If you need any more evidence that the two-party system is cooked, look no further than the not so grand coalition that came together to preference power over people in the federal parliament last week.

These days the Liberal and National parties have taken to condemning modern Labor as “socialist” and some of its policy “communist”.

Meanwhile, the prime minister has labelled the three parties of the right the “Noalition” as the Liberals and Nationals increasingly align with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation.

They hate each other. Yet apparently, needs must.

And in plain sight this last week, we have seen a more profound and perhaps permanent realignment as both government and opposition prioritise political survival over community concern. They could choose to better collaborate to meet the moment. Instead they choose to swallow their hatred of each other to safeguard their collective mediocrity.

In at least three instances Labor and the Coalition united to defy the clearly expressed desire of voters; on gambling, on disability and on the power of the digital companies.

On the recommendations of the Murphy report, on the NDIS and on media diversity, Anthony Albanese........

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