2019 Federal Election Discussion

[admin]

It's that time of the political cycle and while AFF is essentially a travel forum, history tells me that there will be some discussion on this topic. I have therefore decided to create this thread for election (and related political) discussion. Posts in other threads on this topic will be moved here.

Please see my Political Threads in the Playground thread for a reminder of our policy regarding political posts. To ensure community harmony we will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to posts that breach these guidelines.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

 

[love_the_life]

Not sure if this is better in the humour thread. Wall Street Journal headline:
Australia to Pick Its Next Leader—With an Election

 

[JessicaTam]

For those going o/s, pre-vote polling booths open on 28 April.

Cool. I am heading OS on the 5th May and was thinking I would miss voting.

 

[get me outta here]

I corrected that in another post it should read voting starts on the 29th for pre-poll

Cool. I am heading OS on the 5th May and was thinking I would miss voting.

 

[clipped_wings]

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?

 

[cove]

I don’t need robo calls nor junk mail in the letterbox.
Whether to put UAP or Greens last is probably an IQ test.
I hope the liquidator of the nickel refinery gets somewhere to recover funds reported as “missing”.

 

[drron]

Like JT we will be heading off OS but on May 6th.

 

[I love to travel]

I think those texts should be illegal

 

[cove]

I cannot see why Labor has such a person as the leader of their party. He is just unpopular.
Trying to sell us a $300 billion raft of tax increases over the next decade would need someone sharper than him to explain them.
All that happened last week was he stumbled on his 2016 policies......3 years on he still cannot explain them so suddenly those policies were deleted from their website.
Our Australian economy does not need tax hikes when many businesses are struggling to meet payrolls each month.
60% of the population pay any net income tax and the rest pay nothing.

 

[cove]

Vote Billy 1 if you want higher taxes to put on your credit card kpc.
He needs to get into your pockets with higher tax rates based on what I can see and hear.

 

[albyd]

Got a feeling Billy's hand will be reaching every deeper into our pockets but helping CC issuers to let us keep earning points as an incentive to pay isn't on his agenda. Makes absolute sense though - distracting us with CC points while the real money is siphoned out the other pocket.

 

[Cossie]

Well the first fully addressed bit of unsolicited mail has arrived from my so called local senator, straight into the recycling bin without being opened, wish I was away for the next 6 weeks!

The robo calls are easy, the answering machine kicks in and the call gets ended.

I should add that stuff like this gets shredded. Thanks for the reminder Hvr.

 

[Pushka]

Well the first fully addressed bit of unsolicited mail has arrived from my so called local senator, straight into the recycling bin without being opened, wish I was away for the next 6 weeks!

The robo calls are easy, the answering machine kicks in and the call gets ended.

I am so relieved to be packing for our trip and will be away for the last week as there’s obviously nothing I can do to influence the outcome and I’m not looking forward to all the ‘unintended consequences’ that will most likely occur let alone the actual consequences.

 

[Hvr]

Postal voting invitations from all political parties.
Remember, if you want to submit a postal vote go to the AEC site:
Apply for a postal vote

Do not return the letters from the political parties, they will collect your details and then forward the application to the AEC.

Finally, shred the letter, it has your personal data on it and would be of use to identity thieves.

 

[woodborer]

I think those texts should be illegal

I think there are some constitutional issues in making them illegal:

Clause 44 provides that this Bill does not apply to the extent (if any) that it would infringe any constitutional doctrine of implied freedom of political communication.

 

[Pushka]

Postal voting invitations from all political parties.
Remember, if you want to submit a postal vote go to the AEC site:
Apply for a postal vote

Do not return the letters from the political parties, they will collect your details and then forward the application to the AEC.

Finally, shred the letter, it has your personal data on it and would be of use to identity thieves.

Ours came from the local member but the prepaid envelope was addressed to AEC.

 

[Katie]

I'll be glad to miss out on about 10 days of the election while I'm in the US, but will be back for the final week.

I've received an unsolicited email from a senator about their party.

I will look forward to my usual senate voting process, where I persist and number every darn box, as there's usually someone I want to give my last number to.

 

[Moody]

I will look forward to my usual senate voting process, where I persist and number every darn box, as there's usually someone I want to give my last number to.

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?

 

[JohnK]

Looks like I have to turn up to this election as I'm not overseas.

Returning a blank ballot paper as usual. If more did this the politicians might try harder to be honest.

 

[Moody]

Looks like I have to turn up to this election as I'm not overseas.

Returning a blank ballot paper as usual. If more did this the politicians might try harder to be honest.

I'm not sure that an informal vote achieves anything. Wouldn't it be better to vote for the best and most honest candidate, regardless of which party they belong to?