A new year and a new premier.
But for Gladys Berejiklian the political landscape has changed, not just here but everywhere.
Premier Berejiklian may have taken over as leader of the same conservative coalition ruled by her predecessor Mike Baird, but she’s come to power at a time when voters have shown they want to be listened to and will punish those who refuse to heed that message.
In her first press conference as Premier Ms Berejiklian stated her three priorities: infrastructure, housing affordability and strengthening the economy. All are important and as her time in office proceeds she’s sure to be judged on them.
But what I noticed was her repeated insistence that she wants to prove that she, her party and by association the political class, are going to be more attentive to the people they represent. It seems clear she knows things have changed in politics.
On the weekend Donald Trump was inaugurated as the President of the US, an election victory which came on the back of a promise to ignore the established ways of doing politics. Last year Pauline Hanson’s One Nation won a swag of senate seats by promising to be different. Things have since imploded for One Nation, but it’s expected to win big in Queensland’s upcoming state elections.
Closer to home and the once safe National Party seat of Orange is now held by the Shooters and Fishers Party after local voters showed they were unhappy with the decisions of the Baird Government, especially the proposed ban on greyhound racing. That decision might have been reversed before the by-election, but it was too little too late.
Not that many years ago a political party could get away with making decisions in office while avoiding paying a price at the polling booth. There were two major parties, and small players like the Greens and Democrats and a few independents. That status quo is gone.
I think Gladys Berejiklian’s got the message loud and clear. Her party and its former leader might have been able to do no wrong in the eyes of most people for a long time, but that’s no longer the case.
How she’ll manage to balance public expectations with political reality I’ve no idea. But be assured it’s something she’ll have to get good at fast.
