Federal Election 2022: Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the way Australians see Federal Politics?
With the 2022 Federal Election fast approaching, the public discourse around current policies is most definitely booming within the nation.
As current prime minister Scott Morrison and opposition Anthony Albanese jet around the country to compete for the votes of the electorate, one must wonder: Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the way Australians view federal politics?
Throughout the pandemic, political leaders have been observed and scrutinised more than ever before. Pandemic management was a central focus of the Morrison government, instigating tighter border controls, convening a national cabinet to coordinate state and territory government responses to the pandemic, and initiating a program of income support for businesses and workers.
Not to mention other external factors confronting the government over the past three years. Including the 2019-2020 bushfires, energy and climate change, the aged care system, the evacuation of Afghanistan, a commonwealth integrity commission, religious freedoms, and the recent flooding across the east coast of Australia.
These issues and economic concerns across the electorate, such as an increase cost of living, housing affordability, and repayment of government debts have been significant themes of the upcoming campaign.
Using Sprinklr, KINSHIP took the dates leading up to both the 2019 and 2022 elections, applied filters related to the topic, and produced a figure which presents, quite explicitly, the public interest in the topic. Social media posts across multiple platforms were grouped according to positive, negative, or neutral drawn across the month leading up to both election dates.
Although the level of negative mentions for both time frames was similar, the level of positive mentions was significantly higher prior to the 2022 federal election.
As we analyse the top emotions around the public topic of the 2022 Federal election, it is evident that Australians have high levels of approval and anger followed by sadness.
Although may have moved on, the virus is still front of mind for a great number of Australians.
Those most vulnerable in our community are doubling down every time they leave the house, asking themselves “is this worth potentially being the action that I catch COVID for?”
No matter where you are located the effects of covid have been deep-felt, across the country.
The question now is how the changes brought on by the pandemic will influence the way they think and feel, as well as what they will want of their leaders now the virus is here to stay.
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