Tony Abbott is no longer PM of Australia

[CtW]

Sauce: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-34245005

 

 

In the dramatic late night party leadership ballot, Mr Abbott, who had been plagued by poor opinion polls, received 44 votes to Mr Turnbull's 54.

Mr Turnbull said he assumed that parliament would serve its full term, implying no snap general election.

 

I figured that this would make a fair amount of you australians happy, given how much this forum hates Abbott. 

[Zayzo]

Umm, i feel like I've missed out on dank maymays. Why is this guy bad?  

[minibois]

Umm, i feel like I've missed out on dank maymays. Why is this guy bad?  

Well he's a politician, that should explain plenty I guess.

[Zayzo]

Well he's a politician, that should explain plenty I guess.

No, i meant, why is he bad even among politicians.

[Nineshadow]

Wait, what?

That was quick.

[Hoppa]

lol

A back stab just like what happened in the labour party

 

Let's hope he's less shit than abbott, but who am I kidding, he'll still be shit.

[Mug]

I hear Abbott was terrible so I wish this new one luck.

[JAKEBAB]

Repost:

linustechtips.com/main/topic/449680-who-auspolitics-here/#entry6030138

[Mug]

Repost:

linustechtips.com/main/topic/449680-who-auspolitics-here/#entry6030138

Hate to say, but that was "there looks to be an ousting"

 

This is "There has been an ousting"

[CtW]

^

[Alurit]

a tech guy? might end the war-on-videogames down under?

[Serin]

Turnbull was an advocate for a national broadband network that'd see fiber to the home here. Before Abbott came to power he lost his spine and began advocating fiber to the node that included use of our shitfakked copper network. He also looks to be set to continue disallowing his party a free vote on marriage equality. 
A little less shit - PM Turnbull.

[killcomic]

Can we start singing Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead?

 

I'm no Liberal supporter, but Turnbull seems a heck of a better choice than Abbott. But then again, a potato would make a better choice than Abbott.

[killcomic]

No, i meant, why is he bad even among politicians.

Let's see, for one he's a xenophobe redneck in a country built on migration, a liar (even bigger liar than your average politician) and with a lower IQ than a particularly dumb turnip. He also had no respect for democracy, free speech and actively bullied the media to silence opposition.

In Australia, those things are unforgivable.

[Counter-Strike Player]

Isn't Australia another compulsory voting country or else you risk a large fine if you don't vote? I would like to hear to fellow Aussies point of view on this, as it fascinates me how a supposedly democratic country mandates voting (and yes I know, the queen, bla bla bla monarchy, "waste of space" bla bla bla.) If you don't agree with compulsory voting how did you submit a protest vote? From what I've read, compulsory voting leads to an increase of the donkey vote (aka "1-spam"), and if you need to do this to rank the candidates on the ballot:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Australia#/media/File:Ac.ballotdraw.jpg

 

...then personally I think you've failed as a voting system. Now obviously things could be worse like #hangingChads but that's beside the point.

 

a tech guy? might end the war-on-videogames down under?

 

This is also troubling. Along with the porn. Sooner or later free speech won't be a "thing" anymore and you guys better be troubled by that. I'm surprised more of you haven't voted for the "Australian Sex Party" last election.

[SkilledRebuilds]

[Serin]

Isn't Australia another compulsory voting country or else you risk a large fine if you don't vote? I would like to hear to fellow Aussies point of view on this, as it fascinates me how a supposedly democratic country mandates voting (and yes I know, the queen, bla bla bla monarchy, "waste of space" bla bla bla.) If you don't agree with compulsory voting how did you submit a protest vote? From what I've read, compulsory voting leads to an increase of the donkey vote (aka "1-spam"), and if you need to do this to rank the candidates on the ballot:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Australia#/media/File:Ac.ballotdraw.jpg

 

...then personally I think you've failed as a voting system. Now obviously things could be worse like #hangingChads but that's beside the point.

 

 

This is also troubling. Along with the porn. Sooner or later free speech won't be a "thing" anymore and you guys better be troubled by that. I'm surprised more of you haven't voted for the "Australian Sex Party" last election.

We are indeed. I actually prefer a system that mandates voting. Libertarian BS aside the number of informal votes it isn't a large percentage at all. Cite: http://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/Informal_Voting/division.htm

As to freedom of speech, we don't have that enshrined in law to begin with. We've a right to political discourse. So freedom of expression is implied but can be challenged in cases that relate to the racial discrimination act and various other exceptions. 

 

As to fines for not voting: A large amount it is not.

Cite: http://www.aec.gov.au/faqs/voting_australia.htm

I prefer it this way because it requires those who might not otherwise vote to actually get involved in political discourse. One of the many responsibilities we have as members of a democratic society is to actually contribute to that society. Quite honestly I'd rather this system than a system like the American one that seems to do nothing but discourage the lower socioeconomic classes from voting and lets the rich have free reign over politics. 

As to which parties I vote for. Having only voted in a few federal elections I've had the Greens at the top of my ballot closely followed by either the sex party(only in the 2013 ballot) and Labor. The rest tend to be conservative and/or god botherering anti-freedom arseholes. The very opposite of who I am and what I believe. 

With that said I recently became a member of the Future party and plan on helping it grow with whatever I can contribute. Their policies on science and specifically establishing a space program here are most inspiring and are very much still open to debate given our relatively new status.

In my opinion we can only benefit from more voices in parliament and indeed that the two party system must die for us to actually be a representative democracy. Thankfully this seems to be taking place.

 

[Counter-Strike Player]

As to fines for not voting: A large amount it is not.

Cite: http://www.aec.gov.au/faqs/voting_australia.htm

If, within the time period specified on the notice, you fail to reply, cannot provide a valid and sufficient reason or decline to pay the $20 penalty, then the matter may be referred to a court. If the matter is dealt with in court and you are found guilty, you may be fined up to $170 plus court costs and a criminal conviction may be recorded against you.

If that's not intimidation then I don't know what is.

[Serin]

If that's not intimidation then I don't know what is.

A bit like not paying tax. Its breaking the law therefore there must be punishment.

[Counter-Strike Player]

Quite honestly I'd rather this system than a system like the American one that seems to do nothing but discourage the lower socioeconomic classes from voting...

 

Have to disagree with you. Unless you want to make an argument like, I have a poverty income and need to spend a not-insignificant amount of that income on gas to drive to a polling station (which ironically is a church for me.) But you're right, so much money gets involved. Disgusting amounts so that any person who gets elected will pander to special interests and the tax revenue is too much to dismiss, despite even claims to the contrary as Donald Trump has stated. That's why tobacco, gambling, and alcohol is legal (to the proper detriment of society) and if not -- then hissy fits ensue (and big money is lost.)

[Serin]

Have to disagree with you. Unless you want to make an argument like, I have a poverty income and need to spend a not-insignificant amount of that income on gas to drive to a polling station (which ironically is a church for me.) But you're right, so much money gets involved. Disgusting amounts so that any person who gets elected will pander to special interests and the tax revenue is too much to dismiss, despite even claims to the contrary as Donald Trump has stated. That's why tobacco, gambling, and alcohol is legal (to the proper detriment of society) and if not -- then hissy fits ensue (and big money is lost.)

There are concessions for low income voters I believe, hell you can apply for early polling via mail anyway so its not as if it takes much time out of the life of even someone who works 7 days a week. My partner does as much just so she can avoid election day lines and annoying pamphlet waving sycophants.  I on the other hand prefer to annoy them right back.

I guess it comes down to the values of a society. I like to think that Australia has a fairly clued in society who have at least some vague idea of how politics works and some willingness to participate in it. 

Of course there are the occasional libertarian politicians who would see compulsory voting axed, but then they tend to be madly right wing nut jobs who favour bringing back the death penalty and being dicks to everyone... 

 

[TheMechEngineer]

Tony Abbot is one of the most decent Prime Ministers.

No mouth-flapping, just says what he's gonna do and does it.

It's just unfortunate that nobody cares about that, and the #1 goal is getting a dagger straight into the back of the leader, at any given opportunity.

The world is clearly fucked now because social media played a big role in this, with all of that #PutOutYourOnions shit on Twitter

Who cares about voting any more, because clearly the new leader is going to get backstabbed eventually anyway.

[Counter-Strike Player]

 

"...and Jesus knew, ah, that there was, ah, a place for everything...and, and, it is not necessarily everyone's place to come to Australia."

 

[Salty]

Of course there are the occasional libertarian politicians who would see compulsory voting axed, but then they tend to be madly right wing nut jobs who favour bringing back the death penalty and being dicks to everyone... 

 

I believe there is only one Libertarian party in Australia and they are quite left on social issues...

[Praesi]

I thought this Guy is the Australian PM..?