The Australian election

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33046, 13 October 1972, Page 12

The Australian election

Mr Marshall has no reason to be dissatisfied with the choice of December 2 as the date for the Australian Federal election. Any swing towards Labour in Australia will not be revealed in time to influence New Zealand voters. Conversely, it appears that Mr McMahon does not expect any marked swing in the New Zealand election to affect his own electoral prospects. If the political commentators and the public opinion polls on both sides of the Tasman are any indication, there is more likelihood of a swing towards Labour in Australia than in New Zealand In both countries the Prime Minister has assumed office since the last General Election; each faces his first real test of public acceptance of his leadership. The circumstances of Mr McMahon’s election as leader of the Liberal wing of the governing coalition were not propitious: a divided party chose him after the former Prime Minister, Mr Gorton, had felt constrained to vote against himself on an issue of confidence. Six months ago the Labour Opposition was believed to have a good chance of ending the long period of exile that began in 1949. The Government had failed to check adequately the inflation that was eroding incomes, particularly of primary producers. Inflation is not the only cause of discontent in Australia. The inflow of “ hot ” money into Australia and the extent of foreign ownership of Australian businesses and real estate have recently aroused sentiments of economic nationalism and provoked the Government into hasty — and muchcriticised — legislation to prevent foreign take-overs. Foreign policy, too, has provided ammunition for the Government’s critics, notably Australia’s recognition of Taiwan and Australian involvement in Vietnam. At the end of his first year, Mr McMahon’s rating, according to a much-quoted opinion poll, had fallen from 55 per cent to 28 per cent Mr McMahon may have found some consolation in the fact that the Onnosition leader, Mr Whitlam, fared not much better More recently the Government has made a considerable recovery, which the boom in wool prices may well be consolidating. The level of unemployment is not as high as it was last year, and the Government predicts a further decline when its programme of aid to the cities gets under way The basis of the plan is the provision of some $lOO million to enable the states to modernise transport systems. including new highways linking the capitals. Mr Sneddon’s recent Federal Budget was recognisably political: it made concessions to pensioners, including an undertaking that the means test for old age pensions would end in three years. Labour has nroduced some attractive proposals, including nromises to provide leasehold land for the building of houses and to bring about a reduction in building costs. Mr Whitlam, who at one stage favoured a large rise in coloured immigration, has annarently yielded to trade union and other opposition to a policy that might make jobs more competitive, bv pronosing now to reduce immigration from all sources. The Labour Party’s main electoral handicap is its record of internal discord. If its candidates in this election present a united front on crucial issues they should run the Liberal-Country Party coalition close. The former leader, Mr Calwell, still seems to be at odds with his successor, Mr Whitlam, however: and even the improved hopes of gaining office are unlikely to persuade them to comnose their differences