同路人語 583 善用我們手中的一票

同路人語 583
善用我們手中的一票
周偉文
3月 23日新州大選，自由黨國家黨聯盟在選前不看好下，取得過半數席位，組成政府，令到兩黨聯盟更有信心面對過去一、兩年來，民調大幅被工黨抛離的低落形象，總理莫里森很可能會在4月7日公佈會於5月11日進行聯邦大選。不過新州大選亦暴露了國家黨在鄉村地區，失去了不少支持。持續的乾旱及勞動力欠缺，深深影響著鄉村社區選民對國家黨執政，能否改善他們的信心，轉而支持一些細小的政黨。
近年來，兩大政黨都失去了選民的支持，基本得票率都持續下降，使到任何一黨都不容易贏得議會內過半數的席位，很容易產生懸峙議會。就算政府得到超過半數議席，也只是僅多一兩席，很容易隨著一、兩位議員離任而令到政府變得不穩定，就像今屆聯邦議會一樣，無法強勢推動競選時承諾的政策。這情況影響著政府的正常運作，所制定的政策無法推展，而且大部份時間，整個社會都在爭論著誰在領導？
細心研究，這現象的出現，根源在於人愈來愈自我中心，只考慮自己的利益，而少有考慮社會的整體利益。因此只要一些政客提出政策符合某一些群體的願望，就算這些政策無法令到社會整體發展得更好，仍會得到一定支持。可以說，社會漸變得沒有目標和方向。不同政黨反映出社會內不同利益群體的訴求，沒有對社會整體的承擔。主流政黨要成功協調不同群體的利益，才能執政。一些長遠發展，需要付出極大代價的政策，更不容易取得短期好處的，更不容易被認同。
所以今天，澳洲只有一些爭取選民支持的政客，而缺乏有遠見、政治理想及能領導社會的政治家。華人移民到澳洲，今天我們在政治上有一定的影響力，在面對將要來臨的聯邦大選，我們要主動認識各政黨的主張，有智慧地投手上的一票，選出有承擔的政府，才能令身處的社會，找出領導澳洲前進的路向。

Make good use of our vote in hand

Liberal and National Coaliation Party unexpectedly won with majority in the NSW Election on 23rd March. To keep up the Coalition’s momentum up against their fall behind over the past one or two years, on 7th April, PM Morrison may call for a 11th May Federal Election. But the NSW election also revealed the National Party is losing grip in the rural areas where people may turn to some other minor parties amid persistent draught and lack of productivity.

Both the major parties are losing their primary votes in recent years and it has been easier to end up with a hanging government rather than a majority control of the Senate. Even a government was formed with marginal win it could be unstable thus difficult for them have a free hand on realising their election campaign promises. As in the prevailing government, there hardly has been smooth policy implementation but non-stop debate and controversy.

On thinking, this phenomenon came out from a self-centre mentality as people concern more about self-interest rather than the society. So if a politician offers something good for a minor group, he still got his support even though his policy is not in the overall interest of the society. So the society is becoming less cohearent in its development with diffierent politicains working for different isolated groups’ interest. The major party must consolidate all these interests to form government. So it is not easy for some costy policies of long term interest to get through.

So Australia today only got politicians who want their votes but possess no political vision and leadership. Chinese immigrants have political impact these days, in the coming Federal election we must aim to know more about the parties and use our wisdom to cast our vote for our better government, better society and better future.