AK's Australian Election Series

The first of July, 2007 would be forever revered by progressives around Australia - the marriage amendment passed by a margin of 2 to 1, now recognising gay marriages. A sizeable number of Tory voters voted Yes in the referendum, causing discomfort for some of the party. The carbon and mining taxes also came into effect the same day, and the government was set to introduce the paid parental leave legislation shortly. PM Crean and Deputy PM Nettle in particular were very pleased with their achievements to date, but stated that there was much more to be done. Former National MP Bob Katter announced the creation of a new national political party on the 11th of July, 2007, namely called Rural Voice. Katter described the new party, which was inspired by the WA state party of the same name, as "The only real choice for rural Australians - Labor, the Tories, Natural Law, Patriotic Front, the Democrats, they don't care!"

APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, hosted its annual meeting in Sydney, in September of 2007, with PM Crean representing Australia. Later in the same month, Canadian PM Stephen Harper became the first Canadian PM to address the Australian Parliament. Despite the massive differences between the Prime Ministers and their respective governments, Crean and Harper got along relatively well, although Harper did not get along as well with Deputy PM Nettle, Nettle branding Harper as an “extremist”.

The end of 2007, with the Australian economy doing fairly well, amidst struggles from the industries hit by the carbon and mining taxes, saw PM Crean attend the UN’s Climate Chance Conference, held in Bali. Crean explained the massive implementation of environmentally friendly natures in Australia, and how carbon dioxide emissions have already begun to reduce in Australia, according to studies undertaken by prominent universities and thinktanks alike. Crean also encouraged fellow nations, particularly fellow Commonwealth nations, to follow Australia’s lead.

2008 began with police using capsicum spray at a tennis match in Melbourne, to control the despicable behaviour of some of the spectators, Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay began to be dredged, amidst much controversy, and extreme heat and rain alike were witnessed around the country. On the economic scale though, the global financial crisis, which began to brew around 2006, unleashed its payload in 2008. At the start of 2008, unemployment was starting to climb back up, hitting 4% in the middle of the year, after remaining in the 3-3.5% for the 2003-08 period, under both the Costello and Crean governments.

Citing “low sales, plus increasing costs of production”, the Mitsubishi Australia plant in suburban Adelaide closed its doors in March of 2008. Opposition Leader Joe Hockey hit out at the government, stating that “Courtesy of your eco-taxes, you’ve managed to force out one of our main car manufacturers! How much longer until Holden and Ford are pushed out?” PM Crean came back with “They were declining prior to the carbon dioxide tax, and last time I checked, the people are moving to more environmentally friendly cars”. This made for a memorable Question Time, and entrenched the Conservatives’ opposition to the carbon and mining taxes, although Hockey stated that “the first step is reforming the tax”, on the carbon tax.

A territorial election in the Northern Territory, held in August, saw the NT Conservatives elected with a majority of 3. Meanwhile in Western Australia, an early election called by then Premier Alan Carpenter, resulted in Conservative Colin Barnett winning a massive landslide, only requiring Rural Voice in the Legislative Council (state equivalent of the Senate). Carpenter almost his seat in the election, and NSW Premier Morris Iemma was replaced by Nathan Rees, after Iemma lost caucus support. Although Australia was holding up better than a lot of other economies, amidst the backdrop of the US electing Barack Obama as President, the future did not look as good for Australia, leading up to the election.

An election has been called for the 6th of December, 2008, continuing the trend of shortening, as much as possible, the gap between House and Senate terms.

Party platforms at this election:

Labor Party – Prime Minister Simon Crean and Labor are running on their record in government, namely legalization of gay marriage, and the environmental reforms. Labor are promising, for a second term, introducing stimulus packages to deal with the recently-emerged global financial crisis, standardizing the school curriculum to a nationwide standard, more funding for health services, and Labor’s slogan for the 2008 election is “Moving Forward”.

Natural Law Party – Deputy Prime Minister Kerry Nettle and the Natural Law Party are campaigning on being the driving force behind the marriage and environmental reforms, and are continuing to push for a repeal of the 1979 states’ rights amendment to the Constitution, a complete end to logging, funding for wind-powered energy, and increased animal rights. Natural Law's 2008 slogan is "Let’s Continue to Clean Up the Country".

Conservative Party – Opposition Leader Joe Hockey and the Conservatives are running on a mass reduction in the petrol tax, abolition of the mining tax, an opposition to stimulus, stating that “a Market-based recovery is the best method in testing times”, pointing to how the Fraser government implemented market-based methods to the after-effects of the 1970s recession. The Conservatives are also proposing reforms and major cuts to the carbon dioxide tax, support for a second Sydney airport in rural Western Sydney, and ensuring states retain their rights. The Conservatives’ 2008 slogan is “A Brighter Tomorrow”.

Australian Democrats – Natasha Stott Despoja and the Democrats are running on a centrist platform, arguing they are the only “middle-ground option in an extremist climate”. The Democrats’ 2008 platform includes a call for a slight reduction in the new environmental taxes, further upgrades to the Internet network of the nation, and a study into domestic violence. The Democrats' 2008 slogan is "Never Cave To Pressure".

Patriotic Front – Pauline Hanson and the Patriotic Front, are running on the same old platform, with more of an emphasis on Islamic terrorism. Hanson is also calling for repealing the marriage amendment legalizing gay marriage, and repealing the carbon and mining taxes, while increasing corporate tax. The Patriotic Front's 2008 slogan is "Telling It Like It Is".

Family First – Steve Fielding and Family First are once again committed to a 100% pro-life platform, elimination of the petrol tax, and the ending of the mining and carbon taxes. While Fielding has stated that he fully respect’s the electorate’s decision regarding gay marriage, he stated that “I will continue to promote the traditional family unit, for as long as I can keep up the Good Lord’s work!” Family First's 2008 slogan is "Children Are Our Future".

Anticapitalist Alliance – Lee Rhiannon and the Anticapitalist Alliance are running on increasing the carbon and mining taxes, to 95%, a complete ban on recreational fishing, shutting down all coal-fired power stations, restricting families to having one child, and the general hard-left platform of years gone by. The Anticapitalist Alliance’s 2008 slogan is “Start The Revolution".

Rural Voice – Bob Katter and Rural Voice are running on an anti-mining, carbon and petrol tax platform, while raising income tax on high earners and lowering the GST, along with stimulus for rural areas. Katter is also advocating on no more privatizations, re-introduction and raising of some tariffs, and removing “green tape” on rural industries and activities, namely logging, mining, shooting and fishing. Rural Voice’s inaugural slogan is “Rebuild Australia”.

Voting is open for 72 hours as per usual.

Me: Tory again.

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