Trapped in the politics of fear

Two weeks out from the last election it was difficult to put money on the Coalition to win. However, combative fear-based arguments targeted at the working class saying life was all about the economy and you couldn’t trust Labor to manage it turned the tide. In this election this argument is again strident and the fear of job security, the increasing cost of living and housing crises are the concrete experiences of Australians, many of whom have yet to decide how to vote. The situation of fear manipulation is characterised in the battle for the Hunter region, and the Nationals’ argument they are the only party capable of saving coal jobs (Marian Wilkinson, “How Nationals and lobbyists play the new climate wars”, May 7-13). This message is reinforced by current and proposed mine closures and Labor’s complex climate policy based on a confusing safeguard coal output mechanism. Fear of community decline, job loss and economic survival trump futurebased arguments of industrial reform, renewable industries, retraining and other energy transition programs in working-class seats. If Labor doesn’t articulate that current jobs will be protected together with an industrial revolution, they may be gone again.

– David Wilson, Newport, Qld