Yes, it’s the economy, stupid. But One Nation is outflanking the government on messaging, too
Voters’ economic pain is real. But perceptions matter too, and the government must get better at selling its message on its key policies.
The economic struggles of Australian voters are undeniable as successive interest rate hikes have led to soaring mortgage repayments. Despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's attempts to frame the issue as solely economic, other factors like race, ethnicity, and gender also play a role. Two-thirds of One Nation voters report worsening household finances, while 77% believe a Hanson government would effectively manage the cost-of-living crisis.
Economic pain is evident as living standards decline due to rising profits and falling real wages. The government faces criticism from both the Coalition and One Nation for contributing to the economic woes and housing affordability crisis. The Coalition believes Labor is to blame, while One Nation attributes the issues to both major parties.
However, external factors such as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, high inflation, and government debt also impact the economy. Voters are already cutting back on spending due to the crisis, and higher interest rates will exacerbate the situation. While the government has taken some measures to address the cost-of-living crisis, these efforts are undermined by inflation and interest rate increases.
The perception of the government listening and addressing economic difficulties is crucial, but current efforts are being undermined by inflation and interest rate hikes. The government's debt levels fuel inflation, and the Coalition criticizes Labor's attempts to address the crisis, leading to a perception problem for Labor in winning back less socially conservative working-class voters.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
