Australian Politics

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Well we have an American politics thread, why not an Aussie one?

Our system can be quite colourful, and what better way to kick this thread off with a discussion about the next election.
They reckon it could be the tightest ever.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, I hope there are more hits on this thread than we get in the Canadian one.  Seems only the Yanks are politically aware enough to really support this kind of thread.

[AkemiAzula 280]

Well as an expat I keep an eye on the news from back there and it was interesting to see Rudd return. I think he's way more popular in my age group than Abbot.

 

Just between you and me I voted for Abbot in the only election I've ever voted in back in 2010. But I voted for a labour candidate for the gong, Sharon Bird, cos she had shaken my hand whilst touring my room. 

 

Politically I don't care which party is in. I voted for Abbot cos everybody hated him and I felt it would be a nice thing to do. I was cool with Julia backstabbing Rudd cos she wanted the power but I'm equally cool with Rudd backstabbing her back. I don't really care tbh who is pm. However having said that Rudd gave me 1000 bucks once, so naturally I can't have much against him lol.

 

I thought Howard was ok cos he was funny on the Chaser. It was nice to see someone else get up early in the morning and go for a walk, and it at least showed he wasn't one of those Roman leaders who eats grapes all day with his five million girlfriends.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

OK.  I am an outside observer.  What are this issues?

[LexusInfernus 908]

Well, I hope there are more hits on this thread than we get in the Canadian one.  Seems only the Yanks are politically aware enough to really support this kind of thread.

Its probably more that news from America is far more likely to be picked up outside of America than news from Canada or Australia. At least for us European people that generally holds true. 

[Cockatoo 2,256]

OK.  I am an outside observer.  What are this issues?

 

Mark_Kochan pretty much summed them up perfectly. The two major parties policies are in essence so similar (despite their attempts to make it look otherwise) that most of us just vote on personality or something trivial we saw on TV. We live in a relatively stable country, people at radical ends of the spectrum don't have much influence voting wise, so IMO major party politics is as much about entertainment as it is about actually running the place! Because with only minor differences, they'll both probably end up doing the same things.

 

I'm voting for Rudd because he's rock-star cool, doesn't take crap from anyone - even from his own party, and, he speaks Mandarin like a boss. Plus I live in his electorate so I might even get to meet the guy someday.

[Wiimeiser 436]

sums up Melbourne's road plans quite well.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

So Australia has the general dilemma of these peaceful days.  You can vote for: the party of sweetness and light; or the party of light and sweetness.  I suppose this generally results in a minority government.

 

We had minorities for decades until the last election when the worm turned.  The 'natural ruling party of Canada' Liberals came third, the socialist New Democrats came second (official opposition) and the Conservatives who had been begging for a majority to 'get things done' got it.  One shouldn't ask for things, one might get it.

 

The Harper conservatives have been a general flop as a majority.  Harper is acting like a tin-pot Napoleon, and in his ineffable style of not delegating anything, has micromanaged the country into a sort of discontent that might even wipe out the Conservative party in the next election (Fall 2015 or sooner depending on defections).  The Trendy Pee have been making some wild statements lately that make it questionable whether they could ever govern, and the Liberal leader has never held a cabinet position, and so is completely untried.  Hope Australia is in a better state.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Yep, we are currently a minority government with each major party holding 72 seats each, and power is given by the 6 independents/greens.

FYI I will probably vote greens or sex party as my first choice, narrowing down to Labor on a two party preferred. Marginal seat, yo!

[AkemiAzula 280]

I was amused when after voting for Abbott (liberal-national) nationally and for Sharon Bird (labor) locally it resulted in a hung parliament. 

 

Certainly can't say I was disillusioned about 'every vote counts' lol.

 

But yeah it hardly matters which party is in power. If Labor hadn't given me a thousand bucks I don't think I'd have anything to go on besides personality. I used to buy the Morning Herald and watch Question Time for entertainment 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yep, we are currently a minority government with each major party holding 72 seats each, and power is given by the 6 independents/greens.

FYI I will probably vote greens or sex party as my first choice, narrowing down to Labor on a two party preferred. Marginal seat, yo!

Good luck with keeping it that way.  Canadians seem to do better with the politicians when there is a minority.  We won't make the current  mistake again, I hope. 

 

Justice would require an NDP minority with the rest of the house split between the Libs and the Cons.  The dog would then wonder which tail was going to wag it.  The NDP has never been in power, and its members are mostly radical socialists with the leadership trying to drag them to the centre.  They need a few object lessons.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/diaz-and-confused-candidate-misses-the-points-20130806-2rb1v.html

Well this can't be too good for the Libs..

[LexusInfernus 908]

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/diaz-and-confused-candidate-misses-the-points-20130806-2rb1v.html

Well this can't be too good for the Libs..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23628092

 

Not sure what party she is from, but whatever the party is, I hope no one votes on it. Such ignorance and utter stupidity should be illegal in politics. 

[Wiimeiser 436]

More proof we should just fire our whole government and replace it.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

HAHAHAH ONE NATION OH MY.

Yeah they are what as Cockatoo said, one of the more extreme parties, one which garner more attention through bad publicity than real action. No one votes for them anyway.

[astronelson 339]

 

 

One Nation's still around? They're more dysfunctional than the Australian Democrats!

 

For those interested, you can have a look at where you stand on the ABC's Vote Compass, which compares your position to the positions of the Labor, Liberal/National, and Green parties. The questions in there should give you an idea of what the main issues are in Australian politics.

 

A complete list of all federally registered parties in Australia (Wikipedia link has more detail), featuring such favourites as "Bullet Train for Australia", "Coke in the Bubblers Party", "Outdoor Recreation Party (Stop The Greens)", and "Shooters and Fishers Party".

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

A complete list of all federally registered parties in Australia (Wikipedia link has more detail), featuring such favourites as "Bullet Train for Australia", "Coke in the Bubblers Party", "Outdoor Recreation Party (Stop The Greens)", and "Shooters and Fishers Party".

Yes, but how many of those are contesting seats?

I did the compass survey and it told me I most closely identify with the Greens, as was expected for me.

[Cockatoo 2,256]

One Nation. More like the Australian Lulz Party.

 

Just finished watching the debate! Tony tony tony... so you're going to spend up, reduce taxes, keep the carbon tax reimbursements AND fix the budget deficit all at the same time? So apart from cheaping out on broadband, where's all this money going to come from then?

 

Also did the ABC compass quiz thing. My results were pretty close to the ALP dot, as expected.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

I missed the debate.

Answering your question Cockatoo, cutting public services. Simply.

[LexusInfernus 908]

I did the voting test. I ended up somewhere between the Greens and Labor. I kinda expected that. 

 

These tests are always fun  

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

I have a feeling that the majority of people on Simtropolis will end up there, as for some reason we seldom have conservatives lurking in the Off Topic sections of the site.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

As an outside observer, this is starting to look like an interesting party.  Have fun, and may the best Greens wind up wagging the dog.

[LexusInfernus 908]

I have a feeling that the majority of people on Simtropolis will end up there, as for some reason we seldom have conservatives lurking in the Off Topic sections of the site.

You should take a look at the American politics and Second Amendment discussions then. Plenty of conservatives to be found there  

[AkemiAzula 280]

Coke in the Bubblers Party. lol. 

 

What about Beer in the Water Coolers Party?

[Ocram's Razr 963]

I read on CNN that a candidate for prime minister made some gaffes regarding religion and dropped out of the race because of her embarrassment.

--Ocram

[astronelson 339]

 

 

I read on CNN that a candidate for prime minister made some gaffes regarding religion and dropped out of the race because of her embarrassment.


--Ocram

Stephanie Banister (One Nation), linked above by LexusInfernus.

 

There was no chance she'd become PM anyway - that position is held by the leader of the Government, and One Nation definitely won't become the Government. She was running for a seat in parliament.

 

I don't recall seeing that she dropped out, One Nation doesn't strike me as the party to care that much about accuracy on Islam or Judaism (EDIT: she did).

 

She could likely be forbidden from standing in the election if she is convicted on an unrelated charge of "contaminating or interfering with goods" before then.

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

Not like anyone would vote for her anyway.

[AkemiAzula 280]

I did the vote compass fell between Labor and Liberals, close to the centre of the cross.

 

Then again on most of the topics listed I was fairly neutral or they didn't affect me (when I was in Wollongong)

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

I did the vote compass fell between Labor and Liberals, close to the centre of the cross.

 

Then again on most of the topics listed I was fairly neutral or they didn't affect me (when I was in Wollongong)

Most of Australians will fall there, I think. 

[ROFLyoshi 1,760]

"Imagine the world is a Year 6 classroom. Australia is the clever kid at the front who is struggling with a Year 12 maths problem, and is worried they won't be a surgeon before they turn 18. While the other kids are chewing pencils, mesmerised by the ceiling fan and have their pants on backwards."

 

This was in the afternoon metro newspaper (the mX) today; arguably the best metaphor I have read in my entire life.