Size of Labor victory frees up backbenchers to speak out

The Age

4 days ago

On election eve, then-Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume was asked whether Angus Taylor was a future leader. In response, she delivered a political phrase for the ages: 'You do not read the entrails until you have gutted the chicken.' Remarkably, seconds later, she came close to outdoing herself: 'Democracy sausages are my favourite meal. If I was on death row and they asked me what my last meal would be? A sausage in bread with onion and tomato sauce.'
Which was not, as it turned out, an entirely inaccurate metaphor for a Liberal frontbencher to use on May 3.
Especially not Hume, who as of last week is no longer a frontbencher. Naturally, she responded to this news with a series of quotable quotes: 'As my very wise mother would say, 'Stop your nonsense, chin up, chest out, straighten your tiara and let's get on with the job'.' One way she will do that is, apparently, by saying what she wants – which is 'certainly going to make for much more interesting Sunrise interviews.'
An interesting feature of Labor's stunningly strong election result is how much freedom backbenchers on both sides now have – should they choose to use it. In the last parliament, Labor's slim majority – as well as its anxiousness not to repeat the chaos of the Rudd-Gillard years – imposed discipline. A similar thing happened in the Coalition, from the opposite direction: returning to government felt so close and nobody wanted to be the one to wreck things. Now, for opposite reasons, backbenchers on both sides can speak their mind: Labor MPs because their side is so unlikely to lose in 2028, and Coalition MPs because theirs is so unlikely to win.
Which leads to a minor paradox: at a time when Labor's leadership is stronger than ever, it may face a cacophony of voices louder than in its first term. This will require adjustment from Labor's cabinet. But it will require adjustment from the rest of us too. The past fortnight gave some sense of just how hard such an adjustment will be.
Most of the political class spent the weeks immediately following the election loudly pointing out that, as it turned out, 'unity' was not always that useful, and in fact could be hugely counterproductive. And yet suddenly, faced with a split between the Nationals and the Liberals, most of the talk was of the importance of restoring unity ASAP. Conventional wisdom dies hard.
Time will deliver its verdict on whether immediately reuniting those two parties was the smart move. Meanwhile, the rest of us – media and voters – should consider how we will treat all the newly raised voices in this term of parliament. As disastrous signs of instability or as interesting contributions to necessary debate?
Over on the Labor side, the controversy around the government's increased taxation on superannuation earnings of the rich has given us some clues as to how it is adjusting to its new position of strength.