Things have changed a lot in the last year.

We previously had 1 centre left and 1 centre right major party, and an assortment of minor parties on each side.

However, our preferential voting system made our minor parties more influential than in the US.

At our last major election our centre right party was just demolished and demoralised. Its complex but now we ha e several mid size parties on the right, and one major party that was on the left but has really moved to the centre to capture more centrist votes while the right squabbles among themselves.

I do t really believe that the ratchet effect youre describing is a thing even in the US, but it certainly isn't in Australia. On most social policies we have been progressive over the decades.