Australian Election wash up

Having written about my view of the world prior to the election, it is probably only complete to write my version of what happened. Despite the rhetoric that is being pushed out by the ALP and Bill Shorten, it is impossible in a democracy for the people to have got it wrong. Before I am subjected to the vitriol that has dominated social media, by this statement, I merely mean that the majority wins. The majority would appear to have voted directly and indirectly for a continuation of the path that we were on prior to the election campaign.

The ALP and Mr Shorten provided a vision for the Australia they wanted to create. The vision involved a targeted elimination of refundable franking credits for self managed superannuation funds but not for industry or retail funds. It involved a halving of the CGT discount that was brought in to account for inflation in the time value of money. It involved a grandfathering of negative gearing as it relates to investment properties. It involved a "big government" view of the world with high taxes and ambitious government programs. There was significant initiatives for cancer sufferers amongst other government funded programs.

By comparison, the Morrison led coalition made comparatively few promises. Apart from tax cuts, the majority of which were pushed far into the future there was very little in the way of change. The climate change targets were going to be met they said. The ship is steady and doesn't need altering of course they said.

In the end, the people voted and the status quo remained. Commentators suggested the change agenda may have been too broad. It may have alienated too great a cross section of the public. That said, it would appear the election turned on Queensland and potentially mining in that state. Call it jobs, call it what you like. In the end the prophets of change were shown to be incorrect. There was very little swing in the polls. Very little change and a continuing coalition government. Perhaps Tony Abbott finishing his career is the biggest change in the political situation arising from the election. With Abbott gone and Turnbull gone, Scott Morrison is free to try and unite his party and hopefully the people of Australia. In the ALP, Bill Shorten remains but not as leader. Anthony Albanese has the task of either moderating the party back to the centre and away from class warfare or in convincing the Australian public that a push towards socialism is in the greater good.

However this plays out, the bigger picture is a continuation of unrest with Russia looming as a threat in Europe, the UK lurching like a rudderless boat with their Brexit scenario, China in the grip of ASF threatening their food security and the Trump administration looking more and more dysfunctional with every passing day. Australia in this context is a minor player in a bigger scene. Our trading partner and our military support are on opposing sides and we may be pulled apart in the conflicts to come. I hope we can galvanize as a country. There are good people who support both sides of politics. It doesn't have to be "us" and "them". Civility goes a long way as does tolerance of another's point of view.

I hope we can continue to navigate troubled waters with a touch of class and with family at our core. It is after all community that separates the strong from the weak and community in all it's shapes and sizes that keeps us going in the hard times. Take a lesson from the kids. They don't discriminate and neither should we.