The polls predicted the Coalition win

Those of us who are old enough will also remember the Costigan Royal Commission to investigate criminal activities associated with the Painters and Dockers Union. Costigan noted that:

The Union has attracted to its ranks in large numbers men who have been convicted of, and who continue to commit, serious crimes.

This opinion piece gives you additional reasons for rejecting Bill Shorten as Prime Minister, other than that he is a former Trade Union leader with all the baggage that carries; that he is a backstabber. Shorten was instrumental in knifing two former Prime Ministers – Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. The Courier Mail headline on Sept 15, 2015, said it all: "Bill Shorten, who knifed two PMs, gives moral advice to Malcolm Turnbull"

A deeper reason is his trade union affiliation. Only about 15 % of the Australian workforce are members of trade unions, a decline in the last two decades from about 40%. It was60% of the workforce in 1954. Trade union membership is becoming increasingly irrelevant to Australians, yet affiliated unions account for 50% of delegates at federal and state Labor Party conferences.

In short, a group of people representing only 15 % of the workforce, has a disproportionate influence on one of Australia's only two major political parties.

An allied reason why Shorten's trade union background was rejected by most Australians is Labor's concept of trade unionism. That we need help in combatting what was described in the recent election as "the big end of town" is an outdated concept. Most of us aspire, if not to become one of the big end, at least of reaching up in that direction. In short, of achieving more with our lives than our parents did and certainly of achieving more than what we had when we left school.

We are all ambitious for ourselves. Humanity has demonstrated over the centuries this desire to build on itself, to improve our lives. History has many examples of working people fighting for just treatment Trade unionism achieved a great deal, getting children out from down the mines with the Chartists,. Only a few of those issues remain. Trade unions are now less needed.

We all, or at least most of us, are also caring people. Our vote on same sex marriage demonstrated that. The opinion polls that showed a preference for Labor's more thoughtful policies also were in accord with how we believe. Its opinions on climate change, on refugees, on fair wages, on multiculturism, on the ABC, reflect national beliefs. They were what the opinion polls demonstrated. These policies are not supported by the do-nothing conservative right wing of the Coalition.

We should join a political party and change the world that way. The Liberal Coalition is one option. Tony Abbott has gone, but there are still many conservative troglodytes holding it back. Unless the Coalition changes its support of its ultra conservatives it is a gone goose. The Labor Party is an alternate option.

The media is already questioning whether Anthony Albanese will be an effective leader in opposition. This writer believes that he will romp home at the next election. The ordinary members of the party voted for him over Shorten some years back. He supports most of the beliefs of ordinary Australians, and is a leader that people want. We could join the Labor Party, attempt to change its name, and the influence of trade unions, and help to build the Australia that it set out in its last election manifesto.

The polls showed a majority of Australians supported the Australia of that manifesto but did not vote for it as it brought with it a Prime Minister they did not want.