Categories: elections, australia
Date: 16 March 2007 02:12:15
Is how I view the two main choices at the next New South Wales State Election, to be held on March 24.
Our current State Government appears rather incompetent: poor funding for schools and hospitals, decreasing water supplies, and public transport horror stories such as this one this week.
And yet, the main Opposition appears insane, both in policies (to my mind reflecting their companions who are the government federally, who are eager to create wedges between different cultures and having endless discussions about "What is means to be 'Australian'" and "mateship" and other such jingo-istic terms) and in the people in the party and their daily comments: such as the Opposition Leader practically conceding defeat and telling us to lodge a protest vote.
For those overseas, it is compulsory to vote in Australia at elections at all levels (federal, state and local) -- a fine, which varies depending on the election, is payable if you don't. Well, in reality it's compuslory to turn up and have your name ticked off. You can walk away or write a message on your ballot card or do whatever you like once your name has been ticked. And I am strongly leaning to doing so. I live in a safe seat, at all levels, so my vote may not be as crucial as those in marginal seats: I often lodge a 'protest vote' so that at least I feel I'm doing something and attempting to keep our local member honest -- though I doubt I could bring myself to tick for the Opposition with the policies they are suggesting.