Malcolm Turnbull votes in the 2013 federal election. Demotix/Adam Masters. All rights reserved.Australian political life has been bewildering for international observers lately. The cruel, mean-spirited, and downright bizarre things our leaders have said and done over the last two years don’t fit with our generally carefree reputation overseas - or our obligations under international law.
Our politics really have taken a worrying turn, especially in our treatment of refugees. But the part that has most attracted international attention is our odd habit of evicting prime ministers. As I write, the unsettling Tony Abbott has just been replaced by the smoother Malcolm Turnbull after just under two years in the job. Before Abbott won the 2013 election, Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd lasted almost one full term before being deposed in favour of his deputy, Julia Gillard, who was herself deposed three years later - by Rudd, who then lost the post in less than three months.
It’s a disease that has afflicted both of our major parties, the centrist Labor Party and hard right Liberals. I think its sources are a little different from party to party, though.
