OPINION

MAKE no mistake — the people paid a pretty penny to sit in Canberra don’t care about you.

The past decade of infuriating infighting, turmoil and civil war in both the Labor and Liberal parties ranks demonstrates that pretty clearly.

Cost of living, healthcare, decent education, employment opportunities and the stability of the economy … oh, they talk a lot about these issues, the things that keep you up at night.

But the reality is, there’s no time to figure out a meaningful solution to the many problems this country faces when they’re preoccupied with destroying each other.

All these politicians really care about is clinging to power at any cost — and usually at your expense.

Eleven years. That’s how long it’s been since a sitting prime minister was able to finish a full term, from election to election, when John Howard lost to Kevin Rudd.

Since then, the Australian public has been subjected to a circus of self-interested egomaniacs letting their born-to-rule personality disorders run wild.

There was Rudd versus Gillard, then Gillard versus Rudd. We had Turnbull versus Abbott, and now Dutton versus Turnbull.

The wrecking, the undermining, the sniping, the constant attacks on each other — it’s sickening. They’re no better than a bunch of brawling schoolyard children.

And if you think today’s vote in the party room, which Turnbull narrowly won, puts this latest furore to rest, I’m sorry to disappoint you.

There’s already speculation about when the next challenge will take place.

It’s ridiculous. Is it any wonder a growing number of Aussies are totally fed up with the two major parties?

The next time anyone in the government, or indeed the opposition, wonders why the voter base is moving towards smaller parties or independents, they should take a good look at themselves.

The war Canberra should be waging is on the skyrocketing cost of living a decent life. It should be on the fact that our wages have barely increased in years.

They should target affordable housing, jobs for your kids, health services and our security.

Aussies don’t care who’s running the show, as long as they get something done. And frankly, they’re failing miserably.

Instead of leading, the moment the government of the day gets a whiff of voter dissatisfaction, they panic and run for the party room in a bid to turf out the person in charge for a new one.

What does this solve? It’s the political equivalent of papering over some deep foundation cracks. Or, the better analogy is slapping some lipstick on a pig.

The jig is up. We see the pig and its cheap make-up. And we’re bloody tired of it.