The Albanese government's mission, as articulated by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, is to ensure that 'working people are beneficiaries and not the victims of all this churn and change' in an uncertain and 'fragmenting' world. This sentiment resonates with the Labor party's historical roots in Barcaldine, Queensland, where the party was born. However, the question remains: what is the point of the Albanese government?
The government has indeed taken several progressive steps, including backing wage rises in care sectors, rebalancing workplace bargaining, legislating climate targets, and investing in women's health and social housing. The clean energy transition is considered a significant reform on par with the Hawke government's floating of the dollar. But, there are concerns about the pace and scale of reform, and the government's handling of crises.
One of the main challenges for the government is building trust. The Labor party's main opponent is now the 'pervasive cynicism and pessimism' festering in the community, rather than the Coalition or One Nation. The government is trying to combat this through initiatives like fee-free Tafe and urgent care clinics, aiming to restore faith in the role of government.
The government is also influenced by the lessons and scars of the Rudd and Gillard governments. The Rudd-Gillard veterans don't regret the leadership turmoil as much as the brevity of their terms, which allowed Tony Abbott to unwind signature policies. The goal is to maintain power long enough to entrench reforms that improve the lives of working people.
However, the government's approach has frustrated and alienated parts of Labor's left-leaning membership, and has been perceived as timid and weak. The government continues to approve fossil fuel projects, reject advice to increase jobseeker payments, and resist pressure to tax gas exports.
In conclusion, the Albanese government's mission is to ensure that working people are beneficiaries of change, but the question remains: what is the point of the government? The government has taken several progressive steps, but there are concerns about the pace and scale of reform, and the government's handling of crises. The government's ability to build trust and maintain power long enough to entrench reforms will be crucial to its success.
