Australia holds polls amid Brexit concern

Britain’s epochal decision to leave the European Union prompted Australia’s political leaders to re-emphasise their economic security credentials ahead of the election on July 2.
No doubt, Brexit weighs on cousin-state of Australia despite geographic distance. It is added to the list of scare campaigns by main parties to canvass votes through suggesting who could better weather the global uncertainty in the wake of Brexit.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who seeks re-election, urged voters to keep him in office to insulate the country against a Brexit-fuelled economic shock. He used the financial and political chaos created by the Brexit to argue for stable government and the return to office of his ruling conservative Liberal-National coalition.
In reference to impact of the Brexit, Turnbull said, “Given that we are living in a world of great opportunities, but also great challenges and uncertainties, now more than ever Australia needs a stable, majority coalition government with a strong economic plan.”
Meanwhile, the opposition Labor leader, Bill Shorten, quickly rebuffed Turnbull’s comments, drawing a parallel between the prime minister and his besieged British counterpart.
Opposition leader’s comparison between UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Turnbull brings home the idea, according to the opposition view, that Turnbull would meet Cameron’s fate. He believes Cameron is a weak leader like Turnbull.
Undoubtedly, the shock decision by Britain has stoked anxiety about pressures facing Australia’s economy, playing more to the Liberal’s focus on “jobs and growth”. A poll on Monday showed Turnbull inching ahead 51-49 percent.
Voting is mandatory in Australia for all adults, with turnout never falling below 90 percent since it became compulsory in 1924.
The Turnbull government is adeptly portraying the global economic turmoil that has predictably followed the UK referendum result to reinforce the need for policy continuity.
But Coalition claims that votes for Green and independent candidates will result in “chaos” and echo the UK Conservative government’s assertions about the consequences of a vote for Brexit, claims that were widely regarded as untrustworthy.
With visible volatility in financial markets, some swing voters in Australia may be more receptive to the Coalition’s stability message — and this is where Turnbull could reap fruits, to the chagrin of the opposition.
Whatever the outcome, no future Australian government will be insulated from the consequences of Brexit, which will continue to reverberate in domestic and international politics in ways that for the most part will be highly damaging.
Even as Australian politicians closely watch the developments in Europe, Bob Carr, a former foreign minister and now director of a think-tank, said Australia’s future was in Asia, not the West. “There will never be as much in it for Australia as there is in the colossally developing relationship with China, which overshadows everything else for us.”
The global uncertainty and market turmoil caused by the Brexit would probably not have much effect on Australia’s election, but politicians should be wary of the global economic developments. Their repercussions are obvious!