Significant differences between Labor govt and Dutton LNP

February 6, 2025

It is inaccurate to use the popular and populist formulation “all politicians — or parties — are the same”.

Labor may have been disappointing on international matters – continued AUKUS expensive folly, failure to stand up to the ruling Israeli false narrative etc. Yet it has achieved many reforms: prescription costs, improved bulk billing support, after-hours medical centres, childcare costs, childcare training, apprentice training, numerous industrial relations reforms, housing developments (after a long Greens delay), support for renewables, moves towards Gonski levels in public education, reducing HECS debt, WFH right to disconnect etc etc

Populist anti-political thought fosters political alienation and supports the mainstream and marginal conservative parties, just like the absurd Trumpist Dutton term “common sense”.

Let’s recognise a government active in reform — with some significant exceptions — even as it remains a target of the Murdochracy, and has failed to successfully communicate its achievements.