The new Prime Minister must fix fences with the economy and mend fences

Bill Clinton’s 1992 US presidential campaign was based on the motto “The Economy, stupid.” He laid the foundation for Australian politics. Bill Clinton’s 1992 US presidential campaign was built on the slogan “The economy, stupid.” He laid out the basic rules of Australian politics.

Turnbull is free of Abbott’s baggage.

Malcolm Turnbull made economics a central part of his pitch for the Liberal Party’s leadership. He has not yet indicated how he would change the policies or levers that the Abbott government used in response to the slowing of China’s growth and the end of Australia’s mining boom.

Turnbull is free of the two obsessions that plagued Abbott: his fixation on the former Labor government and his involvement in the Culture Wars. Australia could finally be moving beyond the Rudd/Gillard era with Abbott gone.

Abbott was constantly talking about stopping boats. Labor’s continued efforts to achieve a free trade agreement with China were reflected in the fact that it is currently opposed to the deal.

Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey, on the other hand, pursued a policy that, if successful, would have increased inequality in Australia. They were clearly trying to help those who were more wealthy by reducing taxes and cutting spending. This did not win them the support of the Senate or the voters.

Abbott, meanwhile, was distracted by the culture war agenda – whether he was attacking ABC or hating wind farms. The Liberal Party’s opposition to a conscience vote for same-sex marriage was the first time it demanded more subservience from its members than Labor.

Turnbull’s pitch

Turnbull and his predecessor are known to disagree on non-economic matters. It will require some agility to defend the complicated and wasteful emission reduction scheme, which represents the government’s hesitant response to climate change. Turnbull can change perceptions immediately by announcing he will be attending the Paris Climate Conference in December as head of government.

Turnbull could follow Bob Hawke in economic management and try to reach a consensus with stakeholders through public consultations, which would aim at new models for taxation and workplace regulations. The opportunity for a new dialogue around these issues should be created by replacing Hockey and Eric Abetz as Employment Minister.

Turnbull’s first press conference in his role as leader emphasized that Australia does not have a presidential government and that he will respect the cabinet tradition. The prime minister will choose his cabinet, and that will be a major factor in the success of Turnbull’s government.

Only a few ministers are likely to stay in their current positions. Julie Bishop has said she will remain in the foreign affairs portfolio, and Sussan Lee in health. A radical reshaping of the cabinet may lead to conservatives who are disgruntled sitting in the backbench. In the coming year, expect a number of plush diplomatic postings to be made available in order to get rid of some of them.

Bill Shorten’s leadership change is a big blow to his easy rise to power. Shorten is no longer a backstabber, but that doesn’t mean he can be attacked anymore. Many more people than Abbott like Turnbull. Shorten, on the other hand, is not very well-liked.

Shorten played the opposition leader so well that Abbott for two years. I believe that many Australians, including Labor voters, want a better government. Shorten would be more respected if he reached out to Turnbull to find common ground.

Turnbull may have won over the hard-core Liberal Party members because, while they dislike him, they think he is less toxic than Abbott. Similarly, many Labor MPs returned to Kevin Rudd in despair. Turnbull must make good governance, and not electability, the focus of everything he does.

In the 1970s, I met the new Prime Minister in a workshop I taught at Sydney University. He displayed the charming imperiousness that remains his style. It will be difficult for someone who is naturally authoritative to restore a more conscientious and consultative government.