AK's Australian Election Series - 1999 (Double Dissolution)
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 29, 2024, 07:35:58 AM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  General Politics
  Individual Politics (Moderator: The Dowager Mod)
  AK's Australian Election Series - 1999 (Double Dissolution)
« previous next »
Pages: [1]
Poll
Question: Into the new millenium!
#1
Natural Law
 
#2
Labor
 
#3
Democrats
 
#4
Conservative
 
#5
Patriotic Front
 
#6
Anticapitalist Alliance
 
Show Pie Chart
Partisan results

Total Voters: 34

Author Topic: AK's Australian Election Series - 1999 (Double Dissolution)  (Read 570 times)
Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends
Anton Kreitzer
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,167
Australia


Political Matrix
E: 8.00, S: 3.11

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« on: January 15, 2015, 10:54:44 AM »

In perhaps the most grueling, notable and prominent campaign in Australian political history, the voters of Australia voted roughly 60-40 to make the nation a republic, a major departure from having the monarch of the United Kingdom, namely Queen Elizabeth II, as the head of state. Interestingly, the preamble question received a slightly higher vote from the Australian people than the republic question did, by a scant minority of voters from both sides. As for the election, Natural Law finally topped the poll after sixteen years as a political party, although with only 29.41% of the vote, meaning yet another unity or minority government of some form was likely, the last time Australians elected a majority government being the third term of the Whitlam Government in 1973, and when the counting the conservative coalition as a majority, the Progress-National Country coalition government in 1985.

Summary of 1997 election:

House of Representatives
Progress – 54 (-9)
Natural Law – 51 (+27)
Labor – 42 (-17)
National – 28 (+8)
Patriotic Front – 14 (-2)
Democrats – 8 (-6)
Socialist Alternative – 3 (-1)

Senate
1994: 13 Progress, 11 Labor,  8 Natural Law, 6 Democrats, 3 National, 5 Patriotic Front, 1 Socialist Alternative
1997: 9 Progress, 9 Labor, 6 National, 5 Natural Law, 4 Democrats, 2 Patriotic Front, 1 Socialist Alternative
Total: 23 Progress, 20 Labor, 15 Natural Law, 11 Democrats, 10 National, 7 Patriotic Front, 2 Socialist Alternative

Two-party preferred vote: 52.03-47.97

In another notable first, perhaps even worldwide, Natural Law overtook Labor to become Australia's largest left-wing party, the first for Australia's "green force", as they had sometimes been referred to in the media. As a result of being the largest left-wing party, and with Natural Law and Labor holding more seats than Progress and the Nationals, Natural Law leader and founder Bob Brown all of a sudden found himself in a position to possibly lead a government. This prospect was something Brown never held in his wildest dreams, despite polling prior to the 1997 election looking good for Natural Law. Brown stated on the 24th of May, 1997: "Enough Australians have entrusted us with their vote, and thus a mandate for a progressive, environmentally friendly future, and a majority of Australians, on the base of the election result, have explicitly opted a preference for a left-wing government."

After Janine Haines and the Democrats ruled out another government with Progress and the National Party, and subsequently stepped down as Democrat leader, to be replaced by fellow South Australian Meg Lees, it seemed likely that a fully left-wing government would take office. However, Natural Law and Labor only held 93 seats, out of a possible 200 in the House of Representatives, meaning support from the Democrats, and possibly Socialist Alternative, was required. Alexander Downer resigned as Prime Minister on the 27th of May, 1997, knowing he could not form a government on the current numbers, and also because of the success of the republic referendum, stating that it was "a grim day for Queen and country alike". Paul Keating resigned as Labor leader the following day, keeping true to his pre-election promise.

On the 1st of June, 1997, it was announced that a Natural Law-Labor-Democrat government, with a tedious majority of 2 over all other parties, would be formed, led by new Prime Minister Bob Brown, Australia's first gay Prime Minister, and with newly elected Labor leader Kim Beazley as Deputy Prime Minister. One of the government's first actions was to pass a bill to prevent construction of the Hindmarsh Bridge, on the permission of the courts as per the 1996 decision, and to uphold the voluntary euthanasia laws of the Northern Territory, passed back in 1996, citing the states' rights amendment passed back in 1979.

On the 3rd of July, 1997, the governmental agreement was issued jointly by PM Brown and Deputy PM Beazley:
  • No Hindmarsh Bridge to be built.
  • A cut in mandatory detention periods to 120 days, along with ensuring all those in mandatory detention are treated humanely.
  • Warnings on cigarette packets to cover the top of the pack, in a full-text manner, as opposed to just barely printed on the bottom.
  • A commitment to stronger relations with Asian nations.
  • No dams to be constructed during the term of the Parliament.
  • No second airport at Sydney to commence construction in the term of the Parliament.
  • An introduction of a tax on new cars, to pay for public transportation projects.
  • A generally more centralised system of government.
  • As with the 1994-97 unity government, other issues would be discussed as the Parliament progressed.

Alexander Downer and Tim Fischer remained leaders of their respective parties, as they went back into opposition against the "watermelon" government, as some MPs, media personalities and journalists referred to them. The 30th of July saw a landslide in Thredbo, New South Wales, killing 17 and trapping one. It was decided to marginally raise income taxes to increase the Natural Disaster Fund after this, while some in the Patriotic Front and Nationals stated "this is the price Australia pays for having a gay PM".

The new car tax, cigarette packet warnings and income tax increases easily passed both houses in the later months of 1997, with the Socialist Alternative supporting in both houses, although the government collectively held 54 seats in the 100-member chamber, and could pass legislation without their support. Some MPs, such as radical Natural Law MP Lee Rhiannon of New South Wales, did not think the government went far enough, Rhiannon stating that the "party had sold out to Labor".

1998 began with serious flooding in Katherine, in the Northern Territory, that killed three people. PM Brown once again cited the importance of the Natural Disaster Fund, in the wake of the tragedy. The Government also announced in January an apology to the Stolen Generations of Indigenous Australians, to be held on the 16th of February, 1998. The Patriotic Front boycotted the vote, for obvious reasons, while a scant minority of Progress and National MPs stated they would not attend the apology, for various reasons. Brown stated that "While we cannot change the past, we can use it as an example to teach our children right from wrong, and we will do better for our first peoples. We as a nation must ensure we always treat the original Australians with the utmost respect, and give them a helping hand when we can." Deputy PM Kim Beazley, along with other party leaders Alexander Downer, Tim Fischer, Meg Lees and Colin Hesse, along with all the incumbent Premiers and Chief Ministers, attended the apology.

On the 7th of April, Patrick Corporation fired 2,000 waterfront dockers in a bid to improve productivity. This provoked a serious response from the Government, PM Brown stating "Deputy PM Beazley and I will not cave on any retraction in workers' rights, and our parties are united behind us". In what was criticised by many Australians, especially on the right, Patrick Corporation was eventually put into a position where they would re-hire the workers with a payrise, with lenience allowed for strategies for increasing productivity, or face serious fines. While Patrick Corporation reluctantly followed the government's orders, issued on the 27th of May, many on the right feared that Australia has headed for a statist dystopia, to quote Opposition Leader Alexander Downer.

Progress retained government in the ACT territorial election in February of 1998, and Tasmania threw out their minority Progress government in favour of a Natural Law-Labor government in October. However, the Queensland election that June was a whole different kettle of fish - the Patriotic Front polled so strongly, particularly in rural areas, that they actually won a plurality of seats - 36 seats compared to Labor's 34, the Nationals' 7, and Progress' 5, the other 7 being comprised of 4 Natural Law seats and 3 independents. Theoretically, a Patriotic Front government could have been formed with National, Progress and independent support. Eventually, a Labor minority government, with confidence-and-supply support (but no ministerial positions) from Progress, Natural Law, and some of the independent and National members, was formed under new Premier Peter Beattie. Anti-racism protests broke out nationwide, and all surviving former Prime Ministers, namely Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, John Singleton, Peter Reith, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating, and Alexander Downer, signed an open letter against racism.

The Queensland result was a serious threat for the conservatives in Australia - with optional preferential voting now in use in federal politics, along with Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia, with Victoria set to introduce it at their next state election, due by 2000, the thought of losing more elections on the back of vote-splitting was a serious concern, and talks between the Progress and National parties began about a potential merger, although many in the National Party were hostile, at least initially. It was decided a "Merger Meeting", as the media referred to it, would be held in September of 1998.
Logged
Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends
Anton Kreitzer
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,167
Australia


Political Matrix
E: 8.00, S: 3.11

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2015, 10:55:49 AM »
« Edited: January 15, 2015, 11:07:47 AM by Anton Kreitzer »

August of 1998 witnessed the reveal of the new heads on the coins - replacing the Queen, effective on the 1st of January 1999, would be the head of the incumbent President. On the 28th of August, 1998, the vote to choose the first President of Australia was held, and Paul Keating, considered to be the father of the Australian republic, was elected by a 140-52 margin, with 8 MPs abstaining. He would assume the Presidency on the 1st of January, 1999. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II visited Australia in December of 1998 for the "handing over" ceremony. Her Majesty stated that while she was sad to see Australia no longer a nation under her rule, she was pleased that ties with the Commonwealth would be retained, and that Australians in general had positive thoughts of their soon-to-be former monarch.

The Progress and National Merger Meeting was held over the weekend of the 12th-14th September 1998, and resulted in virtually all Progress MPs, and most National MPs, voting in favour of a merger. The new party would be called the Conservative Party, after the shared ideologies of the parties, and Peter Costello, Shadow Treasurer, would be its leader. State/territory-level parties in Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, and Queensland would also follow suit, while the WA and SA branches of the National Party wanted to remain independent.    The Progress Party in WA and SA would still be renamed the Conservative Party. Bob Katter, maverick National MP, became an independent, stating that "merging with the urban-based Progress Party, who started out as an economic extremist party, was the final straw. I will continue to represent my constituents independent of any party, as I believe the people of Northwestern Queensland deserve a true voice!" Two other National MPs became independents as well, and one joined the Patriotic Front.

Into the new era of the Australian republic, and 1999 started off relatively uneventful politically, aside from an increase in the national petrol tax and corporation tax. The government also passed legislation restricting development of the Great Barrier Reef, which succeeded under new Queensland Premier Peter Beattie's approval, with provisions of development allowed, although no mining/drilling was to take place in the reef waters. Labor held onto majority government in New South Wales, in March amidst claims the NSW branch of Natural Law was too radical. This would be proven right when Lee Rhiannon took three Natural Law MPs, along with the Socialist Alternative MPs, to form a new party, the Anticapitalist Alliance. Rhiannon stated that the new party would "never sell out", and "stay true to the cause of the common good".

This made the government a minority government, and new Opposition Leader Peter Costello stated that "Australia cannot be held to ransom by a bunch of borderline communists", as the government needed four votes, excluding the Speaker, to pass their budget. As Senate elections could not be brought out of line, barring a double dissolution, in line with the 1974 amendment to the Constitution, attempts were made to try and keep the government afloat. These attempts, including convincing the Opposition to vote no in a no-confidence motion, and appeasing the Anticapitalist Alliance, failed from the get go.

After trying to pass a prospective 1999 budget three times in the House of Representatives, but failing to pass it, a motion of no confidence was held. The vote breakdown was as follows:

Aye: 102 (Conservative + Patriotic Front + Anticapitalist Alliance +  2 Independents)
Nay: 97 (Natural Law + Labor + Democrats)
Abstain: 1 (Bob Katter)

Thus, the government had lost confidence in the Parliament, and a double dissolution election, in line with the Constitution's 1974 amendment on elections, would be called for no later than the end of June 1999. The government went into caretaker mode on the 17th of May, 1999, bracing itself for the election.


House of Representatives at end of Parliament:
Conservative – 78 (+24)*
Natural Law – 47 (-4)
Labor – 42 (nc)
Patriotic Front – 15 (+1)
Democrats –8 (nc)
Anticapitalist Alliance – 7 (+4)
Independent – 3 (+3)

Senate at end of Parliament:
Conservative – 38 (+12)*
Labor – 20 (nc)
Natural Law – 22 (nc)
Patriotic Front – 6 (nc)
Democrats –12 (nc)
Anticapitalist Alliance – 2 (nc)

* Changes are from 1997 Progress totals.

A double dissolution election has been called for the 26th of June, 1999.

Party platforms at this election:

Natural Law Party - Prime Minister Bob Brown and the Natural Law Party are campaigning on their pragmatic record, environmental advances, support for Australia's Indigenous peoples, and proposals involving a complete uranium ban, recalling some state powers, more tax hikes, GST repeal aside, and a "re-examination" of ANZUS and other alliances with Western nations. Natural Law's 1999 slogan is "New Millennium. New Outlook for Australia".

Labor Party – Deputy Prime Minister Kim Beazley and Labor are running on indigenous reconciliation, their successes in standing up for the waterfront workers, and a general social democratic platform in general, although do not wish to re-examine the likes of ANZUS, like Natural Law do. Labor's slogan for 1999 is "Labor Listens, Labor Acts".

Australian Democrats – Meg Lees and the Democrats are running on their usual platform of moderation and left-leaning centrism, and unlike any other party, are calling for investment in the ever-growing Internet. Lees has also stated her approval and fondness of the mandatory detention changes earlier in the Parliament. The Democrats' 1999 slogan is "Log On To The 21st Century".

Conservative Party – Opposition Leader Peter Costello and the Conservative Party are campaigning on lowering taxes across the board, changing industrial relations laws to allow for more leniency, support for lower levels of government, Costello stating that "people are more efficiently served when government is closest to them", and a vow to cut the Senate  to 75 members, in line with the Constitutional amendment of 1964. The Conservatives' inaugural slogan is "A United Australia in 2000 and Beyond"

Patriotic Front – Pauline Hanson and the Patriotic Front are once again running on winding back the 1996 gun laws, repealing all environmental legislation, a halt to non-European immigration, abolition of all land rights laws, re-introduction of the death penalty at a federal level, and an end to all of what Hanson calls "special treatment" for welfare. The Patriotic Front's 1999 slogan is "It's Now Or Never".

Anticapitalist Alliance – Lee Rhiannon and Anticapitalist Alliance are running on taking Australia out of the Commonwealth, a top tax rate of 95%, banning commercial media, and repealing numerous amendments to the Constitution, notably the amendment guaranteeing Australians free speech. Anticapltalist Alliance are also calling for Senate abolition, and their inaugural slogan is "Righting Australia's Wrongs".

Voting is open for 72 hours.

Me: Tory!
Logged
Cranberry
TheCranberry
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,501
Austria


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2015, 12:04:10 PM »

Naturally Natural Law!

Great to see this back, again. Once again, you did a terrific job!
Logged
Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends
Anton Kreitzer
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,167
Australia


Political Matrix
E: 8.00, S: 3.11

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2015, 05:30:20 PM »

Naturally Natural Law!

Great to see this back, again. Once again, you did a terrific job!

Thank you, I'll try and make sure the remaining entries are done in a more timely manner too Smiley
Logged
PPT Spiral
Spiral
Atlas Politician
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,522
Bosnia and Herzegovina


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2015, 03:31:07 AM »

Voted Conservative, of course. Also quite glad to see this is back.
Logged
TNF
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 13,440


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2015, 12:46:20 PM »

Anticapitalist Alliance
Logged
BaconBacon96
Sr. Member
****
Posts: 2,678
Ireland, Republic of


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #6 on: January 16, 2015, 05:23:41 PM »

Australian politics has really derailed here hasn't it.

Anyway, Democrats.
Logged
ElectionsGuy
Atlas Star
*****
Posts: 21,107
United States


Political Matrix
E: 7.10, S: -7.65

P P
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #7 on: January 16, 2015, 05:30:27 PM »

Conservative
Logged
Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends
Anton Kreitzer
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,167
Australia


Political Matrix
E: 8.00, S: 3.11

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2015, 11:30:56 AM »

Bump.
Logged
Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends
Anton Kreitzer
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,167
Australia


Political Matrix
E: 8.00, S: 3.11

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2015, 05:03:59 AM »

Australian politics has really derailed here hasn't it.

Anyway, Democrats.

Looks like it's going to come off the rails even more, based on current figures.

Also, final bump before polls close, voting time will now end at 8am AWST, or in just under 14 hours.
Logged
Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends
Anton Kreitzer
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,167
Australia


Political Matrix
E: 8.00, S: 3.11

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2015, 07:34:00 PM »

Voting is now closed, thank you for your participation.

Looks like we have another interesting Parliament on the cards...
Logged
Pages: [1]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.054 seconds with 15 queries.