Australian Elections Results
 

I though that I would start a thread for the Australian elections.

Not all polling booth have closed, but the early results are coming in. I predict and hope for a change of government.

This should be of some minor interests to the US, as we have been one of the US staunched allies for a long time.


Link to the tally room

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

You guys could install Hitler as your leader and America wouldn't hear anything about it from their media.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Agreed! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] It demonstrates the insularity of the US!

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

It looks like the liberal party and the Australian labor party are close. Since our media doesn’t care, and won’t cover it, what are some general differences between the two? Who are you hoping for Midge? As I often respect your side on things.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

I hope for a Labor victory.

More interestingly is that the current Prime Minister is in trouble in his own seat/electorate. Historically, only once has a Prime Minister lost his own seat Australian elections.

Looking at current results: they are coming from the Eastern states. Western Australia only closed its polling booth, 15 minutes ago (due to time differences).

A labor victory would show a degree of dissatisfaction with our current US relationship.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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I hope for a Labor victory.

More interestingly is that the current Prime Minister is in trouble in his own seat/electorate. Historically, only once has a Prime Minister lost his own seat Australian elections.

Looking at current results: they are coming from the Eastern states. Western Australia only closed its polling booth, 15 minutes ago (due to time differences).

A labor victory would show a degree of dissatisfaction with our current US relationship

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Thanks Midge, this is informative to me. I understand fully well from your posts that you don't hate the U.S. or U.S. people, only current U.S. policies. I concur for the most part with this sentiment. So I thank you for the good information. I'll be keenly looking forward to the results of your elections, and I will educate myself more fully on the implications.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Latest update the government has fallen, the opposition takes power (unofficial result endorsed by a few candidates of each party).

I am cracking a bottle of Champagne right now. The liar prime minister hasn't outlived his lies (and might still loose his seat although unlikely, but still a slap in the face swingers from his own constituency). I hope the US gives a similar result in its presidential elections. Good luck!

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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Latest update the government has fallen, the opposition takes power (unofficial result endorsed by a few candidates of each party).

I am cracking a bottle of Champagne right now. The liar prime minister hasn't outlived his lies (and might still loose his seat although unlikely, but still a slap in the face swingers from his own constituency). I hope the US gives a similar result in its presidential elections. Good luck!


[/ QUOTE ] Wish I had Champagne and folks to share it with. Right now I'm cracking a bottle of Jim Beam by myself. Interesting how so many elections have been anti-U.S. policy lately, except, strangly enough, France.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Cheers yukoncpa! The more we understand that election results anywhere in the world have some impact on our lives the better off we will be.

I am taking a drink of my champagne, and think of you, a citizen of the US, who has so much more influence on the world.

Cheers dude! Hope your life will get better and better! [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

PS Waiting for the PM to concede defeat on TV. I would say within 60-90 minutes! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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Cheers yukoncpa! The more we understand that election results anywhere in the world have some impact on our lives the better off we will be.

I am taking a drink of my champagne, and think of you, a citizen of the US, who has so much more influence on the world.

Cheers dude! Hope your life will get better and better!

PS Waiting for the PM to concede defeat on TV. I would say within 60-90 minutes!

[/ QUOTE ]

Cheers to you. And a very merry Christmas and happy new year. And to your wonderful election results. Cheers again, I toast you.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

What a terrible result. For those who don't know, the winners are the Labour Party, 70% of whose members are former trade union officials. They're basically communists who believe in increasingly socialized services, massive budget deficits and no respect for freedom of association. A labour victory basically means an end to economic conservatism and responsible economic reform which as kept Australia going strong for the last 11 years.

My small consolation is that my investment accounts are going to enjoy much higher returns as interest rates go through the roof, which basically means money flowing from dumbass redneck labor voters into my bank account. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Latest news: The Prime Minister has telephoned the opposition leader to concede defeat. Wea re now waiting for the public statement in the next hour!


Great! If it is anything like the last Labor government, you will have half a decade or more of enlightenment, of cultural awareness, advantages for the disadvantaged etc...

Can't wait for the experience, and hoping we don't have patent liars in power again for a long time!

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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My small consolation is that my investment accounts are going to enjoy much higher returns as interest rates go through the roof, which basically means money flowing from dumbass redneck labor voters into my bank account.


[/ QUOTE ] Cheers to you and good luck on your shrewd investing acumen.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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Great! If it is anything like the last Labor government, you will have half a decade or more of enlightenment, of cultural awareness, advantages for the disadvantaged etc...

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lol...enjoy your night.

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Can't wait for the experience, and hoping we don't have patent liars in power again for a long time!

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What lies? The only I can think of the GST many years ago, and everyone agrees that was good for the country, which is why the ALP isn't removing it.....

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Children overboard,
WMD in Iraq,
etc...


Have you got a memory problem? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

The Prime Minister has publicly conceded electoral defeat.

He is out! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Couldn't give a [censored] about the result, don't really care.
BUT, a mate of mine who really cares promised he'd eat his hat if Howard lost his seat

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Thanks for the updates Midge. I'm in Australia but don't watch TV so havn't been following it much.

I understand the labour party has a strong trade union presence so thats great news. Will there be fireworks in Melbourne tonight?

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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Couldn't give a [censored] about the result, don't really care.
BUT, a mate of mine who really cares promised he'd eat his hat if Howard lost his seat

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I am not amzed you don't care. You probably don't know how much the Australian support counted in the Korean. Vietnam war and now in Iraq. I really wish we treated the US the same way... they were not very supportive when we would have been helped by their support in Timor, an area that was of great significance to us. But as you indicated, the US is only to be counted for demands and not for support, at least in the last half a century.. How things change!

How arrogant your position!

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

lol, get off your high horse. Australia support in Iraq doesn't make a lick of difference to any strategic or military outcomes. We add less than 1% of their troop number and even less in terms of technology. It's purely symbolic.

Should he care about the Georgian or Polish elections as well? They sent more troops than we did.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Support from other countries in our wars matters for reasons other than troop support. So it is relevant... although anti-us sentiment in almost any part of the world certainly doesn't seem like news anymore.

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lol, get off your high horse. Australia support in Iraq doesn't make a lick of difference to any strategic or military outcomes. We add less than 1% of their troop number and even less in terms of technology. It's purely symbolic.

Should he care about the Georgian or Polish elections as well? They sent more troops than we did.

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It mattered a lot when they were trying to put the coalition of the willing together!

Re: Polish election, yes... more important than the Georgian ones!


What are you trying to say?

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

I'll be sure to post when Madison, WI has a next election for mayor. It will probably have more relevance on the world scale than this.

Also
[X] Smileyface
[X] LOL
[X] America Sucks

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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I'll be sure to post when Madison, WI has a next election for mayor. It will probably have more relevance on the world scale than this.

Also
[X] Smileyface
[X] LOL
[X] America Sucks

[/ QUOTE ]


Yep, it shows the usual and despised understanding of world affairs showed by a vocal minority of US citizens that simply show a lack of education and culture. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Thankfully, they are only a minority, or so I believe!

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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What a terrible result. For those who don't know, the winners are the Labour Party, 70% of whose members are former trade union officials. They're basically communists who believe in increasingly socialized services, massive budget deficits and no respect for freedom of association. A labour victory basically means an end to economic conservatism and responsible economic reform which as kept Australia going strong for the last 11 years.

My small consolation is that my investment accounts are going to enjoy much higher returns as interest rates go through the roof, which basically means money flowing from dumbass redneck labor voters into my bank account. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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agree with you except I'm not convinced the ALP will be that bad for the economy. I'm glad ALP is in

What, you want us to become America basically? :/

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
What a terrible result. For those who don't know, the winners are the Labour Party, 70% of whose members are former trade union officials. They're basically communists who believe in increasingly socialized services, massive budget deficits and no respect for freedom of association. A labour victory basically means an end to economic conservatism and responsible economic reform which as kept Australia going strong for the last 11 years.

My small consolation is that my investment accounts are going to enjoy much higher returns as interest rates go through the roof, which basically means money flowing from dumbass redneck labor voters into my bank account. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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agree with you except I'm not convinced the ALP will be that bad for the economy. I'm glad ALP is in

What, you want us to become America basically? :/

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It's probably worth ignoring people who cry 'communists' or 'Marxists' or any other dirty word at anything but their own flawed ideology.

There the same sort of people who call centre-right liberals the extreme left and the Soviet Union an example of true socialism. Both incorrect claims that I'm sure 90% of people here fail to apprehend.

In terms of the implications of a Labour government over Liberal; they are slim. It's not hard to recognise that private power has a monopoly over all government and the democratic process to obstruct any real social change. However, I believe the gap between the two leading parties in Australia to be much greater than those in America where the differences are futile and polyarchy overrides meaningful democracy.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

[ QUOTE ]
What a terrible result. For those who don't know, the winners are the Labour Party, 70% of whose members are former trade union officials. They're basically communists who believe in increasingly socialized services, massive budget deficits and no respect for freedom of association. A labour victory basically means an end to economic conservatism and responsible economic reform which as kept Australia going strong for the last 11 years.

My small consolation is that my investment accounts are going to enjoy much higher returns as interest rates go through the roof, which basically means money flowing from dumbass redneck labor voters into my bank account. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

The Aussie Dollar is strong enough as it is...

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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I'll be sure to post when Madison, WI has a next election for mayor. It will probably have more relevance on the world scale than this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are you insane, ingorant or stupid?

[ ] ?

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'll be sure to post when Madison, WI has a next election for mayor. It will probably have more relevance on the world scale than this.

Also
[X] Smileyface
[X] LOL
[X] America Sucks

[/ QUOTE ]

Ehh...in this thread, MidGe has been decidedly not-trollish.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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I am not amzed you don't care. You probably don't know how much the Australian support counted in the Korean. Vietnam war and now in Iraq. I really wish we treated the US the same way... they were not very supportive when we would have been helped by their support in Timor, an area that was of great significance to us. But as you indicated, the US is only to be counted for demands and not for support, at least in the last half a century.. How things change!

How arrogant your position!

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Err I'm actually Australian, and you're extremely overrating the significance of our forces overseas.
I'm not saying I don't completely care about how the country is run, I'm merely suggesting that my life won't really change much at all

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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It's probably worth ignoring people who cry 'communists' or 'Marxists' or any other dirty word at anything but their own flawed ideology.

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Are you aware of the history of the Labour Party? Of the trade union ideology?

Until the liberal government put a stop to it, trade unions blackmailed employers and universities into forcing their employees to join and pay them money against their will. Furthermore, they regularly used intimidation tactics, some illegal, on people and businesses who disagreed with their strikes or policies. They also outlawed private bargaining in the workplace, destroying productivity and meritocracy. These people are pigs who have no concern for freedom of association and choice.

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In terms of the implications of a Labour government over Liberal; they are slim.

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History disagrees with you. Their stated policies have some significant differences, and that's under the promise that Labour has "cleaned up their act" and become "economic conservatives", something I don't think is possible given their promises of ponies, and massive trade union representation, a high proportion of which are communist leaning.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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Agreed! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] It demonstrates the insignificance of the austrailian election!

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Re: Australian Elections Results
 

Are you aware of the trade union history/ideology in your own country? (I think your from USA?). Trade union does NOT = commie ratbags. There are, for example in New Jersey, plentry of right-wing trade union organisations that seek to improve worker conditions and organise the work-force free of communist ideology.

But your right of course: the masters / owners and government are paticularly adequate at ensuring the well being, liberty and freedom of workers. God forbid worker organisations act according to circumstances and have direct influence within government. We can't have a whiff of direct democracy can we? No, that would be dirty communism... Economic freedom and the preservation of private power is the libertarianism we must follow and have been propogated to do so.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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There are, for example in New Jersey, plentry of right-wing trade union organisations that seek to improve worker conditions and organise the work-force free of communist ideology.


[/ QUOTE ]

How?

Phil153,

Just topically reading some new stories, it says your new government was elected on a platform of addressing climate change. What exactly made Howard so unpopular in just a year and how is Rudd going to solve this "issue". Why is climate change even a big issue - nothing else to worry about?

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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Furthermore, they regularly used intimidation tactics, some illegal, on people and businesses who disagreed with their strikes or policies.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not confining trade union activity to Australia; there have been instances of the forementioned that I wholeheartedly support. See The Chartists, wiki or even the UK miners strike against Thatcher.

Certainly, it would be treacherous and downright stupid to condemn all instancs of illegal uses of force by workers against private power and government, certainly if we are to consider the full history of trade unionism.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

I'm Australian, from Noosa. Sorry for the confusion.

I'm not that well versed on US trade unions, but Australian trade unions are particularly bad. Forcing the majority of the population to join a union and pay them their hard earned money is unforgivable, especially when they harm productivity, social freedom and the reward of individual merit in the process. The proof that people don't want anything to do with unions lies in the fact that membership has dropped to just 16% since the Liberal government gave people back their basic human rights. Yet the very people populating the Labour Party right now (70%) were the leaders in forcing their will on the Australian population through blackmail and intimidation.

Do you believe in freedom of association or not?

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Certainly, it would be treacherous and downright stupid to condemn all instancs of illegal uses of force by workers against private power and government, certainly if we are to consider the full history of trade unionism.

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Of course not. I'm all for people voluntarily joining unions and striking if they so choose. You're missing the point. It's the tactics used on individual workers that are the problem, both directly against those choosing private bargaining and their own conditions and indirectly by forcing companies, industries and universities to expel or sack people who refuse to join a union. Forcing your communist ideology onto individuals who want nothing to do with unions (most of the Australian population) is unforgivable. These are the pigs who are now in power.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

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Do you believe in freedom of association or not?

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In the right-wing Libertarianism sense, NO, I strongly oppose it. I support the liberty and freedom of all individuals and oppose anything which corrupts, exploits and demoralises human development which a free reign over workers would guarentee. The irony is that under freedom of association in the right-wing libertarian sense the freedom, or at least ability, to associate would be demolished by conscious efforts from the newfound ever-powerful unobligated private power.

But do I support the freedom to associate in regards to how everyone should regard the term; yes. I'm a libertarian, just not one that subscribes to the right-wing free-market version which negates equality and liberty that is unique to the US. Is that a popular position to take on this forum, no? Do I care? nope!

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

[ QUOTE ]
Phil153,

Just topically reading some new stories, it says your new government was elected on a platform of addressing climate change. What exactly made Howard so unpopular in just a year and how is Rudd going to solve this "issue". Why is climate change even a big issue - nothing else to worry about?

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't think it was a huge issue, although it obviously appeals to a subset of voters.

The main issue was a fear campaign about the relaxing of industrial relations laws, allowing employers to more easily sack workers (we have significant worker protections here) and allowing workers greater freedom in making workplace agreements. The Australian economy has been doing very well for a decade and many people have forgotten what recession, unemployment, high interest rates and higher taxes feel like. They simply want more for themselves and Rudd promised it - the communist ideology where everyone has great medical care, the best education system in the world paid for with public money, and so on. We can't afford these things of course, not while keeping economic conservatism, which was also promised (lol). Rightly or wrongly that's what they want and that's what they voted for, although they'll wake up to a nasty reality in a year or two.

There is also a great hatred for John Howard, especially among young people. They see him as a meddling old grandpa, and his competitor was a younger, hipper kind of guy.

I think that covers it.

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

btw for the Americans reading this thread, haven't seen this mentioned so far:

Labour (the party that just won) are more like American Democrats,

Liberal are more like American Republicans

Re: Australian Elections Results
 

[ QUOTE ]
What a terrible result. For those who don't know, the winners are the Labour Party, 70% of whose members are former trade union officials. They're basically communists who believe in increasingly socialized services, massive budget deficits and no respect for freedom of association. A labour victory basically means an end to economic conservatism and responsible economic reform which as kept Australia going strong for the last 11 years.

[/ QUOTE ]

What planet is this from? While things turned bad towards the end of Keating's tenure, the Hawke government was a candidate for best government we have ever had in economic terms. A refresher:

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Among other things, the Hawke Government floated the Australian dollar, deregulated the financial system, dismantled the tariff system, privatised state sector industries, ended subsidisation of loss-making industries, and sold off the state-owned Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

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Doesn't sound much like rampaging communists to me. And who was treasurer in the government which preceded them? Oh right, it was Howard. How did he do?

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During Howard's tenure as treasurer, inflation had peaked at 12.5% in September 1982, and interest rates peaked at 22% on 8 April 1982.

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And the top marginal tax rate was 70% - which was promptly slashed by Hawke/Keating. And what reforms have we had in the modern Howard government? There was the GST, a bit of dabbling in privatisation, and AWAs and WorkChoices. Labor is not proposing to repeal any of this except WorkChoices, which is pretty weak sauce anyway. Meanwhile, the size of government has been relentlessly expanding. According to the OECD:

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Over the past 10 years of John Howard's Government, the personal income tax burden in Australia had risen from 11.7 per cent to 12.6per cent of GDP.

This has reversed gains made during the previous Labor government, during which there was a lowering of the personal tax burden between 1985 and 1995.

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A rough calculation by LDP candidate Terje Petersen indicates that:

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With the latest budget figures now out I did a quick back of the envelope calculation to find that our Federal government services now costs us 34% more than it did a decade ago. That’s after adjusting for population and inflation and omitting the GST cost component.

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Labor ran this election on a platform of spending less than the Coalition and cutting down on government bureaucracy with their vaunted "razor gang". Now might be a good time for you to check up on whether Liberal rhetoric matches up with the facts.