The obsession with whether governments have broken campaign promises is shrinking political ambition and discouraging the kind of leadership needed to tackle Australia’s deep structural problems, P&I Editor Catriona Jackson writes.
I am sick to death of hearing journalists open their analysis of the Budget with the words, ‘Is this a broken promise?’
Do we really believe that parliamentarians are never allowed to respond to circumstances, take a broad of view of long-term intergenerational equity, and tackle the big issues?
When we vote we don’t we don’t just vote for the list of stuff political parties issue in glossy media releases. We place our trust in our representatives to represent and lead – to make significant, important judgements. We elect them to make decisions about priorities that take into account the welfare of the whole, and the fate of the nation. We hope they will be consistent and responsible, but that they will lead with intent, and wisdom.
Sometimes we forget this broader political reality, and it is to our detriment.
I don’t know who said we get the politicians we deserve – but if we keep on petty fogging about adherence to this or that pledge – adherence often pressed upon parliamentarians when asked to rule in, or rule out, pledges – we will get just that. We will get narrow, visionless, time-servers who will never change anything.
That is bad anytime, but particularly bad now.
In a time of global turmoil that you can go one of two ways – you can turn inward or look to the horizon. I’m not saying the Budget has delivered a visionary step change. But it has addressed inequities that seemed baked in to our system, that leave people like me amassing wealth while my children struggle to make rent or find a house.
I will leave the detailed economic analysis to P&I experts. But I’ll call the 2026 Budget a decent piece of work and a little hint at the broader progressive change Australians are hankering for. Change that this government is in very strong position to deliver.
Catriona Jackson is the Chief Executive and Editor of Pearls and Irritations.