CANBERRA (CU)_When Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently called for this year’s federal election, he did so in front of a camouflaged tank, at the opening ceremony of a factory to build howitzer artillery vehicles outside of Melbourne. This was seen as an attempt by the conservatives to tout their record on an issue that has long seen as an advantage at the polls. But this may not be sufficient for the Prime Minister pull off another come-from-behind victory.
Recalling the opposition Labour party previous objection to the construction of the weaponry in Australia, PM Morrison suggested they should not be trusted on issues related to national security. “We said we would get this done when others walked away,” he said. “We are getting it done.” His government, on the other hand was “investing in the strength and security of our nation” during “a very uncertain time,” the Prime Minister said, referring to geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Along with matters like economy and immigration, the ruling Liberal-National coalition has been turning to national security as a major issue to fall back on in times of trouble. However, evidence has emerged that it may no longer be a major advantage for PM Morrison.
In a survey conducted in March, voters said they believe that both the Labour and the Coalition were equally capable of dealing with the Ukraine crisis, while a poll in the previous month found that Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese’s Labour party was considered more capable of handling relations with China. This was months before the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with the Chinese Communist Party, on which the government is now been heavily criticised for dropping the ball.
On the other hand, polling also show that the Australian public is a lot more concerned about matters which are closer to home, like the economy and climate change. While the Coalition has managed to maintain strong economic growth and an unemployment rate at 4 per cent, the Prime Minister is facing criticism over the rising cost of living and slow wage growth in the country. “In terms of ordinary voters, I think that they are much more concerned about more close to home issues, especially things like cost of living,” Michelle Grattan, a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra, said.
