Former intelligence officer Andrew Wilkie contested PM John Howard's Sydney seat of Bennelong in the October 9 federal election and gained one of the largest swings toward the Greens in the country. Auburn Greens councillor Malikeh Michaels spoke to him about his assessment of the election.
"This was good for the Greens and it was as good as we could have hoped for considering in part the nature of the seat of Bennelong and the overall national swing to the government."
Bennelong is a traditionally conservative Liberal seat, which Howard has held for 30 years. Wilkie was "constantly heartened by the good response" to the progressive politics he brought into the area. "There wasn't a day when people didn't say something positive about our campaign in the area and there was not a day where people were not critical of the government. It wasn't as testing as people would think."
Wilkie doesn't think "Bennelong can be regarded as a safe blue ribbon seat any more. The Liberal Party may not hold onto the seat after the next election, particularly if Howard does not run for office again. The electorate was held at just over 50% on a two-party preferred vote."
According to Wilkie, "It was a mortgage and fear election. National security and interest rates were important, but there was a lack of a clear and strong alternative. There were enough people out there who were restless about the government. If they had a credible alternative they may have voted differently.
"I don't think the result should be seen as a national endorsement of war. I think a lot of people who voted for Howard are still concerned about the war. The war is a symptom of a range of problems. People are worried about all these issues but their concerns are swamped by fear of national security and the mortgage."
Wilkie's campaign focused on the Iraq War and netted a good response in a conservative area. "Latham did not stand up effectively on the war issue", said Wilkie. "The Labor Party found themselves reacting to what Howard said all the time. Labor and Liberal are now almost identical and the calibre of leaders is the only thing that sets them apart. People want an alternative and that showed in the election with the increased Greens vote. The Greens are the only credible alternative to the left of Labor and Liberal."
Wilkie also argued that "Integrity matters as much or more than ever and I don't believe the election result endorsed dishonesty in any way. I believe people didn't have a credible choice in the Labor Party. And I don't think people have suddenly become conservative. We are really talking about changes around the margins, and which parties mobilise those few per cent of the vote that can change government. The election was really won by only a relatively small percentage."
On whether the political landscape in Australia, and now in the US with President George Bush's reelection, has become more conservative since the last election, Wilkie commented: "This is the first US election since 11 September and there is still a fear attached to the event there. However, in the US, as in Australia, there was a lack of a good alternative leader. For there to be change in uncertain times there has to be a very strong leader like a [Gough] Whitlam or [Bob] Hawke in Australia's case."
Wilkie is now "letting the dust settle, resting and reflecting. I would like to stay active in the Greens in the future. But how I might is obviously as much up to the Greens as it will be my decision."
From Green Left Weekly, November 24, 2004.
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