My recent socials post about my quandary to stay on X or leave sparked a number of interesting responses.
First, it’s genuinely humbling when people take the time to say they value what I write. As someone who loves words, and firmly believes they matter, that is one of the greatest compliments. So, thank you.
Second, there was plenty of advice, which is always appreciated.
Finally, there were repeated comments about One Nation “listening.” That’s a more complex issue. One Nation are highly effective at listening and echoing the discontent that has been building for some time. “We hear you and we’ll fix it” is easy to say, but far harder to deliver. And sometimes, it simply can’t be delivered. Too often, that part is left unsaid.
We’ve seen this before. Labor’s promises on housing, Medicare gap fees, and cheaper energy are recent examples of how easy it is to overpromise and underdeliver. The list goes on.
What we need from political parties isn’t just listening, we need honesty. A willingness to commit to what is achievable, and the courage to be upfront about what isn’t, even when it’s unpopular. We need leadership that focuses on substance, not distraction and anger, and isn’t constantly chasing approval by appeasing competing tribes.
But this isn’t just on political parties.
As voters, we need to grow up. Politics is not a game, it has real consequences for our lives, our freedoms, and our future. We should approach it with the same care and judgement we apply to the most important decisions in our personal lives.
The idea of “what do we have to lose, I’ll give them a try” isn’t a standard most people would apply to choosing a partner, buying a home, or making a major life decision, so why apply it to voting?
And while it’s often said that one vote doesn’t matter, collectively they matter enormously. Recent elections have shown just how powerful that collective decision-making can be, particularly through preferences.
I also often hear that voters don’t understand preferences or are misled by how-to-vote cards. I don’t accept that. When you stand at the ballot box, it is very clear who you are voting for. It is printed plainly in front of you.
We need to stop letting ourselves, and each other, off the hook. Governments aren’t formed by accident or political magic. They are elected, deliberately, by voters.
And that means the standard of our politics will only ever be as high as the standard we demand, and the responsibility we’re prepared to take for the choices we make.
