Comments on: Conservatives in the country

By: Zuvele

Zuvele — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:36:27 +0000

I had one VFF rep once very seriously suggest to me that all farm labourers’ (lowest paid workers in the country, I think) should be lowered, as this would lower prices and therefore wages across the board.
I didn’t point out it would also lower the prices he received (I wimp out sometimes).
The Kennett factor is an interesting explanation for something that’s puzzled me. I had a meeting with my SA Country Labor equivalent, who told me that, although SA Labor had an overwhelming majority, they held not one country seat, whereas we hold several in Vic.
Kennett’s cuts did impact more on country people than those in the city – and calling the country ‘toenails’ was perhaps not a wise move!
A friend of mine – who has since become a Labor regional MP – remembers going to a public meeting attended by McNamara and Tehan in ’98, where National Party members yelled out “Stop taking us for granted!” to loud applause.

By: Dave from Albury

Dave from Albury — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:56:56 +0000

Thanks for your input Zuvele. I think some of what you say does reinforce my point about a lack of information working to shape people’s beliefs. The effect of union links are also an interesting factor.

I’ve thought for some time that the Nationals continued links to the Liberals has contributed a lot to their downfall and that we may end up seeing a new party of rural centrists aligning with the ALP and disposing the Nats. The Farmers’ Federations have also been losing their influence among the people they are supposed to represent and they have had to work very hard over the last decade to stop people forming competing farm lobby groups.

Do you think that there’s still a bit of a Kennett factor in Victoria? For what is supposedly the jewel in the Liberal Party’s crown, Victoria shows no sign of letting them get hold of the treasury benches in Spring St.

By: Ray Dixon (Bright)

Ray Dixon (Bright) — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:39:53 +0000

I think Zuvele’s comment partially confirms my view that conservatism is just ingrained in country folk. The anti-union aspect is very real too, particularly among farmers.

By: Zuvele

Zuvele — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:34:08 +0000

When I was first preselected for Indi (in one of my many previous attempts) I sat down at the kitchen table with my neighbour and asked her why she didn’t vote Labor.
She said,”What would my father think?” (She was in her late forties).
I asked her what it would take for her to vote Labor.
“I’d have to believe they cared for the country,” she said.
Further talk revealed that she genuinely thought that rural people subsidised the cities. When I pointed out that her taxes wouldn’t even pay for a kilometre of the bituminised road running to her farm, that Telstra (at that time) was making a dead loss of $700 per year on her phone service, etc, she was genuinely taken aback.
It was one of the best conversations I’ve had politically, really opening my eyes to the mindset of the local people.
Another factor is distrust of unions, which is the one of the main differences between the ALP and Nationals – I know many Nats who are really ALP at heart but can’t stomach unions.
It’s also partly the fault of the ALP, I have to say. Seats are written off as unwinnable because they have been so for decades. Candidates are (as I was my first time) expected to be just a name on the paper (“Don’t run if you’re serious about politics” was the ALP’s advice to me in 1996) “…it’ll just damage your brand.” Virtually no campaign funds are put into these seats, and often senior party members are told not to campaign here.

By: Ray Dixon (Bright)

Ray Dixon (Bright) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:19:58 +0000

It is a ‘chicken & egg’ argument, Dave. True, if there are enough tree changers and/or change in demographics it could alter the mix (as possibly is the case in James’ examples) but by & large country folk, the born ‘n bred type, are dyed in the (sheeps’) wool conservative.

By: James Doyle

James Doyle — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:28:11 +0000

Except Ray, we’ve seen cases, as in Cowper, Page, Hume and Richmond (all NSW) where tree changers from Sydney have basically turned, or are turning, those seats from staunch conservative bastions into seats that Labor has a genuine chance in. So who is influencing who?

By: Dave from Albury

Dave from Albury — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:23:28 +0000

I think we’re having a ‘chicken and egg’ argument Ray.

By: Ray Dixon (Bright)

Ray Dixon (Bright) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:37:59 +0000

That’s who I’m referring to also, JR. And their influence rubs off on ‘tree-changers’ (some, not all).

And those who are born in the country are still there by choice and are still influenced by the choice of their ancestors to remove themselves from the cities for a more conservative lifestyle.

And that’s got more to do with their political leanings than education and access to information, in my opinion.

I really think the question of why country folk tend to vote conservative is a no-brainer.

By: jr

jr — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:57:40 +0000

I don’t think 100F and Dave are referring to people like you, Ray. You fall into the category of “tree changer”. They’re referring to people who have lived in the country all their lives, who were born there. I think they might outnumber the “tree changers” somewhat.

By: Ray Dixon (Bright)

Ray Dixon (Bright) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 01:32:48 +0000

And Bill Sykes, JR. And especially Tim Fischer. Where else but in rural areas could an ultra-conservative, jingoistic, akubra wearing beef farmer like Tim get elected to Government?

But there’s no conundrum, 100F, and I’m not sure if it’s even a ‘problem’ that rural people vote rural/conservative. Isn’t that just to be expected?

There seems to be a presumption in what you and Dave are saying that one of the reasons country people vote conservative is because they are ill-informed and lack access to more information & knowledge. I would suggest that’s a real reach. Country people live in the country by choice. And by choice they adopt a more laid back, peaceful and conservative lifestyle.