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Oh we have! Howard set the scene for even worse shenanigans under Abbott & Morrison. (Both bigger in stature than Howard.) Turnbull tried to stop to rightwards lurch, but didn’t have the numbers. (Or the spine?)

The difference here is that their party is losing support and currently looks unelectable. The main coalition party (the “Liberal” party) only has two metropolitan members in the national parliament.

This isn’t good. We need a strong opposition party to push back on government, at all times, regardless of who is in power.

I think our compulsory voting, preferential voting system & independent election authority (which draws electoral boundaries, runs elections etc) mean that extremist parties simply can’t do more than be an irritant. It does also mean that left wing parties can feel a need to be more centrist than left, making things like significant taxation reform, housing policies etc difficult. This is even more evident now that the other major party has skewed further right.

And while the focus on individual politicians & personalities has grown over the years, not having a president or even electing our prime minister, (that is done by the party that wins government), policy & ideology are discussed & evaluated more. “Charisma” & showmanship aren’t as important, although they’re not insignificant.

I’m not sure what network you’re referencing. Public utilities were largely privatised at a state & federal level in the 90s, ostensibly to increase efficiency & reduce costs to the consumer. That hasn’t gone well. I’d love to see power & water come back into public ownership & control, & think it would allow much faster & better coordinated moves towards renewable energy. And our telephone system is a minefield.