My A to Z of politics!

As another election, The South Australian State Election is creeping onto the political radar, I thought it would be a good time to create an A to Z of all things political to get us back into the voting mood!

A - Accountability Because all of our elected representatives need to be held accountable.

B- Backbencher Vital to any party winning Government.

C- Cabinet Without which, a Government would cease to exist.

D – Democracy The worst kind of political system, except for all the rest!

E – Election, Electorate Without either, politicians would not be elected, nor would they have anyone to vote for them!

F- Federalism The unification of a nation, so that powers are codified and distributed between levels of government.

G- Government The humble vessel in which the voting public place their trust and hopes in, to make the place we live in better.

H- Hansard All the recorded data including speeches and debates from with the chambers of Parliament.

I – Ideologies A way of organising different people who believe and accept the same lines of thought, and beliefs.

J- Judiciary The branch of Government that interprets the law, while remaining completely separate from parliament and the Executive.

K- Kitchen Cabinet A real term, used for the collective group of close advisors to the Prime Minister.

L- Law Pieces of legislation that have been passed by both chambers of parliament and have received the royal assent from either the Governor General, Governor or the King or Queen.

M- Member of Parliament A person elected to the House of Representatives, House of Assembly or Lower House.

N- NGO Non Governmental Organisation advocating for a particular cause.

O- Opposition A major party not in Government.

P- Party A collective group of Individuals registered with the Electoral Commission.

Q- Qualified Majority Rule Is the correct term for a vote that has received 50 + 1% of the total number of votes.

R- Republic A type of political system in which the leader of the Executive branch of Government is elected and not just appointed. Think America not Australia.

S- Standing Orders are the rules which must be adhered to inside both chambers at all times. The Speaker in the lower house is responsible for making sure politicians follow them as well as oversees all important business including the running of Question Time.

T- Treaties Agreements between countries, which can me bilateral (between two countries) or multilateral (between more than two counties).

U- Union An organisation set up to represent workers and workers’ rights also heavily involved in the left side of Australian Politics.

V- Voluntary Voting The act of choosing to vote rather than being forced to. Australia is one of only a few places worldwide that force voters to vote (except at local elections.)

W- Welfare A social policy designed to cater for people’s needs.

X- Xenophon, Nick A minor party Senator for South Australia, who has just been re-elected for a second time to the Federal Senate.

Y- Yawn The action most people associate with politics!

Z- Zoning The ability of Government’s to section land into different categories aimed at controlling lands purpose IE: Residential, Farming and Industrial.

Happy 2014!

"Concise sentences, like darts... make impressions, while long discourses are tedious and not regarded" - Frances Bacon. 

Looking back of the year that was 2013, one can not help but be amazed at all that has  happened. From the election of a new leader in the Catholic Church, hell bent on changing the archaic ways that it had grown to accept, to the political assassination and destruction of our first female Prime Minister; while simultaneously destroying any chance the Federal Labor Party had at retaining office, by reinstating Kevin Rudd as leader for the September 7th election just to see him quit politics as well. From drug scandals threatening the existence of the AFL and NFL, to the high profile deaths of Mr. Nelson Mandela and Hazel Hawke and the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of American President JFK. Miley Cyrus became even more of a household name - for all the wrong reasons and House divisions, on votes of no confidence were turned into drinking games over Twitter.....  If it wasn't for all the twerking, backflipping, core and non-core election promises, budget blackholes and attempted leadership spills, what would we have done for fun?

2013, will be remembered not so much by what it did (offed a few too many federal pollies/PM's for what is considered normal!!) but what it did not do. Marriage Equality, Carbon Pollution, Republicanism, The true and correct meaning of the word misogyny, Budget Surpluses and Gender Equality are all major issues that Australia did not resolve moving into the new year.  While it seems that no one can keep a promise to save themselves, new beginning did seek to keep the year rolling along. New educational experiences, a new Government and a new appreciation for the role of the Speaker in the House of Representatives. 

Three word slogans were a must for all the high profile politically ambitious, (because apparently no one cares what is said after 3 words!!) and the day was a success if you were counted in any sort of vote. Proportional Voting became a hot issue (and will be again come July) as a higher than normal amount of minor and micro parties were elected to the Federal Senate. Grassroots democracy was seen in action in the seat of Indi, with the Independent Cathy McGowan being elected on the back of a fairly unpopular sitting member and a well run campaign. 

In many circumstances, it is a godsend that a new year has presented itself, a chance to redefine who you are, a chance to try and stick to your New Years resolutions- for at least a week!-  and the opportunity to embark on a new journey with a clean slate. I have read up on making New Years resolutions, "keep them practical" they say, "ensure they are manageable" and "don't be unrealistic"  I have been told. I am hopeful for the year ahead, I get to go and vote again YAYAYAY, wear some awesome glasses, travel the world and immerse myself in new cultures and different political systems. I look forward to watching our newest Prime Minister deliver on the promises outlined in Opposition, and watch as the ALP remake itself into a newly structured, major party, and rediscovers its changing voter base. No one said it would be easy, and no one said it would be simple, but with a kind and open mind anything is possible! 

Happy 2014! 

Musings on Rudd

So yeah, when Typhoon Tony said that the 44th Parliament would be different I pretty much figured it was just another slogan but oh, nope, no, think again! I knew there would be no leadership spill, or attempted leadership spill every five minutes, nor would it be impossible to get through a Question Time without suspending standing orders at least twice, but never did my imagination concoct something like this. 

As everybody was turning their radio onto the jazz station, cooking tea and generally winding down for the evening a certain individual was psyching himself up for the last hoorah. The immediate former Prime Minister Kevin "KRudd" Rudd retired, plucking himself from the squabble that is the daily grind of federal politics - and more so, federal politics in opposition. As I wrote earlier, many I am sure one can only feel relief that really the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd era of politics is over. The extraordinary legacy they leave behind include the introduction of the NDIS, the NBN, the building revolution in schools, the navigation of the Global Financial Crisis and the list could continue. The pair may have done great things but at the end of the day all good things must come to an end, and the self destructive nature of federal politics caught up with the both of them. Changes to the way in which ALP leaders are elected may help history from repeating itself but time will only tell. The mourningful way in which members from all sides of politics remembered one of the most popular PM I found quite astounding, I know they all have media and public personas, distorting their one true selfs but seriously, if this man was as loved as everyone made him out to be, then why the hell was he deposed in the first place?? Huh?? I know you are not supposed to speak ill of the dead (or in this case the recently retired) but guys c'mon i know 'shit happens' - quoting our newest Prime Minister but still! 

After the fact people remember the good, the better and the best times and maybe that is all we should look at, but this is politics and the one thing I am constantly reminded is that it is a bleak and murky area. Despite the fact Praise the Ruddinator will be on every Facebook page tomorrow and the fact Kevin07 will get another 5 minutes in the spotlight, and maybe he will even take another leaf out of our former former PM Julia Gillard and after taking some time out have a 'conversation with the male equivalent of Anne Summers' one thing is certain; the 44th Parliament will not be like the last. That is unless Rudd gets to Liberal climate believer Malcolm and injects some libspill virus creating an even more hectic parliament to come. 

Looking back over Rudds reign it is apparent he could muster up momentum like the best of them, conjure a fighting army of T-shirt wearing supporters like no other and rally the troops for war. What is also quite apparent is that another generation of young people may turn off, tune out and give up on (most) our decrepit old pollies that line the walls  of the new parliament. My friends can call bull8$it like it is an Olympic sport and honestly I don't think they would give five minutes to wonder about the lack of transparency that is about to become commonplace in the Government. While Rudd leaving perhaps finally cleans the ALP slate to start fresh, it exposes the party and in order to capture the young vote in time for the next election it will take something special, and only time will tell how uninterested young people will become.    

Let the Circus Begin!

Ahhhhh, so after a day of pomp and circumstance opening the 44th Federal Parliament yesterday, our Politician's used today to get down to business... kind of... Or shall we just say they used today to get the show on the road!?! Anyway some say today marks the beginning of the end for transparency in Government and others are still so happy the ALP aren't in control they are going to make the most of it!

We the people were promised a new level of competence, a new level of decorum and a new level of governing under a Liberal Government but if this morning is anything to go on, that may be harder for Tony and his Government to achieve. The Treasurer said to the Opposition, after a particularly curly question in Question Time today "I know you're excited; its the first day. This will be your best day in Opposition, trust me" and speaking from experience he would be the one to know. But then again today proved Government may not be so fun for a while, at least until the new Senate arrives. Yes the Liberals have a majority in the Lower House, a feat not achieved since the 2007 election but the new Opposition has had 3 long years of hellish debates and will not go down without a fight; learning standing orders must seem so small in comparison to needing to compromise on every piece of legislation. 

Some people say that it took 76 minutes, others say it was as low as 74 and some say as high as 79 minutes, but one thing is certain Typhoon Tony as Green's deputy Leaders affectionately calls our PM, introduced into the House of Representatives legislation to repeal the Carbon Tax. Our Prime Minister's mantra of CARBON TAX CARBON TAX!!! BOATS BOATS BOATS! DEBT DEBT DEBT!! JOBS JOBS JOBS!! ALP SUCKED ALP SUCKED!! is back. And people, get excited because that is what you will be hearing everywhere. On the television, on the radio and in papers, not how many boats have arrived, not the increase in temperature due to the climate change but how less boats have arrived (no specific number of course) and how much more money people will have after July 1 2014. 

Watching parliament today though was interesting. People sitting in different places, a new batch of pollies lining up to ask dorothy dixers of the Government, a new Speaker wearing in her chair and all my favourite tweeters back tweeting.  We saw Barnaby Joyce get in the good books of the new Speaker, giving her a loving 'fangirl' moment "You are the best speaker that I have ever experienced. In fact you are without comparison." What more, It is probably true as he has just moved to the House of Representatives from the Senate, where they call the Speaker-Equivalent the President. Outside Parliament, Senior Ministers on both sides were back to their name calling, bickering selfs and both major party leaders have new beautiful nicknames; Electricity Bill as our Opposition Leader is now commonly known as and our Prime Minister Typhoon Tony (not sure that will stick though). The good news of the day, was our most controversial MP Clive Palmer, was in fine form declaring he would abstain from the vote on the Clean Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 as well as turing up for the first Question Time. Not sure for how long that will last, but doing something once is the first step for doing it a second time! 

As as the day is slowly coming to an end, and newbie pollies are thanking their lucky stars they got through day one, the only thing getting me through tonight is the thought that we are all going to do this again tomorrow! Until then Folks... 

BREAKING NEWS!!! So I thought that we has seen the last of major federal politics for this evening, but alas KEVIN RUDD is now retiring as of the end of the week. Out of left field, after (or during if you live in South Australia) Prime Minister Abbott was on the 7-30 Report Rudd calmly walked into the green chamber and rose in his seat using words like "I believe in the politics of hope not fear" and uttering the phrase many looking into the fishbowl think but do not say "be gentle with each other". As a tear rolls down the eye of the former Prime Minister one can only feel relief that really the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd era of politics is over. The legacy they leave behind include the introduction of the NDIS, the NBN, the building revolution in schools and the list could continue. The pair may have done great things but at the end of the day all good things must come to an end, and the self destructive nature of federal politics caught up with the both of them. Tony can rest easier tonight, and GIllard will be having another glass of wine thanking her lucky stars she got out in time as the People Prime Minister has left the building! 

PLEASE! The world is not ending....

I guess a lot has happened since the Election, a new Government has been sworn in and has caused controversy since day one and yet at the same time I feel like nothing has been accomplished and that the Nation is just twiddling its thumbs until parliament resumes, at least that way we can see the mess the Electorate has imposed on us for the next three years start to take affect.

The right side of politics was so vocal over the Rudd Gillard Rudd reign that it seems to me, they have lost the need to say anything at all. Not that gloating is a good thing, but I feel like after a few days of celebrating everyone kind of got over it and are now at a loss at what to do. Oh yeah, apart from a few Coalition MPs needing to repay money for improper claiming of expenses. Conversely the left side of politics was so concerned at not looking outside their own walls at what the public were saying during their time in Government, that now they are in Opposition, they feel like they are ready to combat the issues that have plagued them for years. After the ALP Federal Electoral loss in 1996 to the infamous John Howard the ALP were in a state of denial and went through leaders like underwear before they put all their eggs into the basket of Mr Kevin Rudd. Rudd the Wonderful; Rudd the Fabulous and Rudd the Media Superstar! There was nothing he could not do, no section of the community that did not want to be his friend and humanized on Channel 7’s Sunrise with Joe Hockey. We know all this obviously, but at the end of his reign (the second time) it was probably his popularity that let him down. Currently I am looking at some of the Leadership data from the Australian Electoral Study from the 2010 election and the more data I look at, the more I can't wait for the next round of data to be released, so that I can see the impact of bringing back the Ruddinator. It may seem like a strange musing from me, all this talk about the last two Labor Prime Ministers but I feel like it is the place to begin our journey into a new era, the era of Abbott.

EVERYBODY has an opinion on Abbott, from the Die-hard Abbott supporters to the Abbott loathers, to those who love the Liberal Party if Abbott was not the leader, to those who just want anyone but Rudd-Gillard-Rudd in power. While I sit somewhere in the middle, and feel that Gillard was unfairly criticised, that Rudd had good intentions just sometimes misguided, I feel that no one can really have a fully informed opinion of someone until they have actually tried to do something. And no I am not talking about saying they will review the GST, or saying they will repeal the Carbon Price, I’m talking about actually doing something. Rudd’s biggest downfall was probably not sticking to the plan he set out during the last part of Opposition, he had great potential, and maybe if the Global Financial Crisis didn’t happen he could have achieved it, but in every great endeavour obstacles occur. To be successful, not only do you need to put every fibre of your being into achieving your goal, you also need outside help, something the ALP struggled with from 2009. The 2010 Federal Election was the turning point, it was the election that the ALP should not have won and pretty much secured their demise in 2013. Since the Coalitions loss at this election, Tony Abbott and his team have been trying their hardest to make everyday a living hell for the Government. People say the worst day in Government is better than the best day in Opposition, but I am sure there would have been some days Abbott was happy not to be a part of a party and more importantly a Government crumbling at every turn.

Since the election in September, there has been much criticism of Abbott at the lack of females in his Cabinet, his Fire fighting abilities, his so called ‘mandate’ to repeal the Carbon Price and the list goes on, but what is correct is his willingness to not give up. His female issues could have been the end for him as Prime Minister material, or the seemingly endless list of ‘dad gaffes’ he continued to make during the course of his Opposition Leadership but they weren’t. Regardless of his intense negativity towards all things ALP he was still able to put the putsch in motion to become the 28th Prime Minister of Australia. He didn’t use social media in the same way Rudd did in 2007 but it seems as though he is going to be just as successful were it counts – in Parliament – especially when the new Senate is sworn in half way through next year.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love politics and I think there is something magical and spectacular about voting and debating issues in a place where change can actually occur, but I do have a problem with hate and unjustified negativity. I am not naive enough to suggest that everyone must get along, and I recognise that our ‘National Leader’ as a friend of mine calls our Prime Minister was instrumental in fanning the political demise of our first Female Prime Minister, but those on the left (and right) who are using the bushfire to attack Tony Abbott should go to hell. In another life, in another world a picture of a man in a clean-ish SES uniform would not be given another thought, and perhaps our Leader should be in a office with department heads trying to organise logistical support for those who have and will lose everything in these fires but he is not. He obviously thinks this is his way of helping. Moreover to those who feel the need to yell and scream about this should be using their brain space to think of constructive ways to help those who need it most. I understand the need to debate Climate Change, but it is not the time to do so when people are losing their homes to savage bushfires. Climate Change is important but not this week, not when people are suffering.

Therefore I think people need to just chill out and dare I say it, give Tony Abbott the benefit of the doubt and wait until we see what he does in the coming months. I know that it is not a favoured opinion of the left, and the right are still celebrating their electoral win, but people, Whyalla did not fall in a hole when Carbon Pricing came into effect and I don’t think Australia will fall in a hole now that we have a Liberal Government.

Election Wrap-up part 1!

So, this magical thing happened earlier today; I was asked my name, my address and whether or not I had voted at a previous polling booth and then I was given a little green piece of paper and a beautiful long white page and told to make my vote count! It was an almost sure fire thing that the Opposition Leader Mr Tony Abbott would become the next prime minister - it was just a matter of time! Despite the inevitability of this fact, a record number of people postal voted and well as voted before the day had arrived - not that you would even know! Shopping centers were packed and I spoke to people working on different booths and they said it was a constant stream of people all day. It was grass-roots democracy at work, and the excitement in the air was palpable. 

Now I must point out the obvious before we go any further as not to do so would indicate nothing has happened which frankly is not true. WE HAVE A NEW PRIME MINISTER!! Exciting for some and horrifying for others Tony Abbott in all his budgie-smuggler-glory will be looking out for the young, old and in-between as the next prime minister of Australia. While left leaning people have uttered the phrase 'if Tony Abbott becomes prime minister I will be leaving the country!' currently I know of only one Husband and Wife following through on this promise - legitimately jet setting to our cousins across the lake in New Zealand! But if you know of others please let me know!!

On social media (Facebook and Twitter) as well as around town there were mixed reviews, people sad for Rudd but victorious about Abbott, with commentators predicting a Labor wipeout and a Coalition landslide with really only the possibility of a few strays - Palmer, Katter, Independents and the Greens. But by golly the voting Australian public delivered on their promise to shake things up! Crazy stuff can happen on Election Day (and subsequent night), and tonight was no different! You learn things about your peers that they try to keep hidden, some for better and some for worse! Closet alleged political know-it-alls come out of the woodwork claiming to have great political insights - most of which are misguided and wrong no matter how articulate they may be. Despite these people being frustrating and clogging up newsfeeds, these individuals are a loved part of the election coverage. Everyone has an opinion, but a word of advice, if you do not agree with them you will be labelled a communist, socialist, fascist or arrogant, but that does not matter. After you have your deep and meaningful conversation with your ballot papers (and possibly a sausage after voting) you comes home, sit on the couch and start to relax as the hard work (for many) is over. Most local bottle-O's would have had a run on all things drinkable and as the night progresses the more you drink (alcoholic or not) the worse off your favoured party must be going... Right? Regardless of your political affiliations, election night is always fun!

As a young person I am in the minority for my generation, I do not enjoy the ritual of late night partaying or clubbing or binge drinking, and yet after my first 'drinking' election I think I have come to enjoy some of the drinking games associated with election night - or maybe not! As the night goes on, and more results come in, political journalists, writers and current politicians join forces to sit on panels feeding the hopelessly politically obsessed information in real time. Add in Twitter and the communication is endless, 140 character bits flood the twitter-sphere at lightening speed discussing the trivial (OMG what is he wearing?!?!) to the raw data (the swing against ......) with people from around the country and the globe wanting to know the details of what has happened! 

So far the ALP have retained 53 seats (55*), the L/NP have 87 (91*) the Greens 1 and the so called 'Others' have 2 (3*). Not the Labor wipeout most predicted, but in no way are the ALP in a position to take office once again, and I am only taking into consideration the Lower House, as the Upper House is a whole other kettle of fish - one for coming days ahead! However, the stats we do know include being sure Palmer has made it into the Australian Parliament ensuring the fabulousness of Question Time continues! One thing is certain though, when you wake up tomorrow with a hangover and feeling poorly, our-mate-Kev will be feeling even worse! 

*predicted to win

ALP V Greens! Who will come out on top??

A question I have been pondering lately has been to do with the left side of politics, The Greens and the ALP. Should the contemporary ALP become more 'green'? Does Labor's future depend upon reconciliation with The Green political agenda or can Labor take over Green Issues? Dennis Glover in A Red Green Coalition, stated that Labor must take environmental politics more seriously and The Greens must take electoral realities more seriously, presumably if either are to survive in the long term. While I see it quite unlikely that either will be eliminated from the Australian political scene any time soon, it does pose questions around the post 2010 Federal Election minority government agreement and more importantly about the future of Australia's political left.

While I am obviously no expert when it comes to the ALP or The Greens, it does not take much to look at the current political scene and see what some would call generously describe as chaos, not just in terms of ALP leadership but also in terms of policy ideology. While not trying to outright bag the ALP, they seem to have lost focus, they undoubtedly seem poll driven and geared to winning elections - at any cost. Which I mean is fine and in an election year, even expected, but what the party fail to recognise are the changing desires of the electorate, something Kevin Rudd is only just beginning to realise, coming out earlier this year pro marriage equality. While they claim to be part of the 'left' , a progressive party of sorts, they fail to see their once solid voter base, unions and union movements are scarcely as influential as they once were. Once every so often will a union conduct a full out strike, but I have read countless articles and journals which quote union membership to be falling, and even more importantly active union action among members to be falling. Regardless of the outcome at the election in just under a week, I think there will be a fair bit of soul searching within the ALP in the foreseeable future to try and redefine their core voter base.

The Greens have the left of politics pretty much in the bag, I mean they are pro choice, pro onshore processing, pro carbon tax, pro marriage equality, for voluntary Euthanasia and the list could go on. The point is if the ALP want to be regarded as a major party of the left or even center left, one should be able to identify most of those sentiments with that party as well. Although if outlining the traditional policies of the ALP you  would also include, pro protection, pro republic, secular and pro environment some of which are core policies values but not all. The minor parties have an easier time finding their niche in politics because they know they are only looking to satisfy a proportion of the population, and increasingly so. Hence it is The Greens who are winning out, increasing their polling numbers on the back of the rate of voters fleeing the mess that is called the Australian Labor Party - or so their current television commercial wants us to believe. The commercial which has 'everyday' people talking about voting for The Greens given 'Tony Abbott scares me' and Labor "aren't serious" or are "disappointing". More and more, in conversations I am having with friends and at work people seem to think that The Greens will be better than either of the major parties.

The major parties on the other hand, in recent years have decided that in order to win government (outright) they can't be seen to be alienating any sector of society, from farmers and workers to small business owners and families regardless of their once, core voter base. In general terms both the ALP and the Coalition have differences in their Asylum Seeker policies, Malaysia or Nauru, buy the boats, turn the boats around, more money, less money blah blah blah! However, fundamentally both parties wanted them any place that is not here, in our own backyard. The Independents could not decide who to support, sprouting variations of both policies, it was only The Greens who believed that onshore processing was the way to go. It is almost hard to believe that Malaysia or Nauru were the hottest political news going around Canberra pre and post mid winter break in 2012. 

Furthermore despite the ALP being very much poll driven <insert possible leadership spill here!> all throughout the 43rd parliament, it did start before that. According to polling data since pretty much late 2009, the popular support for Kevin Rudd and Labor has been in decline. Yes it spikes every now and again but only when a new favourable policy is introduced or passed and then only for a short time, nothing of significance. Not only has the move towards the middle of the political spectrum been in vain (see current opinion polls) it has had a adverse affect as all indications are that Labor are still as unpopular under Rudd and they were under Gillard, with reports out recently that Tony Abbott has overtaken Rudd as preferred PM!

Furthermore will it take another long period in Opposition for the Labor Party to rediscover its core voter base, or more so allow the ALP or reconnect with them? Will it take them a formal agreement with The Greens to dominate Federal Politics once more? And if this were to occur which party (ALP or Greens) would give up enough power and influence within the electorate to make the formation worthwhile? Or will Rudd be able to pull a number of rabbits out of the election hat and defy the polls and win outright? Only 5 sleeps to go!