with Rev Dr Chris Walker
Post-Election Thoughts
The recent Federal and NSW State elections showed that people want life to continue as it has under the respective Liberal governments. The emphasis on the economy overruled other considerations. People were satisfied with the performance of the current governments and did not want change. The policies of the Labour party in relation to health, education, tax, climate change etc did not win support. Australian has a high standard of living and people were content with things as they are. Is this an adequate response? I will make some observations from my Christian perspective.
The Australian population is for the most part conservative. Continuity is valued more than change until people feel it is time for a change. The economy dominates for people are primarily interested in their own economic well-being. The Labour party made a mistake in relation to franking credit which got the vast majority of retired people off side for they perceived they would be worse off. The policies of the Labour party were complex and bold and most people were not looking for change. The Liberal party did not offer policies but simply focused on the economy. It worked. Australia does provide for people more than most countries, so to do more was not important for many people. It is worth noting that 49% of the Australian people have at least one parent born overseas. People who have migrated to Australia come from situations in which social services are much less. Moreover, they came as economic migrants, so their primary consideration is the economy not other policies. Young people, for the most part, have similar political views to their parents. The youth vote did not make a difference to the outcome. They too it seems are primarily interested in their own economic prospects.
What will this mean for Australia? I have some major concerns. I hope the Liberal party will develop policies that will address them better than they have up till this point in time. While the economy is always a major consideration, the reality is that our economy is part of the international economy with China as our major trading partner. Any government has to be economically aware and responsible. It can do things that assist but there are factors beyond any government’s control.
As an affluent nation, Australia contributes more than its share to the problem of climate change. Our Pacific partners want us to do more for they already are feeling the effects of climate change with rising ocean levels and more severe weather events. Australia needs to take more action in regard to climate change. Doing so is both in our own interests and in the interests of other nations especially our Pacific neighbours. However, the large Adani coal mine will go ahead. Australia will contribute more coal to the world leading to more carbon emissions. The Great Barrier Reef will be negatively impacted. Short term gain in terms of jobs and finances has won out over long term considerations. I find this appalling. It is internationally irresponsible. Moreover, even in economic terms Australia has the potential to be a leading nation in regard to renewable energy if only it gave assistance to such developments rather than agree to another big coal mine.
Australia is a nation that provides for people better than most. Nevertheless, there are still many people who are disadvantaged in our wealthy nation. Governments could do more. While non-government organisations, such as churches, do a great deal for people, governments have financial resources that could greatly assist in overcoming or reducing homelessness, mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems, etc. Aboriginal Australians as a group continue to be the most disadvantaged. Governments can learn from those who are making a difference and support them much more than they currently are.
There are different stances we can take in relation to the government. We can be supportive, we can be indifferent, we can focus on our own private lives, we can be revolutionaries(like those who mistakenly went and joined IS). Let me make some observations drawing on the situation in first century Israel at the time of Jesus.
The people of Israel deeply disliked being dominated by the Roman Empire. There were various groups representing different approaches. The Sadducees were those in power who compromised and collaborated with their Roman rulers. They benefitted from this arrangement. At the other extreme were the Zealots. They looked to when they would rise up in violent rebellion against their Roman overlords in order to become an independent nation again. When they did so they were violently put down and Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed in 70CE. The Pharisees were those who held that what was needed was strict allegiance to their religious traditions which would please God and lead to change. The Essenes, especially those in the Dead Sea community, withdrew from normal life as far as possible holding that God would intervene at some stage.
The way of Jesus is different to each of these. He looked to the kingdom of God, God’s rule of justice, compassion and peace, and said it was breaking into the present through him. We can align ourselves with Jesus which means always critiquing the current political power, for it will always be less than God’s reign. We want our nation’s life to become more like that of God’s kingdom. We are called to live by the values of the rule of God in our own lives and seek it for our country. That means never being satisfied with a system that leaves some people disadvantaged and excluded. Jesus had a special concern for ‘the least’ and so should we. Especially in a democratic civil society we have the capacity to influence our governments. We have a responsibility to encourage them to do more for the sake of all people, not only those in Australia and other nations, but even for the sake of other creatures and the planet.
Chris Walker
Chris is currently serving the Assembly of the Uniting Church as the National Consultant for Theology and Discipleship.
He has served in a range of positions and places in the Uniting Church including local church ministry in three congregations in NSW, as a regional education and mission officer, and consultant for evangelism and discipleship, in Queensland, as principal of Parkin-Wesley College in SA, and as a mission resource officer for Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery.
He has a passion for theology, mission and discipleship. His interest in writing has resulted in various publications including five books, most recently Peace Like A Diamond: facets of peace (Spectrum, 2009) and Living Life to the Full: Spirituality for today’s baby boomers (Openbook, 2005).