In a scathing assessment of the current political landscape, commentator Jeni O'Dowd has declared 2025 as the definitive 'Year of the Political Shirker' in Australia. This label, she argues, encapsulates a pervasive culture of avoidance and blame-shifting that has gripped the nation's leadership, leaving critical issues unaddressed and the public disillusioned.
The Anatomy of Avoidance: Leaders in the Spotlight
O'Dowd's analysis places both major party leaders squarely in the frame for this trend of political sidestepping. She points directly at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, accusing them of mastering the art of deflection rather than decisive action.
For Albanese, the critique centres on a perceived failure to own the consequences of his government's policies. O'Dowd highlights the contentious issue of stage three tax cuts as a prime example. While the policy was initially legislated by the previous Coalition government, Albanese's Labor government chose to modify it. However, when faced with backlash over the changes and their impact, the Prime Minister and his Treasurer, Jim ChalmersScott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg.
This tactic, O'Dowd contends, is a classic shirker's manoeuvre: implementing a change but refusing to accept full responsibility for the ensuing outcomes, instead pointing fingers at the past.
A Bipartisan Affliction: The Opposition's Role
The malaise of avoidance is not confined to the government benches, according to the commentary. Peter Dutton and the Coalition are painted with the same brush. O'Dowd notes that while the Opposition is quick to criticise the government's handling of the economy and immigration, it consistently avoids detailing its own alternative policies.
This strategy allows them to capitalise on public dissatisfaction without exposing their own plans to scrutiny. It's a form of political risk-aversion where attacking the other side replaces the harder work of formulating and defending a clear, costed agenda for the nation. This behaviour, O'Dowd suggests, completes the cycle of shirking, creating a political vacuum where accountability is scarce.
The Consequences of Collective Shirking
The impact of this widespread political avoidance extends far beyond the walls of Parliament House in Canberra. O'Dowd warns that this era of the shirker has profound and damaging consequences for Australian democracy and society.
Firstly, it breeds intense public cynicism and erodes trust in political institutions. When voters consistently see leaders avoiding tough questions and blaming others, faith in the entire system diminishes. Secondly, it leads to policy stagnation. Major, complex challenges—from the cost of living and housing affordability to climate adaptation and defence strategy—require brave, long-term decisions. A culture of shirking incentivises short-term, politically safe gestures over meaningful reform.
Ultimately, O'Dowd's analysis presents a stark picture: a nation at a crossroads being led by a political class more focused on managing blame than managing the country. The 'Year of the Political Shirker' is not a mere political commentary quip; it is a diagnosis of a dysfunctional state of affairs where leadership has been supplanted by evasion, and the price is paid by the Australian public.
