Politicians out of touch with the real world

Interesting article in today’s Age about the jobs of federal politicians before they entered Parliament.

I’ve posted before about the fact that Labor has too many members who have come from make believe jobs such as union organisers, political advisers etc, and this is borne out in the article.

To quote from Michelle Grattan’s piece:

Of the 187 MPs in 1971, there were 38 primary producers (20 per cent), 22 solicitors and barristers (12 per cent), and 18 union officials (10 per cent). Company directors and executives numbered 11; there were six former retailers; five in the accountant/secretary category and seven real estate or travel agents and auctioneers.

Former party officials accounted for seven, just ahead of doctors (six). Of today’s crop of 226, 55 (24 per cent) were in business, including executives and managers (42 Coalition, 10 Labor).

Twenty-six (12 per cent) were political consultants, advisers and lobbyists (including 13 Labor, 10 Coalition). Twenty-five (11 per cent) were party and union “administrators” (23 Labor, two Liberal) while another seven, all Labor, are described as party and union “officials”. There are also 13 (6 per cent) who were researchers, research assistants, electoral and project officers (nine ALP, three Liberal, one Democrat). As the Government says, Labor draws more heavily than it does from the political class — 52 in a caucus of 88 to 15 of a Liberal-Nationals total of 126.

Labor has more than 65% of its caucus coming from the ranks of professional political operators, compared to about 12% for the Government. Is it any wonder that Labor is so out of touch with the real world that us voters live and work in?