With an election looming, Australia faces an uncomfortable truth: it doesn't have a credible opposition to hold the government accountable. And that's a problem for democracy itself, regardless of which side you vote for.
Writing in The Nightly, political editor Mark Riley argues that the absence of a functional opposition threatens the health of Australian democracy. This isn't about left or right—it's about whether the system works properly when one of its essential components is missing.
The point cuts through the usual partisan noise. Every democracy needs a government-in-waiting that can scrutinize policy, offer credible alternatives, and present voters with meaningful choices. Right now, Australia doesn't have that. The opposition isn't offering a compelling vision or holding the government's feet to the fire on key issues.
What does that look like in practice? Major policy areas going unexamined. Government decisions that should face tough questioning instead sailing through with minimal scrutiny. Voters heading to the polls without clear alternatives on everything from climate policy to housing affordability to defence spending.
Some will say this reflects the opposition's internal struggles—leadership instability, unclear messaging, factional warfare. Fair enough. But the consequences extend beyond any single party's problems. When the opposition can't effectively challenge the government, the entire democratic process suffers.
Canberra insiders have watched this unfold over multiple election cycles. The pattern repeats: opposition parties struggle to define themselves, lurch between leaders, and fail to land punches even when the government hands them opportunities. Meanwhile, voters grow increasingly frustrated with limited choices.
The result? Political debates that lack depth. Policy development that happens without robust challenge. An election campaign where voters might feel they're choosing between unsatisfactory options rather than competing visions for the country's future.
This matters particularly now, as Australia faces genuine challenges: navigating tensions with China, managing climate transition, addressing housing crisis, reforming tax system. These issues demand serious debate between credible alternatives, not government announcements met with weak responses.
Reddit users discussing the piece largely agreed, with many expressing frustration at feeling unable to vote for anything, only against things. That's a sign of democratic malfunction. Healthy democracies offer voters affirmative choices, not just lesser evils.
The fix isn't simple. Building a credible opposition requires time, discipline, policy development, and leaders willing to make tough calls. It requires oppositions to actually oppose, rather than simply waiting for governments to lose.
But until Australia has a functional opposition, democracy's essential check-and-balance mechanism remains broken. Governments need effective opposition to stay sharp, honest, and accountable. Without it, everyone loses—including the government itself.
Mate, this isn't about which party you prefer. It's about whether our democratic system has the basic components it needs to function properly. Right now, it doesn't.
