Labor and the Greens cannot quite believe it.<\/p>\n
The Canberra Liberals are struggling to comprehend it.<\/p>\n
The ACT election result is a striking rejection of the conservative pitch to govern Canberra.<\/p>\n
The Liberals knew the task of winning government in the ACT was massive they had failed in their last five attempts, and had plenty of time to digest those results.<\/p>\n
None expected this attempt would fail quite like it did.<\/p>\n
It was hoped the result would at least be close. 2016 was close, and this time they hoped it would be even closer.<\/p>\n
But from the minute the first dump of votes dropped in the reliably Liberal-leaning seat of Brindabella, it was clear something had gone terribly wrong.<\/p>\n
The Liberals were going backwards. And it didn't get much better from there.<\/p>\n
Before the result was even conceded, the Liberals were spinning the outcome.<\/p>\n
\"We know that a number of swing voters were concerned about changing the government during a pandemic despite having strong concerns about the direction of Labor and the Greens,\" read an early statement sent to reporters.<\/p>\n
The pandemic was to blame. How could they compete, when Andrew Barr dominated the airwaves for most of the year, guiding the ACT through rolling disasters?<\/p>\n
And with the economy slipping into recession, who would vote to change the government?<\/p>\n
There is absolutely a level of truth to that theory. Labor agrees Barr's pitch has largely revolved around that very message.<\/p>\n
But the Liberal leader must also take some responsibility.<\/p>\n
The Liberal campaign was simultaneously simple, and somewhat confused.<\/p>\n
Alistair Coe wanted the election to be a referendum on the cost of living. He wanted voters to think of their wallets, and little else.<\/p>\n
His policies were shamelessly populist a rates freeze and a big slice off the cost of car rego would save the average family about $1,800, he promised.<\/p>\n
And it wouldn't come at any cost. He would make up the revenue through population growth, and deliver better government services in areas like health and education.<\/p>\n
It seems the voters did not buy it.<\/p>\n
He deliberately left questions unanswered. How would his \"growing the pie\" theory actually work, particularly amidst a national recession?<\/p>\n
How would he seemingly do more with less?<\/p>\n
And instead of delivering detail, he opted for stunts. Boris Johnson-style gimmicks for the cameras, like literally freezing a rates bill, and smashing a cardboard wall reading 'cost of living'.<\/p>\n
Some Liberals are already wondering if perhaps, at a time of such uncertainty, voters wanted strong and sensible leadership not a hardhat and a Liberal-branded mallet.<\/p>\n
Coe will have to answer some tough questions from colleagues if he wants his grip on the Liberal leadership to hold.<\/p>\n
This is undoubtedly a good result for Labor, but the party should not get too carried away.<\/p>\n
As of late last night, their primary vote across the ACT had actually slipped just slightly down 0.1% on the 2016 result.<\/p>\n
Their success came through the fall in the Liberal vote, and the surging Green vote.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the centre is shifting while Labor gained from the Liberals, it lost in equal measure to the Greens.<\/p>\n
And while the Labor vote has soared in the southern electorate of Brindabella, it fell even further in the north in Yerrabi.<\/p>\n
The results are much less nuanced for the Greens. It is nothing but success.<\/p>\n
Despite running a remarkably low profile campaign, the party has delivered one of its best results.<\/p>\n
Opting to do away with roadside corflutes, and forever struggling to be heard in the media over the noise of the two major parties, the Greens silently succeeded.<\/p>\n
It will leave many Labor strategists scratching their heads, wondering where it came from.<\/p>\n
With at least three seats in the next assembly, and the possibility of five or six, the next ACT Government will have a much Greener tinge.<\/p>\n
Amidst the celebrations, there should be at least some reflection.<\/p>\n
The time will come when the ACT wants to change its government. The sentiment will only build.<\/p>\n
The voters simply decided that even if change is needed, this Canberra Liberals team was not the change they wanted.<\/p>\n
The steady Labor vote says while the electorate is satisfied with its government, it is not handing out a roaring endorsement.<\/p>\n
While the cost of living campaign run by the Liberals did not deliver the success they expected, many voters did respond to the message.<\/p>\n
There is plenty of room for improvement in areas like health and education.<\/p>\n
The electorate expects to see an expanded Canberra Hospital, and trams running to Woden.<\/p>\n
And it will want support, as the economy recovers from a heavy blow.<\/p>\n
In 2024, the bar will be higher. Labor will be asking for nearly three decades in office.<\/p>\n
The new ACT Government has quite a task ahead.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Originally posted here:<\/p>\n
After 20 years, the ACT election was the Liberals' to lose what went so wrong? - ABC News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Labor and the Greens cannot quite believe it. The Canberra Liberals are struggling to comprehend it. Continue reading