Queenslanders fearful after cynical campaign by both sides

It’s almost Halloween. In Brisbane, cobwebs, skeletons, ghouls and corflute marks are vying for prominent placement on fences. In the city centre, red Labor signs and green Green signs still promise to protect abortion rights and control rents. Towards the outskirts of the city and in the regions, green and red give way to blue Liberal National Party (LNP) signs with the slogan “Adult Time for Adult Crime”.

It was perhaps fitting that the voting booths looked ghostly on Election Day. In the suburban town of Paddington, at the school where I voted, the bakery counter was well stocked at midday and my democratic sausage, prepared early in anticipation of a crowd that never showed up, was the colder side of warm.

More than a third of Queenslanders voted during the pre-poll – a record number. Perhaps it was enthusiasm for a change in government or a general dissatisfaction with public events. Whatever the reason, Election Day was grim.

Although the victory was not as easy as expected (the polls tightened towards the end of the race), Queenslanders, as expected, voted for a majority LNP to be our government.

New Prime Minister David Crisafulli opened his victory speech by saying: “Queenslanders voted for hope, not fear.” Given that both major parties campaigned on fear, this was an odd choice of phrase.

Labour’s scare campaign that women’s legal access to reproductive rights would be scrapped under an LNP government became a little more concrete when, on October 8, North Queensland MP Robbie Katter promised to introduce legislation to repeal or amend Queensland’s abortion law if his party formed your party. minority government with the LNP.

Fear grew as Crisafulli refused to say what his position on abortion was until he was asked the question. more than 132 times. While he has said an LNP government will not change the abortion law, he has yet to confirm whether he will allow his party’s MPs, none of whom voted to pass the original bill, to hold a vote of conscience if the repeal bill reaches the bench.

Crisafulli described his campaign as “the result of a hell of a lot of hard work and a hell of a lot of strategy.” One of the main strategies was a promise to end the “youth crime crisis.” Data shows youth crime rates in Queensland have reached its lowest level is in 2022, and rates have remained stable since then.. Although there have been a number of high-profile tragedies over the past few years, such as the tragic murders Emma Lovell And Vilin WhiteMany, many Queenslanders have a genuine fear of a youth crime crisis that is simply not supported by the data.

As part of its Make Our Communities Safer plan, the LNP has a number of progressive youth justice policies, but its “adult time for adult crimes” policy will result in more children being placed in prisons that are already overcrowded. Most of these children will be Indigenous. Although they make up 3% of Australia’s total population, they make up 70% of the total number of prisoners in the Queensland youth detention system.

Political strategies do not emerge from a vacuum. The most effective ones capitalize on existing attitudes, prejudices and beliefs. The fact that fear of youth crime was such a successful campaign strategy says a lot about a state that voted overwhelmingly against Vote to Parliament.

Would Queenslanders admit there was a youth crime crisis if the majority of children accused of crimes were white? Or would we instead call it a mental health crisis/domestic violence crisis/undiagnosed disability crisis/homelessness crisis/hunger crisis?

Following the result of the Vote referendum in Queensland (no regional electorate voted yes), the LNP withdrew its support for the Queensland Path to Treaty and the Truth-Telling and Healing study.

This investigation is already underway. A hearing is scheduled in Cherbourg in November. Cherbourg Mayor Bruce Simpson says the investigation is helping to improve the situation. so many “hurts and grievances”. Inquiry leader Joshua Creamer said: “The evidence that will emerge from the inquiry provides a real opportunity to achieve real results for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. This is vital as we work together to create a more inclusive future for all Queenslanders.” With the LNP in power, the future of a process that could bring profound healing to our state remains uncertain.

On Saturday, five days before Halloween, the fears of Queensland voters – overt and hidden – were manipulated by both sides of politics, but most deftly and successfully by the LNP. We could be braver people, people who would look at the truth with curiosity and openness and thereby begin to heal. Instead, we gave in to fear.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are personal and do not reflect the views of any organizations with which the author is affiliated.