In case you've been living under a rock, or not in Australia so in which case you probably haven't heard, we had a federal election here on the weekend. The outcome of which is taken an interesting turn. It would appear that we have a hung parliament, i.e. no particular party has a majority to govern in its own right. This hasn't happened since WWII.
There's a few options and they are covered well in this article from The Australian. Basically, the former Labor government, now in caretaker mode, can visit the Governor-General (G-G) and claim to be capable of forming a minority government if they feel that they have enough support in parliament. The G-G would then swear in a Labor Government. If not, the Labor leader would inform the G-G to call the leader of the Opposition to swear them in as the government. Or we could just have another election. Seeing as that costs some $4 for every man, woman and child (not sure where transexuals/transgenders fit in here) we'd be spending about $80-odd million put the electioneering costs of each candidate. That money will be wiped from the markets quickly enough due to the uncertainty created anyway. Looks like we've finally given the G-G something valuable to do. The position hasn't really been utilised since 1975.
I watched a special 7:30 Report last night where three independents, Tony Windsor, Bob Katter and Rob Oakeshott, were interviewed. They plan to act as a group and side with whoever offers stable, workable government. All of them have a National Party background and all have their reasons for not being associated with the National Party. I guess that counts out them siding with the Liberal/National Party coalition.
Something Rob Oakeshott said that was very much worth listening to. He wanted to see an end to party-focused politicians and see Australia-focused politicians. Hey, that might work. The members of the House of Representatives are supposed to represent their constituents first and not their parties. If workable government was attainable then more and more people would be willing to vote for independent candidates and the major parties would be very concerned that this would lead to a real lessening of their support and hung parliaments in elections to come. The independents may not become a major political force on their own but would hold the balance of power. I wouldn't be unhappy to see that as long as it works. It would certainly lead to better policy in government.
Showing posts with label federal election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label federal election. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Polling Place on Election Day 2010
I've just returned from voting. No queueing for 10 hours in whatever the weather can throw at me. No acts of terror to frighten me away from partaking in my (compulsory) right to vote. Managed to avoid the Laborites, who were camera shy, with their how-to-vote-for-the-biggest-load-of-crap-and-wastage-party papers. Not that I'm biased mind you. Interestingly there was a queue to enter the polling place. And the people in the queue were quite chatty.
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| Polling place parking at a premium |
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| Even had to queue to vote |
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| Come on you Irons |
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| Tim Hammond banner - Boo! Hiss! |
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| Move Australia Forward - get rid of Julia Gillard's Labor government |
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| Steve Irons - Current federal member for Swan |
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| Banners everywhere |
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| Who's going to clean all of this up? |
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| Clever Liberal Party banners |
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| I think this is an anti-Liberal Party banner |
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| Those Laborites are at it again |
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| Liberal Party aides weren't camera sh |
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| Liberal Party advertising |
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| The Liberal Party's promises |
Federal Election Day
No, I said election. It's nothing to do with a Japanese stiffy.
Australians go to the polls today to vote for members of parliament. Well, when I say today there have been some 1.8 million votes cast already by 13% of the voting population in postal votes and the like. That's for people who won't be in the country on the day or can't make it to a polling booth. Voting only takes a few minutes and is unlike the US Presidential voting where people can queue for 10 hours, on a Tuesday, to cast their vote. We always have it on a Saturday. As it is compulsory perhaps we should have the following Monday off as we have had to "work". I can walk less than 10 minutes to the polling booth.
I'll be voting today for my local member. No, that has nothing to do with my anatomy. Why do so many terms to do with politicians have sexual double meanings?
I hope that the Liberal/National Coalition gets back into office. They require 17 additional seats, a huge swing, and I have a hunch that with the polls indicating that it will be such a close affair (another double entendre?) that they will just miss out. We'll be stuck with those idiots who have wasted the budget surpluses put aside by the Coalition over the previous 11 years, who ran a disastrous home insulation scheme, who want to almost tax our mining industry out of existence, who want to tax our use on carbon when this is rather stupid and not giving people incentive to change where they obtain their power from, etc, etc. The Coalition has something like 44% of the primary vote and the Labor Party has about 38% but with the Greens providing their preferences to the Labor Party it looks as though this damn preferential voting system is going to deliver us another bloody three years of Labor.
Why would anybody, in possession of a right mind, vote Greens? Not only does the Labor Party, like I mentioned previously, want to almost tax our mining industry out of existence, but the Greens want to add $2 billion dollars to the bill.
Vote Liberal - vote for business. Business creates the jobs in this country, not the government. Well, the government does create jobs but they are only parasites, i.e. public servants.
Disclaimer: This message has not been endorsed by the federal Liberal/Nationals Coalition. It is the opinion of Frugal Bastard.
Australians go to the polls today to vote for members of parliament. Well, when I say today there have been some 1.8 million votes cast already by 13% of the voting population in postal votes and the like. That's for people who won't be in the country on the day or can't make it to a polling booth. Voting only takes a few minutes and is unlike the US Presidential voting where people can queue for 10 hours, on a Tuesday, to cast their vote. We always have it on a Saturday. As it is compulsory perhaps we should have the following Monday off as we have had to "work". I can walk less than 10 minutes to the polling booth.
I'll be voting today for my local member. No, that has nothing to do with my anatomy. Why do so many terms to do with politicians have sexual double meanings?
I hope that the Liberal/National Coalition gets back into office. They require 17 additional seats, a huge swing, and I have a hunch that with the polls indicating that it will be such a close affair (another double entendre?) that they will just miss out. We'll be stuck with those idiots who have wasted the budget surpluses put aside by the Coalition over the previous 11 years, who ran a disastrous home insulation scheme, who want to almost tax our mining industry out of existence, who want to tax our use on carbon when this is rather stupid and not giving people incentive to change where they obtain their power from, etc, etc. The Coalition has something like 44% of the primary vote and the Labor Party has about 38% but with the Greens providing their preferences to the Labor Party it looks as though this damn preferential voting system is going to deliver us another bloody three years of Labor.
Why would anybody, in possession of a right mind, vote Greens? Not only does the Labor Party, like I mentioned previously, want to almost tax our mining industry out of existence, but the Greens want to add $2 billion dollars to the bill.
Vote Liberal - vote for business. Business creates the jobs in this country, not the government. Well, the government does create jobs but they are only parasites, i.e. public servants.
Disclaimer: This message has not been endorsed by the federal Liberal/Nationals Coalition. It is the opinion of Frugal Bastard.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Election Propaganda Is Testing My Shredder
Checked my mailbox tonight and the amount of election propaganda was amazing. And as it has my name and address on it I put it through the shredder. I'm not one for leaving that sort of stuff in the rubbish available to dumpster divers. I think that there were seven postcards and pamphlets in total. How much money do these political parties have to waste of electioneering material? Too much. And that doesn't include what is delivered to the letter box. My shredder is certainly working overtime and getting up around the duty cycle.
If you didn't know, there is going to be a federal election in Australia this week. Australians will decide should we put up with the wasteful, incompetent and mismanaging Labor Party or give the "fair go for all, conservative, business-backing" good guys from the Liberal/National Party Coalition their backing.
I think that it will be very close. There isn't a lot of policy difference between the major parties and many people are disillusioned with both of them. Actually, not having many differences is more a sign of stable government than anything else. The most disillusioned voters are likely to vote for the Greens which would be a disaster should they end up holding the balance of power. Think before you vote, people.
One large problem in this country is the compulsory nature of elections. If you don't vote and don't have a decent reason for not doing so then you will be fined. It's only $20 and possibly $50 so it's not like a huge deterrent.
Apparently it is legal to partake in a donkey vote, i.e. place the first candidate on the ballot paper first, second candidate second, third third, etc. It is illegal to encourage somebody to do so. How lame is that? Almost all politicians are donkeys nowadays anyway. Where have all of the statesmen gone?
If you didn't know, there is going to be a federal election in Australia this week. Australians will decide should we put up with the wasteful, incompetent and mismanaging Labor Party or give the "fair go for all, conservative, business-backing" good guys from the Liberal/National Party Coalition their backing.
I think that it will be very close. There isn't a lot of policy difference between the major parties and many people are disillusioned with both of them. Actually, not having many differences is more a sign of stable government than anything else. The most disillusioned voters are likely to vote for the Greens which would be a disaster should they end up holding the balance of power. Think before you vote, people.
One large problem in this country is the compulsory nature of elections. If you don't vote and don't have a decent reason for not doing so then you will be fined. It's only $20 and possibly $50 so it's not like a huge deterrent.
Apparently it is legal to partake in a donkey vote, i.e. place the first candidate on the ballot paper first, second candidate second, third third, etc. It is illegal to encourage somebody to do so. How lame is that? Almost all politicians are donkeys nowadays anyway. Where have all of the statesmen gone?
Sunday, November 25, 2007
For Sale
For Sale - Liberal Party. Slightly battered and bruised, ego damaged, Rudderless, leaderless, drifting, dead wood (Downer, Howard, etc) to be set adrift, will spend the next few years in the wilderness. (Almost) free to a good home.
I doubt that Peter Costello will hang around for three years as leader of the opposition. It is sad to see that the man who should be prime minister will not be given that chance. And now we will see the jockeying for position within the Liberals. Whoever is promoted to the leadership had better do a damn fine job or they will have lots of knives to remove. I think that if Malcolm Turnbull holds his seat he'll wait to strike a couple of years down the track. Have we seen the last of Alexander Bummer, er Downer? I hope we've heard the last of him.
In a way I'm glad to see the back of some of the Liberal Party dead wood. They were becoming arrogant, I'm talking Tony Abbott here, and feeling that they had a right to govern without needing to listen. Big surprise for them, eh? It's going to be an interesting three years, federally at least.
For Sale - Liberal Party. Slightly battered and bruised, ego damaged, Rudderless, leaderless, drifting, dead wood (Downer, Howard, etc) to be set adrift, will spend the next few years in the wilderness. (Almost) free to a good home.
I doubt that Peter Costello will hang around for three years as leader of the opposition. It is sad to see that the man who should be prime minister will not be given that chance. And now we will see the jockeying for position within the Liberals. Whoever is promoted to the leadership had better do a damn fine job or they will have lots of knives to remove. I think that if Malcolm Turnbull holds his seat he'll wait to strike a couple of years down the track. Have we seen the last of Alexander Bummer, er Downer? I hope we've heard the last of him.
In a way I'm glad to see the back of some of the Liberal Party dead wood. They were becoming arrogant, I'm talking Tony Abbott here, and feeling that they had a right to govern without needing to listen. Big surprise for them, eh? It's going to be an interesting three years, federally at least.
Whichever Angle You Look At It...
Whichever angle you look at it...
Rudd looks like he's full of rubbish.
Still rubbish from this angle.
Still looks like rubbish.
If it looks like rubbish, smells like rubbish and smells like rubbish, it's probably rubbish.
Rudd is still rubbish. He might be trying to hide the fact but it'll come out in the end. I saw this at a polling station in Victoria Park and it was the first thought that came into my head. Just had to photograph it.
Whichever angle you look at it...
Rudd looks like he's full of rubbish.
Still rubbish from this angle.
Still looks like rubbish.
If it looks like rubbish, smells like rubbish and smells like rubbish, it's probably rubbish.Rudd is still rubbish. He might be trying to hide the fact but it'll come out in the end. I saw this at a polling station in Victoria Park and it was the first thought that came into my head. Just had to photograph it.
The Sky Has Fallen On Our Heads
Labor won the federal election in a Ruddslide, er landslide yesterday. Even the prime minister looks set to lose his seat.
I knew bad things would happen if Labor won. The sky has well and truly fallen on our heads. In fact, the sun has failed to rise. It should have been up three hours ago and hasn't made an appearance. And my Sunday paper wasn't delivered. We're all doomed I tell you. Three years of federal Labor. And they have all the state and territory administrations as well. How depressing. I can't stand union bastards.
Labor won the federal election in a Ruddslide, er landslide yesterday. Even the prime minister looks set to lose his seat.
I knew bad things would happen if Labor won. The sky has well and truly fallen on our heads. In fact, the sun has failed to rise. It should have been up three hours ago and hasn't made an appearance. And my Sunday paper wasn't delivered. We're all doomed I tell you. Three years of federal Labor. And they have all the state and territory administrations as well. How depressing. I can't stand union bastards.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Election Omen?
Taking the boy to music school this morning and we noticed the Mitchell Freeway heading from the city northwards was blocked off. Very unusual and lots of traffic was building. I found out a short time later on the news that there was a fatal accident where one man had died. In front of Parliament House. And it's the day of the federal election. What does that mean, if anything?
It's not as if parliament dies. Maybe it means that the Labor Party will take office. Yes, the parliament would be pretty dead then. Or is it that the Liberals will retain power with all of their dead wood? Buggered if I know. I don't know who will win the election either. It'll be a landslide to Labor or a very narrow win. Either way, Kim Beazley is sure to come out and say that he could have won the election. Bound to happen.
Taking the boy to music school this morning and we noticed the Mitchell Freeway heading from the city northwards was blocked off. Very unusual and lots of traffic was building. I found out a short time later on the news that there was a fatal accident where one man had died. In front of Parliament House. And it's the day of the federal election. What does that mean, if anything?
It's not as if parliament dies. Maybe it means that the Labor Party will take office. Yes, the parliament would be pretty dead then. Or is it that the Liberals will retain power with all of their dead wood? Buggered if I know. I don't know who will win the election either. It'll be a landslide to Labor or a very narrow win. Either way, Kim Beazley is sure to come out and say that he could have won the election. Bound to happen.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
What's Going On In This Year's Election?
I haven't taken too much notice of what the politicians are saying in this year's federal election. The two major parties, Liberals/National Party and the Labor Party, have agreed on pretty much everything so there doesn't seem to be too much difference.
I did hear one thing that made me take notice. The Labor Party will ban universities from offering full fee-paying student places for Australians from 2009. Why, I might ask? I paid as a full fee-paying student to attend university. The universities offer a limited number of places for school leavers, add several thousand overseas students who pay about four times as much as Australian fee-paying students do, and then top it up with a few full fee-payers. I was more than happy to pay to receive a higher education. Guess there's a bit of Liberal-thinking user pays mentality there but it didn't bother me. Even though I experienced nearly three years of earning bugger all money I'd say that it is starting to pay off.
What is the Labor Party's thinking on this issue? It's got me beat. Do they think that education should be free for all Aussies? Maybe we'd better ask Peter Garrett as he seems to have a real answer for all of the opposition's policies. He breaks through the claptrack and says what the real plans are.
Who's gonna win the election? Labor is streets ahead in the polls and apparently the mortgage belt is favouring Labor 57-43 in a two-party preferred vote. It doesn't bode well for little Johnny.
It doesn't matter who you vote for because you still get the government.
I haven't taken too much notice of what the politicians are saying in this year's federal election. The two major parties, Liberals/National Party and the Labor Party, have agreed on pretty much everything so there doesn't seem to be too much difference.
I did hear one thing that made me take notice. The Labor Party will ban universities from offering full fee-paying student places for Australians from 2009. Why, I might ask? I paid as a full fee-paying student to attend university. The universities offer a limited number of places for school leavers, add several thousand overseas students who pay about four times as much as Australian fee-paying students do, and then top it up with a few full fee-payers. I was more than happy to pay to receive a higher education. Guess there's a bit of Liberal-thinking user pays mentality there but it didn't bother me. Even though I experienced nearly three years of earning bugger all money I'd say that it is starting to pay off.
What is the Labor Party's thinking on this issue? It's got me beat. Do they think that education should be free for all Aussies? Maybe we'd better ask Peter Garrett as he seems to have a real answer for all of the opposition's policies. He breaks through the claptrack and says what the real plans are.
Who's gonna win the election? Labor is streets ahead in the polls and apparently the mortgage belt is favouring Labor 57-43 in a two-party preferred vote. It doesn't bode well for little Johnny.
It doesn't matter who you vote for because you still get the government.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Real Federal Election Issue
The federal election is only two weeks away. When are we going to get to the real election issues? We've heard all the talk about health, education, nuclear power, water, aged care etc, etc.
Does Kevin Rudd, who is leading by some margin at the moment over incumbent John Howard, follow the cricket? Does he have the passion? Will he support the Australian cricket team and be seen watching them? Is cricket high on his agenda as the nation's top politician?
It has the same importance as Christianity has to becoming the President of the United States. If you're not a Christian then you're not ready for the White House. If you're not a cricket diehard then you're not fit for leading Australia.
It's a simple as that. So what is it, Kevin? 'Fess up.
The federal election is only two weeks away. When are we going to get to the real election issues? We've heard all the talk about health, education, nuclear power, water, aged care etc, etc.
Does Kevin Rudd, who is leading by some margin at the moment over incumbent John Howard, follow the cricket? Does he have the passion? Will he support the Australian cricket team and be seen watching them? Is cricket high on his agenda as the nation's top politician?
It has the same importance as Christianity has to becoming the President of the United States. If you're not a Christian then you're not ready for the White House. If you're not a cricket diehard then you're not fit for leading Australia.
It's a simple as that. So what is it, Kevin? 'Fess up.
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