INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Game of Clones Playing the Race Card in the 2013 Australian Federal Election ASHLEY LAVELLE August 2013 „ „ The election campaign has been a»race to the bottom« to see who can most exploit the issue of asylum-seekers. „ „ There has been precious little to differentiate between the major parties, who have neglected numerous critical issues, such as mental illness, homelessness, the plight of Aboriginal people and discrimination against women. „ „ Both major parties’ obsession with balancing the budget and being corporate-friendly comes at great social cost. „ „ Minor parties and Independents may achieve their highest proportion of the total vote for some time.