To what extent will Trump’s influence affect the voting behavior of Australians?

Leveraging the ‘Culture Wars?’

The campaign so far has seen both major parties attempt to distance themselves from the U.S. president amid concerns about his public perception—driven heavily by local media reporting.

In fact, in multiple elections, the right-side of politics has often been accused of importing U.S.-style politics or culture wars into the country.

For example, in last year’s Queensland state election, the Liberal National Party was accused of potentially cutting abortion services if it won power, while the Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin has often been labelled as “hard right.”

Yet Young said federally, Labor had engaged in a scare campaign focused on local issues, including concerns that Dutton would cut Medicare and health funding to support the Coalition’s $600 billion pledge to develop civilian nuclear power.

“Health is similar to abortion in terms of its emotional appeal, and it is a brazen lie, from the cost of the reactors, through to the idea that it will be met out of cuts to services rather than through the generation of electricity,” he said.

Tougher Questions Needed

Young was critical of the coverage of the campaign, which has deviated from cost of living.

“If I have criticism of the media coverage it is that they are not asking the tough questions of either leader, like, ‘How much debt is too much debt?’ or ‘When do you expect to get the budget back into balance?’ or ‘You say we live in time of unprecedented international risk, but apart from AUKUS where the equipment will arrive in 10 years’ time, what do you plan to do?’

“Productivity is stagnant or in decline, what are you going to do to fix it?” he said.

Cost of Living Still the Primary Driver

“It was always cost of living,” Griffith University politics expert Paul Williams told The Epoch Times, when asked what the number one factor was right now in the election.

But Williams says the Liberal Party drifted too much into “culture wars” issues, which was not going to resonate as much with disinterested voters or the wider public who were dealing with higher prices.

“Lack of focus cost him dearly,” he said.

Williams also said backing down from signature policies was damaging the Liberal Party’s campaigns, noting the uncertainty around the Coalition’s “work from home” policy, and the sudden change in enthusiasm for nuclear.

Young had similar views adding that the backdown on forcing Canberra-based public servants to return to the office was needless.

“In my polling ‘work from home’ was mentioned by three or four respondents, all women, and all rusted-on Labor or Greens. Three were teachers,” Young noted.

“I don’t think it is a huge factor, but Dutton should have put it in the context of improving the public service, and the fact that the New South Wales Labor premier has implemented it.

“I think it was also a mistake to backflip on it. While I don’t have any data, I suspect that it would undermine his reputation for strength, and even make him seem dishonest, or shifty.”

In turn, Williams said the Liberal Party campaign was inadequate.

“It’s not hard rock populism or Trumpism that’s sinking him,” Williams said.

Dutton’s leadership style will ultimately decide the outcome more than comparisons to U.S. politics.

“It was always a cost-of-living election, the die is cast,” Williams said.