New year to bring challenges in politics
AS 2022 draws to a close, most of Australia’s politicians are taking time out from day-today politics, providing the perfect chance to start thinking about new year resolutions. With multiple looming crises and uncertainty ahead, both Labor and the Coalition have major issues to address in 2023.
EASE COST OF LIVING
There is no bigger priority than addressing cost-of-living pressures for households and businesses.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has the tough job of delivering relief without causing further inflation, and things will only get worse for households as rate rises really start to bite.
Changes to the cost of medicines and childcare will come into effect in 2023, but it’s already unlikely households will notice a net improvement in their finances as other costs rise.
Labor’s unprecedented intervention in the energy market will shave only a fraction of the expected rise in electricity bills, meaning most Australian households will still find themselves paying $700 more on average next year.
On top of that, Energy and Climate Minister Chris Bowen has to deliver on the government’s emissions-reduction pledge without further exacerbating soaring prices or causing crippling power shortfalls.
A decision will be made on the type of nuclear-powered submarines Australia will pursue under the AUKUS pact in the first half of the year.
Additionally, Defence Minister Richard Marles will hand down a critical review of Australia’s military capability, which will include recommendations for future investment priorities.
After one in two Australians were victims of data breaches in 2022, the new year must include some serious resolve from Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil to double down on cyber security initiatives.
LIFT AUSTRALIA’S INFLUENCE
Following her triumphant trip to Beijing last week, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has stored away her passport for a few weeks for a wellearned break after having traversed as many as 24 countries in just seven months.
Though she won’t maintain that frenetic pace in the new year, Wong will pivot to consolidating relationships in the Pacific and South-East Asia – recognising that the new normal in the region is constant competition from China.
On that most complicated of relationships, the new year will bring more talks with Chinese officials, but what the government really needs is easing of trade blockages.
China watchers are positive Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) may even visit next year, though signs suggest this will be an extremely slow thawing of relations.
Meanwhile, a free-trade deal with Europe is inching ever closer and will likely land in 2023, just as soon as Trade Minister Don Farrell can hash out the finer details – such as who is allowed to use the words “feta” and “prosecco”.
VOICE TO PARLIAMENT
Albanese has made the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to parliament a defining issue of his term, and (as is the binary nature of a referendum) 2023 will either be a triumph or a horrible failure.
Labor has long teased there is a substantial plan in the works to educate the public on the issues surrounding the vote, and delivering on this commitment will be crucial to its desired Yes outcome when Australians go to the polls in the latter half of the year.
WIN BACK SUPPORT
This is an obvious resolution for any
Signs suggest this will be an extremely slow thawing of relations.
opposition, but if the Liberal Party’s damning election review (which found the party was “out of touch”, lost its economic credibility, allowed itself to be defined by its opponents, alienated women and Chinese migrant communities and was led by an unpopular prime minister) is anything to go by, there’s no time like the present for Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to kick things up a gear.
Dutton has already flagged he has no intention of abandoning the seats lost to teal independents, and has been carefully trying to differentiate himself from his predecessor both internally and in public.
MAKE A CALL ON THE VOICE
In the first half of the year, Dutton will also have to decide where the Liberal Party stands on the voice to parliament. The Nationals’ early decision to back the No campaign before details of the referendum proposal have even been decided has already lost the opposition a seat. This is a cautionary tale for Dutton, who is now being urged by some moderates in the party to allow for a conscience vote on the issue.