Allison Said:

Bias representation in the Australian Federal Election?

We Answered:

Partially for that reason, I don't watch television in Australia anymore, not commercial stations anyway. They try to tell you how you should think in every way. Life's better if you ignore them I've found.
In terms of whether the result will be fair? I doubt it. People speak of voting as only an option of two parties, they are made to believe that only a vote for one of two parties will bring success to the country. Hence they vote as sheep and make it a reality. We need more choices and people to use them to have real freedom and real democracy in this country

Jay Said:

What do you think of the last South Australian state election?

We Answered:

It would not surprise me if this were true. I haven't checked, though, but one of the reasons why people turn against "Labor" is simply because they pursue such a blatant man-hating Feminist agenda . Ordinary people are getting heartily sick of them.

Margie Said:

August 21 - Any difference who wins the election?

We Answered:

The
Greens are backing a Carbon Trading tax and if they get the balance of power will give Labor hell to introduce one. This will be another cost and a rise in the cost of living to appears the cafe late set while the lower income groups and pensioners won't be able to afford it and charities will end up paying their electricity bills for them.
Labor may increase superannuation payments but I think that the coalition may end up making people work longer hours for the pay packet that they take home so you don't win either way. Both are handing out sweeteners to people with kids at school.
I just wish that they would spend more one health. Our health system is a disgrace.

Cheers!!!

Carla Said:

Can I listen to the Australian Election live on internet radio?

We Answered:

http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/…

Brenda Said:

Why isnt LGBT Rights more of a 2007 Australian Election Issue?

We Answered:

Hey, im from australia and i get what you mean. No-one has even mentioned our rights except for good old rudd who kindly said if his kids were gay he would accept them, but he would not stand for gay marrige. Slightly hipocritcal i think. But then again, his kids arnt gay i dont think so why would he fight for them. Ahhhhh i hate stupid australian poltocians.

Jessica Said:

Is the Australian Election a Harbinger of our Own Election?

We Answered:

Since the Iraq war and the Republican president who sent troops there are both unpopular, then a new president from the Democratic party is more likely to be chosen and will have a public mandate to end the war and bring the troops home.

The war has stained the legacies of Blair, Howard and Bush. The next president knows that if he/she wants to be popular, and have any chance of a second term in office, then ending the war soon is a requisite.

Alicia Said:

What does the swing against the Coalition in the Australian Senate mean?

We Answered:

Partially, the fact that the Coalition lost so many senators was just an effect of the Australian system in which Senators are generally elected for a double (six year) term, and the 2004 election saw record numbers of Coalition senators. Indeed, they had a majority, which is very unusual in Australia given the Senate voting system.

However, this doesn't yet answer your question, which is about the swing away from the Coalition (as well as Labor) in the Senate when compared with 2007. I think the answer to this lies partially in a significant portion of the electorate highly dissatisfied with both major parties' responses to climate change. The ALP were heavily punished for ditching their ETS (Rudd lost his leadership and the ALP lost their majority, and possibly their right to govern). But the Coalition are also being punished by some voters for ditching Turnbull and their last vestiges of credibility on the issue. Even some conservatives actually care about conservation and think that the command and control policies advocated by Abbott belong in the playbook of the far left, not the centre-right. They remember that it was Reagan's administration that championed market-based solutions to climate and find it odd that the right have now abandoned such strategies.

Or maybe I'm just projecting. :-)