Pointers for NZ from Australian election

Anthony Albanese outside his house after the election win. Photo: Getty Images
Anthony Albanese outside his house after the election win. Photo: Getty Images
It is so long ScoMo and gidday Albo, after Labor’s victory in the Australian election on Saturday.

With several seats still too close to call it is uncertain whether Labor will have a clear majority in its own right or be forced to run a minority government.

But it was clear on Saturday night that the Coalition was in no position to form a government and that its decade-long grasp on power in Australia was over.

As always when it comes to an election across the Tasman, New Zealand’s politicians would have been watching closely, and there was something for all our main parties in the Labor win.

For Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, it means she will now be working with a Labour counterpart across the Ditch, and Ms Ardern will be hopeful incoming Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is more tractable than outgoing Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was often inflexible when confronted with New Zealand issues such as deportations and resettlement of refugees.

However, she will have noted that while there was a swing to the left in Australia only a small percentage of it went to Labor, which governs on a small share of the primary vote due to historic successes by independent candidates.

National leader Chris Luxon can take some heart from the Albanese victory too, despite the election of a left-leaning government.

Mr Albanese campaigned on issues very similar to those which National is now attacking Labour on: Covid-19 management and the cost of living, and Mr Luxon — and Act New Zealand leader David Seymour for that matter — will be pleased to see those resonated with Australia voters.

They will also have been heartened to see that a government which led through the Covid-19 pandemic can be overturned.

The Green Party’s Australian colleagues enjoyed great success on Saturday, being one of the major beneficiaries of Australian disillusionment with both its main parties.

Climate change was a central issue in the Australian election and New Zealand Greens will hope it can be made central to next year’s ballot in this country, too.

However, they will also be wary of the rise of so-called "Teal independents" in Australia, a movement which has similarities to National’s Blue-Green faction, and will hope not to be flanked on its right.

There was even something for the Maori Party: Mr Albanese’s election night commitment to the Uluru Statement will have been noted and approved of.

Ms Ardern is likely to schedule the next New Zealand election for about October next year.

A lot can change between now and then, and Australian politics are different enough from ours for there to be danger in drawing firm conclusions.

But there are certainly lessons to be learned from this campaign and its result to influence our politics a year hence.

mike.houlahan@odt.co.nz

 

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