Key Takeaways:
- 72% of Australians believe there is more racism and intolerance in the country than two years ago
- More than half of Australians point to antisemitism as the cause of increased racism and intolerance
- 46% of Australians think the Albanese government has delivered a weak response to the Bondi terror attack
- Personal approval ratings for both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have fallen
- Australians are looking for strong action and leadership in response to the terror attack and increased racism and intolerance
Introduction to the Current State of Australian Politics
The recent terror attack at Bondi Beach has brought to the forefront the issue of partisanship in Australian federal politics. Unfortunately, this partisanship has not created any winners, neither for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese nor Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. The real losers are the Australian people, who are concerned about the rise of racism and intolerance in the country. According to the Resolve Political Monitor, a clear majority of 72% of Australians believe that there is more racism and intolerance in the country than two years ago, with more than half pointing to antisemitism as the cause.
The Fallout from the Bondi Terror Attack
The Bondi terror attack has had a significant impact on the approval ratings of both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Albanese has faced vociferous criticism from various quarters, including the Jewish community, former Liberal leaders, the federal opposition, and parts of the media, for his handling of antisemitism in the two years leading up to the attack and in the days since. As a result, his personal approval ratings have taken a 15-point tumble. Similarly, Ley’s approval ratings have also fallen, by 7 points, despite her criticism of the government’s response to the attack. This suggests that Australians are looking for strong action and leadership in response to the terror attack and increased racism and intolerance.
The Need for Strong Leadership
The polling results indicate that Australians expect strong action and leadership from their government in response to the terror attack and increased racism and intolerance. However, they have not seen that from the federal government or the opposition. The findings vindicate the substance of the Coalition’s criticism of the government’s response, but they do not vindicate its leadership. This is a message for both Albanese and Ley, who need to demonstrate strong leadership and a commitment to addressing the issues of racism and intolerance. The fact that NSW Premier Chris Minns’ support has risen suggests that Australians are looking for leaders who can provide a strong and effective response to the challenges facing the country.
The Impact on Personal Approval Ratings
The personal approval ratings of both Albanese and Ley have been affected by the fallout from the Bondi terror attack. Albanese’s ratings have taken a significant hit, with a 15-point tumble, while Ley’s ratings have fallen by 7 points. This suggests that Australians are holding their leaders accountable for their response to the attack and the issue of racism and intolerance more broadly. The fact that Albanese’s ratings have been affected despite his efforts to address the issue of antisemitism suggests that Australians are looking for more than just words – they want to see strong action and a commitment to addressing the root causes of the problem.
The Way Forward
The polling results suggest that Australians are looking for a new approach to addressing the issues of racism and intolerance. They want to see strong leadership and a commitment to action, rather than just words. This is a challenge for both Albanese and Ley, who need to demonstrate that they are capable of providing the leadership and action that Australians are looking for. The fact that NSW Premier Chris Minns’ support has risen suggests that there are leaders who are capable of providing a strong and effective response to the challenges facing the country. Ultimately, the way forward will require a bipartisan approach that puts the interests of the Australian people above partisan politics.
