Here is mail from Eve Plant, our branch secretary, that quotes the results to now.
"What a result! 9 senators & 1 in HoR, -- 50% increase from 8+% to average 12% nationwide! In Fairfax, Narelle achieved 18%. We are knocking on the door. We all thank her for her wonderful effort. Wow!
All that effort paid off & we are on first name terms with our very own senator. How good is that! Keep smiling. We are on a roll."
For the information of non Aussies, we have preferential voting. That simply means we can have a first choice of candidate/party and if that candidate does not poll over 50% primary vote, in our case Narelle, we can indicate our second or third choice and so on and control where our votes should be applied. Because of that system, new parties can be created and new dialogue initiated on issues not important to major parties.
Examples of such issues are climate change, not politically attractive to major parties because of their links to high polluting industries and their down line industries, voluntary euthanasia and gay marriage and many more. Both major parties have always been influenced by religious groups despite Australia's official guarantee of separation of church and state and therefore loath to remove politics from other people's bedrooms.
However, it does make counting votes a time consuming business. So in a close poll, a final result can be weeks away. As I write, it appears our Labor Party will form a minority government with support from at least half the four independent members. However, it is the Senate vote that is exciting for the Greens. That allows us to push for more aggressive carbon reduction timetable and have the numbers to approve such programs once it has passed through the lower house.
I disagree with the 'on a roll' statement. Green support was taken mainly from Labor, so if and when Labor gets its climate change act together, that support may decrease.
But, having said that, Labor will have problems standing up to special interest groups and may not be able to satisfy public demands for more action.
Well, that's that for now. Thank goodness we can get back to more importantly stuff like poetry and fun! :-)
I think it is a very positive result. It just shows how many people want something done about the environment. I hope the major parties take heed!
ReplyDeleteYour a realist Stafford - most of the Green vote came from Labour voters - the same happens over here, it's an opportunity for the Greens to make a real impression and gain a stronger foothold.
ReplyDelete** The Tide Has Turned Cap'n Stafford **
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a ' Job Well Done '
Great result for the Greens Stafford. Even old school Labor voters like me can choose to vote for a Green Senator. I can have it both ways. Labor voters are more closely aligned to the progressive ideas of the Greens which means that the flow back and forth will continue I expect. I think its healthy that we have floating, thinking voters rather than rusted on idealogues of any colour.
ReplyDeletethat does sound very promising. I wish we had a lot more of that here in the US.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Goddess we could use a better system for elections here. I think Australia would be a wonderful place to live. I have always love be American but things sure ain't the same, but neither am I. The Golden Years are not as Golden as I was hoping. LOL
ReplyDeleteqMM
Yayayayayay! Thanks for the update - it's been quite a week starting last Saturday - I got a bit overexcited watching the very confusing election commentary - certainly don't remember anything like it. My husband and children shut the door on me while I was watching it - hahaha.
ReplyDelete