In the few days before the election, I was looking forward to no longer being ambushed by Clive Palmer advertisements and flyers in my letterbox. I was enjoying having robust discussions with previously ambivalent friends and colleagues — mostly around wages and climate change.
I felt truly hopeful that the people of Australia would follow the advice of this Tweet: 'Tomorrow, vote like you are a refugee. Vote like you are Indigenous. Vote like you are female. Vote like you can't find stable work. Vote like you can't afford a home. Vote like a young person. Vote like we're all in this together.'
Naturally, I went into an afternoon of volunteering — handing out how to vote cards — in my local area feeling incredibly optimistic and proud of how open people had been throughout the campaign. It seemed that people were realising they had the power to create real change. I felt confident climate change, the minimum wage and penalty rates, corruption in banking, our treatment of refugees and increasing support for people with disabilities would be key to the result of the election.
I was watching the ABC's election coverage with Antony Green but had to turn it off at about 8:30pm because I was so disheartened by the result. I languished on the couch eating chocolate for the rest of the evening until I collapsed into bed crying at about midnight.
I'd been scrolling through my social media feeds and they were awash with posts from my friends — many of whom are queer, disabled or on low incomes — worrying about their futures and the future of our earth. I saw countless posts with people saying 'That's it, I'm moving to NZ'.
I completely understand the desire people had to give up — I felt it too. I was scared, sad and deeply ashamed to be an Australian — to live in a country where it seems self-interest is prioritised above all else. And as this meme on Facebook so accurately depicted, the waves of grief come randomly as you continue to think about the lasting and drastic impact this election result is likely to have.
Visa applicants wanting to come to Australia are required to sign a values statement. According to this statement, Australian values include: 'a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces mutual respect, tolerance, fair play and compassion for those in need and pursuit of the public good' and 'equality of opportunity for individuals, regardless of their race, religion or ethnic background'.
"Giving up isn't an option. Not only is it elitist and antagonistic but it's just not the best way forward."
These are values all Australians supposedly share, that we advertise to the rest of the world as a key part to being an Aussie. And yet we have collectively voted for the complete opposite. It is astounding and shocking to me that we can have strayed so far from these values, that we can support and vote for people who are openly racist, homophobic and encouraging of an individualistic and hate driven society.
But then I looked on my social media feeds one last time before falling asleep and I saw this Tweet: 'I've woken up today determined more than ever to fight for the human rights of refugees. Just because our country chose the politics of fear, hate & division doesn't mean we have to. I chose love. I chose unity. I chose justice. I chose compassion. I chose fairness. Will you join me?'
And this post on Facebook: ''That's it, I'm leaving Australia!' as a reaction to the election gets less funny when you realise it's literally just your allies saying they'll choose to leave you to fight for your culture against fascists.'
These quotes showed me that giving up isn't an option. Not only is it elitist and antagonistic but it's just not the best way forward. We must not give up. No matter how defeated, deflated and disheartened we might feel, there are people whose voices cannot be heard, who have not got the ability to fight, and we need to stand with them. To quote Kon again:
'To refugees, women, DV survivors, First Nations People, workers, unemployed, LGBTIQA, young people, students, disabled, Muslims, PoC, and everyone who wants action on climate change, know I stand with you tonight and am ready to fight with you come Monday for a fair Australia for all of you.'
Don't let hate, fear and division win. Stand with your mates, let them know you support them and hear their struggles. And follow the advice of Brené Brown by leaning into fear and being vulnerable, because in that vulnerability is courage.
Brenna Dempsey is a freelance writer and involved in various areas of activism while studying at University.
Main image: Newly elected Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison, joined by wife Jenny and daughters Lilly and Abbey, speaks at the Liberal Party reception at the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel on 18 May 2019 in Sydney. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)