We need a much bigger corner to punish all the childish behaviour on display during the election campaign. Photo: YuriArcursPeopleimages.
WARNING: This column contains references to “federal election” and “politicians”. Some readers who are sick of hearing those words may be offended, but please contain your rage and continue reading.
It’s finally arrived.
After weeks of cajoling, pleading, fiction masquerading as fact, back-slapping and back-stabbing, the federal election is here.
It’s the day we get to cast our vote in the hope our country will be in safe hands for the next three years.
Whatever your views, we should all be celebrating today – celebrating the fact that the whole palaver is over.
I am in no way downplaying the importance of democracy in our society. I thank my ancestors every day that they headed for Australia and not the United States.
Elections are central to a democracy and I agree voting should be compulsory. (Again, look at the US. Say no more).
But bloody hell, the past few weeks have been a circus haven’t they? As much as I enjoy the machinations of politics and enjoy a good, robust debate, an election campaign can really stretch the friendship.
There have been times during the past few weeks where, as a mother, I’ve really wanted to take some people to task for their childish behaviours. If No 1 favourite son had ever acted as some politicians/candidates/supporters have, he would have lost his phone, PlayStation and been grounded for life.
So as I prepare to pop the champers and watch the results trickle in tonight while I play my Region Election Night bingo, here are five motherly reminders to our pollies and wannabes (and their supporters).
1. Never misuse social media or send unwanted messages (Trumpet of Patriots I’m talking about you)
Like everyone, I’m fed up to the back teeth with receiving text messages from H Fong. Yes, they’re legal; no, we can’t block them. I tried.
I have just taken a quiet satisfaction in reporting each and every one of them as spam and deleting them, as quickly as I can manage once I unclench my fists.
2. Never lie (you’ll get a pimple on your tongue)
Yes, they can lie and no, it’s not illegal. In this day and age with fact checkers everywhere waiting to leap onto a lie, you reckon they’d be stoopid to try and get away with it, but try it they do.
It’s also insulting, disrespectful and downright contemptible for them to assume the great unwashed are gullible enough to swallow the lies that are being dished out.
Social media does that all by itself, we don’t need our leaders or wannabe leaders to do it too.
Not surprisingly, a recent survey by the Australia Institute found that nine of 10 Australians supported the introduction of truth in political advertising laws, as is the law in South Australia and the ACT (take note the rest of the country).
It’s ironic that if a business company misleads consumers in its advertising they can face fines or other penalties (including the wrath of an angry public), but there are no laws to stop political parties from doing so.
3. Never litter or vandalise people’s property
I’ll really be pleased when all those corflutes are taken down and put back in the cupboard.
Yes, they’re legal, but apparently the rules differ in federal elections to state and local government elections, and as we saw this week, they can also differ between councils.
I’m not going to enter into that debate but it does make me wonder if the corflute has had its day. In this electronic age, are they still even necessary?
They’re a magnet for vandals and idiots: Torched, defaced, smeared: have Australia’s corflute wars gone too far? (SMH, 17 April); Campaign posters defaced with Nazi symbols (Australian Jewish News, 6 March); ‘Chilling’ video shows surgeon stomping on Monique Ryan corflute (SMH, 18 April); and from the what-on-earth-were-they-thinking file – Three women caught vandalising political poster of teal MP Zali Steggall with a Chanel lipstick in Sydney (7 News, 27 March).
South Australia (again!) is leading the nation with its poster policy. Strict laws passed by the crow-eaters last year ban election posters from public infrastructures although they are still permitted on private property.
Just think, if they’re not there, they can’t be vandalised or stolen and it would save an awful lot of distress – and the media and politicians could focus on real issues.
4. Never promise something you can’t deliver
It’s really easy to promise to fund stuff during a campaign but where’s the money coming from? If it’s important enough for the government of the day to promise money for something, why wasn’t it important enough to fund it in the preceding three years?
And I’m sorry candidates, but it’s really shallow to come to town to just wave your money around and then bugger off for another three years (or spend those years bagging the guys who got in).
5. This one is the biggie – never, ever be a bully, racist, homophobe or violent
Sadly it appears an election brings out the absolute worst in people.
I hate to keep bringing it up, but we only have to look at the US to see the frightening level of election violence. Is it the way of the world now, to lash out at fellow countrymen for daring to have a different view?
People trying to vote at pre-polling stations have told of intimidating, aggressive supporters shoving how to vote cards at them and not taking no for an answer. It reached dangerous levels in Sydney late last month, where a 17-year-old was charged after allegedly punching a 79-year-old man in the face at a pre-poll centre.
The racist, sexist, homophobic slurs that have been tossed around have no place in our society – ever.
But among all the gloom and doom, empty promises and mudslinging of this election, I did hear of one beautiful moment that reminded me that there are still decent people out there, at least in our part of the country.
A neighbour took his frail, very ill wife to pre-polling at Dapto Ribbonwood Centre, where there was a long queue.
As he prepared to get her, the wheelchair and oxygen bottle out of the car, a supporter stopped him, went away and came back with a pre-poll official.
Once the official assessed the situation, they told the wife to stay in the car, allowed the husband in to vote, then accompanied him back to the car with the wife’s ballot papers where she was able to cast her vote in comfort.
Now that is a moment that would make any mother proud.
