The Australian Election

[spiny norman 0]

The Australian election has been called, and looks to be incredibly close. Our current leader, John Howard and his Liberal Government, appear to have told one lie too many and the population are said to be feeling sick of his deceit, and also the poor conditions of our public health and education. On the other hand, many fear a change of government at this time of crazy foreign times, and believe that the 43-year-old, 9 months as opposition leader Mark Latham and his Labor Opposition are not a viable option to be voted for. If Howard does win, he will surpass Bob Hawke to become the second longset-serving PM ever, and will probably retire and pass the leadership onto Costello after a year. Latham would be the 3rd youngest PM ever.

 

With the election drawing nigh, who will you vote for? Alas, I am four months too young, and hence my vote that would go to Labor in this case is not cast. But who will you pick? Labor? Liberal? Maybe even the Greens, after releasing their policies today involving decriminalising certain illegal drugs, which seems to polarise the population?

 

If this could be pinned and/or constantly updated by all relevant people with any breaking news or whether their opinions have swung, I would be grateful.

 

Has this been the slightest bits news making elsewhere? I am curious as to whether Australia is even a blip in the news overseas. And I certainly hope there are enough Australians on this board for this thread to work effectively.

[Highland 0]

It might get a passing mention over here, to be perfect honest with you.

And the Aussie Liberals sound eerily similar to the Canadian Liberals: I just hope your voters don't vote like ours did this election, though minority goverments are usually a good thing.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Our current leader, John Howard and his Liberal Government, appear to have told one lie too many and the population are said to be feeling sick of his deceit, and also the poor conditions of our public health and education.

Such objectivity.

 

Ever think of working in the journalism field?...

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

It might get a passing mention over here, to be perfect honest with you.

And the Aussie Liberals sound eerily similar to the Canadian Liberals: I just hope your voters don't vote like ours did this election, though minority goverments are usually a good thing.

At least we will get another chance in a year or so. The Liberals are already fighting among themselves and parliament hasn't even been called yet, so there is no way Martin can hold the balance of power.

[Highland 0]

You've brightened my day, Kahran Ramsus.

[tommytomlin 0]

The Australian Liberal party is 'Liberal' in the original sense of the word (or at least they're meant to be), not the bastardized American version. They're the equivalent of the Tories or Republicans.

 

I'm definitely voting for Latham and Labor. The only advantage the Liberals have is the economy, and any decently smart economist will tell you that it was the Labor Party's reforms during Hawke/Keating which set the platform for Howard and Costello to manage the economy so well. And even then, our Current Account Deficit and Foreign Debt has skyrocketed, and even a modest raise in interest rates is going to do more damage than the 17% rates under Labor (which are completely exaggerated).

 

So yeah, Labor has a more responsible policy on defense, health and education, so unless Mark Latham takes off his mask to reveal Triple H, he's got my vote. Of course, I live in a safe Liberal seat (by 20%!), so my vote is about as useful as tits on a bull.

 

The election will be kind of interesting for the Americans though - Howard has been the third member of the Coalition of the Willing, while Latham has promised to withdraw Aussie troops from Iraq (all 300 of them) by Christmas. He also called Howard and the Liberal Party a 'congo line of suckholes' to the Americans, and called President Bush 'dangerous and incompetent'. That will be an interesting meeting if Latham becomes PM and Bush is re-elected.

 

'George, remember when I called you dangerous and incompetent?'

 

'Yes.'

 

'I didn't really mean it.'

 

'Why thank you, that means a lo-'

 

'HAHA PSYCH!@'

[spiny norman 0]

This is mainly to bump this thread, but I can not believe that Ruddock has cited the situation at the Russian School as proof that Latham is not a good choice as leader come this election. A totally inappropriate thing to say. I think that goes to show just how bloody low this government will go to try and manipulate the voter.

[Guest TheAustralian]

Our current leader, John Howard and his Liberal Government, appear to have told one lie too many and the population are said to be feeling sick of his deceit, and also the poor conditions of our public health and education.

 

bwahahahhahahhahaha

 

Please Dont try to be objective, your clearly not.

 

For examply last Week the childeren overboard was the big issue, ofcourse this week during the Senate inquiry we found out the Defense specialist had "an indepth discussion" about "3 issues" in a total of 51 seconds.

 

So yeah, Labor has a more responsible policy on defense

 

Like sit on our arse and do nothing.

 

 

This is mainly to bump this thread, but I can not believe that Ruddock has cited the situation at the Russian School as proof that Latham is not a good choice as leader come this election. A totally inappropriate thing to say. I think that goes to show just how bloody low this government will go to try and manipulate the voter.

 

Totally fine in my book.

 

This government has existed at one of the worst times in history and apart from Bali we have been relatively safe.

 

With the election drawing nigh, who will you vote for? Alas, I am four months too young, and hence my vote that would go to Labor in this case is not cast. But who will you pick? Labor? Liberal? Maybe even the Greens, after releasing their policies today involving decriminalising certain illegal drugs, which seems to polarise the population?

 

Thankgod you cant vote.

[tommytomlin 0]

Yes, you're a shining example of an unbiased bipartisan. Labor didn't support the War On Iraq, therefore they don't have a defense policy. Right. I better call Kim Beazley and tell him he's screwed.

 

Scrafton's conversations with the PM totalled ten minutes. Plenty of time to say 'Hey mate, that stuff you're saying about the boat people being children throwing terrorists is wrong'.

 

And for you to defend what Ruddock said shows that you shouldn't be the one voting. It was a shameless attack with no basis in fact, which is pretty much the Government's campaign summed up in seven words.

[spiny norman 0]

Our current leader, John Howard and his Liberal Government, appear to have told one lie too many and the population are said to be feeling sick of his deceit, and also the poor conditions of our public health and education.

 

bwahahahhahahhahaha

 

Please Dont try to be objective, your clearly not.

 

For examply last Week the childeren overboard was the big issue, ofcourse this week during the Senate inquiry we found out the Defense specialist had "an indepth discussion" about "3 issues" in a total of 51 seconds.

Should I have used the word alleged? As in, you are allegedly an idiot? Or is that not so much an allegation as a fact?

 

Totally fine in my book.

 

This government has existed at one of the worst times in history and apart from Bali we have been relatively safe.

 

And this is because of the government? What have they done to prevent anything terrible from happening?

 

Anyway, my main reasons for wanting Howard gone are based on his social policies within Australia. For example, we have the highest university fees in the world. The Kyoto Agreement needs to be signed. We have a a complete and utter madman in charge of our health system. Foreign policy isn't an issue for me because, honestly, I don't think the threat we face is particularly massive or intimidating.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

I didn't know there were Australians that actually gave two fucks.

 

I'm voting Howard, only because I have to and Lathom is a fucking tool.

 

Follow my lead, kids.

 

UYI

[Positively Kanyon 0]

I'm definitely voting for Latham and Labor. The only advantage the Liberals have is the economy, and any decently smart economist will tell you that it was the Labor Party's reforms during Hawke/Keating which set the platform for Howard and Costello to manage the economy so well. And even then, our Current Account Deficit and Foreign Debt has skyrocketed, and even a modest raise in interest rates is going to do more damage than the 17% rates under Labor (which are completely exaggerated).

I agree with everything you have said in that post. I WAS happy with the Howard Government, but I'm just sick of all the lies and constant dodging of blame, especially with the children overboard scandal. 2 people have testified to a court they they DID tell John Howard that there were NO children being thrown overboard, yet he still came on television saying to the contrary.

 

I'm voting for Mark Latham on October 9th because he seems to come across as a somebody with a bit more integrity than John Howard, and I also like that he's a good old Aussie larrakin that's not afraid to speak his mind. I'm all for getting the troops out of Iraq, let the Yanks fight their own battles since the Australian Government should be concentrating on the Bali issue. While Howard has been getting up on his high horse about Iraq and WMD, the Bali bombers are out of jail having coffee and a biscuit with their mates having a rip roaring time. Where's the justice?

 

As for Howard's claim that interest rates will climb if Labor is elected into government, that is total bullshit as it's the Reserve Bank that controls the interest rates.

 

Sorry for the rant, but I've just had enough of the Liberals.

[spiny norman 0]

Indonesia's national police chief has visited the Australian embassy in Jakarta, where a bomb has killed at least seven people and injured around 100 others.

 

A major forensic operation has begun, as the clean-up of the area takes place.

 

All Australian staff working in the embassy have been accounted for, but some are reported to have suffered minor injuries.

 

Latest reports put the death toll at eight.

 

There is a large crater filled with water outside the embassy, which prior to the explosion had an enormous steel structure fencing it off because of security problems over the past five or six years.

 

Steel poles from the fence have been sheered off at the base.

 

An Australian security official says he is quite staggered by the amount of damage that had been done right outside the embassy watch house.

 

He says from the lack of any semblance of the vehicle that caused the explosion, it must have been extremely high powered, probably military-style explosive.

 

The security official says this was an extremely well put together device that caused this blast.

 

There are four office towers across the road from the embassy that have had every window blown out.

 

Those that were caught in this blast had very little chance of survival.

 

My God, Howard's going to win again.