The death of former Labour Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, on the eve of this year’s federal election is a stark reminder of the different roles played in the development of Australian Social and Political life, since the Whitlam Government.  Put simply, most significant social change has come through Labour Governments.  The role of the Liberal Party being largely to peg back Labour changes in favour of vested, elitist, interests, for example, Health Insurance and Medicare.

Social change, initiated by the Labour Party, although, at times, limited by pragmatic concerns, has led to greater equality.  The Liberal Party, usually, as Scott Morrison has played on, under the guise of supporting everyone to have a go, has supported the growing gap between rich and poor in our society.

With so much at stake in this election on the fundamental issues of climate change and social equity, I wonder why anyone would really consider more of Liberal dysfunctionalism.