Tag: state politics (Page 4 of 5)

Meet the (somewhat) Small Parties: The Australian Greens

November 17, 2014 / Catherine / 9 Comments

So, we’ve talked with the animals, found religion, had a nice walk amble through the country and then hopped on our bicycles to commute into the city. But it’s time to leave these lovely little by-ways and venture into more well-travelled territory with the Australian Greens.

I’ll confess, I always have mixed feelings when I get to my review of the Greens. On the one hand, I do like their policies. I like them so much that I generally wind up volunteering to scrutineer and hand out how to vote cards for them. But on the other hand, they really do have a lot of policies and when one is reading and analysing the policies of twenty-one parties, three sets of grouped independents and nine ungrouped independents, it has to be said that one begins to hanker for the simplicity of a single-issue party, no matter how unlikely it is to ever be elected…

The Victorian corner of the Greens website (which is where I will be focusing my attention) has three rotating banners – ‘Meet the candidates’, ‘Get involved’ banner, and ‘Our initiatives: smart ways we’ll tackle the big issues’. Across the top of the page, you have the option of Issues, Candidates, Events, Join, Volunteer and Donate. At the foot of the page, you have Events, Issues, Volunteer and Donate. There’s no doubt about it – the Greens are all about Audience Participation. Well, I imagine they call it grassroots community involvement, but there is a very definite pull to get people involved.

Let’s have a look at their Group Voting Tickets. Incidentally, as a scrutineer who has in the past been asked to see where preferences are flowing, I can tell you that Group Voting Tickets are probably less useful for the Greens than for just about any other party – we Green Voters do seem to love voting below the line, just as we follow our own merry paths down the Lower House ballot papers, regardless of what we are told to vote.

While there is a little variation in some seats, the Greens are generally preferencing the Animal Justice Party followed by the Cyclists, with the Voluntary Euthanasia, Sex Party and Voice for the West also appearing in the top five. Labor is generally found in the upper half of the ticket, and always well ahead of the Liberal Party. At the bottom of every ticket, we find Family First, the DLP, the Shooters and Fishers, the Country Alliance, the Australian Christians, and last of all, Rise Up Australia. The only times this changes is when one of those countries isn’t running a candidate, or when there is a particularly dislikeable Independent around.

It’s a fairly consistent left to right ticket, politically-speaking. Though I think the Sex Party may be further to the right than the Greens think they are.

And over to Initiatives, which is what we are calling policies today. (I can’t help noting that they started off calling the policies ‘Issues’, but I’m guessing they changed the name because they didn’t want smartypants voters like me commenting on the fact that the Greens have lots and lots of issues…) The Greens have 48 Victorian State Initiatives, and I feel tired already. I’m going to group sets of related policies, and only go into detail on the ones that seem particularly interesting.

Meet the Small Parties: Australian Cyclists Party

November 16, 2014 / Catherine / 4 Comments

I can see exactly what the logic was here. “Hey, look! A party for motoring enthusiasts got into the Senate! Bicycle enthusiasts are the obvious next step! Two wheels good, four wheels bad!”.

OK, I’m totally making that up. I’m actually quite delighted to see brand new party for cyclists on the electoral radar, especially one that has a nifty version of the Australian coat of arms (emu and kangaroo both dressed very correctly in Edwardian fashions) with a bicycle wheel in the middle as its logo. I’m sort of hoping they sell T-shirts.

Right. Time to stop being frivolous. The Australian Cyclists Party (Victorian Election website here) is a brand new party on the Australian electoral agenda – I’m not sure if they have contested any previous state elections, but they certainly weren’t around for the federal one, so less than two years old. I am fairly certain that they want me to look at their Victorian Election website, so I’m going to do that, as this is clearly where their attention is focused right now.

The front of their website has a rotating banner with three sets of photos and slogans. The first is a link to their policies, with the slogan “Making Victoria More Cycle-Friendly”, the second is simply “East-West Link” (anyone want to bet that they are *not* against it?), and the third is an appeal for donations, with the aforementioned gorgeous logo. I want to donate just for the logo. Apparently, I am still frivolous.

Below the rotating banner, there are links to Values, Policies and Candidates. We will start with their values, which are, apparently:

Honesty and integrity in how we act
Passionate about what we stand for
Aspirational and optimistic in our vision of the future
Affinity for the needs of our members
Respect for diversity among individuals and communities
Pragmatic in our approach
Determination in achieving our goals

They also swear to obey the Boy Scout Law. (OK, I’m lying about that part. I have no idea why this website is making me so silly, given that I actually really like them. Sorry, fellow cyclists.)

They then go into a bit more depth regarding their values, talking about empowering individuals to be capable and self-reliant, strengthening communities to be resilient, investing in innovation, evidence-based approaches to policy, respecting the environment, and so forth. The feeling I get from them is that they sit somewhere in the centre of the political spectrum – a little bit of the small-L liberal, but not terribly ideological in any direction. This is a perfectly logical place for them to sit, since cycling isn’t – or shouldn’t be – a particularly ideologically based activity.

On cycling and mobility they add the following values:

Recognising the interdependence of transport, health, planning and other government functions in supporting the healthy modes of sustainable transport
Working to ensure cycling and other active transport choices are perceived safe and represent low injury risk
Fostering an environment of mutual respect and obligation by all individuals to each other regardless of their chosen transport choice
Ensuring enforcement measures and liability laws encourage safer co-existence of cyclists and other road users
Providing appropriate infrastructure and other measures to pro-actively and adequately support cycling – backed by all levels of government
Embracing the importance of community engagement and fair, equitable and evidence-based processes in assessing transport priorities and spending

Yes, please.

Meet the Small Parties: Australian Country Alliance

November 16, 2014 / Catherine / 5 Comments

According to the banner on the Australian Country Alliance‘s homepage, they are all about Local Issues, and these centre around ‘Rural – Regional – Recreational’, ‘Traditional values’, ‘Water – Energy – Telecommunications’, and ‘Access to Government Services’.

At first glance, then, it looks as though they are positioning themselves as the new National Party, since the existing one, in Coalition with the Liberal Government, is not always able to achieve very much for its constituents. But perhaps I am being unfair?

Their central statement on the front page contains a similar message:

The Australian Country Alliance understands country and urban life. We recognise small business and the strength of local communities is the lifeblood for our our families and way of life.

We believe in the right to recreational activities such as camping, fishing, boating, 4×4, prospecting and shooting.

We are here to ensure greater access to the things that matter to us such as education, transport and health services.

Did you notice the bit where they slipped in the fishing and shooting and such? Well, if you didn’t, that’s OK, because there are then two video ads about how the ACA is the only group that will fight to protect your children’s right to do the fun stuff you did when you were a kid, namely shooting, fishing, camping, 4×4, and so forth. One might be excused for wondering if this was perhaps their biggest priority (at least, I hope one might, since I’m certainly wondering). Another big priority, judging by slogans and their news page, and one for which I admittedly have more sympathy, is regional railways.

Meet the Small Parties: Australian Christians

November 16, 2014 / Catherine / 4 Comments

Ah, the Australian Christians. This political party had the dubious distinction of being the party to have the most deleterious effect on my blood pressure when I read its policies prior to the 2012 election. You see, I’m Christian, and this party purports to speak for me – but instead, it says a lot of things that I find utterly abhorrent.

So that’s my statement of disclosure up-front. I don’t trust this mob, and I’m starting from a place where I eye their policies with suspicion. I’m sorry – I really try not to do that, but they made me so utterly furious last time that I know I am going to find it difficult to be fair to them this round.

Let’s get started, shall we?

(Note that I will be using the abbreviation ‘CDP’ for this party throughout, as they were previously the Christian Democratic Party, and I want to avoid confusion with the Australian Cyclists Party)

The website for the Australian Christians has a two-part rotating banner on the front page. The first one is “Promoting Christian Values (‘a party with a voice in the political conversation that can shape policy, promote and protect the values that create a better Australia for all, no matter what their faith and belief’), and the second is Be a Voice for Christian Values (‘Australian Christian candidates are all committed Christians seeking to be that voice. The church is faced with challenging and complex issues. Would you help us to equip fellow Christians to make informed voting decisions?’).

I find the second banner tempting for all the wrong reasons. I am almost certain that they do not want me to be their voice, any more than I want them to be mine.

The first banner – look, that’s actually a great set of values. I just have my doubts about whether they are likely to achieve it, because last time their policies struck me as having quite a different effect.

Onward.

The CDP’s group ticket has one or two surprises. In the Northern Metropolitan Region People Power comes up first, followed by Family First, the Liberal Party, the DLP, Rise Up Australia and the Shooters and Fishers. These parties are swapped around in the first six spots on all the other regional group tickets. It’s unlikely votes will get much further than this level, really. At the bottom of the ticket, we have the Sex Party, Voluntary Euthanasia, and the Greens. They seem to be in two minds about whether they find euthanasia more objectionable than sex parties, and alternate which they put last across their various electorates. The Greens are always third last, and the rest of the parties also move around a bit in the middle so that nobody gets unduly advantaged.

It’s notable that People Power manages to be popular with both the Animal Justice Party and the Christians, since the two parties both preference each other very low.

To the policies, Batman!

Meet the Small Parties: Animal Justice Party

November 16, 2014 / Catherine / 12 Comments

The Animal Justice Party (AJP) is a relatively new party on the electoral scene. It first appeared on Victorian ballot papers in the 2012 Federal Election, when they distinguished themselves by putting the Greens only slightly above the shooting and fishing parties on their Group Voting Ticket. While the Greens have traditionally been the party of environmentalists, the AJP evidently felt that they did not go far enough.

So, how have they developed since then? Here’s an extract from their charter, :

The Animal Justice Party has been formed as a response to growing public concern about the neglect of animals and animal protection issues by political parties. It will give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. […] There is a need for laws and processes which recognise animals’ needs and capabilities and which protect their interests, whether they are domestic, farmed or wild…

Our treatment of animals and the environments we share with them are often marred by a lack of understanding, leading to disrespect and cruelty. At a time when the planet’s environment is being challenged on so many fronts, we must urgently act to ensure that all animals that both contribute to and depend on it are respected and valued for their intrinsic and fundamental roles. We need to build a new relationship with the planet that is inclusive of all of its inhabitants. With a fresh approach towards animals and the ecological systems of Earth, humans can create more rewarding and ethical communities and relationships built on deeper understandings and firm principles of justice.

The Animal Justice Party seeks a restoration of the balance between the human, natural and animal worlds which acknowledges the interconnectedness and inter-dependence of these worlds, and respects the wellbeing of animals alongside that of humans, societies, economies and environments.

Meet the Independents: Arif OKIL (Ungrouped, South Eastern Metropolitan)

November 14, 2014 / Catherine / 1 Comment

Arif Okil wants you to know that he is ‘Motivated by passion to represent South Eastern Community’. It’s good to have a passion in life.

Mr Okil joins the trend of candidates who have chosen to create a political FaceBook page, rather than a website – which makes a fair bit of sense, since one can do this for free, and it’s certainly easier than designing a website. It can, however, make policies harder to track down. Fortunately – or unfortunately, really – Mr Okil only started his page a few days ago, and has written relatively little, so it’s fairly easy to find what he does actually have to say.

But first – the weather report. Oops, sorry, wrong script. What I meant to say was, let’s take a look at what the other candidates think of Mr Okil.

Interestingly, the Greens have put him at 14 and the Animal Justice Party at 16. Evidently he is further to the left than his pale blue colour scheme led me to believe (and isn’t it interesting that political colour branding is that powerful?) The Liberal Democrats have also placed him fairly high, at 17, which is less of a recommendation for me, and in fact, most of the parties seem to be fairly neutral about him, putting him in the twenties and occasionally early 30s. The only exceptions are the Cyclists and Rise Up Australia, who put him dead last at 41. The Cyclists seem to be doing the whole preference-whisperer thing, so goodness only knows what their logic is. As for Rise Up Australia – well, Mr Okil hasn’t said anything terribly pro-choice or anti-Christian anywhere that I can see, and they seem to be treating Independents in other electorates pretty much individually. I have an awful feeling they may have seen his name, decided that it looked Muslim and dumped him at the bottom of their ticket accordingly. But this is rampant speculation, based on my dislike of Rise Up Australia, so please take that with a whole ocean full of salt.

Mr Okil’s poster contains the following points:

Effective use of policies and resources
- Police
- Public Transport
- Local Council
Improve education system
Develop advanced health care and hospitals

You know, it’s not often that someone who puts ‘police’ so high on their list of priorities is also into public transport, education and hospitals. I wonder why that is, actually? I don’t see any obvious connection, or lack thereof. Then again, I’m pretty tired right now!

Elsewhere on his Facebook Page, Mr Okil comments that we need a government that cares about Victorian people, and suggest that all Victorians should have access to an online first aid course. He would also like Emergency and Non-Emergency areas in Victorian hospitals, and he is in favour of a recommended retail pricing system (similar to the one we have for books) for all grocery and medical items, with retailers being required to sell goods for that price or under. The goal is to prevent higher prices in some suburbs than others, which is laudable, though one would clearly need related legislation to prevent particular retailers from colluding with manufacturers to set prices that will allow them to offer a discount that others can’t afford.And that’s about it. No detail on how to achieve this, or why these are Mr Okil’s priorities of choice. I think the most useful summary I can make here is to say that Mr Okil clearly cares about a number of things that are, in my view, well worth caring about. But beyond that, it’s really hard to say.

Meet the Independents: Christine SINDT (Ungrouped, Eastern Victoria)

November 14, 2014 / Catherine / 8 Comments

It’s always nice (and so unusual!) when one starts one’s little journey into the land of small parties and independent candidates with someone who gives every appearance of being sane and intelligent. Dr Christine Sindt looks suspiciously as though she might be both of these things.

Of course, I’m probably biased in her favour by the fact that she is a scientist (crystallography and biologically-active compounds) and speaks English, French and German. And I really love the fact that she helped establish the Sudanese Nuer Community Language School in the La Trobe Valley.

Dr Sindt is currently a La Trobe City Councillor, and is running as an Ungrouped Independent in the region of Eastern Victoria, which runs from the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne (Belgrave, Lilydale, Mornington), and stretches all the way to East Gippsland, taking in part of the Victorian Alps along the way. She is clearly very passionate about education, and is absolutely against a proposed merger between Monash University Gippsland and the University of Ballarat, on the grounds both of educational quality and governance (she is concerned that if the Churchill Campus is run from Ballarat, local priorities will be ignored).

Victorian State Election – Meet the Small Parties!

November 14, 2014 / Catherine / 0 Comments

With the State Election rapidly approaching (it’s November 29th, for anyone who has lost track), it’s time for me to write my pre-election Field Guide to Teeny Tiny Political Parties (and Some Larger Ones)!

For those who are new to my blog, here’s how the Field Guide works. Between now and Election Day, I will read up on the policies of every single party on the Upper House ticket for Victoria, and also as many independents as I can manage in the time available (starting with those from my own Northern Metropolitan Region). I will then report back on said policies for every group except the ALP and the Liberal Party, because most people know what they stand for, and the newspapers will tell you even if I don’t. I will also all the Group Voting Tickets for each party or set of grouped independents (i.e. where their preferences will flow if you vote above the line), as this can sometimes be a more reliable indicator of what a party is about than their actual policies.

But wait – there’s more! With each political post you get a FREE set of opinions!

I’m not even going to pretend that I don’t have opinions about politics. I mean, come on, I have a politics blog! So my reporting will undoubtedly be quite partisan and occasionally frivolous. But it will also be as accurate as I can make it. Rather than pretending to an objectivity that I do not possess, I will declare my biases up-front, which should hopefully make it easier for you, my readers, to sort the facts from the opinions and draw your own conclusions. I will also link back to all the places where I’m getting policies from, so that you can see what my primary sources are and judge accordingly. This seems like the most honest way to write about politics, at least for me.

So – in case anyone reading this hadn’t figured it out yet – I hereby declare that I am a great big socialist, also a feminist, and a bit of a Greenie. I’m all about safety nets and free education and access to healthcare, and, given a choice, I’d rather pay a bit more tax and have it go to someone who was rorting the system than pay a bit less tax and risk someone who really needs help falling through the cracks.

If you disagree with me – that’s fine. My hope is that these posts will still be useful to you, if only because you will be able to go “Well, that crazy Catherine woman really liked that party, so I’d better put it at the bottom of my ballot paper”.

Quite seriously, though, my goal in writing these posts is informed choice. I want people to vote intelligently, and I want them to vote for the candidates who represent their beliefs and interests, and I want this to be the case even if I find said beliefs and interests appalling. If you really care about where your vote goes after you vote above the line, I want you to be able to find out not just which parties it goes to, but what sort of values those parties espouse. Or if, like me, you rejoice in voting below the line and deciding exactly which deeply awful party will get the prized place at the bottom of your ballot, I want you to have the tools to do that, too.

(And you really, really should vote below the line, at least once in your life. Quite apart from the fact that in so doing, you get to exercise your political will to the fullest, it’s also a fascinating exercise in discovering the true diversity of our society. Which is sometimes disheartening and sometimes inspiring and sometimes just strange, but always educational.)

So, without further ado – here are the parties and Independents on the Victorian State Election Upper House Ballot as we know them so far, with links to their websites! I will add to and amend this list once the actual Upper House ballot paper and Group Voting tickets are available, to make it easier for you to find the Independents and see where everyone is physically located on the ticket. But in the meantime, here are the parties and their websites – I’ll add links to my reviews as they become available.

Updated at 9pm on November 16th: Aha! Antony Green has the Group Voting Tickets on his website! It’s full steam ahead with the commentaries…

The full list of candidates and tickets can be found on the VEC website.

Enjoy! And don’t forget to vote on the 29th!

Victorian Senate Group AK: In which Socialists demand Equality!

September 2, 2013 / Catherine / 8 Comments

I was rather sad to note that the Socialist Alliance wasn’t fielding any Senate candidates this time around, because really, what is an election without a slightly unhinged Socialist Party to make it more fun? (To be fair, the Socialist Alliance has been becoming alarmingly sane of late – or maybe I myself am losing it? This is always a possibility…)

Fortunately, the Socialist Equality Party have stepped into the breach, doing its level best to be the counterbalance to all the somewhat terrifying right-wing parties we had to read about earlier in this process. I have high hopes of them, I must say, because their rhetoric last time reminded me of Don Camillo’s Peppone at his best, and I didn’t think that anyone talked about the proletariat any more.

Let’s start off with their Group Voting Tickets, which are an absolute mess, if you will forgive me saying so. Actually, I think they are a *deliberate* mess. There is no way you could end up with such a perverse combination of tickets by accident.

Politics: Scrutineering, or why I love our electoral system

November 28, 2010 / Catherine / 1 Comment

Here’s the thing about scrutineering. It isn’t just about protecting your party’s votes or recording where the preference flows are going (though this is, of course, what you are appointed to do). It’s also about both observing and protecting the process of counting votes, and, particularly in an election where the results look like being quite depressing, I find it rather comforting to have watched the process and to know that yes, those really are the votes that were cast. For those who care, here’s what happens after they shut the doors at your polling place.