Russell Crowe has argued that the rise of independent politicians better represents the views of ordinary Australians, in contrast to the two-party dominated system in the United States.
The Oscar-winning actor made the claim in response to podcast host Joe Rogan who complained that Americans were “completely trapped in the two-party system.”
“Yes, we have a similar situation, but there is something very interesting going on in Australia at the moment, which is the rise of independent parties,” Crowe countered.
He added: “The main parties have to deal with the fact that those independents have to bring into the discussion a series of points that do not align with the party line.
‘And it works well. It works for us. It causes both main parties to re-examine who they are and what they stand for.
Rogan mused “we could definitely use that here,” highlighting how American politics is completely dominated by the Democratic and Republican parties.
There are other parties, including the Green, Libertarian and Reform parties, but they receive negligibly few votes in comparison.
Independent candidates can also run for office and have been known to perform well on occasion.
The Oscar-winning actor (pictured) made this observation in response to podcast host Joe Rogan who complained that Americans were “completely trapped in the two-party system.”
Joe Rogan (photo) is one of the most powerful media figures in the world
For example, George Wallace ran a third-party campaign in the 1968 US election, collecting 10 million votes and capturing five southern states.
Similarly, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate who ran in the November US elections, was poised to vote in dozens of states before withdrawing and endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump.
He has now been appointed Minister of Health in Trump’s new cabinet.
In contrast, Australia has seen an increase in independent politicians in recent years who have taken votes away from the two traditional parties, Labor and Liberal.
This situation is helped by a strong Green party, which currently has twelve senators and four members in the House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, independent candidates who run on strong climate platforms but are fiscally conservative are labeled “teal” candidates.
This is because they have combined their ‘green’ vision on climate with the traditional ‘blue’ budget approach of the centre-right Liberal Party.
Zali Steggall became the first Teal independent to achieve huge success when she ousted former Prime Minister Tony Abbott from his seat on Sydney’s northern beaches in the 2019 election.
Zali Steggall (pictured) became the first Teal independent to achieve huge success when she ousted former Prime Minister Tony Abbott from his seat on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in the 2019 election
Independent Maverick Bob Katter has just celebrated his 50th anniversary as an MP (Photo: Congratulations by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)
Similarly, Monique Ryan won the traditionally Liberal seat from former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg in the 2022 election.
Crowe’s three-hour conversation with Rogan, which first aired in August, has recently resurfaced in Teal ads on social media.
They are being pressured by Melbourne philanthropist Simon Holmes à Court, who founded Climate 200, which has given campaign funding to some Teal candidates.
However, not all independents are Teals.
There’s Dai Lee who defeated former Labor frontbencher and former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally in the Sydney seat of Fowler.
And of course, maverick Bob Katter, who has just completed 50 years in Parliament, spending 20 years as a Queensland MP before serving in the Federal Parliament for the past 30 years as the MP for Kennedy’s regional electorate.
His many crazy policies over the years include an attempt to teach schoolchildren how to fire guns and a desire to build a missile defense shield across northern Australia.