I tend to find that around election time, there is a lot of information out there coming from the major parties and minor parties and independents and then there are people's comments on what politicians are saying because that's news, then because we're Australia there are commentators commenting on the comments and it all just spirals out of control from there. Last election I wrote a couple of words or lines on all the Senate Parties so I knew who to vote for when I went to vote. This year I've done the same thing and I thought I might share it. It's not comprehensive and not objective. Basically it reflects my opinion of what's important and where each party sits or stands or simply exists on each issue. Nearly the information comes from the website of that party, but includes my personal interpretation. I haven't done LibLabGrn because you already probably know a lot about them and where you're preferencing them. As I've mentioned previously, I think you should preference first the party with which you're most aligned, especially if they are a small party, and go from there (above the line because you can do that now). It's really funny reading about racist and bigot parties who are trying to be PC because that's what you need to do in 2016. Here We Go!Derryn Hinch's Justice Party: wants harsher sentencing for violent crimes (not longer maximums, but more regularly getting close to those maximums). Pro gay marriage. Pro euthanasia. Wants a public sex offender register which I'm not a total fan of. In general, DHJP isn't as bad as I thought, but they have no information on their stance for a lot of other important issues eg “the boats”. Australian Democrats: want to double humanitarian immigration and cut business immigration. Sounds pretty boss. Other things they say about immigration are also nice, but maybe not detailed enough (need a limit). They have drug law reform policy which is progressive without being “all drugs, legal now”, though it mentions lawmaking and scientific evidence which we all know don't go together. They say a lot about renewables. Animal Justice Party: the three headings in policy are “Animals”, “Environment” and “Humans”. They have policies for pretty much each animal. Reading “wombat” and “koala” in this context makes me feel happy. I think they want everyone to be vegetarian eventually, but are saying that it'll take a very gradual change to get there. I'm on board with this. “Population” is also a heading which piqued my interest, and it says that the home-grown population should be at replacement levels. I'm also on board with this. Science Party / Cyclists Party: the website is shit but I'm obviously on board with all their major ideas. Evidence based cycling, woo, get on a bike ya mug. Palmer United Party: don't even think about it. The end of the environment. Jacqui Lambie Network: pro military which I don't like, but part of that is better veteran support which I do like. She's against high frequency trading which I think is a good stance. She's pro nuclear which is clearly good. By clearly, I mean the skies will be clearer with nuclear because it's “zero emissions”. Keen on scrapping negative gearing for people with many houses, which makes sense. Is worried about Sharia Law which makes about zero sense. She also has a thing about Halal certification which would make the process more transparent which I think is good. Certification generally needs a bit more transparency. She's worried that the Halal certification funding goes to terrorists which I'm not sure is a legitimate claim. She wants dedicated indigenous seats which I'm kinda into. Also is pro conscience vote on all ethical issues, though is pro plebiscite for marriage equality. Wants to halve foreign aid which is already at a record low I believe. Opposes carbon tax. Wants an investigation into energy prices because we currently pay through the dick for it. Anti mining on prime agricultural land. Australian Christians: so many lies, so much misinformation. They will be getting a high number. Sustainable Australia: formerly Sustainable Population Party. So they sound like a renewable energy party, but they are just racist AF. Pirate Party: trying to bring politics and lawmaking into the 21st century. They leave out a bit that I'm interested in, but their policies of drug law reform, patent law reform and education reform are all top notch. They are pro marriage equality and increasing immigration and all those good things too. Socialist Equality Party: so much propaganda. Sanders and Corbyn on steroids. Trotsky in political party form. They are absolute in their targets, which I am not into at all. We don't need a revolution. Health Australia Party: basically want the politicians to be more transparent and connect more with the Australian people. Good luck with that. Renewable Energy Party: self explanatory. Keen for renewables and renewable powered public transport. Voteflux.org / Upgrade Democracy: sick of politicians, want everyday people to be voting on issues using a smartphone app. I intuitively like this but when I engage System 2, I realise that it's not great. People don't have the time to make the best decisions all the time. I don't vote for people to represent my view, I vote for them to make the right decision for everyone. I know that's not what happens, but if everyone voted on every issue, debt would go through the roof along with a host of other issues. They also mention issue based voting in their video (which is worth the watch), which doesn't make overall sense because if I'm a scientist, of course I'll think science needs more funding and if I'm in the public health system, of course I'll think public health needs more funding. And so on. Though a phone app for moral/ethical issues might be good. Takes the place of a conscience vote. In theory. Family First Party: anti immigration, anti same sex marriage, anti climate change (as in they don't “believe” in it). They use the word family a lot to make people feel like they are friendly. They are not. They are arseholes. They might end up last. Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group): Worse than the other religious parties. These guys will be close to last for me too. The Arts Party: I'm one of the least artsy people around in terms of creation, but I've learnt a lot about life from being entertained by Vonnegut, Heller and Huxley, along with kids shows like Captain Planet back in the day. I don't have much time for “entertainment” TV if it doesn't make me think, but I would rather have Australian mindless crap on TV than American mindless crap. And our crap is funnier anyway. I know I'm skipping other areas of the arts, but hey, I ain't no artist. Aussie music though. Eff yeah. Plus if we don't have funding in the ABC and Triple J etc. to hold the pollies to account (albeit satirically and unjustly too often), then who's going to do it? They have a video gaming policy because we consume but don't create much in that industry and it'll be a big market going forward. I'll be putting these guys above majors. DLP Democratic Labour: basically doesn't like the two majors being beholden to corporations and unions. Against same sex marriage. At the lower end but not abhorrent. Citizens Electoral Council: conspiracy theorists. Raging idiots. Secular Party Of Australia: anti-religion. Well, not anti-religion, but they think that a human person should have more rights than a made up fairy tale idea. Anti war on drugs and would like many currently illegal drugs to be sold legally with users registered. I can see problems with this considering current stigma, but it would be a good idea to have in the mix. Australian Liberty Alliance: would prefer small government, built on Judeo-Christian values but are secular, want migrants to enjoy a free Australia. “Stop the Islamation of Australia”, though they seem generally anti-racist. They think if you have an Australian Passport, it's the only one you should have, which I don't love. They are against same sex marriage, but for making same sex couples the same as a heterosexual married couple legally and financially which is fine, but they don't think two fellas or two gals should have kiddies which I don't like. Below middle of the road for me. Nick Xenophon Team: damn he looks different on the landing page of his website. Most people probably already have an opinion on him. I'm not into Independents holding the balance of power, but I think that happens when the majors are too unlikable which I think is the case now. Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party: yeah, nah, don't talk to me about your place in the future. Though I do like that they state their one field of interest and stick to it. It's just that I think that field will be gone in a few decades and the sooner the better. Marriage Equality: these guys also just run their one platform, this one I do believe in though. Go them. Pauline Hanson's One Nation: We all know where we sit on this one. Socialist Alliance: they seem pro revolution. I like their values, but their plan is rubbish so I'd put them middle of the road, above the arseholes, below the people with actual ideas. Australian Country Party: only take a view on country related issues and seem reasonable. MFP: Manufacturing and Farming Party. As above but slightly more racist. Want to increase defence spending. Drug Law Reform: as per my recent blog post, I'm all for this. Evidence based policy. Though unless both majors go for it, the one against reform will slag off the pro reform one mercilessly and nothing will go through. This party doesn't have stances on other issues. Voluntary Euthanasia Party: only talk about this issue. I'm for it so they'll go above the majors. Mature Australian: kinda anti immigration but under the guise of being pro immigration. They don't seem to say much else so will go below the majors. Shooter, Fishers and Farmers: historically I haven't liked these guys and I still don't, but they aren't as bad as some of the others. Below the majors though, so it doesn't matter. Liberal Democrats: anti PC, anti big government, think people can make their own choices. Substantially cut tax, substantially reduce government spending. Idiots. Anti foreign aid, pro guns, pro market, pro immigration, pro same sex marriage, pro choice (in many topics), pro drug reform. Below majors, below most others. They have a picture of Cradle Mountain in their environment section. Go Tassie! Rise Up Australia Party: website is so bad. Racist while trying to seem tolerant. Openly oppose multiculturalism. They are pro income equality and I like the way they put it, but it's just doesn't catch them up considering all their other policies are not agreeable to me. I'll put them near the bottom.
Australian Progressives: as you would expect, pro same sex marriage etc. They actually put a number on the increase of asylum seekers at 26k. Nearly double what is current, just over half what the Greenies want. Above majors, but just a bit (some of their tax reform doesn't make sense to me). Australian Sex Party: saved the best until last. I agree with literally everything and I love they include things like ending religious tax exemptions, ending tampon tax (apparently lube isn't taxed, wtf), reducing recidivism, increasing internet literacy and increasing political literacy. These guys are getting my number one.
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