HOW WE SEE IT! Deflated and distracted, with a desire to get back to basics

With Bryan Littlely and Shaun Hollis

Last updated:
Cartoon by SHAUN HOLLIS

The topic of today's column should be a no brainer as Australia votes... at least, that was the plan from the start of the week.

But, life throws you curve balls. And it did this week with a good mate of mine dying yesterday.

It has me both a bit deflated and distracted from the task at hand. A bit like the election campaign, actually.

While I knew it was pretty much inevitable he would succumb to brain cancer, I was of the thought that if anyone could fight it, this bloke - a former footy coach, mentor and journo mate - could.

Obviously I'm saddened by the loss of a good friend, upset for his loving family and friends. I will grieve and I will then get on with it as my mate, Griff, would want.

And to "bloody get on with it" is what my mate, who didn’t mind weighing in on political discussion, would say to whoever leads Australia after today. I’ll get on with it, then.

It has been a drawn out election campaign with neither major party, to my mind, setting the world on fire… or barely striking a match.

Many much greater political minds than me I am sure will tell me of the more intricate policies of those parties, and other candidates, and how they could vastly improve our place but I can’t say I have seen anything to give me great confidence that either Labor or the Coalition have positioned themselves to tackle the basic task at hand… to get the cost of living under control.

I have the thought that Peter Dutton’s promise to cut 25 cents a litre off fuel would help. As a primary producer, I know it at very least has the potential to turn the corner on price rises due to “rising transport costs”... although, it would be open to profiteering I am sure.

As a parent, being able to get the kid to footy games or going away on day drives or even further afield for driving holidays more often, with a bit less spent on a tank of fuel to then spend at the local bakery or club canteen, is definitely something I see of benefit. Would it bring food costs down? Likely not, but more activity makes more dollars go ‘round is my logic.

While I saw that pledge as promising, there’s bugger all else the Coalition has said to get me excited, and plenty that has been said that puts me off them.

I am probably a bit basic in my economic assessment. But getting back to basics is maybe a good thing for our leaders to think about.

Don’t spend more than you have. Don’t waste our tax payer dollars. Look after your people first. Work out ways to improve the skills of our people, put roofs over their heads, food in their fridges and fire up the industries and opportunities that exist in Australia which really falls very far short of its potential.

I have plenty of ideas of how those things could be achieved but none of them would make me very popular.

So, I could never be a politician…. I’d not go well in an election which is these days more of a popularity competition for most than it is making a call on who is best to run our country.

And one last thing.... don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Give your mate a call.

 

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