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Community => Politics and Government => Topic started by: davedan on May 31, 2016, 08:43:30 pm

Title: Australian Election
Post by: davedan on May 31, 2016, 08:43:30 pm
While we have all been caught up in the never-ending US election, we Australians have been caught up in our own interminable election campaign. Although thankfully ours will be over by July, not having any primary process and preselection being worked out at a party level.

One of the themes of our recent election is the idea that one of our parties, the Labor Party, is firing up 'class warfare' (this actually forgets the entire period of the Abbott government which did everything but round up poor people). However we are not alone, into the fray jumps New Matilda, with a great article which I want to share: https://newmatilda.com/2016/05/31/labor-is-at-war-with-inequality-not-business/ (https://newmatilda.com/2016/05/31/labor-is-at-war-with-inequality-not-business/)

Also I would like to leave these quote from the article, because it's brilliant:

Quote
It’s funny how class war always seems to be something happening to those unfortunate rich people.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: dpareja on May 31, 2016, 09:05:06 pm
So I looked into it a bit, and found out that it's the first double dissolution since 1987. What prompted that?
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: davedan on May 31, 2016, 11:22:18 pm
It got triggered by a bill about re-instating the Australian Building and Construction Commission, which was actually about persecuting unions or holding them to account depending on your side of politics. However that was just the trigger, there have been lots of bills which haven't passed in this parliament because the senate was held by minority parties and independents. (One of the minority parties itself splintering into independents). Ultimately the trigger was pulled because with a new Prime Minister at the helm, the liberal party think they can win the election and gain control of both houses.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: TheContrarian on June 01, 2016, 02:18:29 am
Wait, Australia is still a thing?
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Skybison on June 01, 2016, 02:33:47 am
I don't know much of anything about Australian Politics, but I take it your Trump equivalent is this woman: http://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/pauline-hanson-says-she-has-no-problems-with-asians-saying-one-nation-members-have-asian-wives/news-story/eb2ac8435ae68a49dbf120d83010efe3
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: dpareja on June 01, 2016, 02:43:12 am
Quote from: TheContrarian on June 01, 2016, 02:18:29 am
Wait, Australia is still a thing?

(click to show/hide)
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: davedan on June 01, 2016, 02:54:31 am
Quote from: Skybison on June 01, 2016, 02:33:47 am
I don't know much of anything about Australian Politics, but I take it your Trump equivalent is this woman: http://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/pauline-hanson-says-she-has-no-problems-with-asians-saying-one-nation-members-have-asian-wives/news-story/eb2ac8435ae68a49dbf120d83010efe3

No she's  a has been from the 90s. Keeps running even though she doesn't get elected because she gets funded by the Australian Electoral commission because she gets a certain number of votes. She had a political party for a while which was more or less a way to get stupid people to give her money.

Our Donald Trump was Clive Palmer who is already experiencing his hubris moment.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on June 01, 2016, 09:15:28 pm
Pauline tried moving to England, but complained it didn't have enough white people in it. (http://www.news.com.au/national/uk-too-full-of-immigrants-says-pauline-hanson/story-e6frfkvr-1225953243773)

Shame.

Meanwhile in keeping with recent political tradition our ruling party has entered this election season by trying to eat itself. (http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jun/02/australian-election-2016-turnbull-shorten-coalition-greens-labor-briefing)
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Lt. Fred on June 03, 2016, 12:13:34 am
Almost incredibly, Turnbull seems to be worse than Abbott. And, even more incredibly, Shorten has a chance.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: davedan on June 03, 2016, 12:25:51 am
Turnbull isn't worse than Abbott, he just has higher expectations placed on him. Also he is entirely hamstrung by how he gained the position. Now he dare not ruffle complete lunatics like Bernardi. All this does is put off the vast majority of people who want him to do something about Climate Change and Gay Marriage whilst continuing to torture save refugees from drowning. If he had the political nous he would have called the election the day after he rolled Abbott.

I think labor's biggest problem is all the seats it might lose the greens. Although if the election returns a labor/greens coalition that might not be the worst thing in the world.

Shorten's biggest problem is that his personality appears indistinguishable from a blancmange.

Edit: Despite how forgettable he is he Bumble Foreskin doesn't have two biggest problems.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Lt. Fred on June 03, 2016, 02:22:57 am
I'm really hoping for a Labor/Green/Xenophon coalition. Deliberative democracy ahoy!
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Art Vandelay on June 03, 2016, 02:35:11 am
I just want something interesting to happen. High profile assassination, hard core conservative caught sucking off man whores in a public toilet, something like that. Politics have been so goddamn boring lately.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Askold on June 03, 2016, 02:41:50 am
You can either move to USA and watch the "Reality-TV" type of politics and move to Russia and see the "anyone who disagrees will get 'disappeared' or just shot in broad daylight" type of politics.

...And then there's the Best-Korea which is like USA for the leaders and Russia for everyone else.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Søren on June 03, 2016, 03:22:33 am
I havnt been paying to the Australian election. Ive literally never heard until Bill Shorten until a week ago. Theyre all so.....plain
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Lt. Fred on June 03, 2016, 04:26:57 am
Quote from: Askold on June 03, 2016, 02:41:50 am
You can either move to USA and watch the "Reality-TV" type of politics and move to Russia and see the "anyone who disagrees will get 'disappeared' or just shot in broad daylight" type of politics.

...And then there's the Best-Korea which is like USA for the leaders and Russia for everyone else.

Or the Philippines and get the "if you do the right thing, you'd not be assassinated" politics.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Lt. Fred on June 19, 2016, 01:58:11 am
Anyone watch Insiders today? Some elements within the ABC are running pretty scared that Labor might make it. Chris Toolman had some pretty interesting propaganda this morning:

Labor is in "a panic" and responding with a "scare campaign" about privatising Medicare*. Voting for them would cause "chaos" - Shorten would be the fifth PM in five years.

"Hopefully" the Libs will win, says Chris Uhlmann. The libs just want boring, effective "government as usual" rather than more Labor chaos. They're likely to hold on to marginal seats.

Shut up about Parakeelia; everyone does the same thing, so don't worry about it. Why even worry your pretty little head about it? Shut up. The libs have won already. Shut up. Don't think.

It's a clear violation of the ABC charter and a disgrace. Fire him.



* This is totally illegitimate. Who knows what a re-elected Liberal government would do? Toolman told us the same thing about Labor's warnings about Abbott, all of which came true. We can't take anything the LNP say for granted any more, ever.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on June 19, 2016, 05:20:23 am
It is a violation of the ABC charter, but I'd wager that people inside the ABC are rightfully terrified that sticking to it will cause the Turnbull regime to swing the axe even more than they already have.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Lt. Fred on June 19, 2016, 06:22:01 am
Quote from: Tolpuddle Martyr on June 19, 2016, 05:20:23 am
It is a violation of the ABC charter, but I'd wager that people inside the ABC are rightfully terrified that sticking to it will cause the Turnbull regime to swing the axe even more than they already have.

I think Chris is just a big fan of the Libs to be honest.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Lt. Fred on July 01, 2016, 07:25:17 pm
And today is the moment of truth. Any last minute bets?

I reckon hung leaning Labor, with three Greens in the lower house.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: chad sexington on July 01, 2016, 09:10:16 pm
I have a horrible feeling the LNP will manage to cling to power... :(
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Søren on July 02, 2016, 01:02:01 am
I hav absolutely no clue. I donkey voted
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Art Vandelay on July 02, 2016, 04:30:02 am
I just voted for the I Forgot to Vote, Please Don't Fine Me Party.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: dpareja on July 02, 2016, 04:47:07 am
Quote from: Art Vandelay on July 02, 2016, 04:30:02 am
I just voted for the I Forgot to Vote, Please Don't Fine Me Party.

I thought they took your driver's licence away for that.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Art Vandelay on July 02, 2016, 04:59:59 am
Quote from: dpareja on July 02, 2016, 04:47:07 am
Quote from: Art Vandelay on July 02, 2016, 04:30:02 am
I just voted for the I Forgot to Vote, Please Don't Fine Me Party.

I thought they took your driver's licence away for that.

Well, whatever they do, I'm hoping they don't do it to me.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: dpareja on July 02, 2016, 05:32:59 am
Quote from: Art Vandelay on July 02, 2016, 04:59:59 am
Quote from: dpareja on July 02, 2016, 04:47:07 am
Quote from: Art Vandelay on July 02, 2016, 04:30:02 am
I just voted for the I Forgot to Vote, Please Don't Fine Me Party.

I thought they took your driver's licence away for that.

Well, whatever they do, I'm hoping they don't do it to me.

A cursory look at the Australian Electoral Commission's website indicates that you either have to give them a good ("valid and sufficient") reason for not voting or pay a $20 fine. If you don't, they can take you to court and if you're found guilty, it's $180, court costs, and a criminal conviction on your record.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Askold on July 02, 2016, 05:35:21 am
Sounds like that system costs more than 20 bucks per offender to the tax payers. And I doubt that even the 180 bucks will make up the costs (although you would pay for the court costs so we have no need to add those to the bill to the tax payers.)
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Lt. Fred on July 02, 2016, 09:47:42 am
So the press called it two weeks ago. They were completely wrong of course, as expected, fuckwits.

Labor or Libs, who knows who will form government? Hanson will have 2-3 Senators who will want gas chambers.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on July 03, 2016, 11:07:34 am
Aand it looks like a hung parliament. (http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/ng-interactive/2016/jul/02/live-australian-election-results-track-the-votes) ;D

Which is precisely what you expect when both your candidates look, sound and make policy like bored middle managers.

This (https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jul/03/tale-two-speeches-frustration-boiled-over-wait-for-testy-turnbull#img-1) picture of two LNP supporters wincing in frustration as Shorten delivers his speech is priceless.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Art Vandelay on July 04, 2016, 05:03:50 pm
Quote from: I am lizard on July 03, 2016, 02:37:29 pm
I always get briefly hopeful then sad when I hear the prhrase "hung parliament".
If you're thinking what I'm thinking, then the correct term would be "hanged parliament".
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: davedan on July 04, 2016, 07:22:08 pm
http://www.buzzfeed.com/matwhitehead/lmao?utm_term=.fjA1jQmnP#.ibQa9rOY3 (http://www.buzzfeed.com/matwhitehead/lmao?utm_term=.fjA1jQmnP#.ibQa9rOY3)


I actually thought there was a weird Swingers group known as the hung parliament where you had to be 8 inches plus to join
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: Tolpuddle Martyr on July 04, 2016, 10:06:44 pm
It's the speaker who wields the mace in a hung parliament.
Title: Re: Australian Election
Post by: niam2023 on July 07, 2016, 08:09:05 pm
Hung parliament sounds like the craziest porno ever.