NationStates Jolt Archive

For I am a shameless ripoff!!!

No, but seriously, I want a chance to run down all of our crappy parties and answer any questions about them in my own biased way. Kidding. I'll try and be somewhat serious.

The choices are:

Major Parties:

Liberal Party - Currently in power; and currently hold complete senate control together with the National Party. Don't be confused by the name. They are Social conservatives, economically laissez faire, pro-war on Iraq, anti-gay marriage, detention camps for illegal immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees, in love with Bush, etc. one important thing to mention though; while they sound like the US conservative's wet dream, they're PRO GUN CONTROL. Oh noes! There is a movement within the party that dates from way back termed "wet liberals" (as opposed to "dry liberals") that are socially a lot more libertarian and oppose everything currently on offer except their economic policy. Unfortunately, this wing of the party has almost no power at the moment.

Labor Party- Was once a social-democratic party born out of the trade union movement, now has shifted with the trends and become close to British New Labour or perhaps the American Democrats. Their support over social and economic policies is frankly all over the place- there is a left faction, a centre-left faction, and the dominant right faction. Recovering from a leadership crisis of sorts.

Minor Parties:

National Party - They're the third party, in a coalition with the Liberals. They're a rural party first and foremost- The party of the farmers. Their beliefs mostly mirror that of the Libs, but they're even more authoritarian socially.

Green- Yeah, they're greenies. Enough said. Probably the most powerful minor party, they're extremely popular with the youth. Unfortunately, they don't have any seats in the house of representatives.

Australian Democrats - Social Democrats. Their motto is "Keeping the Bastards Honest". Their party platform is decided democratically by party members. Formerly a strong force, holding the balance of power in the senate for many years, they've dwindled into insignificance.

One Nation - New-Right party; anti immigration, pro protectionism - our answer to the British National Party, but a little less Nazi and a little more Redneck.

Family First - Quite simply insane. They deny they are a Christian party, but they make constant appeals to religion. One party member advocated burning lesbians at the stake.

There are other parties, too...but it's useless including them because they get hardly any votes. Most only bother to run for a senate ticket, if at all. I'm convinced I was the only person to vote for the Socialist Alliance.

Heres a full list:

http://www.australianpolitics.com/parties/list-2004-registered.shtml

And some more in depth info:

http://www.australianpolitics.com/parties/

EDIT- By the way, there's no "none of the above" option. Voting here is compulsory, so you have to chose one. :p (Though technically you can submit a blank form smeared with feces if you disapprove that much, and the secret ballot will protect you...but for arguments sake, let's pretend you can't.)

Green- Yeah, they're greenies. Enough said. Probably the most powerful minor party, they're extremely popular with the youth. Unfortunately, they don't have any seats in the house of representatives.
Not perfect, but the best this country has. Plus I think their leader is a champion.
Imagine a gay politician in the US...

Not perfect, but the best this country has. Plus I think their leader is a champion.
Imagine a gay politician in the US...


The Governor of New Jersey was gay, mind you he resigned when he admitted that.

Is hating all of them an option?

If the libertarian wing of the Liberal Party was the "majoirty" of the party, I'd support them.

Not perfect, but the best this country has. Plus I think their leader is a champion.
Imagine a gay politician in the US...

Generally, I agree. I voted for them in the HoR, but not in the senate.

However...some of their policies are a little "quirky" to say the least.

Is hating all of them an option?

Yes, but... (read on)

If the libertarian wing of the Liberal Party was the "majoirty" of the party, I'd support them.

Heres the catch, though. Voting is compulsory here. You have to choose. :p

Heres the catch, though. Voting is compulsory here. You have to choose. :p

I'd take the Liberals then. I can't find myself voting labor or green. I should move to Aussie Land and start an Australian Libertarian Party, if one does not yet exist....

Damn American liberals! Stop voting Democrat, noone's voted Democrat since 2000. Seriously, they lost every seat that went to vote election.

I'd take the Liberals then. I can't find myself voting labor or green. I should move to Aussie Land and start an Australian Libertarian Party, if one does not yet exist....

There is one, but support is so wafer-thin that they don't even bother standing for elections.

Damn American liberals! Stop voting Democrat, noone's voted Democrat since 2000. Seriously, they lost every seat that went to vote election.

What's worse is the fact that Family First is getting votes.

People, i'm not kidding. Elements in the party want the death penalty for homosexuals. Amongst other things. *shudder*

I'd take the Liberals then. I can't find myself voting labor or green. I should move to Aussie Land and start an Australian Libertarian Party, if one does not yet exist....
So you'd rather vote for a conservative party that has shot down three Bills of Rights then vote the Greens? Then say.... ANYONE OF OUR MANY LIBERAL PARTIES?

Correct me if I'm wrong but surely a Libertarian (who SHOULD beleive in the preservation of civil liberties from the state) would not support a party that puts the "we'll take your home and civil liberties because the Consitution says we can" in rightwing nutjobs?

wow, that is sad. stupid biggots, tricks are for kids.

What's worse is the fact that Family First is getting votes.

People, i'm not kidding. Elements in the party want the death penalty for homosexuals. Amongst other things. *shudder*
Let's not forget the fact THEY HAVE NO PLATFORM. When asked what their stance was on the full sale of Telstra, their party leader said "we will vote in favour of the option that preserves good family values"

WHAT THE FUCK?! The sale of the government's shares in a telecommunications company has nothing to do with family values! Bah!

Actually what's scary is this is very much how the real election went. Random donky votes and all.

Seriosuly, if you move the Green's and Democrat's preferences over to Labour, you have the last election.

So you'd rather vote for a conservative party that has shot down three Bills of Rights then vote the Greens? Then say.... ANYONE OF OUR MANY LIBERAL PARTIES?

Correct me if I'm wrong but surely a Libertarian (who SHOULD beleive in the preservation of civil liberties from the state) would not support a party that puts the "we'll take your home and civil liberties because the Consitution says we can" in rightwing nutjobs?



Green Parties views are always too extremely environmentalist for me. I'm more of a fiscal libertarian by the way, while I don't support human rights abuses, I live in a place where the socialist provincial government restricts any privatization and my liberal government steals from its people to pay off its friends and then makes a gun registry to steal our money again. Hence, "true" liberal parties/socialist parties scare the shit out of me

Fuck it, I’m voting for the Help End Marijuana Prohibition Party. :p

Let's not forget the fact THEY HAVE NO PLATFORM. When asked what their stance was on the full sale of Telstra, their party leader said "we will vote in favour of the option that preserves good family values"

WHAT THE FUCK?! The sale of the government's shares in a telecommunications company has nothing to do with family values! Bah!

*pats* Calm down. Here, have some of my special pills.

I'm sure that Family First only exist for comic relief.


Green Parties views are always too extremely environmentalist for me. I'm more of a fiscal libertarian by the way, while I don't support human rights abuses, I live in a place where the socialist provincial government restricts any privatization and my liberal government steals from its people to pay off its friends and then makes a gun registry to steal our money again. Hence, "true" liberal parties/socialist parties scare the shit out of me

In that case, your best option for a socially libertarian party is the Australian Democrats...or joining the Liberal party and becoming a dissenting voice. Don't worry, the Democrats don't have a chance of getting any power anyway. :p

I hate them all equally. I'm not an anarchist by any stretch of the imagination though.

*pats* Calm down. Here, have some of my special pills.

I'm sure that Family First only exist for comic relief.



In that case, your best option for a socially libertarian party is the Australian Democrats...or joining the Liberal party and becoming a dissenting voice. Don't worry, the Democrats don't have a chance of getting any power anyway. :p


Meh, it could work.

Green Parties views are always too extremely environmentalist for me. I'm more of a fiscal libertarian by the way, while I don't support human rights abuses, I live in a place where the socialist provincial government restricts any privatization and my liberal government steals from its people to pay off its friends and then makes a gun registry to steal our money again. Hence, "true" liberal parties/socialist parties scare the shit out of me
Then why not vote Democrat? You can't get much more centre-left, with extreme personal property rights, then them. Instead you choose the conservative Liberal Party.

And from what you're saying you're not Libertarian, you're Conservative. Conservatives are social moderate/right and fiscally left -that is believe in personal property rights and low taxes.

Fuck it, I’m voting for the Help End Marijuana Prohibition Party. :p

Hehehehe...i'm not sure they were on the senate ticket...maybe for the House of Representatives in certain electorates, though. Gotta love the acronym, too. HEMP. :p

In any case, the Greens want all drugs legalised.

*pats* Calm down. Here, have some of my special pills.

I'm sure that Family First only exist for comic relief.
God, I hope so. Otherwise I'd say screw the middle man and just vote Nazi. Then again, the National Socialist were de-registered without explaination by the Registrar-General in circa '97.

In any case, the Greens want all drugs legalised.
So do I. The problem with Greens is that they are Greens. Sorry, but I’m not I’m not into that whole socialistic environmentalist thing. In fact, I hate it with a passion.

So do I. The problem with Greens is that they are Greens. Sorry, but I’m not I’m not into that whole socialistic environmentalist thing. In fact, I hate it with a passion.
They heckled Bush, that has to count for something.

They heckled Bush, that has to count for something.
Lots of people heckle Bush. It only good sense.

God, I hope so. Otherwise I'd say screw the middle man and just vote Nazi. Then again, the National Socialist were de-registered without explaination by the Registrar-General in circa '97.

Oh...I didn't notice. Did anyone actually care? :p

So do I. The problem with Greens is that they are Greens. Sorry, but I’m not I’m not into that whole socialistic environmentalist thing. In fact, I hate it with a passion.

It's more the social libertarian stance that draws voters, though. The idea is that enough people vote Green, the major parties will take their policies into account in this area - which if Labor did, I believe they'd probably get closer to winning the next election. They don't have much chance of getting into power, though, so you needn't worry about them having any say in economics.

They heckled Bush, that has to count for something.
hehe, got kicked outta the room too.
And they wouldn't let them in the next day for the Chinese dude. :cool:

hehe, got kicked outta the room too.
And they wouldn't let them in the next day for the Chinese dude. :cool:
That was mean... :( :D

Interesting. The near-defunct Dems have the highest amount of votes, While no-one's touched the ALP.
My family used to be dyed-in-the-wool Labor supporters, until the massive kowtowing to the Coalition began. So we've pretty much turned to the Greens.

Another thing about Aussie democracy: in addition to compulsory voting, we have preferential voting. So if your favourite doesn't make it, someone else you prefer still has a chance.

Interesting. The near-defunct Dems have the highest amount of votes, While no-one's touched the ALP.
My family used to be dyed-in-the-wool Labor supporters, until the massive kowtowing to the Coalition began. So we've pretty much turned to the Greens.

Another thing about Aussie democracy: in addition to compulsory voting, we have preferential voting. So if your favourite doesn't make it, someone else you prefer still has a chance.
Which is great because it means you can protest vote without dividing the left.

Which is great because it means you can protest vote without dividing the left.

True; yet as a consequence, the left parties have no chance of getting any representation.

Australian Democrats - Social Democrats. Their motto is "Keeping the Bastards Honest".


Gotta love a Party with a motto like that!

True; yet as a consequence, the left parties have no chance of getting any representation.
Er... left parties?

There's the Greens, and there's... who else? The Dems are avowedly 'centrist', while Labor was last left-wing back when Gough was in charge.

Er... left parties?

There's the Greens, and there's... who else? The Dems are avowedly 'centrist', while Labor was last left-wing back when Gough was in charge.

Uh...good point. Well, there's the Socialist Alliance....

meh...bump

Greens for me. They're the only bloody liberal party in this country that has any power. Plus, I have some extreme environmentalist views, so they suit me pretty well. The Democrats were okay for a while, but still not quite to my preference. They're basically dead, now, anyway.

But yeah, Senator Brown is awesome. He's on TV for Question Time right now, in fact.

RIPOFF!!!!!

I suppose I should be flattered or something. Anyway, uh, heil Australian Democrats. Heil Lyn Allison.

EDIT: also, isn't the AD more social liberal rather than social democrat?

Vote Socialist Alliance!

At least you Aussies can have a socialist alliance that doesn't fall apart like, say, Roentgenium-280.

But yeah, Senator Brown is awesome. He's on TV for Question Time right now, in fact.

Is Aussie QT anything like the BBC QT?

Australian QT is more insulting as far as I know. Then again, my knowledge of Aussie politics is from a documentary of the Keating/Hawke years.

RIPOFF!!!!!

:p

I suppose I should be flattered or something. Anyway, uh, heil Australian Democrats. Heil Lyn Allison.

EDIT: also, isn't the AD more social liberal rather than social democrat?

Well...they're certainly left of the labor party, and labor oftentimes still claims to be social democratic...

i vote liberal because
1) hopefully Howard will be gone soon...
2) Costello was my local (federal) minister :-)
3) So was Doyle (state) :-)
4) I cant stand the greens...
5) Democrats are useless at the moment due to infighting...
6) any other vote is almost irrelivent due to 2 and 3


My vote may change soon to Dems tho because the person running for my new electorate (Clayton/Monash) is a member of my social group, and has a chance of winning anyway...

Is Aussie QT anything like the BBC QT?

If you mean by the same that they shout boisterous insults and successfully manage to get nothing done, then I'd say yes. They occasionally let a piece of legislation pass to make the public think they're actually doing something, which in all honesty they're not.

Wait, I think that's the State Government of New South Wales... :D

Australian QT is more insulting as far as I know. Then again, my knowledge of Aussie politics is from a documentary of the Keating/Hawke years.
Hasn't changed much. At least back then the insults were classy.

Seriously, anybody not Australian has GOT to get some footage of what our politics are like. They make a mockery of the U.S. formalistic style and are comprised of nothing more than hilarious shouting-matches, insults and backstabbing. The Speaker of the House's job is essentially to act like a school teacher and send politicians out of the room when they're causing too much trouble! :p

Seriously, anybody not Australian has GOT to get some footage of what our politics are like. They make a mockery of the U.S. formalistic style and are comprised of nothing more than hilarious shouting-matches, insults and backstabbing. The Speaker of the House's job is essentially to act like a shool teacher and send politicians out of the room when they're causing too much trouble! :p

It'd be funny if it weren't so depressing.

Ah well. :p

most family oriented?

I'd vote Greens but in reality Labour. Thanks to the Conservatives, the NT will the nuclear waste dump of Australia. Thanks Johnny!

I'm an ex-Queenslander now in Canberra and I voted Liberals in the last federal election. Their policies in economic, social and foreign policy matters far more closely fit my political ideas than any other party.
I agree with the reduction of size of government, reduced taxes, reduced social welfare, free trade with countries in the national interest, involvement in regional and world affairs with our allies, reduction of union powers, free market economics.
I also believe that in this country, the federalisation of powers from the states is the most important route to reducing government. Seriously, there are only 20 million of us, and we have 8 systems for state taxes, licencing, work, all that other stuff.

NB In some tests that show political persuasion, I have been similar to Ronald Reagan ? make of that what you will
In other tests, I am Centrist/Capitalist for the most part.
I am avowedly anti-communist/socialist and am fed up of hippies wanting to bludge off the rest of us who work for their life.

I seriously can't believe people are voting for the Democrats and Greens, those parties have completely whacko policies.

I'd vote Greens but in reality Labour. Thanks to the Conservatives, the NT will the nuclear waste dump of Australia. Thanks Johnny!

Don't forget, profit > you. :)

I seriously can't believe people are voting for the Democrats and Greens, those parties have completely whacko policies.

From your point of view. From ours, yours are just as whacko. ;)

Respect, brother. Aiight?

um... i have to agree with our Canberra collegue (sp?) there are two pollies i just cant stand.. 1 is Bob Brown the other is Brian Harradine. (i know he was an independant and has retired) the rest i have no real issue with...

Don't forget, profit > you. :)

I'm gonna start selling glow in the dark products now! :D

um... i have to agree with our Canberra collegue (sp?) there are two pollies i just cant stand.. 1 is Bob Brown the other is Brian Harradine. (i know he was an independant and has retired) the rest i have no real issue with...

Simon Crean. Ugh.

Oh, and Beazley gives me the shits, too.

(And of course, Howard, Downer, Vanstone...etc...though out of the Libs, I don't mind Peter Georgiou...which i probably spelt wrong...from what i've read of his stances in the past, anyway.)

Yeah, they pretty much all piss me off.

Except for Latham; while he annoys me, at least he had the decency to give us all some amusement in the form of insulting former colleages. Laughs for all!

Three cheers of the new IR reforms!
Power to the workers, err, employers.

dislike is different to cant stand/would be willing to stop them being oxygen stealers (and take the jail time) if they were around/talking to/at me much more often...

I'm gonna start selling glow in the dark products now! :D

Might I humbly suggest the humble warming effect (as a result of isotope decay) of the ever so sweet fragrance Eau de Chernobyl. Of course, French will make it sell better, for French means classy in the world of makeup products. You could make a killing with "Mascara de l'île Trois Milles" as well.

Three cheers of the new IR reforms!
Power to the workers, err, employers.

Profit > You, again. :)

Quote: Jeruselem I'd vote Greens but in reality Labour. Thanks to the Conservatives, the NT will the nuclear waste dump of Australia. Thanks Johnny!

Why not make it the nuclear waste dump of Australia? - hardly anyone lives there, and it is largely useless desert and semi-arid land


Quote:
Kanabia From your point of view. From ours, yours are just as whacko.
Respect, brother. Aiight?

Yeah, ok, point taken, but if the greens were in government in Australia, I would rebel and try to overthrow the government, along with millions of other Australians

Seriously, I've read their policy document. I do not want to be part of a socialist, centrally-planned economy country that panders to the uneducated and misled members of the country.
If you do, move to Scandanavia or somewhere similar where they take your pay and give it to people who dont work. (yeah, I know I'm generalising)

Why not make it the nuclear waste dump of Australia? - hardly anyone lives there, and it is largely useless desert and semi-arid land

The NT was picked because if you put in it in any other state/territory you'd lose votes. We are a nice target because we are territory (less powers) and people think we are mostly a worthless desert.

Well, the two proposed sites are within 200 km of a populated area (Katherine and Alice Springs). Great for property values, naturally. One of the Katherine sites sits near a flood prone area.

Yet another Green vote from me.

Yeah, ok, point taken, but if the greens were in government in Australia, I would rebel and try to overthrow the government, along with millions of other Australians

lol.

I voted for the Greens candidate in my electorate, Andrew Wilke if anyone remembers, all the rest of my votes go to the ALP. Cant stand the Liberal Party anymore, they've run out of practical ideas, all they're doing now is forcing their ideology through the IR reforms and getting us involved in crap like Iraq.

I voted for the Greens candidate in my electorate, Andrew Wilke if anyone remembers, all the rest of my votes go to the ALP. Cant stand the Liberal Party anymore, they've run out of practical ideas, all they're doing now is forcing their ideology through the IR reforms and getting us involved in crap like Iraq.
If I remember rightly, this means you're in Bennelong. Poor you! Represented directly by Howard!

So do I. The problem with Greens is that they are Greens. Sorry, but I’m not I’m not into that whole socialistic environmentalist thing. In fact, I hate it with a passion.

That and they don't even have sensible forestation policies. Plus they want all drugs legal.
Heroin, Cocaine, Ectasy, Speed, the lot.

While the Liberals are not ideal, the others are not a real option if we want a country in twenty years

I am probably closest in my views to the Socialist Alliance and would possibly vote for them although since their support has collapsed and they have no chance of winning a seat I might instead vote Green.

Greens for me. They're the only bloody liberal party in this country that has any power. Plus, I have some extreme environmentalist views, so they suit me pretty well. The Democrats were okay for a while, but still not quite to my preference. They're basically dead, now, anyway.

But yeah, Senator Brown is awesome. He's on TV for Question Time right now, in fact.

Brown is the biggest dickhead to enter politics.

Seriously, he is worse than Bush.

Plus they want all drugs legal.
Heroin, Cocaine, Ectasy, Speed, the lot.


A sensible idea to me. With a focus on rehabilitation we can treat the problem much more efficiently.

Face it; if people want to use these drugs, they're going to anyway regardless of legality. Might as well try something that will actually help them.

I am probably closest in my views to the Socialist Alliance and would possibly vote for them although since their support has collapsed and they have no chance of winning a seat I might instead vote Green.

Actually, it's less a collapse of support and more the fact that they're really new on the scene.

The main problem, though, is that most socialist organisations I know don't want to involve themselves in parliament for stupid ideological reasons.

Actually, it's less a collapse of support and more the fact that they're really new on the scene.

The main problem, though, is that most socialist organisations I know don't want to involve themselves in parliament for stupid ideological reasons.
I read an article on the website of the Weekly Worker (http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/593/sa.htm) in Britain which claims the Socialist Alliance has almost collapsed although this is probably an exaggeration. We do have a similar situation in Scotland where the Scottish Socialist Party (http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org), which I support, is fairly new and did well for the Scottish Parliament in 2003 with 7% of the vote and 6 seats but have sadly lost votes in the General Elections this year. This is hopefully something that can be resolved in the future for both parties and it would be wrong for the left to give up on them.

I read an article on the website of the Weekly Worker (http://www.cpgb.org.uk/worker/593/sa.htm) in Britain which claims the Socialist Alliance has almost collapsed although this is probably an exaggeration. We do have a similar situation in Scotland where the Scottish Socialist Party (http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org), which I support, is fairly new and did well for the Scottish Parliament in 2003 with 7% of the vote and 6 seats but have sadly lost votes in the General Elections this year. This is hopefully something that can be resolved in the future for both parties and it would be wrong for the left to give up on them.

It's more the fact that the Greens are so popular right now and seen as a more likely alternative that the left are concentrating their votes on them, and sadly the SA are missing out as a result. It would be interesting to see if there is much of a difference in secondary preferences allocated to them, though i'm not sure if they bother collecting that data (seeing how it wouldn't affect a green/labor seat battle).

Well after a tough debate i decided to vote for One Nation just because Paulean Hansons Daughter is relativly cute.

Well after a tough debate i decided to vote for One Nation just because Paulean Hansons Daughter is relativly cute.
And because New Zealanders like Nutcases so much...
http://www.dorkinglabs.com/fim/162.jpg

And because New Zealanders like Nutcases so much...
http://www.dorkinglabs.com/fim/162.jpg
Well i didnt vote for him.

Greens. I used to vote Labour until they (finally) disgusted me with their Tampa/refugees/illegal immigrants stance.

I can't wait for Howard's SerfChoices to kick in.

Greens. I used to vote Labour until they (finally) disgusted me with their Tampa/refugees/illegal immigrants stance.

I can't wait for Howard's SerfChoices to kick in.

Heh. SerfChoices. I'll steal that.

Greens. I used to vote Labour until they (finally) disgusted me with their Tampa/refugees/illegal immigrants stance.

I can't wait for Howard's SerfChoices to kick in.
Explain please?

Heh. SerfChoices. I'll steal that.

It's not mine, it's from the SMH. It's an opinion piece/letter parody. A friend e-mailed it to me. I'll see if I can find a link for it.

Heh. SerfChoices. I'll steal that.

SMH SerfChoices:

http://smh.com.au/news/heckler/introducing-serfchoices/2005/10/18/1129401251669.html

A simpler & fairer system.

Explain please?

WorkChoices is the government's name John Howard's new industrial relations laws. They're primarily designed to remove worker's entitlements & crush the unions.