Australian Political & Infrastructure Discussion Thread

[Shrillland]

Which will be reduced to 3 at the end of October. With what little polling there is, I think the Coalition can grab the lead in the ACT as well.

The ACT has an upcoming election? I didn't know that

Yep, October 17, same day as NZ.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

I’m a bit shocked Morrison and the Liberals are seemingly popular again, kinda figured a lot of Australians would never quite forget the botched response to your harrowing wildfire season.

Australia's always been something of a conservative nation, I call it Little America for a reason. Labor's been pretty weak for a long time, they simply can't excite their voters or get the Greens excited about them.

Greens would be a lot more attractive to Labor if the Greens weren't coming at Labor from both sides. From the left and from the "brown" center. Environmental policies have considerable cross-party appeal, for instance primary producers care about the environment, yet the Greens make enemies of them.

I would be whole-heartedly for the Greens, if they tried to center themselves, and argue for environmentalism from the center. Sure, some of the issues extend into social justice and equality (Labor territory), but they clearly extend into primary production and industry too (that's Coalition territory). Situated left of Labor, voting usually with Labor in the Senate, Greens aren't doing anything for the issues of Environment and are arguably driving Labor to the center.

As it is, I vote for Labor in the Parliament and state House. I vote for Greens sometimes in the Senate and state Upper House. But I'm one election away from voting straight Labor, because I want two things: environmental regulation (eg a carbon tax), and kinder policies on immigrants. I know I can't have both, and the Green party needs to realize that too if they want to keep my vote. If they can't stop splitting voters off the left of Labor, they can get the fuck out and leave environmental advocacy to some other party, or to a centrist alliance from both parties. Environmentalism tied to leftism, is environmentalism delayed, and time is running out.

[Shrillland]

Australia's always been something of a conservative nation, I call it Little America for a reason. Labor's been pretty weak for a long time, they simply can't excite their voters or get the Greens excited about them.

Greens would be a lot more attractive to Labor if the Greens weren't coming at Labor from both sides. From the left and from the "brown" center. Environmental policies have considerable cross-party appeal, for instance primary producers care about the environment, yet the Greens make enemies of them.

I would be whole-heartedly for the Greens, if they tried to center themselves, and argue for environmentalism from the center. Sure, some of the issues extend into social justice and equality (Labor territory), but they clearly extend into primary production and industry too (that's Coalition territory). Situated left of Labor, voting usually with Labor in the Senate, Greens aren't doing anything for the issues of Environment and are arguably driving Labor to the center.

As it is, I vote for Labor in the Parliament and state House. I vote for Greens sometimes in the Senate and state Upper House. But I'm one election away from voting straight Labor, because I want two things: environmental regulation (eg a carbon tax), and kinder policies on immigrants. I know I can't have both, and the Green party needs to realize that too if they want to keep my vote. If they can't stop splitting voters off the left of Labor, they can get the fuck out and leave environmental advocacy to some other party, or to a centrist alliance from both parties. Environmentalism tied to leftism, is environmentalism delayed, and time is running out.

The immigration issue is what ultimately leads me to supporting Greens for first preference myself(if I were Australian, of course).

[Mathuvan Union]

Greens would be a lot more attractive to Labor if the Greens weren't coming at Labor from both sides. From the left and from the "brown" center. Environmental policies have considerable cross-party appeal, for instance primary producers care about the environment, yet the Greens make enemies of them.

I would be whole-heartedly for the Greens, if they tried to center themselves, and argue for environmentalism from the center. Sure, some of the issues extend into social justice and equality (Labor territory), but they clearly extend into primary production and industry too (that's Coalition territory). Situated left of Labor, voting usually with Labor in the Senate, Greens aren't doing anything for the issues of Environment and are arguably driving Labor to the center.

As it is, I vote for Labor in the Parliament and state House. I vote for Greens sometimes in the Senate and state Upper House. But I'm one election away from voting straight Labor, because I want two things: environmental regulation (eg a carbon tax), and kinder policies on immigrants. I know I can't have both, and the Green party needs to realize that too if they want to keep my vote. If they can't stop splitting voters off the left of Labor, they can get the fuck out and leave environmental advocacy to some other party, or to a centrist alliance from both parties. Environmentalism tied to leftism, is environmentalism delayed, and time is running out.

The immigration issue is what ultimately leads me to supporting Greens for first preference myself(if I were Australian, of course).

I dunno.
I do like their stance on immigration but I can’t really follow their other policies as much as I would with other parties.

[Imperial isa]

Was Gladys behind those ferries where you can not have passengers on top when going under bridges ?

[Mathuvan Union]

Was Gladys behind those ferries where you can not have passengers on top when going under bridges ?

yes

[Dazchan]

Was Gladys behind those ferries where you can not have passengers on top when going under bridges ?

Not directly. The Minister for Transport is Andrew Constance.

[Australian rePublic]

The ACT has an upcoming election? I didn't know that

Yep, October 17, same day as NZ.

I see

[Shrillland]

The Coalition has unofficially split in NSW thanks to...koala protection legislation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-10/nsw-government-crisis-as-john-barilaro-says-nationals-will-leave/12648966

Whomever has "LNP Coalition Destroyed by Koalas" on their 2020 Bingo card, please step up and claim your prize of a "Wartime Banana."

[Acwth]

RE: Labor and elections, it's worth noting that Labor does fine at the state level, because state governments are directly responsible for the administration of things that voters actually trust Labor more than the L/NP on: health and education, mainly.

Federally we almost never win, but that's a separate issue.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

RE: Labor and elections, it's worth noting that Labor does fine at the state level, because state governments are directly responsible for the administration of things that voters actually trust Labor more than the L/NP on: health and education, mainly.

Federally we almost never win, but that's a separate issue.

Since 1941, Labor has been in power Federally for 30 years, the Coalition for 50 years.

So 37.5% Labor. Not great, but not "almost never" either.

[Kenobot]

The Coalition has unofficially split in NSW thanks to...koala protection legislation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-10/nsw-government-crisis-as-john-barilaro-says-nationals-will-leave/12648966

Whomever has "LNP Coalition Destroyed by Koalas" on their 2020 Bingo card, please step up and claim your prize of a "Wartime Banana."

Today has been wild for NSW and QLD politics. Two (more) ministers not re-contesting in Queensland and Barilaro dying on the dumbest hill in politics I've seen in a long time in NSW.
It would seem Gladys has called his bluff and the Nats held an emergency partyroom meeting approximately an hour ago and may still be ongoing. If the Nats continue on the current course, they're headed for electoral oblivion. It's one thing to die on this hill, but another to lose government over it.

[Acwth]

RE: Labor and elections, it's worth noting that Labor does fine at the state level, because state governments are directly responsible for the administration of things that voters actually trust Labor more than the L/NP on: health and education, mainly.

Federally we almost never win, but that's a separate issue.

Since 1941, Labor has been in power Federally for 30 years, the Coalition for 50 years.

So 37.5% Labor. Not great, but not "almost never" either.

Closer to 30% if you start from the beginning of the post-war Menzies government. In any case, I think it's worse than "not great", even if "almost never" is not quite true.

[Australian rePublic]

The Coalition has unofficially split in NSW thanks to...koala protection legislation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-10/nsw-government-crisis-as-john-barilaro-says-nationals-will-leave/12648966

Whomever has "LNP Coalition Destroyed by Koalas" on their 2020 Bingo card, please step up and claim your prize of a "Wartime Banana."

What exactly is that about anyway? I just know it has something to do with koalas and angry farmers

[Nobel Hobos 2]

The Coalition has unofficially split in NSW thanks to...koala protection legislation: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-10/nsw-government-crisis-as-john-barilaro-says-nationals-will-leave/12648966

Whomever has "LNP Coalition Destroyed by Koalas" on their 2020 Bingo card, please step up and claim your prize of a "Wartime Banana."

What exactly is that about anyway? I just know it has something to do with koalas and angry farmers

Koalas need particular kinds of tree. Liberals want to widen the definition of protected trees. Nationals are usually in favor of clearing trees.

[Kexholm and Karelia]

I don’t care who is in power in Australia as long as they stop selling their country out to China and start resisting it. The Quad Alliance was a good start, not enough though

[Mathuvan Union]

I don’t care who is in power in Australia as long as they stop selling their country out to China and start resisting it. The Quad Alliance was a good start, not enough though

We aren’t selling ourselves to China - I doubt that Morrison will keep his job in the next election though.

[Kexholm and Karelia]

I don’t care who is in power in Australia as long as they stop selling their country out to China and start resisting it. The Quad Alliance was a good start, not enough though

We aren’t selling ourselves to China - I doubt that Morrison will keep his job in the next election though.

Australia is willingly letting the Chinese Communist government practice neo-colonialism and basically buy the country

Australia is a wealthy country, there is no desperate need for money in Australia, and hence there is no reason for them to sell out to China like they do right now

[New Carthagea]

We aren’t selling ourselves to China - I doubt that Morrison will keep his job in the next election though.

Australia is willingly letting the Chinese Communist government practice neo-colonialism and basically buy the country

Australia is a wealthy country, there is no desperate need for money in Australia, and hence there is no reason for them to sell out to China like they do right now

This.

[Gondwana island]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-01/ ... n=abc_news
Clive Palmer is suing WA Premier Mark McGowan for defamation

[Nobel Hobos 2]

We aren’t selling ourselves to China - I doubt that Morrison will keep his job in the next election though.

Australia is willingly letting the Chinese Communist government practice neo-colonialism and basically buy the country

Australia is a wealthy country, there is no desperate need for money in Australia, and hence there is no reason for them to sell out to China like they do right now

What do you mean "sell out"? Are you referring to our minerals trade?

Or you want to ban foreigners from buying infrastructure or land.

That's negotiable.
Infrastructure should be at least 50% government owned, this keeps all users from being bled dry by a monopoly and I'd prefer local ownership the rest. Maybe put a stamp duty on shares in those companies being sold to foreigners.

Land prices go both ways: most Australians face very high real-estate and home costs, in that case I would ban foreign investment; however rising land prices in the country suit farmers pretty well: those that aren't getting by have a chance of selling their land with some money to show for it (like the US, a lot of Australian farmers took on too much debt in the 90's). So I'd let Chinese or Americans invest in rural property, but not residential. Large purchases would have to pass the Foreign Investment Review Board (which is a thing).

[Mathuvan Union]

We aren’t selling ourselves to China - I doubt that Morrison will keep his job in the next election though.

Australia is willingly letting the Chinese Communist government practice neo-colonialism and basically buy the country

Australia is a wealthy country, there is no desperate need for money in Australia, and hence there is no reason for them to sell out to China like they do right now

In Australia, Land Prices and Home Costs are pretty expensive.
So the Chinese can buy whatever they want rurally, but if they are buying residential it’s have to go through the Foreign Investment Review Board.
We aren’t selling out, we’re making a living.

[Shrillland]

What exactly is that about anyway? I just know it has something to do with koalas and angry farmers

Koalas need particular kinds of tree. Liberals want to widen the definition of protected trees. Nationals are usually in favor of clearing trees.

On top of that, the story says that the bill would require farmers to manage koalas if there are any found on their land.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Koalas need particular kinds of tree. Liberals want to widen the definition of protected trees. Nationals are usually in favor of clearing trees.

On top of that, the story says that the bill would require farmers to manage koalas if there are any found on their land.

I think of them as rather self-managing. I suppose a few are injured in fires ... maybe farmers are expected to gather them up?

Otherwise, "keep yer dog away from koalas" should cover it!

[Kenobot]

I don’t care who is in power in Australia as long as they stop selling their country out to China and start resisting it. The Quad Alliance was a good start, not enough though

We have been resisting on a governmental level, but it's big business who continue to entangle themselves in China that make this such a complicated issue for Australia. Quad isn't really a thing, but an off-shoot for regional Supply Chain Initiative is on the cards, which should assist in making our actions have a lot less blowback. What really grinds our gears though, is that China's retaliatory actions harms our trade and who just happens to pick up the slack for China? The US. We aren't lapdogs; we're supposed to be allies.

I don’t care who is in power in Australia as long as they stop selling their country out to China and start resisting it. The Quad Alliance was a good start, not enough though

We aren’t selling ourselves to China - I doubt that Morrison will keep his job in the next election though.

Morrison will win with an increased majority. I'm not the guy's biggest fan, but you can see that 'Middle Australia' love him.

We aren’t selling ourselves to China - I doubt that Morrison will keep his job in the next election though.

Australia is willingly letting the Chinese Communist government practice neo-colonialism and basically buy the country

Australia is a wealthy country, there is no desperate need for money in Australia, and hence there is no reason for them to sell out to China like they do right now

We're wealthy and survived the GFC thanks to our ties to China. The rise of Xi has complicated that issue.
Also please don't use the Daily Mail of all publications