2019 Federal Election Discussion

[Xanthe]

A bit off topic but while we are all busy having fun points chasing....it may not be as quite a done deal for the little Billy Can. Heard a whisper that one of his apparatchik was out canvessing signatures recently to set up a new party just to funnel preferences from it to him. Smacks of desparation let alone hijacking democracy.

 

[get me outta here]

The donkey vote varies btw ~ 2.5 - 3.7% or thereabouts. Fortunately most people take their voting rights seriously and those that don’t are just considered donkeys.

 

[clipped_wings]

As much as I loathe some of the candidates, I am prone to agree with Moody. I generally refrain from talking politics in social situations - as you invariably end up with some clod who bags every party and proudly announces they wrote "GET $&#^%*" on the ballot paper.

What in God's name is THAT going to achieve? Love or hate politics, we do live in a democracy. And we have the right to choose which boofhead governs our country for a while. I implore our kids to read a little on the political process of Australia - so they can at least turn up on election day with a voice that counts.

Please don't waste a democratic opportunity that - hard as it is to believe, is still not afforded some people in the world.

 

[drron]

Having been a scrutineer in the past some really make an effort with their informal votes.One I remember well was someone who had very good illustrations beside each candidate-I remember a monkey,dog,donkey and a snake.Slowed up the count as every one had a chuckle.

 

[clipped_wings]

And for the record, I am on the cusp of changing my one party preferred vote to the opposing team for the first time EVER.

I actually agree more with the other party than I do in my own. I am shocked and saddened, but I refuse to cast a vote one way simply because it's always been my way. The local member of a party I thought I would never support has impressed with their articulate and highly credible accounts of action in our community. In direct contrast, my own party is nowhere to be seen.

The Federal members of the major parties certainly have something to answer for. All are proven liars and unpalatable choices IMHO.

 

[serfty]

The recent NSW State election was the first time I didn't go the Full Monty below the line, as you were allowed to number the groups above the line. Does anyone here know if a similar option applies to the federal election, or is it the usual all-or-onething?

I think you need to be numbering 1 to 6 (at least) if above the line.

One in two voters don't understand how to vote for the Senate: poll

A new poll suggests voters could be giving their preferences to parties they think they have put last.

www.smh.com.au

 

[moa999]

Correct... Federal instructions are to to number 1-6 above or 1-12 below (although there are some savings provisions which mean a 1 above or 6 in order below are valid and will count)

Whereas NSW only required a 1 above.
Interestingly the higher exclusion rate of votes on the right (which could come down to individual preferences or HTV cards that didn't share preferences) compared to the left probably assisted AJP (Animal Justice Party) getting a seat over the CDP and LDP.

Importantly there is no longer a Group Voting List.
If you number six minor parties only there is a fair chance your vote will exclude and not contribute to anyone being elected (of course this may be an individual's preference)

 

[Pushka]

Having been a scrutineer in the past some really make an effort with their informal votes.One I remember well was someone who had very good illustrations beside each candidate-I remember a monkey,dog,donkey and a snake.Slowed up the count as every one had a chuckle.

See, maybe that is truly the democratic process at work. Much better than doing nothing at all, and I believe, better than putting in a vote that you know won’t make a scrap of difference. Must get more satisfaction I think.

 

[Captain Halliday]

I love my politics. But I absolutely detested the sheer volume of unsolicited texts from every Party prior to the recent State Election. Ironically, one advised me that they would ban this nuisance practice if they were elected!

I heard last week on Central Coast ABC radio, that these texts are exempt from the Block This Caller function on most smartphones. Is this true?

Yes. Political parties and candidates are exempt from complying with the Do Not Call register.

As are charities for that matter.

 

[moa999]

See, maybe that is truly the democratic process at work. Much better than doing nothing at all, and I believe, better than putting in a vote that you know won’t make a scrap of difference. Must get more satisfaction I think.

Vast majority of the Informal votes are blank though..
In the NSW Upper House Informal almost outpolled One Nation (who ended up with two seats)

 

[Isochronous]

A bit off topic but while we are all busy having fun points chasing....it may not be as quite a done deal for the little Billy Can. Heard a whisper that one of his apparatchik was out canvessing signatures recently to set up a new party just to funnel preferences from it to him. Smacks of desparation let alone hijacking democracy.

Dummy parties are nothing new - Labor are particularly good at it. Assist the creation of a front group or an independent and funnel the preferences back, which captures a slice of votes who probably wouldn't vote for you directly otherwise. But I do agree that Shorten has underperformed on the campaign so far and Morrison has overperformed relative to expectations.

As much as I loathe some of the candidates, I am prone to agree with Moody. I generally refrain from talking politics in social situations - as you invariably end up with some clod who bags every party and proudly announces they wrote "GET $&#^%*" on the ballot paper.

What in God's name is THAT going to achieve? Love or hate politics, we do live in a democracy. And we have the right to choose which boofhead governs our country for a while. I implore our kids to read a little on the political process of Australia - so they can at least turn up on election day with a voice that counts.

Please don't waste a democratic opportunity that - hard as it is to believe, is still not afforded some people in the world.

A fair point but not entirely pointless - an informal vote saves the taxpayer money because a valid vote potentially costs $2.50 or so in public funding to the candidate who would otherwise receive the first preference (subject to the candidate polling 4%)

 

[Moody]

But I do agree that Shorten has underperformed on the campaign so far and Morrison has overperformed relative to expectations.

In the dirty tricks and false advertising stakes .... definitely.

 

[Pushka]

What was the story last election about Medicare being dismantled?

 

[Moody]

What was the story last election about Medicare being dismantled?

Didn't hear that one myself - do you have any links?

Here is the ScoMo effort ... very low quality affair from the sewers :-

https://twitter.com/x/status/1120572560511397888

 

[Pushka]

What was it called now? Oh yes, the Mediscare campaign.

 

[Moody]

What was it called now? Oh yes, the Mediscare campaign.

So no links? No details?? Just a name???

Very hard to compare the two when the evidence is so one-sided, don't you think?

 

[I love to travel]

Basically it was a Labor scare campaign that stated the Coalition would slowly start privatizing Medicare plus things that are free now such as blood tests you would pay for.

Mediscare is back: Labor revives government’s 2016 nightmare

Mediscare is back.

www.news.com.au

 

[Isochronous]

Basically it was a Labor scare campaign that stated the Coalition would slowly start privatizing Medicare plus things that are free now such as blood tests you would pay for.

Mediscare is back: Labor revives government’s 2016 nightmare

Mediscare is back.

www.news.com.au

Not just that - it went as far as Labor impersonating Medicare, sending out SMSes that appeared to come from Medicare: Federal election 2016: Shorten confirms Labor sent 'Mediscare' text

 

[Moody]

Not just that - it went as far as Labor impersonating Medicare, sending out SMSes that appeared to come from Medicare: Federal election 2016: Shorten confirms Labor sent 'Mediscare' text

Thanks for the link. So a text was sent out claiming that the Coalition would effectively privatise Medicare by 1000 cuts (well ... starting with 4 it seems). Of course we all know that's rubbish .... whilst being no fans of universal healthcare, the conservatives are not so stupid as to actually try to dismantle it.

But little tweaks towards user-pays .... I think you would back that, wouldn't you Iso?

 

[Pushka]

Google works a treat.