Even Stevens after Australian Elections

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Even Stevens after Australian Elections - 8/23/2010 4:22:48 PM

DCWoody

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Australian elections have thrown up an odd result. In Australia there is no hard and fast position for president/prime minister, but by convention the leader of the largest party/coalition of parties acts as, and is described as...Prime Minister.

Almost always they're whoever controls the House of Representatives, but on rare occasions someon from the Senate takes charge.

The current/previous PM is (the newly appointed) leader of the Labour Party. The opposition is a coalition of the Liberal party and the National Party.

There were/are also 3 independants, all previously members of the Nationals, but left in protest at the alliance with the Liberals.

The election result for HoR is (out of 150 seats) Labour:73, Liberal/National Coalition:73.

There is 1 Green, who has firmly indicated he'll pick Labour if he has to....and the 3 rebellous Nationals, 2 of whom are expected to vote for the coalition as they really have to choose....the other is thought to prefer going with Labour than joining up with the Liberals.

So, 75vs75.

Thoughts?.....any Aussies about? What the hell happened to Rudd?

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RE: Even Stevens after Australian Elections - 8/23/2010 4:41:16 PM

Elisabella

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I'm still learning how the parliamentary system works here so I can't really give my opinion other than "wow, crazy."

Rudd resigned after Julia Gillard (his deputy PM) challenged him for the PM seat. He's sort of like the Australian Obama, he was this bright young star who disappointed a lot of people.

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RE: Even Stevens after Australian Elections - 8/23/2010 4:51:43 PM

Politesub53

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I am guessing Gillard was hoping for an easy victory and called the snap election. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. Do you think this will mean a quick election Elisabella, or a coalition UK style, IE part fudge ?

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RE: Even Stevens after Australian Elections - 8/23/2010 6:58:58 PM

Elisabella

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I feel so ignorant trying to discuss Australian politics...a friend I made here was amazed that most of the news I read is American.

I saw a poll in one of the Sydney papers that asked 2 questions - if you plan to vote Labor, is it because you think they deserve re-election or because you don't like Liberal? And if you plan to vote Liberal, is it because you support Liberal or because you don't think Labor deserves to stay in?

There were more Liberal supporters than Labor supporters but for both groups the clear majority (over 50%) said they were voting against the other party not voting for the one they're ticking on the ballot.

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RE: Even Stevens after Australian Elections - 8/23/2010 7:09:05 PM

Brain

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Which of the parties is conservative?

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RE: Even Stevens after Australian Elections - 8/23/2010 7:19:16 PM

Elisabella

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They're both pretty conservative imo...Tony Abbott, the Liberal candidate, ran a Christian family values style campaign, I don't know much about Gillard but it was the Rudd government that started working on the internet filter...Both support the current ban on x-rated porn (anything that shows sex) and graphic video games.

< Message edited by Elisabella -- 8/23/2010 7:28:34 PM >

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RE: Even Stevens after Australian Elections - 8/23/2010 8:52:13 PM

Marini

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The candidates running sound like an interesting kettle of fish.
I don't know much about the candidates, though I have heard of Rudd, before.

Sounds like a very close race, please keep us updated about the winning party.

I enjoy hearing political news from around the world, especially with this "global economy".

< Message edited by Marini -- 8/23/2010 8:54:01 PM >

_____________________________

As always, To EACH their Own.
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Life-long Democrat, not happy at all with Democratic Party.
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