply with the savings [I’m an MMT guy, so he doesn’t have to, but I’ll play along with the mainstream view 🙂 ]
In addition, I’d like to see him follow through on what he said in his speech on Saturday night about respect, and this is respect to the independents. Provide them with additional resources to do their jobs; ensure they have their fair share of representation in QT and on joint committees; and include them as part of legislative consultation and development. [I’m unsure if registered organisations such as KAP / CA / JLN have more resources as they are parties, but if not I’d include them as well.] There’s no downside to this, and plenty of upside, especially if the in depends hold the balance of power in 2028.
Hi David,
Great article.
Have you asked Tony (Sir Prince Phil) about King Donald’s job application (via image) for Pope?
Sounds like the Greens agenda and my thoughts exactly. The Capital Gains discount is the major cause of increasing inequality, particularly intergenerational. The thing that stops him with most reforms is not voters but vested interests and their donations. Maybe add review of Political Donations but I guess that wont happen now. Gambling seems too hard – is it the states and their loss of revenue that stops him?
Albo. please read, consider and comment on Jon Cocks’ comments. Now is the time. Go for it!
Thanks David, for another insightful article, which had me laughing! Also enjoyed most of the many comments following.
I was hoping for a minority govt., where independents and greens would have sway….well, at least in the Senate, the greens will try hard to urge greater action on gambling, AUKUS, climate crisis, Palestine, taxing the big fossil fuel companies, stopping the cruelty towards asylum seekers and getting on with part of the Uluru promise – the truth-telling part at least should be implemented – most of which topics have been mentioned by other responders. I hope we don’t get just more of the same……that’s not good enough. So we must urge new MPs to push for a progressive agenda – now is the time for Albo to capitalise on his huge win, while the other mob are so utterly discombobulated. –
But the Liberal rot goes way back further than the Mad Monk…..years ago, Fred Chaney should have been Leader of the Liberals, and possibly Prime Minister, but his colleagues were too stupid to see that he was a real liberal, and a sensible and compassionate person… they referred to him as “red Fred” which amused those of us activists on the left of the spectrum.
Murdoch media coverage has been appalling but is almost always one-sided anyway. No attempt at professional journalistic even-handedness or calm, reasoned debate.
The West Australian/Kerry Stokes publication has taken the same approach, using pot-stirring language and letting loose the rantings of Paul Murray in particular. And it’s our only WA paper…
At least it doesn’t print Andrew Bolt any more – how much could a koala bear?
Nailed it, David!
A whimsical thought, it never ceases to amaze me how so many useless people raise to the highest levels of their incompetence, and then blame everything and everyone else.
Accountability, the hardest lesson Liberals have to learn, however that’s not for the likes of them that’s for them other folks who have no idea!
Well, I have just read all comments and it seems to me that the other elephant in room has not been mentioned!
Could it be that we have a conflict of interest?
Could it be that whilst many may have had the best opportunity of a lifetime to acquire property, that that opportunity is left begging for reform when there is never a mention of positively geared property?
Negative gearing was never meant to be for the masses as it is now, and whilst erudite advice is required in these matters, the cost of continuing adinfanitum is not sustainable, and only serves to push up property prices.
The entire FIRE (Finance, Insurance, Real Estate) industries are unbelievably toxic and lacks anything resembling basic values.
Amidst all the euphoria let’s keep in mind that’s imperative for the survival of our Australian democracy for the conservative parties to recover. we need for them to present a believable, rational opposition to the public and in parliament. If they’re a rabble, spouting hot-air opinions and resistance based on vindictiveness and with a lack of a policy framework it will only embolden Labor, to overreach and to descend itself into slip-shod hubris. A strong opposition forces the government of the day to perform positively to expectations-or fail.
100 per cent
Don’t count out Abbott just yet. He’s a player in the global illiberal right and various powerful fellow travellers from the US, UK, Germany, Romania, Israel, Hungary, El Salvador, Argentina etc. etc. (not to mention the still ascendant tech broligarchy) remain his natural allies. Just because Canadian and Australian voters seem to have re-tuned their BS detectors doesn’t mean Abbott’s international confreres aren’t busy calling on his malign genius. Post-democratic populism won’t be defeated by Dutton’s demise or an overly-cautious/self-congratulatory Albanese government.
Contemporary politics, perhaps ever thus, is sufficiently dark to make me hesitate in reaching for the cold water container; I want to enjoy this opportunity to be proud of what we have achieved as a nation.
Experience still prods me into scratching the itch of distinguishing between the causes and the effects.
One example. Have a read through the ministerial correspondence of that master manipulator of Australia’s dark side, John W Howard (start at https://www.howardlibrary.unsw.edu.au/), to make a list of those ‘toxic’ things he brought to Australian politics that did not have at least some of their roots in the views repeatedly suggested to him in correspondence from his constituents. Spoiler alerts: (a) it’s a short list; (b) such readers need to be inured to repeated exposure to such Australian values as “I’m not racist but …..”.
Perhaps times have moved on from Sydney in the 1950s? So, nowadays among the aspects of politics I like to celebrate are the foresight, maturity and commitment of those who brought Australia compulsory voting and the use of preferences in exercising that compulsion, as well as the recurring good sense that often, if not universally according to Andrew Bolt, emerges from that use. Pity the electoral poverty of those trapped in ‘first past the post’ decision making mechanisms, or even those Americans who just might be about to be relieved of the tedium of needing to vote again?
As some institution not widely regarded for being woke puts it, ‘The price of liberty (or the alternative ‘peace’) is eternal vigilance’.
We all make choices. Peter Dutton may or may not be thought ‘a good bloke’; there seems to be less room for doubt about his opinion of the rest of us, revealed in the ‘pitch’ he made to us throughout his political career, such as, for example, choosing to often describe what he was required to do during his service as a Queensland police officer without drawing much public attention to the life he built as a south east Queensland property developer?
This most recent battle about what we choose to believe and value may be over, but the war endures: not all the poppies should be discarded during current celebrations?
Having ruined the ALP’s chances of electoral victory from 1955 to 1974, the DLP crossed over, and have hopefully now ruined their chances of electoral victory for another two decades.