Will the ‘Bush’ be Affected this Election?

Article by: Hari Yellina

Elections are said to be lost more often than won, according to an old proverb. Another theory about some currencies is that voters enjoy changing governments on a regular basis, regardless of how well the incumbent has performed. Gough Whitlam’s “It’s Time” campaign in 1972 was possibly the greatest and most obvious expression of this concept. We’re not likely to know whether there’s an atmosphere of change in the bush this election until after it’s over. But, in terms of a lengthier trend, author Gabrielle Chan’s 2018 book Rusted Off offers the greatest insight, arguing that rural and regional Australia is increasingly feeling taken for granted by conservatives and ignored by Labor.

The fact that more people are voting for neither confirms this viewpoint. Fewer of us are enslaved by one of the main political parties. A minor party currently receives about a third of the vote. On Saturday, we may expect the pattern to continue. As a result, voters have a few questions. Whether they want to alter the government with their vote in the lower house, and then whether they want a small party to hold the Senate’s balance of power. Voting with knowledge is difficult. Many voters will simplify the effort by choosing the party or candidate that best addresses one or two of their most pressing interests and concerns.

Producers and growers will place a high value on agricultural policies and promises. Moreover, the study of Queensland Country Life readers, as well as readers of other rural mastheads, conducted in April provided one of the best insights into the thinking of rural voters. Nearly half of all respondents picked regional infrastructure (47.2%) as one of their top three policy objectives, followed by climate change (46%), health and education (42.3%), and cost of living (42.3%). (41.3pc). With another unseasonal rain event inflicting severe damage throughout major growing regions this week, many voters may be thinking about weather and climate change policies as they head to the polls.