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Why? You get to be in government because the majority votes for you, and it does not matter whether it's 20 million or just a handful of voters. It might be worth reading this: in australia where voting is mandatory, does it send any kind of useful messages to the political parties. Do they even care how many people fail to vote? Short answer: not very much. In Australia’s compulsory voting system, the number of people who fail to vote is generally too small to send a strong political signal, and parties tend to pay far more attention to other indicators. Here’s how it works in practice. 1. Non-voting rates are very low Turnout in Australian federal elections is typically around 90–92% of enrolled voters. The election is administered by the Australian Electoral Commission. Rough breakdown in many elections: ~90% vote formally or informally ~3–5% fail to vote some are excused after explaining to the AEC Because the non-voting group is small and scattered, it’s hard to interpret it politically. 2. Political parties mostly ignore “failure to vote” Parties like the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia, and others generally don’t treat non-voting as a meaningful message because: The people who miss voting are not a coherent group. Many simply forget, are travelling, or are ill. They don’t know the political views of those people. So parties can’t tell if non-voters were protesting, apathetic, or just busy. 3. Informal voting sends a clearer signal If people want to show dissatisfaction, informal ballots are a better indicator. An informal vote is when the ballot is filled out incorrectly or left blank. These are counted and reported. In some electorates analysts look closely at: high informal rates large numbers of blank ballots These can hint at protest or confusion with the ballot. 4. The signals parties actually care about Political parties pay far more attention to: 1. Primary vote shifts Changes in each party’s first-preference vote. 2. Preference flows How minor-party voters allocate preferences. 3. Booth-level swings Detailed results from each polling place. 4. Demographic patterns How suburbs or demographic groups move between elections. These data points are far more useful than the small number of people who simply didn’t vote. 5. Compulsory voting changes the meaning of turnout In voluntary systems (like the US), turnout can signal: enthusiasm disengagement mobilisation success But in Australia, turnout is largely “forced”, so it tells parties very little about political sentiment. ✅ In effect: Failing to vote in Australia rarely sends a meaningful political message, because it’s too uncommon and too ambiguous.

Compulsory voting was brought in by the Conservatives. Labor agreed with it.

If we stopped voting, then that would make the political class stop and think: "What are we doing wrong"

She has NO one legitimately in the Lower House Where it ALL Happens. If Barnaby runs for the Lower house HE may Miss out. He is guaranteed a Place on the senate ticket that will get him in there. For Integrity on a scale of one to ten I would give him Minus five. He's just Pooped on the party that supported him for ages. What a great example HE sets? Not, Nev

Because in life, you are often faced with choices, and there is no perfect solution. If I book a domestic flight, every airline available has had its share of fvckups. What am I to do, not book any of them, or do I rationally evaluate the choices available and choose the best (or least worst one? The thing is that as individuals, we all have things we want and don't want. No party can ever represent every single thing I want so what am I to do? Should I not vote for anyone or should I vote for the government that most closely aligns with my beliefs? If I took your statement literally, then I would never vote. Would that be a good thing if no one voted?

So same as the other pollys, they all promise what they can't give

Sources Please Nev

Pauline is Just someone offering what she Cannot give, Brazenly. she doesn't believe RULES apply to Her and uses racism openly (adjusted over time) She just an opportunistic $#1t stirrer and Trump worshipping CON Artist collecting Misfit Candidates and Rinehart financed. . She will fall foul for some Law for sure and claim she is being victimised guaranteed. She's no Benevolent genius dedicated to helping Australina get ahead. She's capable of doing a lot of Damage and has to be considered a very risky Proposition based on Form and Performance so far. Nev

Your right to Vote is the Best assurance of your ability to be rid of a despot. Most of the World would love to have what we have. Compulsory voting came in to stop the Bosses from preventing you voting.. (like Trump wants to) Boasting about NOT voting is like Wearing a Jumper with " I'm the Village Idiot" on it. Nev

Why endorse anyone if in your opinion they aren't up for the job?

Yep! He's a slimy bastard. And I'm not saying that simply because of teh Party he is in. He's puolled some pretty shonky deals in his life.

Russians furious as Putin cuts off internet: 'I started to panic' Throughout modern history, regimes seeking to maintain power have often targeted communication networks, limiting access to news, social media or mobile connectivity during times of political tension or security threats. Such measures are typically justified as necessary for national security. Critics, however, argue that restricting communication infrastructure can also make it easier for authorities to control public discourse and reduce the ability of citizens to organize Kremlin cites security The Kremlin says recent mobile internet disruptions in Russia were introduced for security reasons. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the restrictions comply with existing legislation and were necessary to ensure public safety. or share information. “All disconnections and restrictions on communication are carried out in strict accordance with current legislation,” Peskov said. The comments came after residents in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities reported widespread mobile internet outages. Networks disrupted Users first began reporting problems accessing websites and mobile applications in Moscow on March 5, according to the Russian technology outlet Kod Durova. In some cases, people said they lost service entirely and were unable to make phone calls. The disruptions affected Russia’s four largest telecom operators — MTS, Megafon, Beeline and T2 — though the outages appeared inconsistent depending on location.

Not only that sort of person. Anyone with with the ability to do something that a lot of people need done from time to time will have work thrust on them. Have you ever tried to get a plumber or electrician at short notice?

Yeah right, interesting.

That's a bargain onetrack. I had a seat sent from Germany a few years ago, about 34kg, and it cost over 400 USD in freight. On top of that was 800 AUD in charges to get it released from the airport. Customs charges, Border Force charge, Quarantine charges, brokerage and many more , it was a full A4 page listing the fees.

If it's still under control, it's statistically safer to stay with it. If they've lost control, it's near impossible to get to the parachute to don it, let alone bail out safely. They replaced the harnesses with safety harnesses for all the crew members.

A Melbourne dad almost missed the news he'd just won $50 million in Powerball after mistakenly deleting the email telling him about it. The Victorian man, who was watching the AFL on the couch with his son on Thursday night, ignored the first message from The Lott because he assumed it was junk mail. 'I actually saw the first email and didn't even open it,' he said. 'I thought it was spam and deleted it.' But a second email made him curious enough to check his ticket on the app - and that's when the reality of his win hit. 'Unbelievable. Fifty million dollars - that's insane,' he said. 'I'm just sitting here watching the footy with my son. When my wife gets home, I've got some news for her. 'She probably won't believe me, but when I show her the ticket, I think she'll start shaking and crying.' The man held the only division one winning entry in Powerball draw 1556, drawn Thursday 12 March 2026, taking home the entire $50 million jackpot. The winning ticket was just a $6.30 four-game entry bought through The Lott app. 'I only ever play the smallest entry. You don't need a big one to win,' he said.

I understand it was almost impossible to bail out anyway.

I always say, it only takes one game to win it. The guy that won the $50mill this week won with one game, lost with three. If you are meant to win it you will. Buying 50 games won't help if you're not meant to win it. You might pick up a small consolation prize, but probably wouldn't cover the cost of the ticket.

Our local federal member is LNP and fairly safe. Last election he got his margin halved to 7%, but should get in ok next time. His only real opposition is Labor, and the way the preferences flow, he should get back in ok. Even if One Nation take a heap of his support, it's an area where the Greens poll 10%, so their preferences will go to Labor and should knock One Nation out of the contest. ON preferences (with Family First and Palmer's) will then flow back to the LNP and top Labor. Demographics are on the side of the LNP here - part rural and one candidate due to the LNP amalgamation, a big small business population, and a big population of Victorian self funded retiree migrants.

In the US, Trump knows that suppressing voters is the only way he will get re-elected.

Back to big houses, this is the newest house in our street. The owners moved in last week. Landscaping still to be done.

Yeah but yaknow, a worst choice isn't gonna win or do anything anyway sooo , not even worth the trip down and time to me. l voted every time when Howard was in , to get the yank bum kissing moron out. 😁

There surely must always be a "least worst" choice?

Any thoughts on Angus ?