Description
Discover why ordinary Australians vote LNP despite policies that often harm them. Learn how to shift the conversation and demand real change.
Introduction: The Promise and the Reality
Picture this: It’s a suburban street in outer Brisbane. The lawn is neatly trimmed, the Holden in the driveway is ten years old but spotless, and the couple inside just watched the 6 pm news. “At least the Coalition keeps things stable,” says retired tradie Bob. “Labor just spends all our taxes.”
This story plays out across thousands of households. Despite stagnant wages, privatised services, rising rents, and job insecurity, many ordinary Australians continue to vote for the Liberal-National Coalition (LNP). But why?
Understanding this paradox requires us to examine the LNP’s political legacy, media influence, cultural narratives, and voter psychology in depth. This article unpacks what the LNP has done, who it benefits, and how Australians can be empowered to make more informed choices.
What the LNP Stands For
1.1 The Ideological Core
The Liberal-National Coalition champions economic liberalism: smaller government, deregulation, and privatisation. Under this ideology, prosperity “trickles down” from corporate success to everyday people. It sounds neat on paper, but reality paints a different picture.
John Howard, often credited with shaping modern conservative politics, advocated hard for privatisation and individual responsibility. However, these policies left many without affordable housing, secure jobs, or reliable services.
1.2 Market Before People
Privatising essential services like electricity, aged care, and education has shifted costs onto the public while reducing accountability. The LNP claims this creates efficiency. However, ask aged care residents or students with $50,000 in HECS debts if it feels efficient.
What Has the LNP Done for Ordinary Citizens?
2.1 Tangible Benefits (on the surface)
- Family tax benefits and small one-off payments (e.g. energy rebates)
- Infrastructure projects in key electorates
- Business-friendly tax policies that sometimes help small businesses.
These are usually highlighted before elections to show “support” for everyday Australians.
2.2 The Hidden Costs
Yet, a closer look reveals policies that favour the top end of town:
- Tax cuts disproportionately help high-income earners.
- Wage suppression and anti-union laws
- Job casualisation and insecure employment
- Cuts to Medicare, public education, and housing programs
- Aged care failures exposed during the Royal Commission
The LNP often sells these as “fiscal responsibility,” but in a country with monetary sovereignty, austerity is a political choice, not an economic necessity.
Why Ordinary Australians Vote for the LNP?
3.1 Media Influence and Misinformation
Rupert Murdoch’s media empire has long championed the Coalition, framing them as strong on the economy and national security. Alternative voices are drowned out. Many voters only hear one version of the story.
3.2 Cultural Identity and Loyalty
For some, voting LNP is about tradition: family history, values, and a belief in stability. Older Australians, especially, recall a time when the LNP seemed to manage the economy well.
3.3 Fear Campaigns Work
From border security to terrorism to “Labor’s debt,” the LNP leverages fear to manipulate voters. It works, especially when people feel economically vulnerable.
3.4 Misunderstanding Public Finances
Many voters believe the government “can’t afford” to spend on services because it would increase the deficit. However, with Australia’s currency sovereignty, the government is not a household. It can create money to serve public needs without relying on tax revenue or borrowing.
Have They Improved Our Lives?
4.1 By the Numbers
- Wages have stagnated for over a decade.
- Public housing stock has declined.
- Education and healthcare costs have risen sharply.
- Carbon emissions reduction targets have lagged.
The lived experience of most Australians is one of declining security, not prosperity.
4.2 Real Stories About Why Ordinary Australians Vote LNP
“I’m 42, working two jobs, still renting,” says Lisa, a single mum in Western Sydney. “My dad bought a house on a tradesman’s wage. I can’t even get approved for a mortgage. And my super? Laughable.”
She votes for the LNP because she fears Labor will “destroy the economy.” Yet, her lived reality shows she’s already being left behind.
Adding to this disillusionment are the skeletons in the LNP’s closet—scandals, cover-ups, and questionable deals that too often escape proper scrutiny. From the sports rorts affair, where funding was diverted to electorates for political gain, to the Robodebt disaster that caused immense harm to vulnerable Australians, the list is long.
Reasons why ordinary Australians vote LNP: These issues rarely surface during election campaigns, yet they form the backdrop of the LNP’s governance style: secretive, selective, and often shielded by a media landscape that refuses to hold them accountable.
Changing Minds: What Can Be Done?
5.1 Reframe the Economic Narrative
Teach citizens about Australia’s monetary sovereignty. The idea that governments are financially constrained is false. Public money should serve the public good, not corporate profit.
5.2 Highlight Independent and Teal Voices
Show how cross bench MPs like Monique Ryan or Zali Steggall are more aligned with community needs. Promote stories of integrity, action, and local impact.
5.3 Use Local Stories
Connect national issues with local concerns. If a local hospital is understaffed or a school underfunded, link it to policy decisions made in Canberra.
5.4 Break the Media Monopoly
Encourage independent media. Share articles, start community conversations, and write letters to the editors. Amplify grassroots journalism.
Summary: What Kind of Future Do We Want?
So, the reason why ordinary Australians vote LNP are promised security, but they deliver insecurity. It appeals to values but enacts policies that favour profits over people. If Australia wants a fairer future, voters must question what they’ve been told and demand leadership that puts citizens first.
Question for Readers
Have you or someone you know benefited or suffered from LNP policies? What made you change your mind—or what would it take?
Q&A Section
Q1: Is the LNP entirely bad for Australians?
Not necessarily. Some small business owners and wealthier Australians receive help from their tax and deregulation policies. However, for the majority, the long-term effects of LNP policies are damaging.
Q2: What does Australia’s currency sovereignty mean?
It means the federal government issues its own currency and cannot go broke. It can fund public services without needing to “find the money” through taxes or borrowing.
Q3: What can everyday citizens do?
Get informed, support independent candidates, challenge misinformation, and vote thoughtfully.
Q4: Why ordinary Australians vote LNP?
Many vote LNP out of habit, fear, or a sense of cultural loyalty. The LNP is often seen as the party of tradition, stability, and economic competence—especially by older Australians. However, this perception is strongly shaped by media narratives and decades of messaging that paint alternatives as risky or irresponsible. For many, the decision is less about what the LNP delivers and more about what they fear they might lose.
Call to Action
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References:
Reassessing LNP’s Decade in Power: https://socialjusticeaustralia.com.au/reassessing-lnps-decade-in-power/
Why We Cannot Afford Another LNP Rule: https://socialjusticeaustralia.com.au/we-cannot-afford-another-lnp-rule/
A complete list of the Liberal Party’s corruption over the last 7 years: https://chaser.com.au/national/an-exhaustive-list-of-the-liberal-partys-corruption-over-the-last-7-years/
Currency Sovereignty: Understanding Australia’s Economy: https://socialjusticeaustralia.com.au/currency-sovereignty-understanding/
Resources that might help to understand why ordinary Australians vote for the LNP?
https://oercollective.caul.edu.au/aust-politics-policy/chapter/voter-behaviour/
https://researchonline.jcu.edu.au/68803/1/JCU_68803_Crosby_2020_thesis.pdf