Neoliberalism is rarely named by conservative politicians, let alone something they bicker about in public. It is, however, the doctrine the Coalition – and the Liberal Party in particular – has long championed.
It was embraced enthusiastically under John Howard’s government from the late 1990s, through market liberalisation, industrial relations reform, privatisation of state enterprises, financial deregulation and significant reductions in corporate taxation.
Neoliberalism is also the word traditionally used by the Left to criticise this policy agenda, particularly the inequality it fuelled by shifting power, income, and security away from labour and towards capital.
On the face of it, Hastie’s language overlaps with elements of that critique, for example when he says that “a lot of Australians feel like the system is rigged against them” and that “we’re experiencing a lot of economic pain” as the global order fractures.
I wonder whether Hastie’s message is also a way of trying to attract back ex-LNP voters who went to the Teals.
Padme Amidala: “For social democracy, right …?”
This is surely not going to please the liberal party’s masters / corporate donors.
Would be a quite surprised if the party did a 180 turn and started putting the majority of voters ahead of their corporate donors interests.
I can imagine the Libs messaging doing a 180 but they would never deliver what they promise if they are elected.
Well, the donations law has gone through now. This behaviour might be a direct result of politicians feeling more unemcumbered from always chasing Party donations.
Edit: He’s also a WA Lib. They’ve been on the out for a long time now over here. Maybe he might understand better than his east coast colleagues that those old neoliberal policies aren’t winning any new votes anymore.
I lol’d at that cartoon.
