UK RESULTS LESSON FOR LABOR

 

By Dino Cesta - 18 May 2015

NEWCASTLE HERALD 

 

The UK elections triggered an astonishing political earthquake which dramatically transformed the Westminster landscape. In what was anticipated to result in a hung Parliament, and possibly a minority Labour Government, the voters gifted David Cameron’s 'Tories' an unexpected mandate to govern in their own right.

 

We witnessed the decimation of the Liberal Democrats and resignation of leader Nick Clegg, embarrassingly underwhelming results of Labour and leader Ed Miliband’s resignation, and the extraordinary rise of the Scottish National Party at Labour’s expense.

 

While the nature of issues differ, the Australian Labor Party should heed the British results. In this climate of economic uncertainty, voters need assurance that an alternative future Labor Government has the credentials and safe hands to grapple with Australia’s 'debt and deficit' challenges… and not just deny the issue exists!

 

Opposition leader Shorten’s persistent negativity on any economic policy proposals from the Abbott Government is tiresome. Recent pension changes announced by the Government is a case in point, where social welfare groups are even supportive of the proposal.

 

Past Labor parties would have initiated these pension changes. Today’s Labor oppose these prudent changes. So what does today's Labor Party actually stand for?

 

It is not enough for Shorten to trip into Government on the coat-tails of Abbott's unpopularity. Nothing can be taken for granted. Otherwise, Shorten risks the same excruciating fate as his British counterpart, if he can’t articulate to voters a credible alternative economic plan for Australia.