We now have a new government in Australia. Finally. After six years of Labor ineptitude, chaos, confusion and crisis, we now have a new chance at getting Australia back into working order. And it seems to have been – at this early stage – a convincing win indeed.
Tony Abbott said in his 9 minute victory speech: “Australia is under new management. And once more open for business.” In contrast, Kevin Rudd in his 24-minute concession speech was utterly appalling in his arrogance and pomposity. He talked about himself incessantly, while not even once congratulating Tony Abbott. His complete lack of humility was fully on display tonight.
The actual numbers are roughly as follows: In the House 90 seats at least go to the Coalition, around 54 to Labor, and a few others to smaller parties and independents. The primary vote for Labor was way down, as was the vote for the Greens. Of course how things pan out in the Senate remain to be fully seen.
But it was a very strong rebuke of Labor and a clear move by the electorate to bring in substantial change. This very strong mandate for change will now be played out in the months ahead. The mainstream media will continue to be obstinate here, as will the shrunken Labor minority opposition.
Implications
I have written on numerous election results over the years, and what I have written elsewhere could probably just be cut and pasted here. That is because my fundamental message regarding such election results remains the same, but let me share it again here.
Will this Coalition victory usher in the millennium? Bring heaven to earth? Solve all our problems? No, no and no. But it will stop the rot for a while. In a fallen world that may be the best we can expect. Politics is always messy, but some parties and policies are less bad than others.
Spiritually speaking, I believe the win to be an indication of God’s grace and mercy. Another term of Labor would really mangle Australia. Simply Kevin’s promise to ram sodomite marriage down our throats in the first hundred days would have been bad enough. But a whole host of other bad policies would be continued, escalated, or introduced.
I believe that the re-election of Obama in America was an indication that God’s hand of grace was being removed from that once great country, and his hand of judgment is being revealed. Another stint of this corrupt, dysfunctional and immoral Labor government could well have been more of the same.
So this change of government will not be a panacea. But then again the Coalition was competing against no panacea either. It is a welcome change of pace, and hopefully important things like dealing with the economy, reining in our out of control debt, slowing down the agendas of the social engineers, and restoring basic freedoms will move full steam ahead.
Indeed, Tony Abbott’s announcement just days before the election that he would roll back Labor’s heavy handed laws that limit free speech on the basis of not “giving offence”, and to defend religious freedom as well as reform the Australian Human Rights Commission is all terrific news.
Of course his move to abolish the carbon tax, the mining tax, and a number of other misplaced Labor policies are all good news as well. Getting control of our borders and reducing the tragic deaths of boat people allowed under Labor’s watch will be another real improvement. These and a host of other changes will be most welcome indeed.
While genuine change for the good should be seen real soon, nirvana will not be obtained. Tony will not save Australia. The Coalition will not save Australia. It is going down the tubes fast, and only a mighty outpouring of the Spirit of Almighty God will really turn things around here. Mighty heaven-sent revival is what this nation needs most.
So while we pray for revival, we must keep the new government in our prayers, as we are instructed to do in Scripture. They will need it. An obstinate and uncooperative opposition, along with a hostile media will as always make things difficult. Pray that the Party stands strong on key principles, and does not cave in to the radical special interest groups.
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