Higgins voters aghast! Campaign Notes on Climate Change and Tony Abbott.
Higgins is regarded as a conservative area. It has always voted that way. Its settled affluence, extremely high education levels and orderly dignity suggests Tory.
In moving around the electorate campaigning over the last few weeks, the error of such assumptions has been dramatically proven.
On climate change – seemingly, the cause of the Left – Higgins citizens have been highly outspoken, expressing to me their horror at the Liberal Party’s denial/sceptic line.
If I can synthesize the comments of many, they say such slogans might play well to the self-interest of blue collar conservatives, but here, where people know how to think for themselves, it is seen as the politics of shallow cads.
They welcome the prospect of a low-carbon and low-pollution future. They always viewed air pollution as a wasteful and dangerous abuse, but never had the science to support their observations.
Electric cars? Bring it on!
A number said they hold shares in major companies but saw no difficulty in sacrificing earnings and dividends for a few years to migrate to an environmentally sound economy.
Voters made it very clear to me they accept the need to alter course on climate change and expect government to act quickly and decisively.
The real eye-opener came on Monday, with the election of Tony Abbott as Liberal leader.
The genteel voters of Higgins do not like this man, and while maintaining their decorum, were very rude about him.
They regard him as an interloper from the DLP, with his intrusive moralizing about what other people should and shouldn’t do.
Higgins voters reject his reactionary opinions: the free and open society in which we live has been hard fought for; we do not want to go backward.
The women in particular loathe his anti-abortion views. All seemed to have a niece – always a niece – whose life would have been ruined but for the help of an understanding surgeon.
I wonder whether their evident dissatisfaction will change their votes? We shall see on Saturday.
To the many Higgins voters who were kind enough to spare a moment for the Australian Democrats candidate, many thanks for your frankness and patience.
