This year’s election campaigns show just how disengaged the Australian electorate is
With a slew of campaign messaging, election advertising and political rhetoric hitting consumers ahead of tomorrow’s vote, former political staffer turned public affairs advisor, Nathan Clarke, asks: why isn’t anyone listening?
The past few weeks have served as another reminder that political campaigns in Australia are a product of a disengaged electorate.
Whether it’s the lack of political leadership on the issues that matter, the rotating door to the PMO, or years of minority government and political instability – the signs are clear that, for
this election campaign at least, Australians have stopped listening.
What they’re after
As Bernard Salt said recently, to win majority government the major parties require only a handful of swing seats, typically held by margins of less than 3%, equating to an aggregate of roughly 15,000 votes.
Those 15,000 voters are spread across the country as captured in our infographic.
Perhaps the electorate is disengaged because of the absolutely appalling standard of advertising from the political parties. A wise mate one said “shit companies do shit advertising “ He’s right, and this years advertising was mostly shit.
I reckon Nathan is part of the problem. His whole observation is based on assumptions of marketing and spin. Whereas success in politics is in taking people along the path with you. The evidence is that people were in fact listening quite well and they made clear choices, almost seat by seat. Both parties have effectively admitted post-election that they need to attend to the electorate. Let’s see if they’ve learned anything.
First, however, they should put the spin artists in the cellar.
Why I abstained from voting is the truth that I am a pacifist. Additionally I am.opposed to same sex marriage. I abstained from the marriage poll since those that opposed same sex marriage are oppressing poorer people and are war mongers. I do not vote because I want to stand acquitted before my Lord.
I consider myself to be called out of the world but I do not carry my beliefs to extremes.