EFFIE BATEMAN | Lifestyle | Contact
Local woman Tess Riordan has found herself in a state of reflection this afternoon.
This comes after googling Clive Palmer following another day of being bombarded by that minion shade of yellow.
Wading onto the internet, Tess said she was surprised to spy the words ‘Toowoomba Grammar School’ listed under his education section, seeing as she already had reserved opinions about the grammar crowd.
The revelation has unfortunately marked yet another strike against the glorious name that is The Swamp, with the first of course being the tarnished reputation of Geoffrey Rush, who’d been their best export during his Pirates of the Caribbean era.
At least Toowoombians can still say they pioneered the lamington.
Actually, now she comes to think about it, Palmer isn’t the only questionable politician that comes from her state nor is he the most batshit crazy either – between him, Bob Katter and Pauline Hanson, it’s hard to say who has the most roos loose in the top paddock (also known as the unholy trio).
So, why do all the biggest loose cannons come from the Sunshine State?
Well, as one of the most conservative states in Australia, Queensland has a history of holding more traditional values due to its larger regional demographic – with less than half of the population residing in Brisbane.
That makes it the second biggest decentralised demographic after our incestuous cousins down South.
Add to that, the fact Queensland favoured optional preferential voting until 2015 (which allowed voters to pick just one candidate, instead of numbering preference from most preferred to least preferred), and had an economy that skewed towards industries such as agriculture and mining, and the local government naturally attracted and retained the loudest voices (who are also arguably the most entertaining candidates.)
There is also the history of Queensland’s longest-serving premier and bloke of questionable character, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who laid the basis for a regressive way of thinking and use of ‘strongarm tactics’ against anyone who dared to oppose his conservative views.
So, as parties such as One Nation and The Nationals heavily focus on establishing anti-migrant rhetoric and advocating for regional growth, this has contributed to a loyal following and a meteoric rise for politicians like Hanson, who strongly appeal to the concerns of Australians who feel as though their voices are being lost.
But as the agricultural industry has seen a decline over the past few decades and the definition of working-class has changed, Queensland as a whole, has grown significantly more progressive than it was during Bjelke-Petersen’s reign – now even boasting the longest-serving female premier in Australia.
However, with a history of conservatism and racism, combined with a fragmented working class that feels disenfranchised and forgotten as a result of ‘progressivism’, Tess says it is easy to see why state Queensland politics continue to be volatile, and why parties that fight for the ‘quiet Australians’ will always find support.
And as Tess said to The Advocate in summary; “When the majority of politicians have the combined personality appeal of a bowl of unflavoured yoghurt, you can’t deny the larrikin-like appeal of pollies such as the unholy trio, who are as entertaining and theatrical as they are controversial.”
More to come.
