Australian politics now looks a lot like the US and UK realignment. By Robert Gottliebsen.

The societal split that emerged in the referendum duplicates what is happening in the UK, the US and other western democracies.

But in Australia, it took a race-based referendum to understand just how deep the community division has become.

Neither the prime minister nor business leaders understood the depth of the national division.

Business leaders, PMs and/or their older children often live in the pockets of Australia that are totally different to the rest of the nation.

Anthony Albanese represents the Sydney seat of Grayndler, where voters are disproportionately concerned with indigenous affairs, racism and the environment than the rest of Australia, which is far more concerned with economics and practical situations.

There was a 75 per cent Yes vote in Grayndler. Albanese did not understand that his electorate is very different to the rest of the nation, where most ALP voters live.

Many CEOs of large enterprises live in similar communities to Albanese, and their disastrous allocation of shareholder cash to the Yes campaign may have partly reflected the attitudes of people they meet in the supermarket.

CEOs marketing to the nation can therefore push the wrong strategy buttons.

By contrast, Peter Dutton represents the Brisbane seat of Dickson, which is much more like the rest of the nation and recorded a 70 per cent No vote.

Very few CEOs live in Dickson, although non-Brisbane CEOs pass the vicinity as they drive from the Brisbane airport.

Possibly related: