Just a note that Prime Minister John Howard has called an election for October 9th. Australia doesnt have set terms and the PM can gauge public opinion and make the call when he feels he will win.
I know most of you wont be interested but I will point out we here in Australia were divided over the Iraq War issue... not whether we should have been there but the lies told to get us involved.As a member of the coalition of the lying it may be a forerunner to what may or may not happen to George Bush and his test of the people in November.
Australia uses the Westminster System of government which means we elect Members in our electorate and whoever has most elected gets to form Government. Only 77,000 people will have a say in whether John Howard remains as leader. Those 77,000 will first decide if Howard should stay and if he wins his electorate he will go to caucus. It is in the caucus that a leader is elected and John Howard has the numbers at the moment
(edited by PerthHeat on 29.8.04 1755) if you cant stand the heat...buy icecream
Is Kim Beazley still leading the opposition? I don't follow things as close as I once did (nowadays when I go to The Age website it's just for AFL results) but I remember thinking he was so totally ineffectual as a spokesman I couldn't understand how he stayed in power..
HELP IS ON THE WAY! "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." - George W. Bush 8/5/04
Originally posted by spf2119Is Kim Beazley still leading the opposition? I don't follow things as close as I once did (nowadays when I go to The Age website it's just for AFL results) but I remember thinking he was so totally ineffectual as a spokesman I couldn't understand how he stayed in power..
As noted both parties use a caucus to elect leaders and deputy leaders and their hold on power is a finite thing more determined by public polling than if your an effective Leader/Opposition within the corridors of power.
Kim Beasley was Opposition Leader then Simon Crean was made OL after the previous election(if you lose an election your dead) and he proved to be IMO a Silent Simon, everything he said dissapeared into the silence.
In March 2004 Kim Beasley called for a leadership spill thinking he had the numbers within his group to steamroll and the opinion polls were divided as to whether to recycle him or not.Mark Latham who is a Gough Whitlam smark - (PM 1972-1975) who had made some noise by calling John Howard an arse/ass licker of George Bush (true IMO) decided to test his power base and surprisingly won. The Labour caucus deciding to invest in youth ( he is 43) and energy over an older already failed person.
The opinion polls have it a close election with seats in marginal electorates having an opportunity to gain services through pork barreling or promises of future services. The major issue will be about Trust. Can you trust the new. Can you trust someone who has difficulty in telling the truth. Can you trust someone when he says a vote for John Howard is not a vote for Peter Costello. John Howard is 64 and has said previously he will step down at 64 and didnt( another lie) .
The older I get the less I care, each party is the same their core principles which were supposed to differentiate them have blurred and its all about power.
Keep checking the AFL scores its more exciting. With the Brisbane Lions facing a challenge from Port Power making it 4 in a row will be harder this year.
(side note) If the Liberal Party win and John Howard steps down the replacement will likely be Peter Costello his likely deputy will be Tony Abbott.... I kid you not Abbott and Costello will be in running Australia.