Australian Federal Election 2010

[CountArach]

Well if the Dutch can have a thread, so can we...

This should be an interesting election to watch. Gillard is still something of an unknown factor as Prime Minister, though early actions indicate she is probably more conservative than many (myself included) had assumed... perhaps more conservative than Rudd. She hasn't had long to prove her capacity for the job, though she is well known in the public eye and has proven to be an exceptional minister under Rudd's government.

And against her you have Tony Abbott. I've tried to type out some sort of balanced view of him a few times now, but I can't manage it. I see very few redeeming features and even fewer reasons why someone would want him leading this country. So instead I'll keep my thoughts on him for some sort of later post. I hate using anecdotal evidence, but I do know a lot of apolitical people who will be voting for Labor simply because they don't want Abbott running the country - I can only imagine this will be solidified during the debates where has always appeared smug and where Gillard truly excels (look at his performance last election when debating Health policy with Nicola Roxon - he didn't even turn up on time and then proceeded to alienate what little support he had left in that room). Further, he is exceptionally gaff prone, and seems to say something stupid on a near weekly basis.

Electorally I don't think Labor can lose this election - they have been leading in the polls since the last election except for a very brief period when they were roughly equal with the Liberals, and Gillard polls better than Rudd did towards the end of his PMship. It will also be interesting to watch how the Greens do - they are polling in the low teens almost all the time, an increase of 4-5%, and they stand a decent chance of winning the seat of Melbourne, as well as the balance of power in the Senate.

Personally, as a member of the Greens, they will be getting my vote. And what of my fellow Australians, what do you think?

[KukriKhan]

Will the election outcome result in any change in your military commitments, you think?

[pevergreen]

I doubt it will have any affect on the ANZUS treaty, as for Iraq et al, I doubt it.

I don't like Gillard, but then, the other choice is Abbott. Eurgh.

I identify with Labor more than the coalition, but...

Leader of the greens annoys me as well. Gunna stay with the local member, forget who it is, but I believe its labor now. Unless Farmer runs again, she held her seat here for many years, she did a fine job.

[CountArach]

Will the election outcome result in any change in your military commitments, you think?

I doubt it. Labor is committed to Afghanistan, and the Liberals are the people who got us in there in the first place and are never willing to admit a mistake.

Abbott has already caused confusion about his own WorkChoices policy:

CONCERNS about Tony Abbott's ability to withstand the rigours of an election campaign are rippling through Coalition ranks after the Opposition Leader struggled to get his lines straight on his promise that Work Choices was ''dead, buried and cremated''.
[...]
In a series of interviews, he continued to leave open the possibility the Coalition would change aspects of the industrial relations system, especially the removal by regulation of unfair dismissal protections for small business employees.
[...]
On the day the election was called, Mr Abbott said that if elected, for the first three-year term he would not touch Labor's Fair Work Act, the legislation that replaced Work Choices and restored workers' entitlements.

On morning TV yesterday, Mr Abbott said, ''I have an election to win'', when asked what would happen after three years.

Then, on ABC radio, he said he had no plans to change the legislation ''not now, not ever''.

Later, on Fairfax radio in Melbourne, Mr Abbott said: ''I can't give an absolute guarantee about every single aspect of workplace relations,'' before signing a pledge in the studio saying Work Choices was ''dead, buried, cremated''.

''We've had a lot of change over the last few years, I think what business needs is a period of certainty and stability. And that's what they'll get," he said.

At a subsequent news conference, Mr Abbott did not rule out changing the regulations which would remove the unfair dismissal protections Labor had reintroduced.

Asked about a pledge in his budget reply speech to remove the unfair dismissal burden from the back of small business, Mr Abbott said: "I think there are provisions within the existing legislation to make our workplaces fairer and more flexible." He then called an abrupt end to his news conference.

Inconsistencies and mistakes have a serious impact in election campaigns. As well as concerns about Mr Abbott's ability to ''stay on message'', some Liberals wondered why their party's campaign headquarters would not be operational until tomorrow, believing the party had been taken by surprise.

[naut]

I don't like Gillard, but then, the other choice is Abbott. Eurgh.

Likewise. Gillard is a smuck and Abbot is a fool, with backwards views on marriage, abortion and refugees. I'm voting Greens. It won't have any effect on my Rep seat, as I'm in Warringah, Tony Abbot's electorate. The . However, every vote to the Greens edges them to extra Senate seats, which is key regardless of whomever becomes the ruling party, as it means they have to compromise and don't get their own way. Plus I agree with every ideal the Greens espouse.

[aimlesswanderer]

Gillard is not likely to be the best PM ever, but far better than a gaffe prone conservative religious quack like Abbot. In a way it's a choice between faceless Labor factional power brokers and the coalitions' dinosaurs (Ruddock, Bishop, Andrews - the Living Dead) and religious quacks...

Given that I don't like conservatives and their general religiosity and slavish subservience to big business, I am voting for either Labor or the Greens. I'm in Big Joe's very safe electorate, but like Psychonaut I hope my senate vote helps gets a Green senator elected.

[pevergreen]

I am woefully ignorant of the green's policies, but I dislike them.

To err is to be human, to be wrong/uninformed and refuse to back down is to be australian.

[CountArach]

I am woefully ignorant of the green's policies, but I dislike them.

Why do you dislike them?

@ aimlesswanderer - I've met Lee Rhiannon a few times and she is one of the nicest and most genuinely thoughtful people I have ever encountered. Add in her dedication to issues (getting money out of politics in particular) and I think she will make a brilliant Senator.

[aimlesswanderer]

@ aimlesswanderer - I've met Lee Rhiannon a few times and she is one of the nicest and most genuinely thoughtful people I have ever encountered. Add in her dedication to issues (getting money out of politics in particular) and I think she will make a brilliant Senator.

I definitely think that political donations should be capped at a maximum of, say, $20. When politicians say that the massive donations from certain organisations don't affect policy at all, everyone thinks that is complete . That is just as nauseating as the massive corporations saying that they are "helping democracy" with huge donations.

Sometimes the Greens are a bit extreme, but often they have good ideas. I would not be happy with either of the main parties or Family First (quack religious nuts) having the balance of power in the senate. Definitely voting Green in the senate.

[Beskar]

Why do you dislike them?

Reminds him of Org Moderators, and he is scared of them spanking him for being a naughty boy when he leaves his computer on stand-by.

[naut]

I am woefully ignorant of the green's policies, but I dislike them.

So you dislike social justice and sustainablilty then?

• social justice
• sustainability
• grassroots democracy
• peace and non-violence
• renewable energy
• opposition to uranium mining and nuclear power
• promotion of a sustainable approach to water management
• preparation for peak oil
• energy efficiency
• public transport expansion
• support for refugees
• support for independence movements around the world, including East Timor, Tibet and West Papua
• support for human rights in countries such as China and Burma
• qualified support for voluntary euthanasia
• increased corporate taxation
• support for same-sex marriage
• regulated use of Cannabis for medical purposes

[Tellos Athenaios]

But what of Australia's Great Firewall?

[naut]

But what of Australia's Great Firewall?

Looking sickly, well at least until the election is over.

[CountArach]

So you dislike social justice and sustainablilty then?

• social justice
• sustainability
• grassroots democracy
• peace and non-violence
• renewable energy
• opposition to uranium mining and nuclear power
• promotion of a sustainable approach to water management
• preparation for peak oil
• energy efficiency
• public transport expansion
• support for refugees
• support for independence movements around the world, including East Timor, Tibet and West Papua
• support for human rights in countries such as China and Burma
• qualified support for voluntary euthanasia
• increased corporate taxation
• support for same-sex marriage
• regulated use of Cannabis for medical purposes

THank you sir. May I add being the only one of the main 3 parties who don't support any form of Internet censorship?

[miotas]

I'll most likely vote for the greens, I like their policies more than any other main parties.

[HoreTore]

Are you trying to tell me that Crocodile Dundee isn't your Great Leader...?

[pevergreen]

Ok, I agree with some, disagree with the some.

The leader of the party annoys me. I don't like him, nor do I like many politicians.

Senate vote, I'm not sure. Are Gamers for Croydon going for the Senate?

Edit: Having checked their website, they advise to go for the Greens or the...ASP (Australian Sex Party?)

http://www.sexparty.org.au/index.php...st-tony-abbott

AUSTEN TAYSHUS IS GOING FOR A SEAT?

My vote is going to the ASP.

[naut]

AUSTEN TAYSHUS IS GOING FOR A SEAT?

My vote is going to the ASP.

It's my local seat too. Hehe. Rep vote going to them then. Kinda like a political big middle finger to Tony Abbott.

[aimlesswanderer]

Forget letting Bob Brown (Greens) into the leader's debate, where is the ASP?

And I'd love to get the ASP and Steve Fielding into a "debate".

[CountArach]

Edit: Having checked their website, they advise to go for the Greens or the...ASP (Australian Sex Party?)

The ASP is really awesome policy-wise. Also I couldn't help but laugh immaturely when I clicked on the "Video" tab on their site.

[pevergreen]

Ooh, I didn't do that.

*goes to check it out*

Have had a couple people ask about the election, they're saying they don't know who to vote for. I'm thinking of advocating the ASP and if they don't go for that, the greens. I may not like them, but I like legalising R18+ games more.

Speaking of the leaders debate, was watching 7 news, they said it was going to be boring, but they'd make it interesting by showing not 1, but 3 different worms! Egads, I can't think of anything more interesting.

Then again, theres a great new show pitch I know has gone unrecognised.

[pevergreen]

So, 11 days to go until voting time.

Polls seem to be even. If northern/country queensland swings against Labor, that could be enough.

Kevin still hasn't really done anything, and the odd circumstances conerncing the meeting are a bit off.

Still, it is Tony...

The 'debate' on sunrise between the ASP and the Family First party was hilarious.

Any other Aussies think they know who is going to come out on top?

[Captain Blackadder]

Voting for the greens in the senate, voting for libs in lower house since my seat is such a safe labor seat that I am voting Liberal just to make it clear that labor cannot take us for granted.

[naut]

Tony Abbott is slightly leading the polls. GAH!



How?

Oh yeah. He's up against Gillard.

[a completely inoffensive name]

I have no clue about Australian politics, so all I'm going to say is vote for the party that will let you guys play rated "Mature" video games without having to tone them down.

[Skullheadhq]

I have no clue about Australian politics, so all I'm going to say is vote for the party that will let you guys play rated "Mature" video games without having to tone them down.

I don't think they actually have that kind of party in Australia, wouldn't want to live there, only kangaroos and censorship down under.

[pevergreen]

I don't think they actually have that kind of party in Australia, wouldn't want to live there, only kangaroos and censorship down under.

The greens and the ASP are for it.

Labor/Coalition (the two main forces) are the ones behind the internet filter. Liberal will keep it wont they, if they win?

[naut]

The greens and the ASP are for it.

Labor/Coalition (the two main forces) are the ones behind the internet filter. Liberal will keep it wont they, if they win?

Well the Liberal Senators have stopped backing it, so it is dead in the water and won't return until the election is over at the minimum. But, in all likelihood it is dead for the forseeable future.

Heh, ALP advert:



Hilarious considering how much the ALP has shifted to the right. For non-Aussies we essentially have two centre-right parties to choose from, ALP has the worst environmental policies and the Liberals have the worst social+economic policies.

[Furunculus]

great advert.

[miotas]

Oh god, was that seriously on the tele? What are our pollies taking?