Major parties don't deserve Aussies' votes (28 Apr 2025)
In a commentary piece, Greg Barns argues that voting for independent candidates is essential to bring about meaningful reform in Australian politics. Reflecting on the Hawke and Keating governments, Barns notes that previous cabinets focused on substantive policy reforms, such as tax restructuring, deregulation, and foreign policy initiatives.
In stark contrast, he criticises today’s major parties—the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Coalition under Peter Dutton—for avoiding hard decisions and offering superficial promises during the election campaign.
Barns contends that the ALP has abandoned its reformist roots, now pandering to interest groups, the middle class, and corporate interests. Meanwhile, the Coalition, led by Dutton, is accused of economic irresponsibility, advocating for costly nuclear power projects, and supporting contentious international figures like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Citing political commentator Bernard Keane, Barns highlights that both parties are exacerbating long-term issues such as housing, climate change and budget management without presenting any forward-looking solutions.
Declaring his own voting intentions—supporting independent Andrew Wilkie in Clark and the Greens, Legalise Cannabis and Jacqui Lambie parties in the Senate—Barns champions a stronger, progressive crossbench. He points to the candidacies of Peter George in Franklin and Bridget Archer in Bass as opportunities for Tasmanians to challenge the status quo.
According to Barns, independents like Wilkie and George offer genuine liberal values, free from the careerist mentality and party loyalty that plague major party candidates.
Barns highlights the importance of a diverse and principled crossbench, including the Teal independents such as Allegra Spender, Kate Chaney, Sophie Scamps, Monique Ryan, and Zoe Daniel, alongside the Greens. He acknowledges the Greens’ principled stance on Gaza and human rights issues, even while noting their statist tendencies in economic policy.
Barns asserts that a crossbench holding the balance of power could drive essential reforms similar to those achieved during the Hawke-Keating era, including tax reform, budget repair, social justice initiatives, principled foreign policy, and serious action on climate change.
The article stresses that majority governments have failed Australia since the Howard government’s populism post-2001, leading to intellectual stagnation and political cynicism. Barns urges voters to seize this election as a pivotal opportunity to elect candidates committed to substantive policy change rather than political opportunism. In his view, electing progressive crossbenchers is the only viable path to preventing Australia’s further domestic and international decline.
Kate Chaney is specifically mentioned among the Teal independents as part of the group that could help deliver the smart, principled reform Australia desperately needs.
