Recently throughout Australian media and political circles, this coming election has been labelled as the most important in Australia’s history, and certainly the most important within Australia’s recent history. But why exactly is this being said and how do these claims stack up?
The initial and most obvious reason for this election to be called Australia’s most important is the hot topic issue of climate change. For many left-leaning voters, this election will decide whether or not the Australian public is taking climate change ‘seriously’ and seemingly may decide Australia’s course for the future in tackling climate change. Of course, while it has been brought up as an issue in previous elections, this election has had the largest focus on it as a hot topic issue, possibly due to the by-election in Wentworth seemingly going to Independent Kerryn Phelps due to the Liberal’s stance on climate change. However, as Green leader Richard Di Natale has noted, ‘every election from now on will be a climate election’ meaning that this election is just the start of normal election proceedings. On the other hand, to Liberal voters and other voters on the right, this election is an attempt to prove that Climate change isn’t that big of an issue, and that the average Australian cares more for the economy and tradition than what they see as an ‘alarmist topic’.
What else makes this election important? How party allegiances are stacking up. To Labor supporters, a win for Labor here will show Australia that Australians won’t stand for parties that side with controversial minor parties like the United Australian Party. This will effectively stifle these types of alliances in the coming future election. On the other hand, Liberal supporters will see a win or a small margin as reason for praise. To them, it would show Australia that any controversies surrounding these parties have been overexaggerated and that Australian’s care more for ‘policies’ than anything else.
Finally, for many not voting for the two major parties this election is important for one other reason. And this is the increasing amount of Australian’s voting for minor parties or independents. To these voters, any more seats gained here will show the nation that the time for the two party system is over, as the continual and gradual success of smaller parties and independents continues to increase. On this side, for many Labor and Liberal voters, the battle between the two is far too significant to care for how these smaller parties may go.
Looking at these three factors, it is obvious to see why this election is important. It will be an election to call the future of climate change policies in Australia, to call the future of controversial parties in Australia and to see the rise or fall of minor parties and independents in Australia. However, it being the most important is something that can’t be called. Campaign promises and election possibilities are just that, promises and possibilities. Only time will tell whether this will be the most important election in Australia’s history.
PoliticsBuff 