Civic Duty and Sausages Too(An Australian Election Thread)
Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2019 7:13 pm
Although it hasn't been officially scheduled yet, the latest an election can be is on May 18, so here we are with the thread for the 2019 Australian General Election...and the New South Wales State Election on March 23 for that matter. May 18 is the latest day that the House of Representatives and half of the Senate can be elected together. The House is made up of 151 members chosen by FPTP and RCV while the Senate is made up of 76 seats(40 will be chosen) by PR and partial STV(the House requires you to fill the entire ballot). Current polls indicate that PM Scott Morrison's LNP(Liberal/National Coalition, which is permanent) is poised to lose in what could be their biggest defeat since 1983 to Bill Shorten's Labor Party(Australians use US spelling for the party).
As for New South Wales, we'll discuss that in the posts. Anyway, let's meet the major and minor parties looking to Parliament. All leaders are in the House unless otherwise stated.
Liberal/National Coalition led by PM Scott Morrison for the Liberals and Michael McCormack for the Nationals: Centre-right, Liberal Conservative, Agrarian(Nationals) Economic Liberals(Liberals)
Australian Labor Party led by Bill Shorten: Centre-left, Social Democratic
Greens led by Senator Richard Di Natale: Centre-left to Left WIng, Green Politics, Social Democratic
One Nation Party led by Senator Pauline Hanson: Right Wing to Far Right, Nationalist, Right Populist, Anti-immigration, Anti-Islamic
Centre Alliance(formerly Nick Xenophon Team), no current leader: Centrist, Social Liberal, Populist
Katter's Australian Party led by Bob Katter: Right Wing, Agrarian, Social Conservative, Economic Nationalist, Protectionist
United Australia Party led by Clive Palmer(Senator Brian Burston is Parliamentary Leader): Right Wing, Nationalist
Liberal Democrats, led by Senator David Leyonhjelm: Libertarian, Economic Liberal, Fiscal Conservative
And of course, there are a LOT of other parites that could get one Senator somewhere such as the Reason Party, Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers, the Animal Justice Party in fact, I'll just put up a list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Australia
Since this is Australia, the poll's going to be a little different. There will be four options for everyone, and if you can, put down your preferences from one to four in your post(or don't, whatever really).
So, NSG, what's your choices?
If you don't know who you among the major parties, here's a vote compass to help you out: https://votecompass.abc.net.au/?fbclid=IwAR1Paqnj6nMPGZpDz0W9h5ViELmCOtpTf6tWVSePgtMBO493poVvZ1gVMk4
For me, it's Reason 1st, Greens 2nd, Labor 3rd, and the Central Alliance 4th. Labor's OK, but I'm more aligned with the Greens on things like closing the detention centres, rejecting Adani's coal mine, negotating a treaty with the Aboriginal peoples, and switching to renewable energy...though I also stand with Reason more on energy(some support nuclear power) and civil rights issues.
EDIT: The date's been set for May 18.
As for New South Wales, we'll discuss that in the posts. Anyway, let's meet the major and minor parties looking to Parliament. All leaders are in the House unless otherwise stated.
Liberal/National Coalition led by PM Scott Morrison for the Liberals and Michael McCormack for the Nationals: Centre-right, Liberal Conservative, Agrarian(Nationals) Economic Liberals(Liberals)
Australian Labor Party led by Bill Shorten: Centre-left, Social Democratic
Greens led by Senator Richard Di Natale: Centre-left to Left WIng, Green Politics, Social Democratic
One Nation Party led by Senator Pauline Hanson: Right Wing to Far Right, Nationalist, Right Populist, Anti-immigration, Anti-Islamic
Centre Alliance(formerly Nick Xenophon Team), no current leader: Centrist, Social Liberal, Populist
Katter's Australian Party led by Bob Katter: Right Wing, Agrarian, Social Conservative, Economic Nationalist, Protectionist
United Australia Party led by Clive Palmer(Senator Brian Burston is Parliamentary Leader): Right Wing, Nationalist
Liberal Democrats, led by Senator David Leyonhjelm: Libertarian, Economic Liberal, Fiscal Conservative
And of course, there are a LOT of other parites that could get one Senator somewhere such as the Reason Party, Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers, the Animal Justice Party in fact, I'll just put up a list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Australia
Since this is Australia, the poll's going to be a little different. There will be four options for everyone, and if you can, put down your preferences from one to four in your post(or don't, whatever really).
So, NSG, what's your choices?
If you don't know who you among the major parties, here's a vote compass to help you out: https://votecompass.abc.net.au/?fbclid=IwAR1Paqnj6nMPGZpDz0W9h5ViELmCOtpTf6tWVSePgtMBO493poVvZ1gVMk4
For me, it's Reason 1st, Greens 2nd, Labor 3rd, and the Central Alliance 4th. Labor's OK, but I'm more aligned with the Greens on things like closing the detention centres, rejecting Adani's coal mine, negotating a treaty with the Aboriginal peoples, and switching to renewable energy...though I also stand with Reason more on energy(some support nuclear power) and civil rights issues.
EDIT: The date's been set for May 18.