If politics is an exam the people often fail, the Australian election of Saturday was a case when most moderate punters could feel they had performed above the normal standards. The primary vote both for the conservative Liberal party and the shapeshifting, slightly self-embarrassed Labor party was down. Both parties were hurt in this case because leaders parachuted candidates into plum seats over the intentions of locals. They were heavily punished for it.
The voters also wanted more movement on climate change now that individual Australians know the exorbitant impact fire, drought, flood and ocean surges have had on our huge continent. Scott Morrison, our prime minister, was going to fool around with coal and gas and carbon capture, and uttered the normal “let the market look after climate” phrases in true neoliberal fashion. The Australians woke up to him, and not only moved the goalposts but dragged them off the paddock. They chose the idea of depending not on gas and coal and carbon capture but voted for a swifter transition. Though a fairly conservative people, they could nonetheless read the signs in the sky.
