Voting Day Election 2022 Australia — Saturday

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With both major parties being two sides of the same UniParty, and the media afraid to ask real questions, this election campaign has been a vacuum — more like a personality quiz in Dolly magazine than a National Debate. The Conservative government, which hasn’t conserved much, looks likely to lose to the Makeover Man from the Labor Party who wears designer black shirts and fancy rims because a marketing expert told him to. A group of sneaky-pseudo-Greens called the Teal Independents are pretending to be central, but are only running against the Coalition, not against Labor, showing exactly which side of politics they’re on. They’re funded by a billionaires son, wealthy CEO’s and people that profit from renewables money — so much so that even The World Socialist Website sees them as “bogus” corporate raiders, seeking profits and called them a “reactionary fraud”. That bad.

The best hope now is that freedom loving candidates and parties will win the balance of power in the Senate. Yes, we long for Government gridlock. Australians can still put The Majors Last. Don’t waste those preferences!

It’s not too late to volunteer to help any small party of your choice, for example to hand out how-to-vote cards at booths. Go on — meet your fellow Australians. It’s fun, it’s just a couple of hours, and it might make a lot of difference to the small parties. People walking into booths might never have thought about how to make the most of their vote.  Suggestions here:

Tips for foreigners watching this spectacle: The Liberals here are the major “free market” conservatives (in theory) and they partner with the Nationals (in the country seats) to form The Coalition which is in government today, but maybe not tomorrow.  The Labor — Green Parties are the Opposition and are exactly what you think they are — useless for workers and forests. In Australia the blue parties are still blue (conservative) and the socialist reds are still red. We don’t understand how people in the US let the reds steal the blue color. But yes, our blue liberals are more likely to be Trump fans. Weird eh?

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The Australian preference voting system —  Teach the big parties a big lesson

 

Topher Field – It’s a cartel — give your vote and money to the little guys

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How Viv Forbes will Vote, and Why

From Viv Forbes of the Saltbush Club (11th May)

The Liberals cannot be trusted to control Australia without adult supervision. But to replace them with an ALP/Green/ABC/Teal government would be a disaster. So voters must ensure that Liberals can form the next government, providing they have mature overseers.

Steve Hunter

Steve Hunter

Voters must ensure there are new sensible people holding the balance of power in Australian parliaments. We need people who understand that:

  • The “Man-made Climate Crisis” is a fraud. Natural cycles control the climate.
  • “Net Zero Emissions” is a destructive, impossible green dream.
  • Hydrogen, Pumped Hydro and Big Batteries are all net-consumers of energy. They can store energy and recycle it, but that round-robin process is always a net consumer of energy.
  • Carbon Capture and Storage and “Clean Coal” are con games designed to consume more hydro-carbon energy for no public or environmental benefit. They would enrich big businesses.
  • Reliable affordable electricity for industry and homes is best supplied by coal, gas, hydro or nuclear power.
  • While the world scrambles to get coal supplies, Australian bureaucrats have delayed coal exploration and development for decades. And we can mine and export uranium, but not use it. These follies must stop.
  • All electricity generators should be treated equally – no special taxes or subsidies. They should be obliged to provide their own backup power and their own connections to the grid.
  • Electric cars may suit rich city folk (who forget they are powered mainly by coal). But battery-electric engines are an impossible dream for dozers, tractors, harvesters, road trains, aeroplanes and bulk carriers. The supply chains that deliver daily food, fuel and services to the cities rely totally on hydrocarbon energy (diesel, petrol and gas).
  • To moderate the effects of droughts and floods we need MORE DAMS NOW.
  • We need a regulatory firestorm to clear the legislative litter of green and red tape.
  • We have far too many complicated tax laws. We need to slash and simplify taxes everywhere, starting with abolition of payroll tax (the tax on jobs) and capital gains tax (the tax on capital improvements).
  • Most politicians since the Whitlam era have helped to create a huge national debt. Unless we reverse this, our currency will be destroyed, opening the door to digital money, electronic rationing and “The Great Green Reset”.
  • We must abolish federal/state/local duplication, leaving more control with State and Local authorities and with families.
  • The federal government should focus on defence, foreign affairs, quarantine and maintenance of free trade between states.
  • We need a “back-to-basics” in public education, with less green indoctrination.
  • Australia has a shortage of labour, and a surplus of people receiving welfare. Welfare for able-bodied recipients with no dependants should be reduced.

It is time to VOTE FOR REAL CHANGE. However, thoughtless rejection of the Lib/NP government will produce a government which is far worse – a Labor Government dependent on Greens and extreme Greens. We must use the power of preferential voting to break Liberal/Labor/Green Power.

Libs and ALP are both on the nose. It looks unlikely that either of them will hold a majority of seats. But if voters are not disciplined in how they vote, a bunch of deep greens posing as independents will grab enough seats to hold the balance of power. They will naturally support a radical Green/ALP coalition, and Australia will leap out of the frying pan into the fire.

However, with thoughtful and disciplined behaviour at the ballot box (for BOTH Senate and House of Reps) we can stop this green calamity with the help of sensible new politicians.

Our first election job – identify the worst candidates and parties. Preference them last on both House of Reps and Senate ballot papers when you vote.

The most dangerous candidates in this election are The Sneaky Greens – they pose as “independents” but are being supported by climate crazy millionaires and, if elected, will re-appear in their deep green uniforms. Unless you know better, put all “independents”, Teal Greens, Climate 200 and Get-Up supported candidates last.

Have a look here to see how they operate and what they plan:
https://www.climate200.com.au/
https://www.getup.org.au/

Just above the Sneaky Greens and “Independents” put the declared Greens and their ALP allies. Then select all Liberals above all of the Green/ALP alliance and “Independents”.

Then focus on who should get your top votes. Choose your numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 etc candidates from the Freedom-Friendly-Minor-Parties (FFMP) giving preference to whomever you like from the parties below:

  • Campbell Newman, Topher Field and the Liberal Democrats
  • Pauline Hanson, George Christensen and the One Nation Candidates
  • Clive Palmer, Craig Kelly and United Australia Candidates
  • Bob Katter and Katter Australia Party
  • Barnaby Joyce, Matt Canavan and National Party Candidates
  • Bob Day and Australian Family Party Candidates

Put low numbers against all FFMP candidates so your vote preferences flow on and accumulate. Number every square all the way down to Unknown independents and the climate-crazy Teal “independents”.

For the Senate (which has a large complicated white ballot paper) it is safer and easier to number every square above the line, using the same party ranking rules as above.

Australia is facing a crisis. We hold a large rich continent with a small population. It is lightly defended with inadequate weapons. Wars are fought for living space and resources. To our north (and sneaking down to the East) are the teeming millions of Asia.

Australia has huge resources of minerals, energy, timber and food but too much is sterilised in nationalised parks, world heritage areas, or buried under rainbow serpents. We have to import farm labour while we pay Australians not to work. Now our grasslands and farms are being suffocated beneath subsidised green energy paraphernalia while speculators tout capital-destroying dreams like hydrogen. Our education system devalues maths and science, despises educational excellence and offers an expanding array of soft options. Our immigration policy seems to encourage racial tension while our military leaders seem more concerned with diversity and zero emissions than with discipline and skills.

It requires thoughtful dedication to save Australia at this late stage. It will get worse before it gets better. We cannot allow those who created this crisis to control our next chapter. Australia’s revival must start with this election.

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160 comments to Voting Day Election 2022 Australia — Saturday

  • #
    Lee

    Libdems in chisholm could use some help – let me know if anyone interested and I can add you to the signal group!

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    • #
      Neville

      All the best Lee and I hope that conservative voters who are thinking of voting for a freedom candidate also have the brains to put Gladys Liu above the Labor, Greens parties.
      And I hope they also include a vote for the Liberals in the Senate.
      Gladys has won the number one position on the ballot paper and I only hope that Labor doesn’t win your seat this time.
      I also note that the UAP is ultimately preferencing Gladys tomorrow.

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  • #
    Neville

    I agree with most of Viv Forbe’s voting methods and a vote above the line in the Senate is probably the safest way.
    But if you don’t include the Coalition ( Libs, National) in the Senate you’re just wasting your time and ensuring that the Labor/ Greens will have a majority.
    If you want Labor /Greens to control the Senate you’re not serious and we’ll all suffer from the mad left’s agenda for the next three years.
    I’ve already voted and on my house of reps paper the Labor and Greens are last. But everyone has a vote and must vote according to their conscience.
    And that’s your business, not mine.

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    • #
      John

      Putting one party into power in the lower house and a different one in the upper house is just stupid. When the Coalition won with Abbot as leader its legislation for implementing some of its election campaign commitments was blocked by the senate.

      I’d like to get rid of the senate and let the elected government stand or fall on its own merits. That’s not likely to happen so the next best thing is to compel the senate to wave legislation through unless it can identify flaws in the government’s reasoning behind the legislation. In this case it would be a house of review, just like peer-review.

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    • #
      RickWill

      Topher Field makes a valid point about the value of your vote; $3 for reps and another $3 for the senate. Only the first pick gets the money. And if your first pick does not get to 4% then your $3 for each house is SAVED by tax payers. You have made a choice that has not added to the Federal debt. It is not available to the big parties to run their next negative advertising campaign.

      That reason alone is enough to not place the Liberals first. Just make certain it is Greens last and Labor second last.

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      • #
        wal1957

        Yes!
        The last few elections I have voted with this in mind.
        The mongrels don’t deserve to be paid for my vote.

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        • #

          Of all the tax money I pay in a year, giving $3 to a minor party would possibly be the best way any of it was spent. I encourage voters to do that strategically. Though – fair to say — it would be more useful to give them a $3 donation direct and before the election.

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    • #
      Rupert Ashford

      Vote below the line for senate but put somebody from the coalition at #10, 11, 12 to block further preference flows to undesirables? Or do I still misunderstand?

      20

    • #
      Dennis

      However you choose to vote it is advisable to mark a Liberal or National candidate for your electorate [2] if you prefer to vote [1] for another brand.

      The trickle down preferential system lottery as I call it is a minefield for the unwary. Many past examples of a candidate receiving small primary vote support and winning the seat on preferences, In the UK they have first past the post, only primary votes are accepted and counted. In my view a far better and fairer system of voting.

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      • #
        Delory

        The beauty of preferential system is that – rather than ‘picking the most popular’, it eliminates the least popular. This ensures the ‘least-worst’ candidate gets in.
        (eg. imagine if a very obnoxious/extreme/authoritarian party got the most first preferences, say 30%, and the rest of the votes were spread among five other parties, each getting around 10%~20% of first preference. If the 70% of the population DO NOT want the obnoxious party in power at all costs, the preferential system allows this party to be rejected – while first-past-the-post does not.)

        The first-past-the-post approach also has the disadvantage that over time, the political landscape degenerates to a two party system, as it becomes pointless to vote for anything other than the major players. (Yes, a two party system can emerge under a preferential system if the population get lazy and allow it – but can also be broken easily once the populace wake up..)

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        • #
          Mike Jonas

          There are two significant advantages of preferential vs first past the post:
          1. In preferential, the winner is guaranteed to be preferred by more voters than the candidate finishing second (assuming voters get their votes right).
          2. In first past the post, a candidate can greatly enhance their chances by getting a mate to stand against them. The mate would campaign along similar lines to the main opponent. And many variations on this – a split vote makes a mockery of voters’ wishes.

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        • #
          Kalm Keith

          🙂

          11

    • #
      Michael

      I agree with Viv Forbes voting methods as well but what do you do when 7 of the 11 candidates deserve to be placed at #11 and 6 of them are actually worse than labour (Yes I know, hard to believe but thats politics today)? It means labour gets to be 5th place and that’s WAY too high in the priority list. I WANT MORE NUMBER 11 BOXES!!!!

      20

  • #
    el+gordo

    Fortuitously I can vote for the Nats, they are a minor party in a Coalition.

    Morrison forced them to come into the 2050 Zero tent, but that is now dead in the water.

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    • #
      Dennis

      The Country Party, now the National Party have long been in Coalition with the Liberals and regardless of the numbers of seats won the Nationals automatically fill the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

      When Prime Minister Morrison was on leave to have a family holiday in Hawaii with his family early in December 2019 or around that period the Deputy Premier was as protocol provides the Acting Prime Minister and other Cabinet Ministers were still on duty, The APM visited bushfire areas with State Government officials including Premiers, and acted on requests from State Governments to send ADF personnel and equipment to assist State Emergency Service, State Rural Fire Service and similar in other States.

      But of course the ADF does not have the training skills for bushfire fighting or even SES roles, but they do support those trained volunteers when requested.

      22

      • #
        el+gordo

        The beauty is that the Nats are a small party, the Greens are larger, so my conscience is clear.

        33

    • #
      GlenM

      Well I get to vote for Joyce in New England although it will be absentee having part moved to Christensen’s old seat. Both are good candidates. Nonetheless I will preference Barnaby after giving the freedom candidate first shot. This election once again shows the great divide we have between the rural and inner city constituencies.

      50

    • #
      Geoff Sherrington

      E+g
      Dead in the water? Net zero by 2050?
      I thought that was still agreed to by Libs explicitly and Lab me toos.
      Has something changed? Geoff S

      10

  • #
    tonyb

    The brutal response of the OZ police for many months during the pandemic was beyond belief.

    I don’t know which parties were responsible but does all that count for nothing with the electorate ?

    240

    • #
      Andy

      No it doesn’t count for nothing, it changed my vote this election as I use to vote Liberal. For the first time I’m voting for the LibDems, but I could have just as easily voted AVP or ON.

      170

      • #
        tonyb

        I am just rereading Animal farm and this comment seems apposite as Napoleon mounts his coup using ten vicious dogs previously hidden from view, his spokes pig squealer, gravely confirms Napoleon does not want power for himself as ‘no one believes more firmly than comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal and would only be too happy to let all the animals make the decisions for themselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions comrades and then where would we be?

        So I hope you Aussies voting Saturday will be sure to make the correct decision and not need to take into account the ten vicious Govt dogs who came out of nowhere with the vast excesses of the Oz police during the pandemic

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        • #

          “So I hope you Aussies voting Saturday will be sure to make the correct decision and not need to take into account the ten vicious Govt dogs who came out of nowhere with the vast excesses of the Oz police during the pandemic.”

          Yes Tony.

          20

      • #
        Geoff Sherrington

        Andy,
        We Victorians pretty much think police acts were a Sate matter and the origin was Labor premier Andrews. So why go anti-Liberal? Do you approve of what Dan did? Geoff S

        20

    • #
      Neville

      Tony b, the Labor Victorian state govt was the most extreme and are really on the nose at the moment.
      The WA state Labor govt was also extreme although their police force wasn’t as full on as Victoria.
      The big change came when the new NSW Liberal Premier started to quickly dismantle the lockdown and Morrison soon after and other states fell into line.
      But we should also include that the WA Labor govt won a super landslide during the lockdowns and Liberals were left with a phone box minority in WA.

      100

      • #

        WA Voters are smart enough to vote for different parties in State and Fed elections. The major problem for the Liberals in WA is that there were no federal liberals who stood up for WA when people were hoping for that — all of them spoke for the Prime-Minister-for-Sydney against what most West Australian concerns were. There are attack ads running here for the last six weeks, reminding everyone that Scott Morrison called West Australians cave-dwellers last August and backed Clive Palmers bid to open borders, bring in a CCP bioweapon, and bankrupt the state with his court cases.

        And Morrison also did nothing at all to protest against the tyranny of vaccine mandates here. He seemed more concerned with Qantas profits.

        Morrison’s comments and Christian Porter’s work as Attorney General last year (despite being a West Australian himself) signing up with Clive Palmer were a bizarre gift to the Labor Party. Incredibly out-of-touch. I wondered at the time if the Federal Liberal members even lived in WA: were they so unaware of how things looked from here?

        The Liberal Senators here stand for the Liberal Party, not for West Australians (which is probably true in all the smaller states, and also for Labor Senators). Both major parties need to get back to their grassroots members, to decentralize, to listen.

        WA is more naturally a Lib-Nat state being so dependent on mining and farming. Fed Libs took that for granted. They didn’t have to throw that away…

        30

    • #
      John

      Police enforce laws set by state governments. State governments have additional powers when they declare a “State of Emergency”.

      It wasn’t a federal government issue. The federal government had negligible control over state governments because the state governments are responsible for health, which is what the fuss was all about.

      Either get over it or blame the state government.

      82

      • #
        David Maddison

        True, but Morrison showed a massive lack of leadership. And he could have bought the states into line with the funding weapon.

        130

        • #
          David Maddison

          Plus he recruited a student of Klaus Schwab as his “Health” Minister.

          171

        • #
          GlenM

          Well I totally agree. I can’t see any sense in Morrison. It seems as though he wishes to appease all. But, as Clausewitz said. ” He who would defend everything, defends nothing “.

          60

      • #
        David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

        It was a federal government agency that accepted the vaxxines without checking for safety or efficacy. And the same mob banned the only effective cures, which had decades of safe usage. That group also banned doctors from even discussing alternate cures.
        And Scomo and Hunt did nothing. Not even a recommendation to take vitamin D.
        His mob didn’t get my vote.
        Cheers
        Dave B

        180

        • #
          Dennis

          So, if a cardiologist advised you that you require urgent surgery to save your life would you ignore his professional advice?

          No? So why blame the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers for taking professional advice and in this example from a government agency of employed as qualified professionals giving the advice?

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          • #
            Dennis

            I meant to include that Members of Parliament are elected representatives for three year terms in Federal Parliament, those MPs vote for their Prime Minister and he chooses his Cabinet Ministers in a Coalition, Union Labor PMs are told who Cabinet Ministers will be and has little choice, the factional numbers dictate.

            Government Departments/Agencies are full time places of employment for public service employees who effectively handle day to day government business, they are much like company executives and the cabinet is like a company board of directors, non-executive directors.

            14

            • #

              Dennis, Greg Hunt appointed people to the TGA, didn’t he?. He is responsible for it. He didn’t have to take their advice. It would appear he set up a group to give the answer he wanted. He can’t palm off responsibility to them. He must be held accountable. The idea that no one is responsible for drug approvals where the data is not public, and the side effects are not reported properly is ridiculous.

              Hunt should have asked the TGA for the Pfizer early data. If they couldn’t give him it, or show that they had copies of it, and answered all his questions on behalf of Australians then that’s his failure. He let them get away with incompetence.

              But the buck stops with Morrison. He appointed Hunt. Morrison should have been grilling Hunt about vaccine safety. Clearly Hunt wouldn’t have been able to answer good questions. Why didn’t Morrison get independent advice about questions to ask Hunt? One phone call with Nikoli Petrovsky would have been all Morrison needed to be across the main risks of the decision on vaccines.

              I’m not suggesting that the Labor party would have done any different. Probably they would have paid twice as much to Pfizer, and signed up even faster. But if we don’t hold the Minister of the day accountable this will only get worse, no matter who is in charge.

              90

          • #
            David Maddison

            Professional impartial advice was to treat covid with safe protocols such as Zelenko. HCQ, a safe and essential component of that protocol was banned even before vaccines were available. Informed people also knew that people with vitamin D deficiency (many people) were very likely to die from covid but not a word was said by the Department of Health or the medical establishment about this.

            Where exactly was the “expert” advice in these Government and related agencies and people?

            People died because of their ignorance and incompetence (I am being too kind).

            230

            • #
              Dennis

              David the Government is elected representatives and some are appointed to the Office of Prime Minister & Cabinet, Cabinet Ministers are like company directors and cabinet like a company board.

              The Government Departments and agencies have employees who are permanent, meaning not voted for every three years, and each has a senior executive and other senior executive managers, and they and/or consultants give advice to the Cabinet Minister who reports to Cabinet and Prime Minister.

              In other words the elected government acts on advice from the professionals.

              012

              • #
                David Maddison

                The incompetent advice from those “professionals” in government departments cost hundreds of lives.

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              • #

                Dennis, and if the elected reps make the wrong decision it’s their fault.

                It’s their job to find the most credible experts. If their experts are saying things that don’t make sense, the elected Reps need to find advisers that do.

                00

    • #
      Dennis

      You have described the behaviour of State Police and State Public Health Departments enforcing Emergency Powers legislated in State Parliaments by State Governments.

      All of the armchair experts with advice as to what the PM should have done (by the way a PM is Prime Cabinet Minister in a Cabinet of Ministers and most decisions are Cabinet decisions) should have researched the subject, the Commonwealth of Australia is a Federation of State Governments and they created the Federal Government. The areas of responsibility and powers are clearly defined, for most day to day experiences people have State Government is responsible, policing, public health, pubic schools, public transport, development applications, environmental protection, electricity and water supplies, councils, and more. A Federal Government looks after mostly external areas such as foreign affairs and trade, the currency, collection of national taxes income and company etc., and even State revenue GST is collected by the ATO for distribution because States cannot tax other States but States do have State Taxes.

      State taxes are the primary funding revenue for State responsibilities, the Commonwealth Federal Government contributes but does not have control including funding applied for case by case. To simplistically state Federal funding should be withheld is simply ridiculous.

      The vaccine mandates are State, interstate border closures are State, public health is State, age care facilities are mostly a shared State-Federal responsibility split into areas of responsibility, State Police and State Courts of Law enforce and uphold the laws, the High Court of Australia is the last court of appeal. Challenges in WA and VIC to border closure many lawyers gave their opinion as being unlawful, unconstitutional, were wrong, the courts decided that under the circumstances prevailing, precedent being the Spanish Influenza crisis early 1900s, closing interstate borders by State Governments (WA in particular) was permitted. And in VIC employers lost a challenge to Emergency Powers legislated in the Victoria Parliament resulting in lockdowns. But no doubt lawyers gave their clients advice that resulted in the challenges being proceeded with.

      That nonsense about “a student of” is also simplistic conspiricy theory, should graduates of all left leaning universities be branded as leftists? All Rhodes Scholars branded and London Business School graduates? WEF is a leftist organisation, the founder is in my view a dangerous character because of his economic theories, but that does not mean that a student is necessarily indoctrinated. PM Morrison addressed the WEF in January 2022 by video link to Davos Switzerland from Australia, he did not speak in complimentary language supporting the WEF economic model proposed, instead he told delegates Australia will continue with free enterprise (capitalism for leftists) and free market economics to achieve continuing economic prosperity here.

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      • #
        Geoff Sherrington

        Dennis,
        You are in danger of exposing your background by writing here in prose, duration and detail typical of a mid level bureaucrat. Geoff S

        21

    • #
      Dennis

      State Police and State Emergency Powers, State Health …… lockdowns, other restrictions, vaccine mandates, etc

      22

  • #

    I have been doing prepoll, and the Labour and LNP stand together and act as a tag team on the how to vote hand out. Lots of giggling together and snide remarks at us (UAP, One Nation and Lib Dems).

    Its clear, despite the presses attempts to portray this as some kind of contest that we have a Uniparty ticket here.

    Any vote for the LNP or Labour will entrench the utter madness we have seen on covid and climate change – and it will be all for nothing. Covid is a mild virus and as we know here, there is no climate change emergency. These are just vehicles to install populace control on a level never seen before in history, and are to benefit a small number of elites and private companies, with the rest of us dudded, very severely in many cases.

    Majors last!

    272

    • #
      el+gordo

      A vote for the UAP is a vote for the Greens, I found this on the wayback machine.

      https://www.unitedaustraliaparty.org.au/climate-change-authority-puts-pressure-on-labor-and-liberal/

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      • #
        Brenda Spence

        I dont think that stands now. In my electorate UAP is dead agaiinst the climate nonsense.

        90

      • #
        Strop

        Craig Kelly (UAP Leader) certainly wouldn’t entertain anything to do with an ETS or a push to renewables unless reliability and cost negatives were solved.

        .

        In that media release.

        The Palmer United Party’s proposed ETS would only become effective once Australia’s main trading partners also took action to establish one,” he said.

        The scheme will have a zero carbon price and the government will eventually have the ability to set the financial parameters of the scheme depending on the actions of Australia’s leading trading partners such as China, the United States, the European Union, Japan and Korea.

        I interpret that as simply being an ETS adopted for bragging rights with environmental voters, but tying it to other country actions (including China) means it won’t happen. Or at the very worst, Aus won’t be foolishly doing it ahead of the rest of the world.
        So not sure it’s as Green as you think it is.

        90

      • #
        David-of-Cooyal-in-Oz

        That was Clive Palmer dealing with Prime Minister Abbot. Do you have anything more recent?

        20

      • #
        Dennis

        The founder of PUP now known as UAP was for many decades a prominent member and adviser to the QLD Country Party and after it was renamed National Party, and he was a close friend of QLD Premier Joh Bjelke Petersen of the Country Party.

        Many years later he supported the now Liberal National Party of QLD (LNP) until the LNP Newman Government was elected and then became angry when the Premier refused to provide business related assistance without going through the official government department handled processing. And from that time PUP was formed to compete with the LNP and Coalition in other States.

        I believe that he is a patriot, but also that business comes first and foremost, which is not unusual for people who are entrepreneurs.

        However PUP has not performed well in politics and at the 2019 Federal Election did not gain one seat.

        31

      • #
        robert rosicka

        Palmer is also anti firearms , he wants them banned from private citizens . This was when he formed PUP but I don’t know if he would change .

        00

    • #
      Dennis

      I used to be a volunteer handing our political leaflets and from before I was a teenager, I gave up on political party membership decades ago but I spent most of my life around politics and politicians including cabinet ministers, prime ministers and premiers from time to time.

      What you described is not a plot, people are people and for most politics is not a battleground of allies and enemies, and most volunteers are neighbours and/or friends or locals known to one another. Same in parliaments, I suspect that you would be surprised to know how many good friendships exist between MPs on opposites sides. The sporting mindset is mostly outside of the political arena, voters who unfortunately in my experience are poorly informed about their parliaments and three levels of government, let alone the Constitution, role of a Governor or Governor General, the role of the High Court of Australia or even the State courts.

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      • #
        Adellad

        A nice cosy cabal, huh?

        71

        • #
          Dennis

          Not true.

          MPs are Australians and Australians vote, some belong to political parties and/or contribute to one of them, but most of the time we are Australians who have our own lives to live and deal with.

          For MPs to be on friendly terms regardless of political sides is good, should be all of them, our parliaments are there to represent us and watch over the permanent public service working for us all, as most do.

          35

      • #
        MP

        There are two levels of government, why do you keep spewing this tripe.
        We had a referendum on the third tier and the public rejected it. Lies, Lies and more lies, so Morrison. But the three tier system is a UN directive.

        MP’s are traitors, one and all.
        The Morrison government is the most corrupt in our history. His a dog, time to put that dog down.

        30

  • #
    Broadie

    Re-direct that rort by the Major Parties in helping themselves to the tax-payer trough at election time. The funding Pauline Hanson has received has probably commanded more attention in the back rooms than the demise of our freedoms.

    Remember their power is through the access to our taxes and when that money is exhausted they will turn on each other. I learnt that lesson years ago when I found the first order of agenda brought before parties interested in conservation of a region was brought by the two ‘Watermelons’ who felt their input was required. The subject was that an honorarium should be paid to them to attend these meetings?

    I will know when Australia is pulling out of the dive into the ‘Swamp’. The signal will be when what were essentially community run volunteer institutions and groups rid themselves off the leeches that have created career positions for themselves. Those Leeches include the Politicians who are doing a community service that requires less effort than running a children’s sporting team. The main job for an elected official now is to hide from those complaining about the failure to receive from the ‘Swamp’ the unfunded promises from the previous election.

    So put the Major Leeches Last!

    I will look forward to the fighting that will follow when the back room trough is empty after this election. Imagine the back-stabbing amongst those who have made this their soul source of income.

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    • #
      sharper

      ” Imagine the back-stabbing amongst those who have made this their soul source of income.”

      Clever Freudian slip, that one. The uniparty types all resemble that woman-without-a-soul, Jen Psaki, who recently
      jumped off Biden’s sinking ship – although, to be fair, few could match Psaki’s Julia Gillard-like doublespeak, cunning
      and nastiness.

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    • #
      Dennis

      Sorry, but that comment is not accurate.

      18

      • #
        Broadie

        Fixed one of the errors for you Dennis. Thanks Sharper

        Sole not soul

        And I agree the comment may have been as GA says inaccurate at some point in history. I refer to the list of professions of our current crop of career Politicians to give support to my comment. They certainly are not the shop keepers, shop stewards and teachers of old.

        20

  • #
    Old Moss

    Has anyone seen the debt truck this year?
    Have the major parties provided any assurance that our cash is safe?
    Have the majors provided any assurance that we are safe from generalised Digital ID controls?
    Are the majors defending Australian sovereignty against the supranational encroachments of the UN, the the IMF / World Bank cartels and , in particular , are they actively unmasking the machinations of WEF?
    Are the majors moving to curtail the the quasi militarisation of police forces wherein premiers henceforth on taking office a virtual standing army?
    Who speaks for liberty these days?

    These a dark times and we are close to succumbing to an imposed fascism – a prospect that would have seemed impossible even an election ago.

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  • #
    Turtle

    The best line I heard was that this is a Seinfeld election. It isn’t about anything.

    70

    • #
      b.nice

      “It isn’t about anything.”

      Certainly when it comes to Lib/Lab/Greens there is basically nothing to distinguish them.

      The freedom based parties stand out, though..

      That is what it should be all about.

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      el+gordo

      At least we still have a functioning democracy, the devil is in the detail.

      ‘In final tally, the Aussie way is the winner.

      ‘Compulsory voting is a violation of ‘natural rights’ to some Americans but it’s one of the reasons democracy is holding firm here but backsliding in other Western countries.’ (Oz)

      18

    • #
      Sambar

      Sadly Turtle, this election and groups of politicians has turned my normally tolerant personality into something else.
      I have a very distinctive dog and as I approached the poling station a lady representing the encumbent independent for Indi rushed over and dropping to one knee asked “what’s his name” and before I could stop my self the name “Helen” flowed from my lips, “oh I thought it was a boy” Hmm, small delay, then from me ” I don’t know, I hadn’t noticed” Now this exchange irked me somewhat as this is just not me, then as I approached the end of the line a lady in green stepped up to admire the hound. “Whats his name she implored” and, well damn me, my new personality responded “Turbine” as the lady looked a little quizzical out came the “yeah he’s full of flamin wind”.
      I hope things get back to whatever normal is as I don’t like my new personality very much!

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  • #
    Ian

    As the Guardian is far from favourite reading by commenters here you may miss an article that could please

    UAP may have more backing than polls suggest, with voters too embarrassed to voice support, analysis shows

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/may/20/uap-may-have-more-backing-than-polls-suggest-with-voters-too-embarrassed-to-voice-support-analysis-shows

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    • #
      b.nice

      I’d be embarrassed/ashamed saying I would be voting Labor, and drink draino rather than say I was voting Greens.

      Gruniad, yet again talks nonsense. Ian, yet again believes. !

      Most UAP supporter I know are proud to say so.. loud and clear, but would certainly “play” with phone pollsters. 😉

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    • #
      John

      Unfortunately UAP is full of bluster on a couple of issues and doesn’t seem to have any climate/energy policies.

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      • #
        b.nice

        UAP Energy policy is mainly about Nuclear energy.

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        • #
          el+gordo

          Its a pipe dream.

          012

          • #
            b.nice

            Way more likely in the long run than wind and solar…. which constantly need renewing.

            60

            • #
              el+gordo

              Too late, its coal or nothing.

              04

              • #
                b.nice

                As far as I’m concerned, Coal priority 1 + Gas for peakers (and small amounts of waste biomass etc)

                Hydro where its sensible… but not pumped hydro

                then Nuclear

                … and running a distant last, grid scale wind and solar.

                40

              • #
                el+gordo

                Yep, you’ve got my vote.

                31

            • #
              Chad

              b.nice
              May 20, 2022 at 4:02 pm

              Hydro where its sensible… but not pumped hydro

              Sorry, but i think you have that backwards.
              Oz has little further opportunity for significant river hydro..which is just a generation source.
              But ANY grid system performs significantly more effectively and efficiently with a functional storage potential,..and Pumped Hydro is the best utility scale storage yet devised.
              ( Snowy 2 is a very poor , political exercise…not a good practical example)

              10

  • #
    Daffy

    We think we are a nation with roots in liberty, but we are not. We, as a nation, want a government that is mummy and daddy. At the heart of our national ethos is not the pioneering spirit of, say the USA (and it’s got its own problems in this area), but the spirit of either suppressed convicts or narrow minded jailers. So, where we could be a great beacon of productive liberty, beholden to no centralising authoritarianism, with an economy steaming ahead, we’ve chosen to be a pocket dictatorship of the left, no matter which hat is worn in Canberra.

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    • #
      el+gordo

      The Westminster system with compulsory voting is the best democracy in the world, while the US is a failed democracy and may ultimately become a failed state.

      ‘ … beacon of productive liberty, beholden to no centralising authoritarianism…’

      Laissez faire economics is useless in the new world order, whereas the Belt and Road will run rings around the US.

      Do you think gun law reform is a bad thing?

      Did you know US democracy was flawed until the 1960s?

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  • #
    Chad

    When all the suggestions for change are over..
    You have to realise the ONLY WAY TO PREVENT A LABOUR GOVERNMENT is to return a Lib/Nat coalition ……… as unsatisfactory as the will be !
    Old saying…… Better the Devil you know,…..than something you dont.

    Personally, i hope that with a new mandate, the Lib/Nats will feel empowered to push back more on the Paris agreement, and the Renewables problem…the indications are there. !

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    • #
      Graeme No.3

      Chad:
      I doubt it. They are more likely to claim that the Voters have endorsed their stupid policies.

      In any case it might be a good election to lose. Labor would be a disaster even in good times, but we have shortages, rising fuel prices, rising electricity costs and likely increasing unemployment and all likely to be getting worse. I see no signs that either major party has any idea of the problems and no idea about solutions (except throwing money away making things worse). Given both majors (including hangers on) will deal with the coming blackouts by wanting more of the causes (renewables) it might be that the next Federal Government will collapse before its term ends.

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    • #
      RickWill

      It makes more sense to put the minor parties first. Having a cross-bench in the senate that is not Green/Teal would be a good outcome.

      Your preference for Liberal ahead of Labour and Greens for the reps will still be instrumental in helping the Liberal candidate.

      The Liberal Democrats have some eloquent, knowledgable candidates that could make a difference in the senate. Senators from minor parties get more than their fare share of press space so have a big voice.

      The fringes are very important to the thinking of the major parties. Right now both parties see victory in supporting Green ideology. If they see that there is strong backlash to this nonsense through support of LDP and PHON then that will be a good thing.

      It would be a great result if the election outcome is not clear for a few days as the counters have to go deep into preferences to declare a winner.

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    • #
      Stuart

      we should just rip the bandaid off quickly, labor wins and the lights go out in 2 years on their watch, they will be finished politically and the people will be hunting greenies through the streets.

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  • #
    John

    As regards climate and energy issues you can forget about any “balance of power” in the senate. The two major parties, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, will have enough votes in total to pass anything.

    Your aim has to be on stopping the nonsense in the lower house. Make it so that the Coalition only holds government with the help of one or more minor right wing parties with sensible climate & energy policies. Those parties can then do to the Coalition what the Greens did to Labor under Gillard. I know it’s a big ask to get one electorate to get the candidate from one of these parties into power, but maybe, as Viv Forbes and Topher Field say, that can be done via preferences.

    I’ve closely examined the policies of every party. There were a few surprises, such as United Australia Party having no policies on climate and energy, and a couple of others having surprisingly good policies.

    Those with decent policies, in alphabetical order are … Australian Citizens Party, Liberal Democratic Party, Pauline Hanson’e One Nation and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

    So check which of those parties have candidates in your electorate and put them first, followed by the Coalition, followed by the rabble. It’s worth doing that in the senate too because these parties also talk sense on other issues.

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    • #
      RickWill

      I agree in general.

      I had not heard of Topher Field until I saw the video above. Campbell Newman is on the Queensland ticket. He is an influential speaker. He would make a difference in the senate just being there. He has much more personal appeal and political savvy than Pauline Hansen or Malcolm Roberts.

      This has the LDP candidates:
      https://www.ldp.org.au/election
      This is Campbell Newman on energy:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Fth9-pf0Q

      I am well aligned with the views of my local LDP candidate for reps.

      I will preference Liberals ahead of Greens and Labor so my vote will count.

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  • #
    David Maddison

    We don’t understand how people in the US let the reds steal the blue color. But yes, our blue liberals are more likely to be Trump fans. Weird eh?

    There is a story to that for another time.

    It relates to how colours were portrayed on early NTSC colour TV in the US and some historical accident which lead the parties to get the opposite colour to what they should logically have.

    30

    • #
      Strop

      Seems the clours of each party was somewhat accidental and media driven. The following is indicative of a number of reports on how the red/blue eventuated.

      The party colours- red for Republicans and blue for Democrats was not standard until the election of 2000. The colours originally had nothing to do with either party. In 1976, NBC debuted its first colour electronic electoral map on air, where bulbs would turn red for Jimmy Carter-won Democrat states, and blue for Gerald Ford-won Republican states. This took after the British colour scheme, where red would be assigned to the liberal party. By the 1980 elections, other TV networks too had created their own electoral maps, but each went with their own colour schemes. When Republican Ronald Reagan won by a landslide, NBC had a nation showing red while ABC had it showing blue for Republican-won states. The colours were mostly designated for ideological or aesthetic reasons, that differed from channel to channel.

      During the 2000 US election between Republican George Bush and Democrat Al Gore, media outlets agreed on using NBC’s original colour scheme to show blue for the incumbent and red for the challenger to avoid confusion. As Democrats were the incumbent party, they were assigned blue. While Republicans were assigned red as the challengers. This was again the norm in the 2004 elections, and the colours became synonymous with Democratic states and Republican states, and have remained as such to date.

      Prior to 2000, red and blue did not always respectively denote Republicans and Democrats.That was the first year USA TODAY published its full-color election map, and the same is true with The New York Times.

      Paul Overberg, then a database editor who designed USA TODAY’s election map, told Smithsonian magazine of the color scheme choice, “The reason I did it was because everybody was already doing it that way at that point.”

      The color scheme was a simple choice, according Archie Tse, senior graphics editor at The New York Times. As he told The Verge in 2012, “red begins with r, Republican begins with r, it was a more natural association.”

      20

    • #
      Russell

      And here I was thinking the difference had something to do with driving on the “wrong” side of the road.
      Maybe US forgot about “Reds under the bed” for the communists or just didn’t want to rub it in (to the Dopeycrats)?
      And the Brits (+Oz) probably followed the nautical standard that lights on the Port side (LEFT) of a vessel are Red.

      00

    • #
  • #
    Kim

    I’ve voted for Not the Labor Party. That sends the message. The LibNats are largely clueless. They have not put forward anything for me to vote for them. Labor are dangerously ignorant.

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    • #
      b.nice

      “They have not put forward anything for me to vote for them”

      That’s the big point, isn’t it.

      They have basically nothing to offer to people who used to vote for them..

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      • #
        Dennis

        That’s not right, the list is long of achievements, one of the biggest of all was negotiating and signing the AUKUS Agreement on mutual defence including the RAN joining the RN and the USN to share nuclear propulsion technology, to produce very long range missiles in Australia and a whole lot more. Add the Morrison-Trump revival of the Quad defence arrangements between India, Japan, Australia and United States.

        Consider the pandemic that began early in 2020 and, despite the critics and their ignorance, the leadership Morrison provided via the Forum, National Leaders Cabinet, and despite Labor State Premiers and Cabinets agreeing to cooperate and then often going in a different direction, and then blaming the PM. State Parliament Emergency Powers legislation, lockdowns and other restrictions enforced by State Health and State Police, vaccine mandates by State Health, masks by State Health, etc.

        And the action taken by the Morrison Government to stop a deep recession taking place triggered by State lockdowns etc., economic stimulus including funding employers and employees, and now the national economy is back on track and with 3.5% GDP growth taking place, OECD recently forecast 4.1% in the near future, and unemployment the lowest since the 1970s. Instead of praise some exaggerate the debt position using Forward Estimate (not estimated) of one trillion dollars and ignoring that Current Account debt is well below $800 billion, what happens in future depends on the economy. And over $400 billion of that under $800 billion is Labor debt from 2013/14 financial year including the Gonski and NDIS Budget commitments Labor made no provision to fund and left that to the Abbott Government to borrow, so it really was Labor’s debt being over half the Current Account debt.

        12

        • #
          Dennis

          Also consider that the RET and subsidies is now scheduled to end in 2030 as the Morrison Government decided in 2019. The existing contracts cannot be cancelled as the compensation would be huge. But knowing the 2030 end has deterred many wind and solar investment planners.

          And the Morrison Government has been talking to the UK Government and Rolls Royce UK about modular nuclear reactors for Australia, subject of course to the ban on nuclear energy being lifted which requires a majority vote in Federal Parliament and State Governments cooperating.

          The Federal Government has proposed, subject of course to the necessary State Government planning approval 4 new gas generators, 1 each VIC and SEQ, 2 NSW but so far only 1 for the NSW Hunter Valley has been given planning approval. A coal fired HELE power station for NTH QLD proposed remains to be approved by the QLD State Labor Government.

          The list of achievements is long, but there are many critics especially left leaning media sources, and deceptive attempts to fool voters, doesn’t hold a hose, not my job, etc.

          22

  • #
    David Maddison

    Vote 1. Any or all of the small pro-freedom parties.
    Vote 2. The very bad party. Liberal.
    Vote 3. The extremely bad party. Green Labor.

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    • #
      b.nice

      avoid teal, like its the plague it is. !

      110

    • #
      Chad

      David Maddison
      May 20, 2022 at 10:04 am · Reply
      Vote 1. Any or all of the small pro-freedom parties.
      Vote 2. The very bad party. Liberal.
      Vote 3. The extremely bad party. Green Labor.

      WOW !.. NO NO NO !
      Green labor # 3. !! Surely not .
      There are many other preferences before you sink that low
      Hopefully you actually meant LAST rather than Vote 3 ?

      100

  • #
    Forrest Gardener

    I can’t say I want to vote for either of the major parties. And nobody on Jo’s list of minor parties rises much above the self-serving dingbat category.

    Having looked ahead at the candidates for Goldstein my feeling is that informal best suits my feelings.

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    • #
      David Maddison

      You have UAP and Lib Dems to choose from.

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      • #
        Forrest Gardener

        Having now done my civic duty I was pleased to meet the sitting member and have a chat with his mother, impressed by the sheer number of corflutes for the teal green in gardens on the walk to the polling booth and the complete absence of any corflutes for other candidates, impressed by the number of volunteers handing out how to vote cards especially the eight (8) for the teal green, and disappointed that I thought I might save some time by voting early because the queue ran 50 metres down the street.

        I did have a pleasant conversation with several of the climate change volunteers along the line that I hoped they could arrange for a warmer day next time.

        10

        • #
          b.nice

          “the sheer number of PLASTIC corflutes! 😉

          20

          • #
            David Maddison

            I noticed the huge number of PLASTIC corflutes of the Greens and Labor at the pre-polling booth where I handed out materials for a pro-freedom party as well.

            And I think the Greens are funded by “hidden hands” way beyond what their small numbers would suggest.

            31

            • #
              Forrest Gardener

              I can’t remember the teal green candidate’s name, but ostentatious only barely does it justice. There is absolutely no chance that this is a grass roots campaign.

              And speaking of a blast from the past there was a guy there in a Get Up tee shirt over his jumper. I was tempted to ask him why he was there.

              00

      • #
        Ian

        “You have UAP and Lib Dems to choose from.”

        Bit like being offered the choice of cyanide or botulinum toxin

        39

        • #
          b.nice

          Yawn.

          You prefer the empty minds of the Lab-Green, of course.

          Or are you a Teal? and wanting to totally destroy the country.

          60

        • #
          MP

          botulinum toxin

          Thought Botox was the trend in your soy life style.

          10

  • #
    • #
      OldOzzie

      From The Comments

      – Brilliant!
      Impressed how many up to date zingers you squeezed in. The animators must’ve had a late night 👍

      – This is the sharpest, most accurate political commentary that’s is available at the moment !!

      – This is a classic, Well done Pauline 👍😂🤣 Tomorrow let’s show them we mean business.

      – Once again, makes my Friday. What a way to get ready for the working day.

      – I was not prepared for the to be continued, that was brilliant! 😂 Here’s hoping for a big shake up tomorrow 💪

      And summing it all up

      – Initially when I view this I can’t help but have a good laugh, but then reality sets in as you realise that this is actually the truth !! When one looks back over the last couple of years and takes into account the “no jab no job “, the corruption, cover ups, and all the lies and deception, coercion etc, you can’t help but ask the question “Where are we headed?” Pauline, if you and your team are able to do something about this please do so, I hope and pray the Australian people give you the numbers to enable you change the direction of our country before it’s too late!

      – Bloody brilliant……. best one yet Pauline! All the best this weekend to you and your team. 🙌💜✌️

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    Kim

    Over the last few hundred years we have moved massively forward due to the principles of The Enlightenment, of Democratic Capitalism, of Common Law. Before that there was feudalism. Feudalism reinvented itself as Socialism – basically dressed up, academicised and intellectualised feudalism. Socialism is the fight back of feudalism. That is what Wokism is. Not only do they want to take us back 500 years but with their “You will own nothing but you will be happy” they want to take us back 1000 years to prior to the Magna Carta and property rights. That’s their ‘Progressiveism’.

    Those are the massive overreaching dangers that have their tentacles in Australia and in the Western World thus affecting Australia. What’s happening in the West started with the failed attempt of the Socialists via Fascism then morphed into their more successful attempt via Communism. This is destroying the West from the inside. Meanwhile the West is being massively endangered on the outside by the geo politics. The big question is what are our politicians actually doing about it all? All I see is a massive amount of cluelessness and ignorance and disingenuity. They need to read The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon for starters. Then take some smart pills and get some gumption.

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    Bill+In+Oz

    Well I’ve already done my pre-poll vote here in Mayo.
    And given Pauline’s ON a first preference.
    With preferences going as I wanted them to
    Not according to any one’s preference sheet.
    Ditto in the senate vote
    Where there is a good chance of a ON candidate getting enough preferences to be elected.
    But I fear we may wind up with a labor Green coalition again in government.

    51

  • #
    John Connor II

    Are Monkeypox mandatory vaccines and lockdowns an election issue as it’s now hit Australia? 😨

    Too late eh..

    40

    • #
      Forrest Gardener

      JC, the last plague didn’t shift the political needle at all. I can’t imagine future vaccines or lockdowns being any different. The powers that be now know they can do whatever they want with very little risk of pushback.

      40

  • #
    John Connor II

    Isaac Butterfield sums up the elections.

    *Adult language warning*

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=oTGi64ntCM8

    20

    • #
      b.nice

      He said the Libs were “right-wing”

      Nope, they are a disjointed mix of centrist/globalists and grubby leftists pretending to be centrists.

      50

      • #
        John Connor II

        I know he did. 😉
        Right on apart from that.
        Donkey voters will do what they always do so are irrelevant in the freedom stakes.

        The question is – how much have the masses woken up to reality and the future and will they show their dissatisfaction by placing the majors last.

        June, July, August…February!

        That will be explained soon enough.

        10

  • #
    sharper

    Jo,

    Possibly your best post ever. A resounding clarion call to arms that deserves to be disseminated far and wide.
    Jo for PM! (Funny, that has a strange, familiar ring to it. Oops!: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joh_for_Canberra)

    50

  • #
    sharper

    I clicked on Topher’s marbles video which I first saw when it had about
    12,000 views in February. I have checked how many views it has garnered
    from time to time to gauge how many people he might be reaching and whether
    or not his video might make a difference in the election. I haven’t checked the
    number of views for a while. I checked just now and it is around 9,000. That’s funny.
    The numbers were closing in on 100,000 when I last checked several weeks ago.

    Is Youtube playing with the numbers to make this video look less influential? If so,
    they are BLANK (fill in the blank. I can think of a few unprintable sobriquets). The
    problem of Big Tech cheating to aid the left/hobble the right is one of the most
    pernicious issues we face. As Captain Prostetnic Vogon Jelz said about space hitchers
    Arthur Dent and Ford Perfect in ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, “death’s too good
    for them”.

    51

    • #
      Brenda Spence

      I remember him saying that he had to take the original video down because he had entered politics and the video had no authorisation and it was deemed “political”.
      He ran it again with the appropriate ending. That could be the reason for the discrepancy.

      50

      • #
        Dave

        That’s correct Brenda

        He explains it at the beginning of this video!
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITWXUiK5nHQ

        20

        • #
          sharper

          Thanks Dave & Brenda. Much appreciated. So my fears of left-wing (Youtube) hanky-panky were misplaced.
          Hmmm. Speaks to how my perceptions have changed in the last few years, especially after the spectacle of the
          stolen 2020 US election (or were those claims “baseless”?).

          My default position now, is that if someone on the left (such as the MSM or any Big Tech major player) is telling
          me something, they are either lying to me, lying by omission (facts and context left out, not representative of reality)
          or they are propagating a designated Narrative. I will consider what is said, written or broadcast, and only after that due
          consideration might I jettison my default position (I am being fed BS) and assign merit to what I am being told. Sad
          that it has come to this – and I don’t think that my approach could rightly be labelled ‘cynical’. Things have gone too far
          for that easy label to be applied. Realistic and pragmatic is more like it. The world has gone truly mad. Not truly mad
          like many were saying just 3, 5, or 10 years ago, but truly, truly mad. Consider that we have murals of Saint George
          Floyd, martyr and all-round good guy, plastered on the walls of cities across the world. A role model and a beacon
          for the world was he. Not. Some say we are doomed. The jury is still out – but about to deliver its verdict in the next
          few years. Watch out!

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  • #
    Dennis

    In 2019 PUP now UAP did not win one Federal seat in Parliament, and I doubt that they will win one tomorrow, and PHON will do not much better but will probably retain a Senate seat or two.

    The dangers are from the Greens who according to polls attract much more support than PHON or UAP with PHON ahead of UAP, and the Teal Climate200 candidates masquerading as Independent but obviously a minor party backed by Holmes a Court and other wealthy renewable energy investors who have shown no interests in most of the affairs of Federal Government, one Teal candidate in VIC even said she would leave the economy and defence to other interested MPs.

    Many voters are playing with political fire with their choices of minor and independent candidates who would if elected have very little influence in Parliament, and not being members of a major party conference room out of touch. Former Independent for North Sydney and former Mayor Ted Mack was a dedicated real independent and he decided not to stand for a third term, or accept his parliamentary pension, because he said it was a waste of his time and his constituents votes to be an independent MP.

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      Dennis

      What does annoy me is how many candidates, obviously minor party and independent party candidates, who when asked talk about State Government responsibilities as being what they would address if elected to Federal Parliament.

      It annoys me that candidates are so poorly informed and equipped to be an MP. But unfortunately they are typical Australians, I believe that our schools and universities are to blame for their lack of education about matters political and government.

      12

    • #
      Grogery

      You’re like a broken record Dennis.

      Without Clive in the last federal election (particularly his advertising and influence in Queensland), the other imbecile from the alp/greens would have spent 3 years doing a better job than scomo/LNP at ruining our country.

      20

  • #
    Serge Wright

    If you have a real conservative LNP candidate in your electorate, make sure to vote that way because the only way to fix the LNP is from within. We also need to make sure the senate is not going to cave in to woke ideology, so a vote for a conservative minor party in the upper house is a must until the LNP are rid of their woke cancer.

    My last tip will be to encourage conservatives to don your Maga hats when you visit the polling booths and make sure to walk up to the Green zealots handing out their how to vote cards and ask “Can you point me where the One Nation guys are handing out their cards ? “.

    I’ve found that really gets them annoyed 😉

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    • #
      Dennis

      Yes, the Liberals In Name Only (LINO left) have been the “flies in the ointment” problem and were created by Turnbull MP, the inner circle faction called themselves “the black hand” and even recruited Union established GetUp activist organisation to assist them to undermine first Opposition Leader Abbott and then Prime Minister Abbott.

      Mainly based in the NSW Liberal Executive, I have noted comments from Federal Executive members speaking on current affairs media expressing their frustration with the LINO left behaviour. However that extended beyond MPs, executives working in NSW State Executive were influential and even removed candidate pre-selection from the branch members in electorates to make the appointments. Which is one of the reasons why former PM Abbott organised a branch revolt resulting in a Conference vote decision to hand back pre-selection to the branches. The Executive resisted and recently the Federal Executive stepped in with PM Morrison leading.

      However, Union controlled Labor also have factions and right now the far left factions rule, Albo (confessed Trotskyite far leftist) and supporters for example.

      We mere mortals who vote are really not very influential, unless we live in the electorate that a Prime Minister or candidate for PM represents we cannot vote for PM.

      But every vote counts, especially in “marginal electorates” where the sitting MP does not have many votes majority.

      I understand that some people want to vote for a minor party candidate (please don’t risk voting for an independent) but give the Liberal or National [2] as further down you will probably end up with a result you did not anticipate.

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    David Maddison

    Just in the nick of time…

    COVID has had its run.

    Time for a new pandemic.

    https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/australia-identifies-first-probable-monkeypox-case-in-returned-nsw-traveller-from-europe/news-story/d8b5a1b5ddccce7d2c0ba653062485cb

    Australia identifies first ‘probable’ monkeypox case in returned NSW traveller from Europe

    A possible monkeypox case has been identified in a man who travelled from Europe to New South Wales.

    Miriah Davis
    May 20, 2022 – 12:55PM

    A suspected monkeypox case has been detected in a New South Wales man who recently returned to Australia from Europe.

    SEE LINK FOR REST

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      another ian

      Does “Vitamin I” work on that too? Asking for a friend.

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        David Maddison

        If it did, they wouldn’t allow you to use it…

        Following the same logic as covid, just let people die until Big Pharma offers a “cure”. Prohibit harmless off-label medications before that.

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          David Maddison

          That’s why you shouldn’t put Klaus Schwab students into health ministries, or anywhere, really…

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      Lawrie

      The only problem David is that monkeypox is transmitted by exchanging bodily fluids. I don’t think many here will be exposed to the disease unless I have you all wrong.

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    David Maddison

    For those flying their private jets to the WEF meeting in Davos to discuss “climate change” among other issues, please note the limited private jet parking spaces available.

    https://www.uas.aero/business-jet-parking-for-wef-in-davos/

    Business jet parking spots for the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos next month are in short supply.

    Although there is still some availability depending on the aircraft type, these are being snapped up on a first-come, first-served basis.

    Any operators considering Zurich Airport (LSZH) during WEF should not hesitate any longer to make requests.

    SEE LINK FOR REST AND ALTERNATE JET PARKING ARRANGEMENTS

    Forum delegates poised to place climate change under the microscope

    By ANGUS MCNEICE in London | China Daily | Updated: 2022-05-20 07:22

    http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202205/20/WS6286d144a310fd2b29e5dda4.html

    Climate change is a leading agenda item at this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos.

    In the WEF’s Global Risks Report 2022, “climate action failure” ranks as the number one long-term threat to the world, and the risk with potentially the most severe impacts over the next decade.

    Since the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, senior government officials and industrial experts have warned that no nation is moving fast enough with the green transition.

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      Lawrie

      Climate is top of the agenda because they know it is fading from most peoples consciousness. Climate is the vehicle being used to entrench socialism in the world and has bugger all to do with the weather but an awful lot to do with imposing the will of a few on the many. They have seen how normally freedom loving people folded like cheap suits to the scare of Covid, a disease that killed less than seasonal flu, was appallingly handled from the start and is responsible for the greatest experiment in medical science, one that is failing badly and is quite dangerous yet foisted on us by those we should be able to trust. Lesson: trust only yourself.

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    David Maddison

    Anyone who has worked on elections such as handing out “how to vote” sheets for political parties will appreciate the staggering cluelessness of most voters.

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      Graeme No.3

      Yes, I remember when Hawke shortened the voting day to 6 p.m. Hundreds turned up later than that.
      So many that the Electoral Officials let as many as could squeeze into the hall and then told the rest to go home.

      Shows how much attention some people paid to the parties advertisements which mostly reminded people about the shorter time.

      Another time we had people turning up wondering what electorate they were in, and whether they could vote there (this by people who walked to the voting hall, which had been in use for over 20 years.
      My strongest memory was watching a scruffy (dirty shorts, same with T-shirt with tears, unshaven, and dirty feet in thongs and offering him a How-to-Vote paper and was abused. The old Labor man there looked at me and said “can’t you tell a University man?”. He was a nice old chap (as were the rest of the Labor canvassers there manning a hopeless booth for Labor). We (the Liberal canvassers) got along well with them. Then one election none of them came because Labor H.O. had “parachuted” their choice into Parramatta (as again in this election). Labor paid for UNI students to man the booths in the electorate and they were astonished to hear that we weren’t being paid.

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        el+gordo

        Voting early has been great, a lovely festive atmosphere.

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          Ross

          Yes, and the good thing was I got to actually see and say hello to the candidates. Something you cant do on election day because they cant be at all the booths. Did anyone notice the crappy cardboard booths you had to vote in? Seems like the AEC lost some funding somewhere. Last time they were purple and white, looked good and had some stability.

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      Brenda Spence

      I did a rough poll for a few days of prepolling, about 60% would not take a h-t-v card. Make of that what you will.

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    Peter Fitzroy

    Apparently if Labor or Liberal/Nationals win, Australia will transfer its health to the WHO the day after the election (according to ads on youtube).

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    Michael

    I have a real problem. There are 11 candidates in my electorate and there are 7 I want to put last. Trouble is a placement of 11 in 7 boxes will simply make my vote invalid. Unfortunately there are some even worse than the labour/greens. Yes I know its had to believe but there you have it. My real conflict is that Chris Field is running – he is Topher’s father but he is running as the Aus Federation party candidate whereas Topher is running as a liberal democrat. Does Chris share Topher’s values? I asked him by email some time ago but got no reply. So do I put him first or the lib democrats first or one nation first given they probably have the greatest chance. Trouble is, whatever I do a candidate I really dont want has to go 5th not 11th. Sigh, I wish we had a higher percentage of worthwhile candidates.

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      Graeme No.3

      A problem if any have a chance.
      In my electorate everybody (except a few demented) know the Independent will win, but as she is a rabid “Global warming” advocate I will vote for the Liberal Democrat for 2 reasons.
      1. A protest that denies her (about) $2.95 for a first preference vote.
      2. A protest about receiving messages about how/why to vote Liberal (latest as e-mail tonight). (I am fairly sure who has suggested me, esp. as I released her at the last but one election for half an hour when she was handing out Liberal cards and needed a break. (Shows how strong the Liberal enthusiasm is in what used to be the safest seat when they couldn’t cover booths).

      I suggest the LibDems or One Nation seem to be the likely survivors and would like as many first preference votes as possible. Leaving some of them off your choice will annoy some. You only have to tick 6 so that selects 4 no-hopes and you must just choose the least worst and mark them 5 & 6.

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    PeterS

    Election tomorrow – what if nothing changes?
    I’ve done my bit to make a difference. If nothing changes the battle continues.

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    David Maddison

    This Viking, Bjorn Andreas Bull-Hansen, discusses and rejects The Great Reset of Herr Schwab’s World Economic Forum, meeting right now. I.e. “You will own nothing and be happy” etc..

    https://youtu.be/7q7bd5fllvo

    Australia’s Avi Yemeni and the Real Rukshan are attending as reporters but unlike the Elites, arrived by train, not private jet.

    https://www.rebelnews.com/avi_yemini_real_rukshan_arrive_in_davos_to_expose_the_global_elites

    Understandably, no Australian Federal politicians will be there due to the election but the following will be there according to:

    https://www.afr.com/world/europe/can-a-depleted-davos-still-deliver-the-goods-20220520-p5amxt

    Fortescue bosses Andrew Forrest and Elizabeth Gaines will be in town, and will doubtless attract publicity as Dr Forrest always seems to do.

    The other Australians are eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant; Global Infrastructure Hub CEO Marie Lam-Frendo; High Resolves co-founder Roya Baghai; Indigital founder Mikaela Jade; and the author and former South Sydney Rabbitohs owner Peter Holmes a Court, who lives in Kenya.

    Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm will be there, but is listed as a UK participant. And OECD boss Mathias Cormann will attend, as he also often used to when he was federal finance minister.

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    Lawrie

    I disagree with many of you. Viv Forbes has a far better grasp when it comes to teaching the Coalition a lesson without voting in a Greens/ALP disaster. As Paul Murray says on his Sky show”vote for your freedom parties but put the Libs or Nats second otherwise you will get Albo, Adam and a destroyed Australia.

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      MP

      They are all the same, death by a thousand cuts or 999 the result is the same.
      Globalist pupets.

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        Ted1

        It won’t take a thousand.

        One thing we do know is that neither party will stick to the script.

        But I fear for the future when the prophets tell me that we are about to vote down 4% unemployment.

        WE have truly gone mad.

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        Chad

        MP
        May 21, 2022 at 10:36 am · Reply
        They are all the same, ………

        No, far from it,…..as we are about to find out.
        Lib/Nats may have been weak on green issues , but Lab/Green are far more reckless.
        Sit back and watch the fireworks !

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    Tim

    It turns out that the way Topher explains it is not correct. I was scrutineering tonight and they take the top 2 by numbers allocated the preferences by seeing which candidate was higher on the remaining ballots.

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    Topher’s plan doesn’t seem to work. According to some scrutineers, if your 1st pick didn’t get up
    then the AEC staff jumped over your subsequent choices and gave your vote to whichever of the majors
    appeared to be the more popular in that electorate.

    If true then why do they bother with a preferential system at all????

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    • #

      this is incorrect. They would jump over them if they were already eliminated in earlier preference counts.

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      Chad

      Jeff Davidson
      May 23, 2022 at 9:31 am · Reply
      Topher’s plan doesn’t seem to work. According to some scrutineers, if your 1st pick didn’t get up
      then the AEC staff jumped over your subsequent choices and gave your vote to whichever of the majors
      appeared to be the more popular in that electorate

      That would be Election Fraud if substantiated and proved.

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