Australian 2013 Federal Election Megathread

[slothpomba]

anyway, my name is Nina and I am a hippy, apparently http://australia.isidewith.com/results/284802670

1% Liberal? You disgust me you far right loonie.

Party preferences aside, who do you guys think will actually win the election?

As we get closer to the election, polls will obviously be more predictive of the outcome. It was a bit hard to call maybe a few months ago but considering now we're decently close to the home stretch (although more policies are yet to be released and plenty of times for potential shitstorms) it does look like the liberals *may* steal it.

Here is what everyone is forgetting though, particularly those on the right/centre/unaffiliated but even the Labor/Left apparatchiks like myself - We didn't (mostly reluctantly) support moving Gillard aside because we expected to win the election. We did it because we wanted to "save the furniture" even if we lost the house. Remember, polls and pundits were predicting total electoral wipeout, Queensland style. The winds of change blew Labor on the losing side long ago, we moved to Rudd with the hope we wouldn't get the absolute snot beaten out of us. I think that hope has been fulfilled.

I'm not going to lie, it would be nice to win and i very much want to happen but we cant forget our goal of avoiding wipeout. That is all the more terrifying and i think we've mostly averted it; Mission accomplished really.

There are always going to be crazy factions inside a party. Both the ALP (certain parts of the Socialist Left) and the LNP (the economic right faction which is simply at Republican levels, as well as the Christian one) have those as well.

Definitely underrated when analysing these things. Even down on a person level, in the greens (like all parties) there are differences. You have some of the more environmental types (SHY (sarah hanson young) and people who are close to what people might call socialists within the greens. Worth remembering (i know polo knows this but just in general) that there left/right is a very loose grouping and there are a lot of people on the left (like myself) who might not accept the stereotypical view of the Israel/Palestine issue (or any issue).

[slothpomba]

Courtesy of pi

[Professor Polonsky]

I just did my Senate prefs... Only problem is that I can't vote

[pi]

I just did my Senate prefs... Only problem is that I can't vote

Too keen.

[jeanweasley]

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but how does one choose who to vote for? There are heaps of parties out there!

[Professor Polonsky]

To be honest, all that really matters is the order in which you preference ALP/Lib in the House, and then those as well as a handful (at most, probably closer to three) of the bigger third parties in the Senate.

And yes, there are a fair few parties - if you don't know what one stands for, though, you can always google them to find their website.

[ShortBlackChick]

[simpak]

Ugh I actually hate Get Up so much.  I actually fail to see how their About page and her speech at the end being like "Tony Abbot is closer to being the PM than ever [this is unacceptable]" marry up.  It would have been fine to just stop at the end of the quotes.  I really hope young Australians look further than Get Up campaigns before they go to the polls - some of the things they put forth have value and are factual but other aspects of what they do are far too biased.  And I'm not really even talking about this video.

[slothpomba]

I don't want to sound like an idiot, but how does one choose who to vote for? There are heaps of parties out there!

Try the various quizzes out there - ABC Votecompass & the ISideWith quiz.

The ABC's analysis of policy is pretty decent to start with too.

Truth be told though most people usually stake out their position on the left or right fairly early and most people vote along that line for the rest of their life. The parties might bounce a bit (i.e. green vs labors) but they don't usually switch totally to the other side of politics.

Ugh I actually hate Get Up so much.  I actually fail to see how their About page and her speech at the end being like "Tony Abbot is closer to being the PM than ever [this is unacceptable]" marry up.  It would have been fine to just stop at the end of the quotes.  I really hope young Australians look further than Get Up campaigns before they go to the polls - some of the things they put forth have value and are factual but other aspects of what they do are far too biased.  And I'm not really even talking about this video.

Yeah i got some beef with getup too. I support a few of their campaigns but there are many i don't support that they run anyway. I'm very lukewarm on them. There seems to be little way to direct what they do either.

[pi]

Good on the Libs for this imo https://ama.com.au/media/coalition-has-been-listening-health-policy

[brenden]

Anyone else watch the debate? Looked like KRudd took it pretty convincingly to me (ALP voter).

[alondouek]

Anyone else watch the debate? Looked like KRudd took it pretty convincingly to me (ALP voter).

Hmm, seemed just as even as the last debate - no clear winner. Particularly enjoyed Abbott telling Rudd to shut up lol

[Lolly]

Is anyone watching the Drum at the moment?

[Russ]

I would like to think this might make either of the major parties reconsider their absurd policies but hey, only wealthy, white people have rights.

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/australia-violated-refugees-human-rights-un-says-20130822-2sdxq.html

[Professor Polonsky]

If there is a genuine national security concern, the HRC can go stuff itself quite frankly.

If there isn't, then they should be treated in a similar manner to other unauthorised arrivees.