Queensland state election (user search)

Quote from: ABD on January 20, 2004, 06:25:08 AM

Quote from: Realpolitik on January 15, 2004, 12:49:44 PM

I'm worried that One Nation might make a strong showing... please tell me I'm wrong...

Queensland is a weird place... I see to recall that it was run by a right wing nutter called Joh Bjelke-Petersen, who wanted to blow a hole in the Great Barrier Reef for some reason, for ages.

Well, regarding One Nation, I doubt it will do well at all. Their current two members are both likely to be returned though -- but in practice, as right-wing, rural independents. Both seats were previously safe-as-houses National Party seats. Both MPs will support the Nationals in the House.

I think the ONP is fairly redundant, as Hanson has said she won't be campaigning. However, the constituency that was attracted to ONP is still there - rural and semi-rural, socially conservative, economically interventionist and protectionist. They will support Nats in some areas, ONP in others, but most importantly, right-wing independents. And their votes will probably be securely channelled back to the Coalition via preferences (we have STV voting system in Australia).

Having said that, this will be happening in traditional Coalition seats, so it won't eat much into (usually) marginal, or Labor, seats.

You're right about Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen. He was premier from 1968-1987. And Queensland is different, but not weird : ) Its values are deeply anti-metropolitan, even in metropolitan areas.

One Nation won't do well? Excellent news

Weird is a perjorative word... would eccentric be accurate?

One question: Why did Sir Joh Bjelke Petersen want to blow the Great Barrier Reef?
Is it because he could?

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