Voters increasingly feel left behind, taken for granted, ignored – left to deal with the mounting costs of living, and job insecurity, challenges which are a direct result of poor policy, and poor government, over many years. 

For example, rising electricity and gas prices are the result of governments having no effective energy policy; housing has become unaffordable as governments, both federal and state, have failed to implement an effective housing policy over several decades; and so too with childcare, school, health, and many other costs. 

However, one of the most disturbing features of our politicians is their basic dishonesty. Clearly, election promises are mostly taken with a grain of salt, and increasingly so, as so many have never been delivered. 

Politicians also tend to gild the lily when it comes to admitting and facing the reality of issues and policy challenges – things are always basically “good”, at worst “OK”. They mostly resist giving a full and frank assessment; they mostly exaggerate, if not just lie, about both the likely benefits of their policies/responses, and particularly so when they are trying to frighten voters about the likely consequences of the policies of the other side. 

Indeed, they seem to act as if social norms, rules, standards, and practices that constrain the rest of us in our daily lives, don’t apply to them. They often ignore their clear responsibilities, and resist complete transparency and accountability.

At an extreme now, we have Trump, who basically dismisses criticism, or alternative views, as “fake news”. All this chokes off honest and effective debate. The bottom line is that many are losing complete confidence in democracy. 

What voters don’t understand, and certainly can’t accept, is that certain laws, by which most of us have to live, are just not applied to politicians.

For example, there are very strong “truth in advertising” laws and regulations. Why aren’t these extended to political advertising, and to political argument?

Similarly, in the corporate sector there are very tough laws, sometimes carrying even criminal penalties, concerning “false and misleading conduct”. Why aren’t our politicians required to meet the same standards of behavior?

Voters want politics to be “cleaned up”. They want democracy to be given a genuine chance. Yet, while often conceding these concerns, and while knowing what needs to be done to clean it up, our politicians push on with their lives, basically believing that they are better able to exploit the weaknesses of the system, with minimal accountability, than their competitors in the “game”. 

In recent days, the misbehavior of Barnaby Joyce has again focused the media and voters on what is referred to as the appropriate “code of conduct” for our politicians.

However, it is important to recall what Humpty Dumpty said to Alice: “When I use a word,” he said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” 

To be clear, it’s not just a question of tightening the words. Rather the challenge is to change the political culture and behavior.