b'Canberra observed Canberra observedreplaced by a high profile ALP candidate,d. opposes the Liberals changes to Kristina Keneally, who was beaten byuniversity fees which delivered huge fees local independent and Deputy Mayor ofand huge debts for many Australian Fairfield, Dai Lei. students and are deliberately designed In the new Parliament, there is likely toto discourage students from studying be at least 15 people in the House ofcourses such as the arts and humanities, Representatives who do not belong todespite evidence of strong employment the two major parties, up from six in theoutcomes for graduates in these fields.old Parliament. Lets see how they go with these policies.The fate of the Liberal party can be tracedA national energy policyback to John Howard, when he started to select people from the right-wing ofThe energy policy is short on detail. The David Denham AMthe party into his ministry. Tony Abbottplatform states that:Associate Editor for Government continued this trend.denham1@iinet.net.au Labor will modernise Australias energy When Scott Morrison took over as Primesystem and develop a framework that Minister, he was left with a very narrowwill ensure reliable, affordable and range of talent and experience in theclean energy for families and businesses. Labor forms government after nineLiberal party and then, having to dealLabor will ensure sufficient investment years in oppositionwhat wentwith the Nationals. in new generation to replace retiring wrong for the Liberals? The message for all politicians is simple.assets, support the electrification of Look after each electorate with care. our transport infrastructure, and grow Labor took advantage of the electoralnew industries such as green steel and mood against the Coalition to lead theWhat happens next? green aluminium, as well as ensure next government. The ALP has a very comprehensive policyaffordability, reliability and pollution platform. If you go to: https://alp.org.au/ reduction goals.The Coalitions seats in Parliament fell from 76 in the last Parliament, to 58 inmedia/2594/2021-alp-national-platform- Labor recognises and supports the the new one. The Nationals retained theirfinal-endorsed-platform.pdf you will find acritical role that gas plays in the 16 seats, but the Liberals were hit hard149-page document, which was adopted atAustralian economy. Labor recognises by the teal independents, the 3.3% swingthe National ALP Congress in 2021. It lists inthat gas has an important role to play against the Coalition, and a disastrousdetail what the ALP hopes to achieve andin achieving Labors target of net zero result in Western Australia where Laboris worth a quick read. We can watch to seeemissions by 2050.gained four seats. if they carry out their commitments as they lead the next Government. We do not know whether Labor will The teals stood in former Liberal heartlandencourage oil and gas exploration, inner-city seats and were funded byI dont want to go into the details, butonshore or offshore, or whether it will Climate 200, a community crowd-fundedwould like to mention their commitmentscontinue with the Carbon Capture and initiative established in 2019 to supportto Stronger Universities, a National EnergyStorage project.pro-climate, pro-integrity, and pro-genderPolicy and Resources for the Nation.equity candidates. Resources for the nationUniversitiesThe power of teal was unleashed inThe ALP platform is similar to the the Victorian seat of Kooyong, whereIt is no secret that the CoalitionCoalitions. It states thatMonique Ryan beat the Treasurer Joshgovernment did not like universities, so Frydenberg. According to an electionits good to read in the ALP policy that: Labor recognises and values night report, they door-knocked 55the economic and employment 000 dwellings in that electorate. In theAll Australians, regardless of theircontribution of Australias mining ACT the teal backed candidate, Davidbackground or where they live, shouldand extractive resources industries Pocock, looks like beating Zed Seselja forhave the opportunity of higherincluding iron ore, coal, uranium, a Senate seat that has, until now, alwayseducation. Labor therefore: nickel, rare earths, gold, copper, zinc, been won by a Liberal. a. opposes the deregulation of fees andsilver, gas, bauxite and others.the introduction of full fee degreesLabor notes the critical importance Neither of these incumbents paid sufficientfor undergraduate award courses inthese industries play in Australias attention to the views of their electorates. Australian universities; economic prosperity, particularly Then there were the pre-selectionb. supports a fair and equitable studentin Australias terms of trade, as well problems in NSW, where Liberal candidatescontribution and income-contingentin supporting regional Australian were selected by the Liberal party machineloan system that does not createcommunities.only days before the election. financial disincentives to study and gives students who take out loansLabor recognises the important role Labor suffered a similar defeat in theadequate consumer protection; that existing and emerging resources previously safe Sydney seat of Fowler,c. will maintain a targeted system ofcan play in the expansion of existing where the locally selected candidate wasstudent income support; industries as well as in the development 29 PREVIEW JUNE 2022'