2019 Federal Election Discussion

[get me outta here]

I’m pre polling on Monday before off o/s. Then, I will not need to read any more of this thread.

 

[Renato1]

War is incredibly divisive and wasteful of our people. We get involved in way too many armed conflicts that are none of our business. Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. And for reasons that are not related to Australia's national security.

Involvement in the Iraqi conflict was based on lies spread by Howard and the Liberal party relating to WMD which weren't there.

Look at an atlas or globe of the world, and see where Australia is located.

Then Google the size of Australia's armed forces, and the sizes of major players within our region.

All those wars you mention are entirely related to Australia's national security - they're the price we have to pay to be under the US military umbrella. Which is a lot cheaper than spending 10% or more of our GDP to build up a formidable defence.

Vietnam - USA and Australia fighting a tyrannical Communist insurgency involving local insurgents and North Vietnamese regular army. After their eventual victory, millions of refugees escape the country, and millions more who stayed behind sent off to re-education camps - including the contaminated local insurgents. Not sure what was supposedly shameful about helping people not wanting to come under the Communist yoke.

Afghanistan - USA and allies attacked a country harbouring terrorist training camps which attacked World Trade Centre and Pentagon in USA, and the Australian Embassy in Indonesia.

Iraq - USA and allies attacked Iraq in 1991 Gulf War, and imposed cease-fire conditions on Iraq, including the right to send weapon inspectors into Iraq. Saddam claimed he'd won the war and started harrassing the weapon inspectors, including putting guns to their faces, and playing a game of bluff - as if he was deliberately hiding WMDs. When Iraq failed to comply with the cease-fire conditions, the USA was quite entitled to start shooting again. Bill Clinton launched cruise missle attacks, and George W Bush later launched a full scale invasion. Should George W Bush and John Howard have said "I think he's bluffing - let's do nothing"?
They would have looked pretty dopey, had it turned out he wasn't bluffing.
Regards,
Renato

 

[get me outta here]

Yeah, that’s what the PM said, ‘I have no idea what’s happening with these prefernce deals’. Plausible (really?) deniability,is a wonderous thing. I wonder what better offer the Libs made to clinch the deal with C Palmer.

Reports the ALP were using the CFMEU in an attempt to stitch up a preference deal with Palmer last week ... I suppose that's why they call it politics.

 

[Pushka]

I almost always find one - you're obviously on the wrong side of Greenhill Rd

I did go vote “on the other side” of GHR last time in a church on Portrush but nada.

 

[amaroo]

I’m pre polling on Monday before off o/s. Then, I will not need to read any more of this thread.

We also head off o/s before the date, but will be back for election night. I love it, no matter who wins, it's great channel surfing and watching all the fun. AG is still the one to watch - we always host a party.... fun night as I don't get all bitter and twisted over who wins. Secret of life stuff!

 

[get me outta here]

Who’s AG?

 

[amaroo]

Antony Green - ABC News

www.abc.net.au

 

[get me outta here]

Oh right, yes agree I will be sad to miss AG. I’m happy to miss the lead up but will be sad to miss the actual night.

 

[CaptJCool]

Who’s AG?

Antony Green

Just on 2 issues that have been mentioned previously

first was the Medi scare campaign. The situation was the back room administration had been slated for sale a bit like what happened to the land titles offices around Australia but it doesn’t mean that the actual Medicare rebate system was going to be privatised just who sends the payments

second point was about the Iraq war John Bolton he’s one of the hawks now advising Trump, well he had strongly encouraged Bill Clinton to attack back before George Bush. Wasn’t successful in doing so but after the 911attacks well the rest is history

 

[Pushka]

As soon as Green calls it it’s over.

 

[Melburnian1]

Voting for the 2019 Federal election opens (if one wishes to do it in person) on Monday 29 April at 0830 hours at early voting centres dotted around Australia.

Contrary to the heading, one should only vote once.

A good option to avoid the hassle of queuing is to obtain a postal vote.

However some travelling overseas very soon (and who haven't arranged a postal vote) may wish to visit an early voting centre (EVC).

The Australian Electoral Commission doesn't appear to have uploaded a searchable map.

However by inputting a place name or postcode, one can find EVCs closest to these.

Strangely as far as I can see, there is no early voting centre at Sydney or Melbourne airports. I don't know whether this is because of lack of space (given prospective large numbers of voters) or the airports in their usual way proving difficult. That they hold 99 year or whatever leases granted to them by a previous Federal government doesn't seem to make much difference - ask any retailer.

This contrasts with the Victorian State election in November 2018 when there was an EVC at MEL.

For the Federal election, there is one at the ground floor of Sydney Central (Terminal) railway station, in what was when it was trading the rather dismal road coach terminal. It's near the escalators on that northwest station end (corner of Eddy Avenue). This could be very handy for the many who travel by train to SYD.

The closest one I could find to MEL was in Gladstone Park, which for anyone such as serfty who uses the 901 PTV bus route from Broadmeadows railway station is on the bus route.

Helpfully these EVCs are open on one Saturday prior to 18 May, the official election date.

These opening times below are typical, at least for metropolitan EVCs, as advised through www.aec.gov.au :

Central Railway Station Eddy Ave Ground Floor Former Coach Terminal

• Assisted wheelchair access
• Opening times
  • Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May (8:30 –17:30)
  • Monday 6 May – Thursday 9 May (8:30 –17:30)
  • Friday 10 May (8:30 –18:00)
  • Saturday 11 May (9:00 –16:00)
  • Monday 13 May – Tuesday 14 May (8:30 –17:30)
  • Wednesday 15 May (8:30 –18:00)
  • Thursday 16 May (8:30 –17:30)
  • Friday 17 May (8:30 –18:00)

One can also vote overseas at Australian Embassies and High Commissions. The exception is Colombo, Sri Lanka where one will not operate due to the recent Muslim terrorist attacks on Catholic Churches, a Christian Church and hotels:

Overseas voting centres

The couple of overseas voting centres I checked do not commence operation until 6 May 2019, later than the ones in Oz. I assume this is standard for each one.

The AEC website is a bit clunky, so I've endeavoured to show links above. Perhaps QF or VA lent the AEC some schoolchildren on work experience.

 

[Quickstatus]

A good option to avoid the hassle of queuing is to obtain a postal vote

Or just vote early

 

[odysseus]

A good option to avoid the hassle of queuing is to obtain a postal vote.

Only for a valid reason such as if you are unable to vote on the day at a polling centre.

 

[Denali]

I just applied for postal vote for mum in law, husband and myself. Super easy.

 

[N860CR]

There are many valid reasons... and one is applicable to basically everyone. It’s not hard to apply for a postal vote.

 

[Himeno]

Only for a valid reason such as if you are unable to vote on the day at a polling centre.

I have not voted on election day for local or federal elections since oh... 2004?
I think I'm only ever voted on election day twice.
I voted at the Paris embassy in 07 and at a local EVC for every other election. I have never been asked for a "valid reason".

 

[odysseus]

There are many valid reasons... and one is applicable to basically everyone. It’s not hard to apply for a postal vote.

Far from applicable to everyone. These are the valid reasons:

You can vote early either in person or by post if on election day you:

• are outside the electorate where you are enrolled to vote
• are more than 8km from a polling place
• are travelling
• are unable to leave your workplace to vote
• are seriously ill, infirm or due to give birth shortly (or caring for someone who is)
• are a patient in hospital and can't vote at the hospital
• have religious beliefs that prevent you from attending a polling place
• are in prison serving a sentence of less than three years or otherwise detained
• are a silent elector
• have a reasonable fear for your safety.

It's an option that is available because sometimes people aren't able to be at a polling place. Not an alternative option for any reason at all.

As for your last point, for the sake of democracy, would you prefer they put many hurdles up to make it hard to vote? Then people would complain how difficult it is.

 

[Quickstatus]

I just vote early no need for even postal

 

[cove]

Am not sure how many folks are going to attempt numbering 67 spots on our Senate voting slip. We do it to make sure the ones we want out are down the very bottom but that is just us I think.

 

[cove]

Yes we will vote early too as we will be in the US when it is Election Day.
We are lucky in Australia that we get to choose.