The May Election confirmed no appetite for U.S.-style religious meddling in Australias politics, asAlan Austinreports.
THE SOLITARY SENATOR elected by supporters ofClive Palmers recent right-wing nutter political parties hasdeclaredhis religious outlook.
Victorian SenatorRalph Babettweeted last week:
As Babet didnt face the voters this year, we must wait to see if his God keeps him in Canberra next time. We know already that most candidates with his brand of religiosity in theFamily FirstandTrumpet of Patriotsparties suffered humiliating defeats on 3 May.
Family First candidate in Newcastle,Jason Briggs, enjoyed the energetic support of prominent right-wing Christian activistLyle Shelton, currently Family Firsts national director. Briggscampaigned stronglyon traditional Australian Judeo-Christian values, which include schools that wont debase the minds of children with social Marxist indoctrination and propaganda.
He managed 2.14% of thevote.
Right-wing fundamentalism rebuffed
Most candidates who raised U.S.-style religious issues abortion, religious freedom, same-sex marriage, gender identity have failed badly in recent years. These includeFreya Ostapovitchin Queensland,Thomas Broughin WA andBernie Finnin Victoria.
Well-travelled Christian social analystRod Bensonhas served within Australias Baptist, Anglican and now Uniting Church communities in roles from pastor to church planter to ethicist. He is now the general secretary of the NSWEcumenical Council.
Dr Benson told IA that the Christian vote in Australia has essentially evaporated.
Rejection of LNP first step in eliminating Australia's Far-RightThe 2025 Federal Election was an indication that Australians have had enough of the rise in far-right ideologies spouted by extremists and politicians.
Calls for abortion bans denied
Experiences in the states are instructive on anti-abortion activism, particularly in Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales.
Prominent member for TraegerRobbie Kattercampaigned energetically onabortion law reformin last years Queensland State Election. He alsosponsoreda bill to ban transgender athletes.
His primary votetumbledto just 49.3% in 2024, down from an average of 62.5% at the previous two elections, forcing him to preferences for the first time. That happened as other right-wing parties surged against the defeated Labor Government.
We cannot prove Kattersanti-abortion viewsdirectly caused that reversal, but they clearly didnt help him.
Advance in retreat
Right-wing political funding groupAdvancewas set up in 2018 to oppose what it calls woke politicians and elitist activist groups.
They have beencrowingthat they destroyed the Greens at the May Election, just as theydestroyedthe 2023 Voice Referendum. The evidence, however, shows Greens lost to Labor, not to right-wing extremists.
Greens leaderAdam BandtrelinquishedMelbournewith a 5.26% primary vote decline. Labors vote increased 5.68% while the L-NPs rose only 0.24%.
Stephen Bateslost inBrisbane, with a decisive 4.92% swing towards Labor, while his Greens vote fell 1.34%. The L-NP primary vote fell 3.48%.
Max Chandler-Matherlost inGriffithwhen his primary vote fell 2.94% while Labors increased 5.57%. The L-NP vote fell a thumping 4.16%.
InRyan, the Greens candidate just hung on with a primary swing of 1.23% against, despite Labors vote increasing 5.94%. The L-NP vote fell 3.89%.
Family First averaged a puny 1.02% of the primary vote in Brisbane, Griffith and Ryan. So there is no evidence Advance swayed any result anywhere.
Election recap: Democracy was done but with dark clouds at extreme RightBarring collapse in the outside world, Labor has the makings of great change for Australian society.
Damage done by Americas religious Right
Observers of U.S. affairs worldwide are seeing in real time the disastrous consequences of Evangelical Christians having supported PresidentDonald Trump. His overtly cruel administration is abandoningfree speech, bipartisanship, compassion and the rule of law. It is destroying critical departments, cutting vital services, destabilising global trade, shrinking local economicgrowthand engaging in opencorruptionandcriminality.
Religious crazies backing Trump include Republican House leaderMike Johnson, whoclaimsGod personally gave him a specific biblical calling.
Among the evils now visited upon Americans directly courtesy the religious Right are preventabledeathsof pregnant women,hate crimesagainst LGBTQ folks, violence againstminority faithsandimprisonmentof residents without trial.
Great reputational damage is being done to Christendom worldwide by charlatans such as greedy televangelistPaula White-Cainin the White House Faith Office, who claims Trump is Gods chosen leader andpromisesher gullible followers miracles and other gifts from God when they send her money.
Australia is not the USA
Generally, according to Rod Benson, Australian voters are more educated than North Americans and benefit from better journalism and more diverse media:
Dr Benson believes the last thing most Australians want is religious leaders and shadowy think tanks with links to ultra-conservative American institutions telling them how to vote:
Voters confirmed this pretty clearly at this months election.
Alan Austinis an Independent Australia columnist and freelance journalist. You can follow him@alanaustin001.
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