Wednesday, 13 November 2024

United States presidential election

David ETTERSHANK (Western Metropolitan) (09:47): The election of Donald J Trump provides much food for thought. We saw a campaign driven by misogyny, xenophobia and hate. We heard of a return to US-style isolationism. We heard bizarre economic proposals that will serve only the wealthy at the expense of the working poor and the most marginalised citizens of the US. But we cannot ignore the enormity of Trump’s decisive victory, signalling a broad shift of support across the American working and middle classes. We can point to Trump’s mastery of misinformation or the populist fantasies that characterised his election campaign, but the reality is that more than 51 per cent of Americans rejected the Democrats’ vision in favour of Trump’s.

And it is not just an American thing. We are seeing a seismic shift towards adoptions of similar policies by right-wing populist parties all over the Western world. Here in Australia millions are struggling to stay afloat. Meagre wages growth, high interest rates, unaffordable and scarce housing and unchecked retail duopolies pushing up food costs make any change, however fanciful, look increasingly attractive.

It is time for vision. It is time for bold changes, however modest, that improve daily life. How about a decent bus service so we do not have to run an extra car? Or some cost-of-living relief that will cost the Treasurer nothing – let us grow our own weed.