Voters turned away from the major parties this election.Credit:Chris Hopkins
The result was certainly a rejection of the Coalition,which shed five percentage points of primary vote and received a minority of preferences. Despite relative success in navigating the pandemic,the government’s longevity,competency and the style of its leader stymied its chance of a second “miracle” win. You don’t have to like someone to vote for them,but it helps.
Without a bold vision or policy platform,Labor’s primary vote dropped a point,too. Having to rely on others’ preferences,values statements and the WA premier is hardly a glowing endorsement. But a win with under a third of the primary vote is still a win.
If anything,this election was a protest against politics and the way it is being conducted by the major parties. This sentiment erupted most visibly in our inner cities,where moderate Liberals were overtaken by immoderate gains by the independents.
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Urban,urbane women built impressive primary votes of 26-42 per cent from nothing. Locals voted for them but also got behind them,many campaigning,donating and advocating for their cause. In Brisbane,independents were unavailable and the Greens capitalised on the shift away from major parties.
Regardless of your political views,you cannot deny this has changed politics.
Elections are no longer a zero-sum game. The Coalition’s losses are not now automatically Labor’s gains,and vice versa. Labor is reduced to running dead in many seats,and the Coalition will now find it harder to win elections from the centre,nurture future leaders and find donations.