Australian Elections

CronosCronos Join Date: 2002-10-18 Member: 1542Members
<div class="IPBDescription">Tommorow!</div> Tommorow, Australians go to vote for their party of choice.

If you've been living under a rock, Australia is the other other continent that the British discovered a couple of centuries ago. We have two major political parties with a number of more minor but still pivotal parties thrown into the mix.

Personally I think it's going to be a close one, but I remain optimistic that Labour will win this set of elections and put an end to 8 years of John Howards snivelling reign of taxes, lies and brown-nosing.

If labour and the greens manage to team up then they will be in an excellent position to take control of the senate away from the liberals.

So, who are you voting for? I think I made my stance as clearly on Labours side. Latham has this odd campaign that doesn't rely soleley on scare tactics ("OLO! TEH INT0R3ST R4T3S WILL PWN J00 UND0R L4TH4M OLO!") and he has this odd thing called "Integrity" that John Howard, having lied SEVERAL times to the Australian people, seems to lack.

So what say ye? Labour? Or Liberal?

Comments

  • Marine0IMarine0I Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8639Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Personally I think it's going to be a close one, but I remain optimistic that Labour will win this set of elections and put an end to 8 years of John Howards snivelling reign of taxes, lies and brown-nosing.

    If labour and the greens manage to team up then they will be in an excellent position to take control of the senate away from the liberals.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Personally, and the polls back me on this, I think the Liberals are going to trounce Labor, proving for the 4th consecutive time that the general Australia public has vastly more political understanding than the average university student. And you think that Latham is going to reduce taxes? Wow. You actually bought his idea of taxing less and spending more? As for lies, Latham has told his fair share of porky pies too, why is it going to end when he gets in? He told the Australian public he had his tax plan sitting right in front of him, already done, back in June. Then he said he wasnt going to show anyone, and edited that comment off the alp website transcript of the radio broadcast. Yeah Mark, we believe yah. And so did the poor Tasmanian loggers when he told them early this year that he wasnt going to make any changes to the current logging plans. Then he sold out to Bob Brown quicker than you could say "Green Preferences".

    And whats this about brown nosing? Let me explain something to you, very slowly, very carefully. John Howard is a convictions based politician. He believes absolutely in the correctness of what we are doing in Iraq, in the benefits we will get from our US allies, and in the threat of world terrorism that isnt dealt with at its source. He doesnt believe that because its politically popular - because it ISNT politically popular. He didnt go to the Iraq war against the will of the majority of Australians because he wanted Bush to think Australia is win, he honestly believed in the mission. And many people overlook the fact that Howard and Bush are actually friends i.e politics or no they actually like each other. The is in direct contrast of Bush and Chirac, who would hate each other irl.

    It isnt a "Sir, Yes Sir" relationship, its "Dammit, that was going to be my idea, sifnt let the Aussies come along".

    <!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->So, who are you voting for? I think I made my stance as clearly on Labours side. Latham has this odd campaign that doesn't rely soleley on scare tactics ("OLO! TEH INT0R3ST R4T3S WILL PWN J00 UND0R L4TH4M OLO!") and he has this odd thing called "Integrity" that John Howard, having lied SEVERAL times to the Australian people, seems to lack.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Rofl, claiming integrity for a politician.. sigh .. was I ever that young..... And whats this about no scare tactics? OMG A VOTZ0R FOR TEH HOWARRRD IS VOTEZ FOR COSTELLA!!!!!1111 That isnt a scare tactic? Claiming that our involvement with the US has made us a military target for Asian nations isnt a scare tactic?

    Liberal, the whole damn way. I will not have some foulmouthed yob as PM, who slings insults and jeers at the leaders of our allies, and who changes his policies based around what is popular, not what is right. Troops out by Christmas? Is this man Spanish - we dont walk out on our responsibilities after creating a mess, we damn well stick with it.
  • milton_friedmanmilton_friedman Join Date: 2004-08-11 Member: 30535Members
    I haven't studied much of aussy political system. Is it a multi party system? What are the major parties there? What do they stand for? Is it unitary or federal?
  • Marine0IMarine0I Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8639Members, Constellation
    Basically a 2 party system, although independants and lesser parties are large enough to actually make a difference.

    The two main parties are Liberal Party/National Party (referred to as the Coalition government), which is currently in control with John Howard as PM, and the Opposition Labor Government, with Mark Latham as the Opposition leader.

    Federal elections every three years, entire nation is broke down into electorates, and people vote in these rather than in states. State elections and federal elections occur independently of each other, hence every state in Australia is ruled by a Labor government, yet the Coalition controls federal parliament.

    The Liberal party is the conservative party (confusing bastards), which supports freemarket, world trade ideas, deregulation, privitisation, US war on terror and the castration of the unions, plus anti kyoto.

    Labor is the liberal party, supporting greater power for unions, scapegoating/taxing the hell out of the rich, pulling out of Iraq, dumping more money into the intergenerational money pit known as "free private hospital cover for old people", less taxes and more welfare spending, plus pro kyoto signing.

    The Greens are the far left - basically kept around to determine which Australians need to be forcibly sterilised. Pro drugs, savagely anti-American, wrapped up in a leaf to convince the proletaria.... uhhhh public that they're all about saving the environment.

    The democrats are no longer worth mentioning, for all events and purposes dead. A rising political force is the Family First Party, which is pretty much the religious Right having their say.
  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    I would say, "Don't forget to vote tomorrow!" but if you don't, you'll get fined.
    So...

    "Remember to not get fined tomorrow!" <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->


    Also, just for perspective, I haven't heard any sentiment here in the States that would classify Australia or Howard specifically as "brown nosers" or "suck ups". In fact, more and more I'm hearing that the continued alliance between the US and Australia has stronger bonds than the US and the UK. I'm pretty sure the only problem we have is that whole "It's day over here and night over there or day over there and night over here" issue.

    Good luck and G'day!
  • ZorZor Join Date: 2003-09-16 Member: 20911Members, Constellation
    mmm first time voting for me. what a pain it is cos i dont like lathem and i dislike howard mmmh the delemers of life
  • marcemarce Join Date: 2004-08-24 Member: 30869Members
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Zor+Oct 8 2004, 08:12 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zor @ Oct 8 2004, 08:12 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> mmm first time voting for me. what a pain it is cos i dont like lathem and i dislike howard mmmh the delemers of life <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    and spelling, obviously. Trials and tribulations indeed.

    It's unfortunate that the democrats have been so utterly dismembered in the recent past; ah well, it's their own fault really.

    I also don't really like our options tomorrow, but I reckon it's time for a change. Don't get me wrong: I'm not a staunch supporter of either camp, but some of the accountability issues that the Howard govt has really worry me. I'm worried about Latham too; he seems to be more of a party man, not an ideas man.

    Have you seen the clip of Latham coming out of the radio studio with John Howard on the other side and they shake hands? Latham nearly rips Howards arm off! Maybe he mistook him for a taxi driver?

    When this is over I hope everyone on every side of the divide gives that poor word "underdog" a well deserved rest. Do you think they have charts up in the campaign HQ with an "Underdog per day" quota to fill?

    EDIT: found picture. jebus heist...

    <img src='http://users.bigpond.net.au/marce/taxi.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
  • HawkeyeHawkeye Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1855Members
    <a href='http://www.ebaumsworld.com/endofworld.html' target='_blank'>End of the world</a>
    WTH?^
  • The_FinchThe_Finch Join Date: 2002-11-13 Member: 8498Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Zor+Oct 8 2004, 08:12 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Zor @ Oct 8 2004, 08:12 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> mmm first time voting for me. what a pain it is cos i dont like lathem and i dislike howard mmmh the delemers of life <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Welcome to third-party membership in the United States.
  • red_dudered_dude Join Date: 2004-10-08 Member: 32149Members
    Lol,
    Nice picture of Howard and Lathem. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
    Im sick of Howard... I want Lathem to win.
    But thats just my vote.

    ____________________
    Vote well Aussie's!
  • Pepe_MuffassaPepe_Muffassa Join Date: 2003-01-17 Member: 12401Members
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Hawkeye+Oct 8 2004, 09:30 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Hawkeye @ Oct 8 2004, 09:30 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <a href='http://www.ebaumsworld.com/endofworld.html' target='_blank'>End of the world</a>
    WTH?^ <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    hahahahahahahaha

    and, Marine01 is like still like WTH?

    And I'm like "la tired"


    ahhhahahhahahahaha
  • TheWizardTheWizard Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10553Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin-Cronos+Oct 8 2004, 02:07 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cronos @ Oct 8 2004, 02:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->

    If you've been living under a rock, Australia is the other other continent that the British discovered a couple of centuries ago. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Funny, I thought it was the Aboriginies who discovered Australia?

    If not then I'll brb, I am off to go discover the UK.




    (j/k of course. Its just like Columbus 'discovered' America. I am willing to bet quite a few Native Americans went WTH?^)
  • The_NemesisThe_Nemesis Join Date: 2002-11-23 Member: 9724Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-wizard@psu+Oct 9 2004, 02:31 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (wizard@psu @ Oct 9 2004, 02:31 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-Cronos+Oct 8 2004, 02:07 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cronos @ Oct 8 2004, 02:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->

    If you've been living under a rock, Australia is the other other continent that the British discovered a couple of centuries ago. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Funny, I thought it was the Aboriginies who discovered Australia?

    If not then I'll brb, I am off to go discover the UK.




    (j/k of course. Its just like Columbus 'discovered' America. I am willing to bet quite a few Native Americans went WTH?^) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Since when is "discovered" an objective word? Each occurence of the event is when an individual or group discovers something, not the absolute first occurence of discovery by any group, especially when there is no communication between the them.
  • Marine0IMarine0I Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8639Members, Constellation
    edited October 2004
    Ah I love that little flash animation, so pwnage.

    For those of you who care, it looks like the Liberals are bending Labor over and having their way with em:

    <a href='http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/results/changing.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/20...ts/changing.htm</a>

    <a href='http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/results/statetrends.htm#TAS' target='_blank'>http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/20...etrends.htm#TAS</a>

    House of reps is the only place that Labor still really look good in, but even there the swing has been all Coalition:

    <a href='http://vtr.aec.gov.au/Default.htm' target='_blank'>http://vtr.aec.gov.au/Default.htm</a>

    Still, only .3 percent of the ballot counted, so it could change. I REALLY need a t-shirt with "In Your Face Hippies, I voted Liberal" for uni on monday.

    <a href='http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/results/latest.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/20...ults/latest.htm</a>
  • LegionnairedLegionnaired Join Date: 2002-04-30 Member: 552Members, Constellation
    edited October 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Marine01+Oct 9 2004, 03:42 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marine01 @ Oct 9 2004, 03:42 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Ah I love that little flash animation, so pwnage.

    For those of you who care, it looks like the Liberals are bending Labor over and having their way with em:

    <a href='http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/results/changing.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/20...ts/changing.htm</a>

    <a href='http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/results/statetrends.htm#TAS' target='_blank'>http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/20...etrends.htm#TAS</a>

    House of reps is the only place that Labor still really look good in, but even there the swing has been all Coalition:

    <a href='http://vtr.aec.gov.au/Default.htm' target='_blank'>http://vtr.aec.gov.au/Default.htm</a>

    Still, only .3 percent of the ballot counted, so it could change. I REALLY need a t-shirt with "In Your Face Hippies, I voted Liberal" for uni on monday.

    <a href='http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/results/latest.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/20...ults/latest.htm</a> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Go to the store, find yourself some T-shirt transfer paper, and go crazy you Aussie you.

    I may have to print one out for myself, just for the WTH factor here in the states.

    <a href='http://lunixmonster.org/hosted/legionnaired/liberalT.png' target='_blank'><img src='http://lunixmonster.org/hosted/legionnaired/liberalsmall.png' border='0' alt='user posted image' /> (Click for bigger.)</a>
  • camO_ocamO_o Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28028Members
    Here I was thinking you guys still had a king and queen and had steam powered machines. Tis a sad day for the monarchy <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->.

    /senseless post, ignore plz
Sign In or Register to comment.