Since there are so many Australians here (Election '07)
 

Shall we discuss our coming Election?

I'm supporting Labor, simply because I want Johnny out before he retires and drops Mr. Costello on our lap.

Beyond that, meh.


Youse Guys haves ans opinions?

I think the nation's getting a bit tired of having duck-faced Johnny toddle around making false promises. Rudd's going to win, I'm 99% sure.

I'm suporting Labour even though I can't vote. I'm sick of having to share a last name with Ol' Johno.

I could never realy understand how Howard beat Keating anyway.

I've already voted at Australia House in London. I voted for Labor in the Senate, and for the House of Representatives I voted in order of preference: Labor, Greens, Liberals, Christian Democracy Party. It was unfortunate that I had to put a number down for the CDP, as I really hate mixing of state and religion.

I was originally going to vote for the Liberals, as I do believe in a strong economy, and know they can handle it better. However, my morals won out. As long as Labor sticks to improving education, transport, health, and inflation is kept reasonably low, I won't count my vote as a waste.

Alcar...

You work for the department of treehuggers don't you? I thought they would have bribed you to vote for the greenies.

Well, we are now led by a Mr. Kevin Rudd.

Let's see how this goes.

I used to. But remember, New South Wales is run by Labor.

We're run by Labor now, but how many Greens are in the Senate?

Alcar...

There was a guy in our local elctrate who changed his name to PM Howard.

It was obvious Rudd would win, and the releation between Bush and Howard was annoying, actually, Howard tended to suck up to most people more powerful than him, that being said, I don't realy want to be a republic, but I don't mind.

Hah, Labor will still find it difficult to implement most of its key election promises (Kyoto protocol ratification, Iraq / Afganistan troops withrawl, Work Choices abolishment / reinvention) before July - when the Senate next reshuffles.

Even then we have to contend with non-Labor senators from the Greens, Family First and Democrats who have popped up / retained their positions.

Truly, Howard was correct in saying that his key promises would be implemented straight away (sooner) if the Liberals and Democrats had retained power, and a majority of seats. Afterall, Howard and Rudd were offering practically the same things (apart from the three aforementioned Rudd promises).

As an aside, I am terribly sorry to see John Howard leave. Left-wing-big-statist or not, I agreed with him on a lot of issues. He was a realist rather than an idealist, and at the end of the day, while we may all like to prance about and sing our idealistic praises, it is realists who keep our nation sustainable and our way of life alive.

He is a great man, and I will dearly miss his ever-gracings in our media.

Alcar...

It's not definite yet but they may hold the balance of power. If not, the Liberals will retain their majority.

Latest news is that Costello isn't going to stand for the leadership of the Liberal Party; he's just going to be a backbencher.

Oh by the way, Rudd is the member my electorate, Griffith.
So we will probably be the ones smoking cigars.

Isn't a little disappointing that Lil' Johnny didn't win his own seat? I mean he has been there 33 years.

It was interesting that people were initially jubilant that he'd fallen so far but then, all of a sudden, there was a wave of pity for him that he should leave politics on such a low. At least it saves the cost of the inevitable bi-election when he would have quit.