NSW election funny

Tomorrow is election day. Not sure about you but I have really struggled to have time for this election. With work to do, sick kids, Easter to plan and life in general, an election, particularly an election where the government hasn't really annoyed me much, or more that the opposition seems rather invisible, feels like a nuisance.

But participating in the democratic right to vote is still something we all should but some thought into!

(said with a very mummy voice!)

One of the biggest issues I can glean in my brief moments reading news, is that sale of electricity infrastructure.  The current Liberal government is planning to LEASE them with the promise of the money going into more infrastructure, like what they have been doing already. The opposition are opposed to it. Energy infrastructure isn't one of my biggest priorities but public transport is. So, with that in mind, I thought this image was particularly funny.

24 hours to decide who to vote for! Thank God for the internet (and hopefully kids who will sleep so I can read up)

Election happening in NSW soon!!

A lot of this blog has been about Federal politics.  Issues of immigration, environment and parental leave are federal issues.

State and Federal politics are two very different beasts.  Each state have their unique cultural, environmental, demographic and financial situations.  There are some states, like QLD, that have favoured one side of government more than the other.  State politics use to be considered less volatile to change, however the recent QLD election shows that anything can happen. I was amazingly fascinated with the results in QLD because they were so close and the result was surprising. I strangely started getting a little bit excited about the NSW election.

I have been thinking about this post for over a month, but struggled to have time to think and read.

It's important to realise that State Politics has very different issues they can control and to be wise about which ones you will vote about. State government control a lot of things that we touch, see and have to deal with each day.  Transport. Healthcare. Schools. The main ones that I am interested in are:

• Infrastructure- namely transport and the increase of public transport;
• Education - namely provision of public education in my area (not many co-ed comprehensive public high schools around here);
• Healthcare - namely funding for hospitals and area healthcare services; and
• Environment - mainly mining and mining licences.

I live in an electorate that has been historically Labour, by a slim margin. In the last election, it had a swing of over 20% against Labour to give the Liberal Party victory for the first time in over 20 years.  I don't think it was the candidate. I think it was more the perception of the party at the time.

In this election period, I have not see hardly ANY poster boards for anyone else except my sitting Liberal MP. Are there any other options? I have seen a few posters for these guys. Not sure if I am all for one-issue parties. I have received one hand out in the post for Labour and just received a letter, addressed to me, with my current MPs "plan".

To try to find out what options I have, since neighborhood light posts are not helping, I have gone to this electoral NSW website, which tells me what my other options are. Appears I have 5 other options (which is nice).

Even though my seat has been a swinging seat, I suspect that it will stay Liberal as the local member is very popular. I also think, that on the issues above, all bar one favour the current government than the the one who is challenging.

But I haven't read enough.

What you are thinking about in regards to this State election? Thoughts on one-issue parties? Or other minor parties?

34 days... and life still goes on

(Instagram 11.9.13)

The 2013 Federal election was technically 34 days long. On Saturday September 7, Australia peacefully changed governments and brought in Tony Abbott as our new Prime Minister.

Much of this is actually incredible considering the other political situations in the world like Syria, Egypt, Burma, K.Rudd's best mates China etc.

I am sure many of you were expecting me to write a post earlier than this. However, I have needed a few days to process all that has happened. And I also felt I needed to wait to see what would happen. It is interesting the process of voting. A few numbers on a piece of paper is all we have to do. But the ramifications of these numbers as a collective have massive consequences. I don't think many of us can or do realise this.

But life still goes on. I actually can't think of one thing that has changed in my life since Saturday except for the contents of my Facebook newsfeed. There is still laundry to be done, work to do, children to teach, train and feed; friends and family to love.

Here are some thoughts on the election results and post-election that I can poetically inscribed within an appropriate acrostic VOTE:

V - Victor. The victor of this election is Tony Abbott. Someone who, I confess, I have said to The Man a few times "if he ever becomes Prime Minister, can we leave the country?" Yet, in fact, this hypothetical has become a reality. I saw it coming but for some reason did not wish it to happen. Many of this is because of his policies on the environment (see previous posts). He probably has personal values that actually reflect my own more so than K.Rudd. I found this article very amusing.
One victor of  this election is also the Liberal member for my electorate who just won by an extremely small margin. (The sitting member was Labour) It has taken over 3 days for my electorate to be called. THREE DAYS!! Quite exciting!! This means they would of have to count every single number place on that green paper! I am glad the member is with the government as opposed to opposition.  Holding the seat with such a thin margin should guarantee he will read my (future) letters  (maybe rants) about climate change/asylum seekers/environment etc etc.

O - Opposition. I have a strange fascination with how the opposition will rebuild itself after defeat. You would hope they would listen to the electorates and tackle the issues of disunity and dysfunction. My interest in Labour does centre around what role Tanya Plibersek will have in the new opposition.  I have found her to be an impressive person in the way she conducts herself when she speaks both in a formal and unprepared way. When Ben Pobjie of the Guardian described her potential prime minister-ship as her "glorious regime", I realised I felt some infirmity with that. Not that I am in her electorate nor would vote for Labour just for her (though she would be a good draw card.) At the moment it appears the opposition leader could be Albo or Shorten. Neither seem impressive. But, it is a wait-and-see game. The way the Liberals were able to rebuild after they lost under Howard is pretty amazing.

T - Time. Being politically engaged takes time. A lot of time. Just trying to keep your finger on the pulse with not just what is going on but reading opinions that both agree and disagree with your own takes a fair amount of time that I don't think the ordinary person has. Or, at least the mum of two children who works 3 days a week and participates in extra-circular activities like me can do. I am glad that I gave my vote the time and thought it needed.  This vote was probably the most thought-through vote I have cast in the 15 or so years I have been able to vote. But it does take time. So I can see why the "sound-bite" policies and one-liners works for people. It would be good to be able to go to one place to get  information in a relate-able, human way. It also takes time to blog about this stuff.

E - Engaged.  Or more importantly, stay engaged. Going through this process has made me see that being engaged needs to be more than just one day, one vote. A lot can be done over the next three years and my minister is now accountable to me for decisions made on my behalf as the government. They won't know what I want unless I tell them. It's empowering as well as burdensome.

With that said, I think this may not be the last post on this blog. I had originally thought I would finish at post #34. 34 posts for 34 days of the election campaign (nice huh?) But I need to stay engaged and so I think I may keep posting (though maybe in a somewhat adhoc fashion) anything helpful I read.

Plus, the NSW State election is in less than 2 years time. Which made me realise... I don't even know who the NSW Opposition leader is... (Thanks in advance Google).

The night before the election.....

It is nearly over. The election campaigning that feels like it has been going on for 3 years may finish tomorrow. In the last 24 hours has seen one leader stand up and another stay quiet. Though all the polls and predictions point to Liberals, I cast my thoughts back to the 1993 Hewson-led Coalition who had the polls on their side but lost in the end.

The last 24 hours for me has actually made me realise who I  don't want to win and therefore who I will vote against tomorrow.

This article I found really kinda summed up the election well.

PLEASE dear readers, vote for policy and not personalities!!!

Probably my last post til the election, I want to share this lovely poem by a friend of a friend of a friend (I think), a Mr Jason Forbes. I thought it was appropriate!

Twas the night before voting
when all through the house
All were wondering
WHO THE HECK AM I GOING TO VOTE FOR??
including the mouse!

Dad considered the candidates,
the greedy and fair.
While mum just wanted the best childcare.

The idea of family
could see a new day
The prospect of marriage,
now free and gay!

Present leaders showed
as servants to themselves,
while arrogance abounded
their ignorance observed!!

The sick and disabled
seeing the end of their night
With te NDIC
to take care of their plight.

While the biblical faithful
prayed and sat tight
Looking only to Jesus
to come and make things right!!

Paid Parental Leave #2 which is really about childcare

(Hard to find good childcare... I mean eggs.... July 2013)

As a user and one heavily reliant on childcare 3 days a week, I am a tad ashamed I didn't really have childcare up there as one of my policies of concern. However, with the recent release of the Coalition's budget and position, something has to be said:

* I understand that the National Quality Framework has been a bit painful to implement as it tries to regulate a system that, in many ways, has been quite a casual arrangement by some groups to look after children.
* However, as someone who uses childcare regularly, the Framework provides assurance that childcare centres have a good standard to care for our children.
* I am unsure what the Coalition is proposing however the industry does need reform. Better wages, better qualified staff. It is extraordinarily hard to get affordable and good childcare.
* Access to childcare is intrinsically linked to the ability of women to go back to the workforce after children. It should be accessible to all without having to wait in ridiculously long waiting lists that we had to place our child just after they were conceived.
* I have been blessed to have experienced two excellent childcare centres. However, they are expensive and this is not the norm.

So I will vote for improvement and reform to the childcare system.

I found this and this helpful to read.

Vote Compass

I finally got around to using the Vote Compass and it is really insightful. It doesn't help with your Senate votes but it does help you see which of the main parties - Liberal, Labour or Greens you align to the most.

You may be pleasantly surprised and it may help you with your choice tomorrow. Enjoy!!

The faith vote and how to vote

(Vote above or below the line?! April 2013, Blackheath)

I found these below articles helpful for those who are faith based in their ideals and values.

A Christian case for the greens

http://www.jimsphilosophy.com/politics/279-why-do-some-christians-vote-green

And how to vote 

http://drummoynepresbyterianchurch.wordpress.com/2013/09/02/how-to-vote-this-election/

And this article about voting below the line

http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/vote-fred-risk-getting-pauline-dilemmas-for-christian-voters-2

My favourite quote: 

Election expert Antony Green has pointed out that according to law, voters are allowed to miss out ten percent of the boxes below the line, and mess up the numbering three times, yet still have their vote accepted as formal. This is good news for the preference plodders

So, don't be scared to vote below the line!!! It will make your vote that much more worthwhile!!!

The importance of voting

For those of you feeling unsure or disillusioned with voting in the upcoming election, I found this cute cartoon from this site really helpful. All vote counts!!!