Gillard should go!

[The Sleeping Giant]

Just dont vote - either turn up, get your name ticked off and leave, or fail to vote and when they mail out a fine dispute it on ethical grounds.

i will be voting... I reckon it's a pribilege too... Like i said i'll be voting for the best of a really bad bunch... Gillard isn't to flash as PM, but having abbott in charge is a little frightening...

Agree with that. In many countries (like parts of Africa) people walk for weeks/months just to put a vote in. (many have died too)

I feel it is one of the things we are very lucky to do.

if you dont vote dont go on this forum or talk to people complaining how bad the country is, getting taxed too much or any other issue.

Too me, as you did not vote you are happy with the way things are or really dont care for the future of this country.

What a ridiculous post.

[southee]

Just dont vote - either turn up, get your name ticked off and leave, or fail to vote and when they mail out a fine dispute it on ethical grounds.

i will be voting... I reckon it's a pribilege too... Like i said i'll be voting for the best of a really bad bunch... Gillard isn't to flash as PM, but having abbott in charge is a little frightening...

Agree with that. In many countries (like parts of Africa) people walk for weeks/months just to put a vote in. (many have died too)

I feel it is one of the things we are very lucky to do.

if you dont vote dont go on this forum or talk to people complaining how bad the country is, getting taxed too much or any other issue.

Too me, as you did not vote you are happy with the way things are or really dont care for the future of this country.

What a ridiculous post.

Why?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Because I refuse to vote for either incompetent party, you say I shouldn't have a voice. Still pay tax and still have to obey the laws of the land whether I vote or not.

[southee]

Because I refuse to vote for either incompetent party, you say I shouldn't have a voice. Still pay tax and still have to obey the laws of the land whether I vote or not.

Yes , you do. You still have to obey the laws and by not voting you are committing an offence.

There are so many parties I am sure at least one of them you could vote for ?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Like I said , never heard of anyone being fined for not voting, and as Q said, would be easily challenged in court.

Even if there was a political party that I could vote for, that vote would end up in one of the major parties hands anyway.

[Q.]

There are so many parties I am sure at least one of them you could vote for ?

Except that your vote eventually goes to one of the two major parties in the HoR.

Edit: wizard TSG, wizard.

[Roxy the Rat Girl]

Even if there was a political party that I could vote for, that vote would end up in one of the major parties hands anyway.

That is why some people are put off voting as they are effectively giving a vote to someone whom they voted against. Great for the major parties, but not fair to the voter who is trying to send a message to them.

[southee]

Like I said , never heard of anyone being fined for not voting, and as Q said, would be easily challenged in court.

Even if there was a political party that I could vote for, that vote would end up in one of the major parties hands anyway.

Woman (1943 1st time to vote) and the Indigenous people of Australia (1967 1st time to vote) fought hard to gain acceptance to vote for many years.

I find it very offensive and shameful that people dont vote.

I just guess that is the attitude of people in the modern day society now.......sad to see.

[Q.]

Like I said , never heard of anyone being fined for not voting, and as Q said, would be easily challenged in court.

Even if there was a political party that I could vote for, that vote would end up in one of the major parties hands anyway.

Woman (1943 1st time to vote) and the Indigenous people of Australia (1967 1st time to vote) fought hard to gain acceptance to vote for many years.

I find it very offensive and shameful that people dont vote.

I just guess that is the attitude of people in the modern day society now.......sad to see.

IMO it's more shameful to treat political parties like football teams.

"If you follow a leader whether they are right or wrong they are not a leader they are your master."

[Jimmy_041]

If you follow a leader whether they are right or wrong they are not a leader they are your master.

You mean this bloke?

[The Sleeping Giant]

Like I said , never heard of anyone being fined for not voting, and as Q said, would be easily challenged in court.

Even if there was a political party that I could vote for, that vote would end up in one of the major parties hands anyway.

Woman (1943 1st time to vote) and the Indigenous people of Australia (1967 1st time to vote) fought hard to gain acceptance to vote for many years.

I find it very offensive and shameful that people dont vote.

I just guess that is the attitude of people in the modern day society now.......sad to see.

Yes, they were given the RIGHT to vote. How has that turned out for our indigenous brothers? Some would say not a lot has changed for them in 45 years.

Not sure why you would be offended if I don't vote, I mean I'm not offended by your narrow conservative views. Maybe I will vote again one day when there is a party worth voting for. I will think about it though, unlike the mindless sheep who just walk in and tick the same box election after election.

[Sky Pilot]

If you follow a leader whether they are right or wrong they are not a leader they are your master.

You mean this bloke?

Classic Jim

[Sojourner]

Let me clarify that I think its a good idea for people to excersize their right to vote, yet what I am driving at is that I dont think it should be compulsory and enforced with fines if people wish to excersize what should also be their right not to vote if they do not wish to.

Jehovahs Witnesses do not vote, I am not sure if they get checked off the list and walk out or simply dont vote and when enquiries are made simply state that they are members of the JW's and dont wish to vote and are then excused from it, I imagine that would be the most likely scenerio and if so its not unreasonable that every one should be entitled to the same right.

[GWW]

I'm not a Liberal Party supporter, but - I find it quite funny that the ALP does best in the polls when there's a break and not as much is happening in the political world.

[Gozu]

I think that that might be because when anything is happening the media (especially newspapers) beat it up as a disaster for Labor and that screaming & squealing is picked up most likely only on the periphery by the public.

Having said that I find it very hard to believe Labor have gone up 6% over the summer especially when all they've really done is walked away from their inane surplus guarantee. Most people prefer money to be spent on the public rather than stuffed in glass boxes like the Libs like to do so there will always be that natural bias to Labor in that respect but 6% is too big of a jump for mine.

[Sky Pilot]

If Federal Labor cruises through the next six months without a major screw up I believe it can win the upcoming election. Abbot's unpopularity won't change so that's a free kick for Labor which will translate to votes for the left.

[GWW]

No doubt the ALP would be planning a "Work Choices" scare campaign.

I wonder if the Libs will go back to Turnbull before the election. I don't think they will, but presumably this will be a consideration if the ALP gain more ground in the next poll. I suspect though that there will be a bit of a correction in the next poll, and the Libs' advantage will be back to a 55-45 type of situation.

[dedja]

The Libs should never have dumped Turnbull ... they would be smart to go back to the future ASAP as they should be embarrassed that a seemingly mortally wounded and hopeless Labor government has some sort of chance to be re-elected when in really it should be a landslide.

[Sky Pilot]

If Howard had handed over the reins to Costello we wouldn't be having this conversation. The country wouldn't be in turmoil with crippling debt and interest payments, a half- arsed dodgy broadband solution, mining tax, carbon tax and the wretched illegal immigrant problem. Liberals made an error of judgement then and they are happy to make another stuff up now.

[Jimmy_041]

You forget, everyone was pillorying Costello as much as they do Abbott now - I agree with you though.
Gillard would have called him a misogynist as well. It's the old use the minority card as a weapon trick