So just to recap:
There’s been a big swing against the coalition which the right wing of the party are trying to say is because Malcolm Turnbull turfed Tony Abbott, who would have won definitively, they insist, because they’re deluded. According to them, Malcolm then blew it by being too moderate and that’s why the election result has been a disaster for the coalition who may not win enough seats to form government.
I disagree. I think part of the swing against the government was BECAUSE of Tony Abbott. Remember, we never got the chance to vote him out. And Malcolm didn’t fundamentally change or reverse many of his policies – plebiscite, anyone?
Watch Mia’s Snapchat from Election day. It’s what everyone was thinking. (Post continues after video.)
I think the swing against the government was due to Malcolm being hamstrung by his own party. Ultimately, he’s his own man and he got to decide what he said, who he spoke to, what policies he supported and what he stood for. But the sense that he wasn’t being “real Malcolm” and that he was towing the conservative line to keep the likes of Cory Bernardi and other Abbott supporters in his corner was pervasive.
Forget being too moderate (as the deluded conservatives who backed Abbott are trying to say today), many believe Malcolm stumbled because he was not moderate enough. He disappointed so many people on both sides who wanted to vote for him because they thought he stood for the progressive centre but saw no sign of it during the interminable eight week campaign, or indeed since he became PM.
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I totally agree with Mia - I felt Excited when Malcolm became leader - watching Tony Abbott staunch about eating onions and winking was excruciating - let's not forget his tenure as minister for woman(wth??) - I thought great- a leader in the liberal party with some forward thinking - he's been stymied by the right and has tried to keep the peace - we want the real Malcolm - not Tony's Malcolm?? If Tony held the leadership I think you'd find they would have lost many more seats and actually be the opposition today - with all this going on I voted for an independent that offered me what both parties lacked - honesty, integrity & standing up for everyday Australians
For the first time in my life I voted for independents and minor parties because I just couldn't stomach the majors. Some may say that it was wasted votes but at least these people/parties truly believe in what they are trying to achieve. Malcolm Turnbull has been such a disappointment to so many people. When he came to power (albeit in a grubby way), it was the first time in years that my family who range from left to right with a fair bit in between actually talked about politics without an argument. Now we are feel let down by his short time in government. We actually thought he had the potential to stand up to the far right and lead a progressive government. How wrong we were.