Opinion

Australian politics has narrowed, and that isn't good

John Warhurst
Updated July 2 2021 - 3:54am, first published August 13 2020 - 4:30am
Oppositions have largely gone missing during COVID-19 - but so has the third sector of Australian politics. Picture: Shutterstock
Oppositions have largely gone missing during COVID-19 - but so has the third sector of Australian politics. Picture: Shutterstock

The scope of Australian political debate has narrowed enormously over the past six months since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. The range of issues and the range of participants are both much smaller than they once were. Health and economic concerns dominate, and governments dominate over other participants. Other issues and voices struggle to maintain their previous place in the public eye.

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John Warhurst

John Warhurst

Canberra Times columnist

John Warhurst is an emeritus professor of political science at the Australian National University and a regular columnist for The Canberra Times.

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