[HoniSoit]

By GandalfTheGrey

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) is a centre left political party who, together with the centre right Liberal Party, dominates the Australian political scene. While its roots are socialist – it was originally created as the political voice of labour workers, it has in recent decades moved further to the centre of the political spectrum – especially on economic policy.

In 2007 the ALP formed a national government after defeating the incumbent Liberal/National coalition government in the November federal election. Kevin Rudd then became the first ALP Prime Minister for almost 12 years.

The ALP and the left

Not since the tumultuous period of the Whitlam years in the early 1970s has the ALP adopted an extensive and genuine socialist program. Starting from the Hawke/Keating era (1983-1996) the ALP shifted their economic policy significantly towards the right by shrinking government holdings and control – e.g. selling off government assets and deregulating private industry. On the other hand, Hawke and Keating both maintained relatively leftist social policies such as with immigration, multiculturalism, anti-discrimination and Aboriginal affairs.

The Rudd government’s response to the Howard years

On the surface, the Rudd government has given the appearance of being more left leaning than usual. This is thanks to the government acting quickly – mostly symbolicly – against some of the more extreme and unpopular policies of the Howard government, namely: industrial relations (scrapping “WorkChoices”), Australia’s involvement in Iraq, and Australia’s isolation from the Kyoto agreement. Rudd also set the tone when, in one of his first acts as PM, he issued a much anticipated national apology to the Aboriginal stolen generation.

Despite the obvious symbolism in these acts, it doesn’t require much scratching at the surface to see that these acts in no way catapult Labor from the centre back into the left in any practical sense. Howard’s “WorkChoices” was a complete aberration in Australian politics – and one that caused division even amongst Howard’s own party. Repealing this extreme policy merely ironed out a momentary “blip” in the normal industrial relations policies of BOTH major parties. Yet the Labor response has not even been a complete removal of all of workchoices, and their proposed alternative has received criticism from leftist groups. On Iraq, Rudd announced a complete withdrawal of all combat troops. However, Australia still maintains a presence in Iraq in various support capacities. To be clear, Australians are universally against Australia’s involvement in Iraq and would overwhelmingly support the complete withdrawal of all personnel. Despite the fanfare, Rudd cannot meet even this basic mandate. Finally on the environment, Rudd received universal praise for joining Kyoto, but has done little on a practical level. In some areas – particularly with its woefully inadequate carbon targets, there is a perception that the ALP is pandering to environmentally damaging business interests.

In short, Rudd has cleverly masked an unremarkably centrist – even centre right agenda behind the hype and fanfare related to the overturning of only the most extreme and universally unpopular policies of Howard.

[Arbiter Azariah]

Hi Gandalf, I really appreciated this article. I suppose you wouldn't mind me making a comment or two?

You mentioned the ALP's origins as a political wing of the trade union movement. Whilst the party has grown beyond this to become an expansive political party, let's examine the union elements. All of the unions push for policies which can be described as economically left. Even if you consider their campaign against the (abominable) WorkChoices legislation as attacking an aberration, there are other avenues. The unions have pushed for maternity leave (which the Government is taking a hard look at now) union right of entry, less draconian unfair dismissal laws, and so on. This is fundamentally left-leaning economic action, which (rightfully) dominates the purpose of the unions. Even then, their social views are a rainbow of sorts, reaching from democratic-socialist LHMU types to the more socially conservative SDA.

I think that whilst there's a bit of variation in opinions amongst the Labor ranks, you can still consider it to be Australia's centre-left party.

[HoniSoit]

Hey AA - thanks for the comment.

I think that whilst there's a bit of variation in opinions amongst the Labor ranks, you can still consider it to be Australia's centre-left party.

I suppose that some of the policies by the Labor Government could be described as centre-left while others centre-right, and it also depends on one's own political position and how one defines the 'centre'.

But I take Gandalf's point that because the gradual but significant shift toward the supposedly right-wing economic policies under Hawke and Keating, even though the current ALP government has shifted away from the more extreme neoliberalism of the Howard government, it in fact has already accepted many of the general premises of neoliberalism.

Just my two cents.

[Arbiter Azariah]

Hi, Honi!

I would agree with you that some of the Hawke-Keating economic policies were a bit of a right-ward shift. However, I think a part of this can be put down to global trends. During this general era, economies went more global, and markets that were open to such trade were encouraged. Whilst Labor adopted these policies, right wing parties shifted further right, as the protectionism vs. free market debate was coming to a close in Australia around the seventies and the eighties. As you may recall, despite Labor's policy, they were still clearly to the left of the hard-right economic policies of Howard, Peacock, Hewson, and so on.

This would actually be an interesting topic for the blog, to be honest! I've got a copy of Don Watson's lovely book Recollections of a Bleeding Heart sitting on my shelf. Tell you what. I'll have a bit more of a read of it (and other sources), and see if I can churn out a post soon.

[HoniSoit]

I think a part of this can be put down to global trends.

I agree. There was definitely global pressure forcing Australian government to adopt more market-oriented policies which is extremely difficult to resist. I'm sure it'd be a fascinating topic to go into more details.

I've got a copy of Don Watson's lovely book Recollections of a Bleeding Heart sitting on my shelf.

I bought a copy last year as well because I heard great things about the book. But I haven't had the time to read it though. What's your impression of the book?

[Arbiter Azariah]

Yeah, I bought Watson's book because of recommendation, too. I got about half way through before putting it on hiatus. Currently, I'm reading Pride and Prejudice, at the behest of both my girlfriend and my professional need to actually read some fiction.
It's an interesting read. It give a great account on what went on amidst Keating's inner circle, as well as an account of what Keating was like himself. You can see him as a very human figure, swayed strongly by conscience and emotion. I really do need to finish off.

On an amusing note, on my shelf, this book is close neighbours with a couple of books on B.A. Santamaria. I doubt Keating would be pleased!
(Keating was indeed a Catholic, and was personally hurt by the fact that many of his kin felt the need to leave the ALP over the 1955 split.)