The ABC’s 'Q&A': what doesn’t it tell us about Australian politics?

And resolving concerns about immigration is not just about promoting tolerance and diversity, as many watching Q&A may believe as they mocked Abbott about the Coalition’s immigration record. It is about promoting the viability of the immigration program by ensuring that numbers do not deprive local Australians of economic opportunities.

As noted by Ross Gittins: immigration is fuelling demand for housing and competition for jobs in the larger cities at a time when immigration is responsible for half of Australia’s population growth (Sydney Morning Herald, March 3, 2008). Problems could emerge if Australia experiences an economic decline, which is quite likely, given that about 290,000 immigrants are expected to arrive in 2008-09 alone, including 100,000 temporary 457 visas.

Hard questions need to be asked about a number of important issues including industry protection, immigration, the ongoing reliance on private debt, taxation, and the environment.

Politicians need to tell the truth about their respective policy options rather than merely expressing an awareness of issues or blaming the previous government for the nation’s current woes - something that has been taken to a new level by the Rudd Labor Government.

Though I do not agree with many of his arguments, Tony Abbott is one of the few politicians who is honest in response to competitive economic realities by arguing in 2007 that lower wages may indeed be needed to boost employment and economic activity.

It is this sort of honesty that is needed from both Labor and the Coalition, as Australia’s major centre-left and centre-right political parties, to ensure that Australia remains competitive and compassionate. After all, the prime purpose of competition between political parties is to find the appropriate level of government intervention on different issues.

Q&A may not provide all of the answers about big picture questions, but greater truth about policy possibilities and limitations from comprehensive debate is necessary to help maximise the ability of our liberal democracy to meet the enormous policy challenges ahead.