The Myth of the ‘Sensible Centre’

Have you ever wondered why our politicians don’t implement popular and evidence-based policies that would improve Australia’s health, education or public transport systems? Or why they ignore scientific research that tells us things like approving new gas and coal projects is bad for the environment?

Like an old street directory, the left/right/centre map of Australian politics is dated, disorienting and dangerously incomplete. The focus on the ‘sensible centre’ has created a bad map where the road leads to nowhere, ignoring evidence when it is convenient and stifling democratic debate about how we can create the country that Australians want.

In his latest Vantage Point essay, economist and Executive Director of The Australia Institute Richard Denniss, explores the contradiction between centrism and evidence that sits at the heart of democratic debate in Australia. He shows that when both major parties oppose reform then the position of the sensible centre becomes indistinguishable from blind support for keeping things as they are.