Thread: post election question.

Originally Posted by Tonyz

Would it be in someones interest to call for a bi election or whatever they are called.

We elect from a pool of candidates. Party affiliation (or lack thereof) of an elected candidate (sitting member) is, and always has been, mutable.

For a by-election to occur; unless disqualified for some reason (for example, the section 45 eligibility problems of a few years for Federal members or some criminal conviction) the sitting member has to resign the seat.

Seems totally unfair to me.
You vote for the lesser of the evils, (we have state election coming up and trying to get candidates opinions and thoughts on various subjects is like into the wind.
One yob I asked where do you stand on X and do you vote on your constituents opinions or bloody party lines, still wouldnt give me an answer, block of 4x2 around his head would be a waste of my time.

Originally Posted by Tonyz

Seems totally unfair to me.
You vote for the lesser of the evils, (we have state election coming up and trying to get candidates opinions and thoughts on various subjects is like into the wind.
One yob I asked where do you stand on X and do you vote on your constituents opinions or bloody party lines, still wouldnt give me an answer, block of 4x2 around his head would be a waste of my time.

Which is why I never give my first preferences to party candidates. I know independents don't stand much chance usually, but I do try to encourage them, just in case there's a reasonable one, eg Ted Mack or John Hatton, comes along one day. (And also, to show my disapproval of the party wastes of space.

As said above parties have no official standing in our electoral system.


In theory our parliaments are a collection of individuals free to represent their seats as they see fit. They answer for their actions at the subsequent election.


That's how the system was designed, but of course clever $%^&* found a way to game it pretty much as soon as the first parliament sat. It was probably that way in ancient Greece although as I recall they had no formal parties. It's a natural reaction. Humans are tribal. We clump together for security and heaven help you if you are an outlier.

It's worth watching chimps. We are remarkably and disturbingly alike but they are far enough removed so you can see the true motivation behind so much human behavior.


Personally I number my ballot in reverse. I give the biggest number to the greens, then lib/lab and only then do I consider how to preference the remaining candidates, if any.


I have had the same political philosophy since I was 18. No matter who wins government they are going to shaft us. By hanging the parliament we frustrate their efforts and we (hopefully) get shafted less/slower. Of course the democrats proved this approach a catastrophic failure So as usual I'm wrong about everything.

As far as the 2 major parties are concerned.

Labor votes on party lines 99.99% of the time, the 0.01% of the time they cross the floor almost certainly means they will get kicked out of the party.

libs vote on party lines 99.9% of the time, the .1% of times they cross the floor doesn’t mean getting kicked out, but you better have got permission and had a good reason. Oh and if you do it too often you get the flick.

So in effect you are voting for the party and not the person.

As for the SA election, I really can’t see any difference between the 2 parties, they both seem to have basically the same policies on all the Major stuff, and they are both equally awful if you ask me. They will both be right at the bottom of my vote.

Cheers Andrew

Originally Posted by AJ.

As far as the 2 major parties are concerned.

Labor votes on party lines 99.99% of the time, the 0.01% of the time they cross the floor almost certainly means they will get kicked out of the party.

libs vote on party lines 99.9% of the time, the .1% of times they cross the floor doesn’t mean getting kicked out, but you better have got permission and had a good reason. Oh and if you do it too often you get the flick.

So in effect you are voting for the party and not the person.

As for the SA election, I really can’t see any difference between the 2 parties, they both seem to have basically the same policies on all the Major stuff, and they are both equally awful if you ask me. They will both be right at the bottom of my vote.

Cheers Andrew

agree with you mate but rather either of the 2 parties instead of some other wacko groups

Just my opinion, if you are elected, you should finish the term under that party banner, if you wish to leave you should leave parliament completely and re contest as independent or new party member at the next election.
That would see how many are prepared to stand by their personal convictions.