ANALYSIS: There’s a new class of crossbenchers. Can they change politics or will politics change them?
When filming an interview with a politician it's not normal for them to describe a hard-to-win part of their electorate as "the Badlands".Or to let out an exasperated "shit" and "Jesus Christ" when they misplace their glasses ahead of being sworn in at Parliament House.Over a period of two months, I followed a group of women crossbenchers who have transformed the political landscape, vanquishing Liberal and Labor frontbenchers, ousting a Senate stalwart.
While she is the very accomplished and whip-smart former head of paediatric neurology at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, she’s also a complete novice in the political game.I watch her go from confidently telling a crowd of donors that while independents had four parliamentary staffers under the previous government, she’d asked for five, to being slapped down by the new Prime Minister, who informed the crossbenchers they could have just one.
She laughs, sourly, saying that this "puts paid" to the notion, shopped around in some parts of the media and the Liberal Party before the election, that she was somehow a "Labor stooge".'You build a thicker skin'Le was kicked out of the Liberal Party for running as an independent against a candidate it had endorsed for Sydney’s Fairfield Council.“Sometimes, jokingly, I will say, 'How many knives do you want to see?',” she says, gesturing to her back.
“[We have a] high proportion of people with low socio-economic income. It’s struggle streets out here.”On social media, she’s a complete dynamo, constantly filming posts to stay visible and remind her community that she’s there for them.“Hi. Good morning, guys!” she greets her Instagram followers from the opening of parliament, before taking a moment to show off her bright yellow ao dai, a traditional Vietnamese dress.
In truth, the new independents present an interesting dilemma to the new government: On one hand, they don’t want more people like Le snapping up their own seats and so have a motivation to weaken them.On the other, the teals, like Ryan, provide a bloc of seats that the Liberals may find hard to win back, so keeping these independents happy could keep the Coalition out of government.
The Labor government’s slim majority in the lower house means it doesn’t necessarily need the votes of teal independents such as Ryan.It will have to negotiate with parties and crossbenchers — such as the Greens, independent David Pocock, as well as Lambie and Tyrrell — to get legislation across the line, and these women know it: Tyrrell hasn’t ruled out using her vote as a lever if it is the right thing for Tasmania.
Lambie has made a political career out of it. Once more sceptical about climate change, she's now openly embracing the idea of emissions targets.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
America’s last stand against Trumpification: uphold the rule of lawThe FBI raid on the residence of former president Donald Trump raises the stakes in a country torn apart by years of poisonous politics. | OPINION by Nick Bryant
Read more »
Was Lidia Thorpe’s one-fisted pledge a warning shot for a new kind of politics? | Sisonke MsimangMany hope the Albanese government ushers in a kinder, gentler parliament – but civility be damned if it doesn’t change things for the better
Read more »
Joe Biden wins, US drug giants lose in major new billDespite the pharmaceutical industry’s spending at least $US142 millionon lobbying efforts, the $US430 billion Inflation Reduction Act to change climate, health and tax policies will become law.
Read more »
'A resounding victory': Biden to sign landmark climate bill into law next weekLandmark legislation aimed at fighting climate change and lowering prescription drug prices represents a major win for US President Joe Biden ahead of the midterm elections.
Read more »
In the year of its 50th race, City2Surf steps it up a notchSunday will mark the 50th race of the world’s largest fun run. But a lot has changed over the years.
Read more »
We're entering a golden age of diversity in storytelling — with graphic novels leading the wayOnce dismissed by elites, comic books and graphic novels are changing the way we define literature — and are an excellent gateway drug for unenthusiastic readers.
Read more »