The most powerful force in politics, if not all of history and culture, is a narrative. The Coalition surrendered that narrative to Labor and the Teals by bending the knee to climate alarmism and progressive ideology. By attempting to occupy a middle ground the Coalition fell in line with a narrative already espoused by Labor and the Teals. Voters saw that weakness and voted for the real thing rather than the imitation.
It will require fearless, intelligent, articulate and inspiring leadership to win back control of the narrative. Unfortunately, the current crop of Coalition leaders do not exhibit these qualities. Witness the adherence to the dishonesty of Net Zero.
I sense that things will need to get worse before they can get better. Labor’s current energy, taxation, immigration, housing, welfare and defence policies will inevitably exacerbate the productivity, cost of living, affordable housing, defence and other crises facing the nation. Sooner or later, irrespective of whatever narrative has been sold to them, when people are mugged by reality, that narrative will be discarded.
Great comment, Richard - you have nailed the core issues. The Liberal Party has now been in a state of slow-motion collapse for ten years and has lost a very big segment of its traditional membership. It now struggles to find quality candidates because its intellectual & leadership gene pool has become so shallow. It will not be able to resurrect itself unless there is significant change to its constitution, but the current placeholders are never going to vote for that, especially because - as a state-based organisation - it will be exceedingly difficult to get all the local Liberal power-brokers to agree to the constitutional surgery that is required for the party. Some people are tending to compare the situation to that which R G Menzies faced back in the early 1940s, but Australian society today is radically different to what it was then and that comparison doesn’t work. As just one example, the ABC tore up its charter obligation of political neutrality decades ago and has become a very skilled mouthpiece for the Green-Left by manipulating information - everything the ABC broadcasts is ideologically tainted. They have targeted potential Liberal leaders in the past and driven them from the political battlefield, and they will do that to any Liberal of talent who sticks his/her head up above the parapet. I don’t know what the answer is - Australia is in a bad way. Kyrie eleison!
Cheap energy for all those engines that do work guided by the hand of man. Absolutely essential.
The climate is always changing. The Earth system is tiny part of the magnetic whole. Those who beat the climate drum have an agenda and its not good for humanity.
Australia is no longer led—it’s “stage managed” by people more obsessed with identity politics than with shaping, building, and uniting our nation. We’ve traded vision for virtue-signalling.
To my thinking there is only one person up to the task of leading the coalition out of the wilderness and giving Australia any hope of salvage : Matt Canavan. He has the intellectual capacity and the conviction. The fact is Australia was badly let down on May 3 - no one much wanted Labor as the primaries proved but there was no Opposition Worthy of Election so people followed the Labor truck as it rolled along throwing free sweeties to the greedy and gullible and the lazy. The Liberals have been hollowed out by the Photios-then-Turnbull virus. Now they are a bunch of largely third rate sorts (with maybe 5 worth keeping between the coalition ranks). But the Nats didn't have the guts or nous to install Matt when the chance presented itself. So the Coalition has failed the nation and its people. I only expect trouble from Labor but the netzero renewables craziness and Chalmers tax plans are likely to nail the coffin lid shut. Read today what is going on in Victoria - hari kari basically forced on the people by a Lenin-like government. We are the frog in the water ... soon it will be too late.
Bravo, Mike Newman, this fine effort must be about the most perceptive piece of socio-political commentary that has ever been written. Please ensure that it is circulated to every politician, with a public examination to follow.
This almost reads like a caricature. But it's all so true and sad in a way. How do we shake these politicians up a bit. Maybe like the UK, a whole new succesful party might do it? A Trump style politicians? Anything to shake these almost arrogant "upper" class .
Both of our biggest political parties, whatever they would like to imagine, originated as representative of forces that no longer define our voting lines ie "employed labour" v "others". IMO neither has a philosophy, which distinguishes itself today, from 'redundant roots'.
They both remain enthralled, in battling each other. That once motivated voters. No longer.
It is not a problem isolated to Australia. But it does suggest, a 'gap in the market' does exist.
Whilst "the Liberals should indeed heed their National partners on junking Net Zero, just like Milei, Trump & Farage", to be a real vote-winner they need to bring one more critical element to the table - a sensible Energy Policy that's fair to all (including the unreliables); is market driven & works from the consumers interests back, NOT from the energy industry’s interests forward that;
• Is technology agnostic;
• Removes current anti-competitive subsidies favoring the unreliables;
• Requires industry to comply with clearly defined QOS (Quality of Service) standards of reliability & availability (i.e.; 99.98% reliability as per current AEMO specs in Australia);
• Invites industry to commit by way of auction (a week or a month in advance of the offered opportunity) to provide reliable 24/7, base load power at their best competitive price(s);
• Imposes SUBSTANTIAL financial penalties upon power generators for failure to deliver in accord with their mandatory QOS obligations (Force Majeure notwithstanding eg earth quakes, floods, bushfires, tornados etc);
• Requires a substantial bond to restore the environment (i.e. recycle aged solar-PV’s & wind turbine blades etc as is already commonplace in the coal mining industry);
• In the absence of empirical evidence proving the case against CO2, (there isn't any) repeals anti-competitive CO2 legislation (i.e., the Safeguard Mechanism, LRET, RET etc, ).
Thus, let market forces prevail on a level playing field.
Doubtless, Eco-enthusiasts will invest in their perceived market opportunities associated with the unreliables plus ‘firming’ (i.e., back-up by way of batteries etc, but at THEIR cost) to meet mandatory QOS reliability obligations.
Whereas others might be just a titch more circumspect, investing in proven, reliable, base-load (fossil fuel) technology.
Longer term, in nuclear, (assuming the current legislative ban in Australia is repealed) & nuclear is (of course) cost competitive Vs competing technologies, not least fossil fuels.
The most powerful force in politics, if not all of history and culture, is a narrative. The Coalition surrendered that narrative to Labor and the Teals by bending the knee to climate alarmism and progressive ideology. By attempting to occupy a middle ground the Coalition fell in line with a narrative already espoused by Labor and the Teals. Voters saw that weakness and voted for the real thing rather than the imitation.
It will require fearless, intelligent, articulate and inspiring leadership to win back control of the narrative. Unfortunately, the current crop of Coalition leaders do not exhibit these qualities. Witness the adherence to the dishonesty of Net Zero.
I sense that things will need to get worse before they can get better. Labor’s current energy, taxation, immigration, housing, welfare and defence policies will inevitably exacerbate the productivity, cost of living, affordable housing, defence and other crises facing the nation. Sooner or later, irrespective of whatever narrative has been sold to them, when people are mugged by reality, that narrative will be discarded.
Great comment, Richard - you have nailed the core issues. The Liberal Party has now been in a state of slow-motion collapse for ten years and has lost a very big segment of its traditional membership. It now struggles to find quality candidates because its intellectual & leadership gene pool has become so shallow. It will not be able to resurrect itself unless there is significant change to its constitution, but the current placeholders are never going to vote for that, especially because - as a state-based organisation - it will be exceedingly difficult to get all the local Liberal power-brokers to agree to the constitutional surgery that is required for the party. Some people are tending to compare the situation to that which R G Menzies faced back in the early 1940s, but Australian society today is radically different to what it was then and that comparison doesn’t work. As just one example, the ABC tore up its charter obligation of political neutrality decades ago and has become a very skilled mouthpiece for the Green-Left by manipulating information - everything the ABC broadcasts is ideologically tainted. They have targeted potential Liberal leaders in the past and driven them from the political battlefield, and they will do that to any Liberal of talent who sticks his/her head up above the parapet. I don’t know what the answer is - Australia is in a bad way. Kyrie eleison!
Cheap energy for all those engines that do work guided by the hand of man. Absolutely essential.
The climate is always changing. The Earth system is tiny part of the magnetic whole. Those who beat the climate drum have an agenda and its not good for humanity.
Australia is no longer led—it’s “stage managed” by people more obsessed with identity politics than with shaping, building, and uniting our nation. We’ve traded vision for virtue-signalling.
To my thinking there is only one person up to the task of leading the coalition out of the wilderness and giving Australia any hope of salvage : Matt Canavan. He has the intellectual capacity and the conviction. The fact is Australia was badly let down on May 3 - no one much wanted Labor as the primaries proved but there was no Opposition Worthy of Election so people followed the Labor truck as it rolled along throwing free sweeties to the greedy and gullible and the lazy. The Liberals have been hollowed out by the Photios-then-Turnbull virus. Now they are a bunch of largely third rate sorts (with maybe 5 worth keeping between the coalition ranks). But the Nats didn't have the guts or nous to install Matt when the chance presented itself. So the Coalition has failed the nation and its people. I only expect trouble from Labor but the netzero renewables craziness and Chalmers tax plans are likely to nail the coffin lid shut. Read today what is going on in Victoria - hari kari basically forced on the people by a Lenin-like government. We are the frog in the water ... soon it will be too late.
Excellent comment, Lone Wolf!
Bravo, Mike Newman, this fine effort must be about the most perceptive piece of socio-political commentary that has ever been written. Please ensure that it is circulated to every politician, with a public examination to follow.
Thank you, Graeme.
I truly fear for our country. We are on a path of impoverishment led by those who have no idea.
Very well written. Nothing to add except "Amen" let it happen.
Chillingly accurate! Sadly prophetic!
We’re copying Germany on energy and Peronist Argentina economically
Can we have Mr Menzies back? Australia's living standards in terms of fundamentals were highest about 1966.
This almost reads like a caricature. But it's all so true and sad in a way. How do we shake these politicians up a bit. Maybe like the UK, a whole new succesful party might do it? A Trump style politicians? Anything to shake these almost arrogant "upper" class .
Thank you Mike.
Both of our biggest political parties, whatever they would like to imagine, originated as representative of forces that no longer define our voting lines ie "employed labour" v "others". IMO neither has a philosophy, which distinguishes itself today, from 'redundant roots'.
They both remain enthralled, in battling each other. That once motivated voters. No longer.
It is not a problem isolated to Australia. But it does suggest, a 'gap in the market' does exist.
There is a common saying: I didn’t leave the party. The party left me.
Gary Noonan was spot on! Where's your Kahunas Aussies?
Apropos your opening quote from Thomas Sowell, I’m reminded of Jean-Claude Juncker in his famous interview with the Financial Times:
“We all know what we ought to do. We just don’t know how to get re-elected after we’ve done it.”
Just about the most fundamental quote in human politics. True from Athens to Washington DC - and Canberra.
Whilst "the Liberals should indeed heed their National partners on junking Net Zero, just like Milei, Trump & Farage", to be a real vote-winner they need to bring one more critical element to the table - a sensible Energy Policy that's fair to all (including the unreliables); is market driven & works from the consumers interests back, NOT from the energy industry’s interests forward that;
• Is technology agnostic;
• Removes current anti-competitive subsidies favoring the unreliables;
• Requires industry to comply with clearly defined QOS (Quality of Service) standards of reliability & availability (i.e.; 99.98% reliability as per current AEMO specs in Australia);
• Invites industry to commit by way of auction (a week or a month in advance of the offered opportunity) to provide reliable 24/7, base load power at their best competitive price(s);
• Imposes SUBSTANTIAL financial penalties upon power generators for failure to deliver in accord with their mandatory QOS obligations (Force Majeure notwithstanding eg earth quakes, floods, bushfires, tornados etc);
• Requires a substantial bond to restore the environment (i.e. recycle aged solar-PV’s & wind turbine blades etc as is already commonplace in the coal mining industry);
• In the absence of empirical evidence proving the case against CO2, (there isn't any) repeals anti-competitive CO2 legislation (i.e., the Safeguard Mechanism, LRET, RET etc, ).
Thus, let market forces prevail on a level playing field.
Doubtless, Eco-enthusiasts will invest in their perceived market opportunities associated with the unreliables plus ‘firming’ (i.e., back-up by way of batteries etc, but at THEIR cost) to meet mandatory QOS reliability obligations.
Whereas others might be just a titch more circumspect, investing in proven, reliable, base-load (fossil fuel) technology.
Longer term, in nuclear, (assuming the current legislative ban in Australia is repealed) & nuclear is (of course) cost competitive Vs competing technologies, not least fossil fuels.
Easy.
Word for word you have nailed it Chris. Time to step up in opposition - anyone???
Let's close down all the power stations and send all the woke women back to tending the home fires and cooking over the wood stove.