The Albanese government approaches the midpoint of its second term after last week's Labor party national convention in Adelaide. A health check reveals strong vitals – a commanding majority and stable posture – with no catastrophic incidents requiring major surgery since the last examination.
External and Internal Scans
An external scan shows concerning spots linked to a global outbreak of divisive populism, though the contagion appears to be receding. The government's pulse has strengthened after embracing a new fiscal regime that rebalances the tax system to unwind investor privileges, a position discarded in 2019 after being overextended. The internal probe in Adelaide cleared the party's bowels of any obvious blockage, particularly around gas policy.
Ed Husic and Unresolved Issues
One political polyp on an otherwise clear reading is Ed Husic. His irritation level, a consequence of factional processes, risks becoming chronic and causes referred pain to the leader. While Husic could not summon support for his motions, the lack of a more balanced diet on the Gaza genocide and Aukus shakedown leaves lesions untreated with a risk of turning nastier.
Health Offerings and Benchmarks
The government's fitness for office relies on health offerings that powered its successful 2024 physical. The Medicare card was the PM's constant companion and is still used on special occasions. The government set a benchmark for 90% of GP visits to be bulk-billed by 2030, and feedback is promising – at a time when most government performance is marked down, this is a sign of good health.
Need for Friction and Self-Narrative
To avoid becoming sedentary, the government must seek points of friction to test its thinking on energy, housing, and international relations. The launch of Fair AI, a group driving thinking around technology impacts, is an exercise that should be embedded into daily routine. The key to a healthy life is also psychological – the government's sustaining self-narrative differentiates it from other political parties and should be viewed as an elixir.
Wayne Swan's Prognosis
Former treasurer Wayne Swan, receiving life membership at the convention, offered a second opinion. He urged the party to be honest with itself and recognise it earns a hearing by championing economic justice: real wages, Medicare, the social safety net, and an unswerving focus on living standards of working men and women. He challenged the ascendant room to keep working on its core, noting membership is declining, ageing, and dying. He shared an insight from decades of door-knocking: the most important thing is not whether voters like you, but whether they think you like them.
While the body politic is delicate and exposed to global events, media craving adrenaline, and toxic social platforms, a clean bill of health is only temporary. On objective analysis, this government is in robust health. Provided it remains conscious of its lifestyle choices, it should continue to age well.
