They did it. They really did it. Britain has voted to leave the European referendum, with the vote about 52% in favour.
I'm starting to believe - this is the most extraordinary night of our political lives, Britain... pic.twitter.com/xXJQpFYqC3
— Tim Montgomerie ن (@montie) June 24, 2016
Guardian Australia’s Katharine Murphy noted that the vote in the UK reflected disenchantment, opposition to the establishment and “politics as usual”:
The middle class in Australia hasn’t been smashed in the way it has been smashed in other countries post-recession, but it’s there nonetheless, and disaffection is there with sufficient potency to help determine the result on 2 July.
But Brexit could be used to benefit both sides: the Coalition can claim it’s a “clear choice” for stability while Labor points to the importance of inclusive growth and the repair of social capital. Both parties were quick to do just that.
In Tasmania, Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged the “momentous and historic decision” by the British people but reassured Australians that the national economy was strong and would be able to weather uncertainty and instability of the global markets.
There was “no cause for Australians to be alarmed”, he concluded (just hours after stating that Brexit would create “uncertainty and somewhat of a shock”) – but better to vote for the Coalition, just in case.
— Jason Koutsoukis (@jkoutsoukis) June 24, 2016
Turnbull said the EU referendum result was testament to all that goes on in the world – global economies, commodity prices – that Australia has no control over. But it did reflect the need for leadership, stable government and a clear economic plan to “set Australia up for a prosperous future” and to prepare for challenges and headwinds that could not be anticipated.
You guys, I think he might be talking about the Coalition!
Turnbull and the Libs are exploiting the #Brexit for their own political gain #auspol #politas
— Jacqui Lambie (@JacquiLambie) June 24, 2016
Earlier the shadow treasurer, Chris Bowen, had argued that the result made a clear case for structural economic repair.
Brexit is likely to have little direct impact on Australia but global market volatility will be an issue for some time. It will now have to renegotiate trade and political links with the rest of the world, which could take at least two years and perhaps as long as a decade.
Guardian Australia’s Gareth Hutchens discussed the possible pros and cons of Brexit for Australia on Thursday.
At least Cory was happy.
#Brexit victory! Congratulations @vote_leave
— Cory Bernardi (@corybernardi) June 24, 2016
A great day. @UKIP @DanHannanMEP
Oh, and the Sun.
Britain's 'The Sun' is excited by #Brexit #EUrefResults pic.twitter.com/oSa9gsm6K0
— Simon Cullen (@Simon_Cullen) June 24, 2016
What price a non-binding plebiscite? $160m
Turnbull signalled on Friday that the controversial marriage equality plebiscite, if held, would be followed by a conscience vote in parliament. That gives conservatives an out if the nation votes in favour, raising the obvious question: why have a plebiscite at all?
Turnbull sees no issue, stating that if most Australians voted in favour of marriage equality, MPs would be guided by that result. So that’s a conscience vote where every conservative in the parliament votes yes, you say? Hmm …
Who better to expand on this thinking but the treasurer, Scott Morrison, who earlier this week compared the “hate speech” and bigotry he’d received for opposing same-sex marriage with that experienced by same-sex-attracted people.
Morrison said he would “respect” the result of the plebiscite, but did not clarify whether that meant he’d support the national vote or that of his electorate. Either way, you can see the limits of Turnbull’s approach-in-good-faith pretty quickly, as Murph unpicks here.
Labor’s Penny Wong was not amused, pointing out that Turnbull – a supporter of marriage equality himself, he says – had given its opponents a free vote after the election but not its supporters one beforehand.
…But will give opponents of marriage equality a free vote after the election. Traded his principles for the leadership. 2/2
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) June 24, 2016
And the Greens’ marriage equality spokesman, Robert Simms, accused the PM of subjecting the LGBTI community to an “ugly and divisive hate campaign” merely to appease the conservative forces of his backbench.
“How exactly can the prime minister justify spending $160m on what is in effect a giant opinion poll that isn’t even binding on his own members? ... It’s time for some spine from this prime minister.”
Further reading
• Election deciders: the media (Crikey) Not even the mighty News Corp tabloids can make the public care deeply about this election, writes Myriam Robin.
• Warren Entsch rejects Julia Gillard ‘ditch the witch’ poster comparison (Fairfax) Here’s a tip: don’t describe MPs – or any women – as witches!
• I don’t trust Libs on Medicare, says student (The Australian) Labor’s scare campaign seems to be working. Elsewhere in the Oz, Dennis Shanahan says the same.
• Shanahan also has written a weird piece about the PM’s fond memories of the communal showers at the surf lifesaving club at North Bondi:
“Turnbull believes the showers, in the then male-only surf club, were a social leveller with people from every background, including Jewish members from the “schmutter business” – rag trade – indistinguishable in swimmers or naked.”
And also ...
Here’s a cheerful pic of some fresh-faced young people out campaigning for Barnaby Joyce in New England. They call themselves the Barney Army.
Meanwhile, in the rest of the world ...
See above, and also:
• Britain votes for Brexit after dramatic night leaves nation divided
• Britain has voted to leave the EU – what happens next?
• How did UK end up voting to leave the EU?
• ‘A sad day for Europe’: EU aghast as Britain votes Brexit
And if today was a pop song ...
Without intending to editorialise ...
Never miss another catchup: if you’re reading this in the Guardian app, tap on “Australian election briefing” at the top or bottom of this page, then tap on “Follow series” to get an app notification as soon as the Campaign catchup publishes every afternoon.
