I know that politics is a no-no, but check out the Australian election count!

[LMD]

So Australia had it's federal election yesterday, counting is still ongoing and it is neck and neck between the two major parties - neither of which have enough seats to form government yet! We are looking at deals with minor parties needing to be done (again), or a hung parliament and back to the voting booths!

 

If anyone is studying the Westminster parliamentary system and/or modern Australia, you may be interested!

 

(Note - I haven't commented at all on the political positions of any party and am not interested in a cat fight <3)

 

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/federal-election-2016/

 

http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDefault-20499.htm

[Guest]

Sounds like a great time to start that World Politics for Americans Trying to Figure this Out 101 we talked about on the Brexit thread! :)

 

Y'all have soooo many parties. We have two. I would be ecstatic with three. To have as many as y'all would simply be amazing. I think!

Edited July 3, 2016 by texasmom33

[Rosie_0801]

Hung parliaments are the best fun ever.

 

(For political geek families like mine. :D )

[nd293]

Y'all have soooo many parties. We have two. I would be ecstatic with three. To have as many as y'all would simply be amazing. I think!

It gets silly though... The senate ballot paper was at least twice as wide as the voting booth. And there are tons of single (or at least limited) issue parties. The Australian Cyclists Party for example. There might be room for a balance between 2 parties and a proliferation of minor parties... And I realise it's illogical but I really don't like needing to number candidates in order of preference - perfectly happy to number the ones I could live with in order of preference but my fingers don't want to put a mark anywhere near some of them! What do I know, though, only my second election as an Australian.

[umsami]

There's an Australian Politics thread in the WTM Politics group, if you're interested. :)

[Rosie_0801]

It gets silly though... The senate ballot paper was at least twice as wide as the voting booth. And there are tons of single (or at least limited) issue parties. The Australian Cyclists Party for example. There might be room for a balance between 2 parties and a proliferation of minor parties... And I realise it's illogical but I really don't like needing to number candidates in order of preference - perfectly happy to number the ones I could live with in order of preference but my fingers don't want to put a mark anywhere near some of them! What do I know, though, only my second election as an Australian.

 

On the Senate paper, you don't have to.

 

 

What I don't get is when you have half a dozen parties all about the same thing. What is it that the racist parties disagree on so vehemently that they'd rather be separate than band together? (Not that I mind, really. I'd rather the racist vote was diluted.)

[Rosie_0801]

I wonder who had the most candidates standing for the House of Reps. We had 11.

[Mabelen]

Oh, you guys are all amateurs. In Spain they have been trying to form a government since the December elections. All possible pacts failed, so there were new elections last week, and back to the drawing board.

[LMD]

Oh, you guys are all amateurs. In Spain they have been trying to form a government since the December elections. All possible pacts failed, so there were new elections last week, and back to the drawing board.

Yikes!!

[LMD]

We only had 5 on our green form, I think, we're a super safe seat so barely any campaigning...

[LMD]

Some of the parties are a joke/rort. They get funding for every vote. We do end up with some interesting wild cards in the debate though!

[Melissa in Australia]

I think it ridiculous that voting is compulsory. Then you get heaps of people putting random numbers next to nonsense( yes ds20 I am talking about you) and we get stuck with silliness.

[kiwik]

I think it ridiculous that voting is compulsory. Then you get heaps of people putting random numbers next to nonsense( yes ds20 I am talking about you) and we get stuck with silliness.

Do they do anything if you don't vote. In NZ you have to enrol to vote (though lots don't) but as far as I know you don't have to vote. Or if you do no-one seems that much except me.

[nd293]

I wonder who had the most candidates standing for the House of Reps. We had 11.

We had 7.

 

My understanding we had to number them all for the House of Reps, but at least 6 on the Senate paper, although I've since read the latter was a recommendation and a ballot is still valid if you number less that 6.

 

I like the atmosphere at the polling stations and the sausage sizzle option is fun. It was quick also. I voted in the first post-apartheid election in South Africa - the queues!

[nd293]

I think it ridiculous that voting is compulsory.

I like it. I think the least we can do for the privilege of living in a democracy is pitch up every couple of years when called. Of course, voting itself can't be compulsory. If you take the paper, fold it up and shove it in the box, you've said your piece.

 

Labour seemed to be making a big play for the seat in our area. I saw the candidate 3 times, and she doesn't live anywhere near us. I saw her two mornings at the same intersection - now that was smart politicking - she promised two flyovers on a particular road then campaigned on that road knowing we'd all be stuck at the intersection for ages with nothing to do but read her signs :-)

[Ausmumof3]

Do they do anything if you don't vote. In NZ you have to enrol to vote (though lots don't) but as far as I know you don't have to vote. Or if you do no-one seems that much except me.

Yep you get a fine though it's not that huge is enough of a deterrent I guess.

[Melissa in Australia]

I think the fine is around $70

 

You can also get out of voting by writing a bible verse out on the fine paper. They then think you are a religious nut and leave you alone. I did that for close to 20 years.