Aussie Federal election 2025

[nomadpete]

11 hours ago, Marty_d said:

Gina and Clive are the Tubby Trump Twins.

Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee.

 

I'm confused.... which one is Dum?

[Marty_d]

1 hour ago, nomadpete said:

Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee.

 

I'm confused.... which one is Dum?

That would be Clive.

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

On 31/03/2025 at 9:19 PM, rgmwa said:

This team you’re talking about will have to be capable of being everywhere, all the time, in every hospital ward in the country. The hospitals will need to be much bigger just to accommodate the team. I don’t think you’ve thought this through very well. 

Yeah it would be large, and nationwide, about a thousands members to start with, with different jobs for different members, all working together in harmony, each backing the other up, one for all, all for one.

[nomadpete]

21 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

it would be large, and nationwide, about a thousands members to start with

THEREFORE,  you are in favor of making our bureaucracy BIGGER?

[rgmwa]

31 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

Yeah it would be large, and nationwide, about a thousands members to start with, with different jobs for different members, all working together in harmony, each backing the other up, one for all, all for one.

Too costly, too unwieldy and too utopian to work, GON.

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

34 minutes ago, nomadpete said:

THEREFORE,  you are in favor of making our bureaucracy BIGGER?

No because other useless and unnecessary bureaucracy would go the way of the Dodo. 

[old man emu]

Just now, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

No because other useless and unnecessary bureaucracy would go the way of the Dodo. 

It would be a case of the bureaucracy rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

Australia is the Titanic now ... just check the election results as they come in. The dumb major parties will be watching their preference votes more closely than their primary votes.

[old man emu]

Returning to electoral promises of money being seen as vote buying, I heard a candidate announce a grant to a community for something or other. What the candidate pointed out that before the grant had been approved, those seeking it had gone through all the preparatory work so that work would be able to start if the grant was approved. That prep work involved drawing of plans, obtaining the development approval, arranging contractors to do the work etc. This is the normal practice for these community grants. My Men's Shed is applying for a grant for building extensions and the documentation of these things has to accompany the application.

 

So it seems that the promises made to fund local projects are not in fact promises, but the confirmation of grants that would have already been approved but not announced by whichever government body was making the grant. In other words, such a 'promise' is merely electoral spin.

[facthunter]

THAT applied in that particular case but doesn't necessarily apply to ALL funding statements. Dutton's Pre-Conditions with Victoria  involve a redesign of the whole Metropolitan Rail  Development Plan which is a STATE responsibility, No one else's. Nev 

[nomadpete]

46 minutes ago, facthunter said:

a STATE responsibility, No one else's. Nev

That responsibility could change if AusDOGE repositions the state transport department staff.

 

 

Edited 22 hours ago by nomadpete
I'm only jesting, Nev

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

Dutton hasn't come up with much has he? Just nuclear power and sacking Govt workers.

 

And the only thing Albo has come up with is: "In Australia's best interests", and, "We are still good friends with the United States, but not Trump"

 

Are these two really worth voting for?

 

I'm staying home thank you very much.

[facthunter]

 AS candidates the People in the various electorates chose them and the Parties CHOOSE their Leaders. Is that so BAD? 

 Churchill stated that democracy is the worst of all  forms of Governments EXCEPT for all  the OTHERS.

   WHAT are you Contributing GON?  Get on with the REST of your life. You won't find it that hard to find someone worse off than you are.  Nev

[octave]

Technically you are not voting for a prime Minister you are voting for a local member. Your local member then argues their case within the party.  If Dutton is not conservative enough for you it still makes sense to vote for the local conservative candidate if they are somewhat aligned with your beliefs. They can argue your views in the parliamentary party room. Voting for no one is pointless 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

16 minutes ago, octave said:

Voting for no one is pointless 

It's my way of protesting. I've never felt any affinity with the major dumb parties, nor our "Pommie" Westminster style of government. It creates perpetual disenfranchisement of about 30% of the electorate. And majority rule of 50 + 1 is dinosaur stuff, it needs to be more than that, a lot more. The ALP and the Conservatives have ruled since 1901, and that should tell us how rigged the political system is. Can you imagine Australia ever being governed by any other parties? Be honest with your answer.

[red750]

No, because the others aren't worth a pinch of s**t. Special interest splinter groups.

[facthunter]

Do a bit oof research on the Origin of the Parties in this Country and you'll find it's the eternal struggle of Capital Vs the workers based on a Penal Colony structure of free land for the wealthy and FA for anyone else. Nev

[octave]

I don't believe that not voting sends a concise message to either party. There are many reasons people may fail to vote.  What would be a clearer message is to go into the polling booth and not vote but write a message "I hate Eskimos" or whatever your beef is. I used to know a scrutineer for the Labor party and I know these kind of protest votes are noted 

It is also noted where preferences come from.  If the Labor Party gets a lower than usual preference flow from the Greens this is of concern and the same applies on the conservative side.  Preferences are a way if saying to a party ultimately you will get my vote however my concerns are coming from a particular point of view.

If you don't believe there is anyone to vote for and you are not prepared to go into the booth and scrawl a message then perhaps for your personal happiness you should disengage. There is no sense fuming about something you can't change. You have one life, whatever the circumstances you just have to make the best if it 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

34 minutes ago, red750 said:

No, because the others aren't worth a pinch of s**t. Special interest splinter groups.

Aaah but new parties may come along with new and very attractive policies .. What then? if they win a sizeable chunk of votes, say, 35% primary votes, and look like they'll do even better next time. Do you think the ALP and Coalition will lie down and let democracy take it's course?

[rgmwa]

I don't see how not voting is much of a protest because it has no effect on anything, apart from you having to pay a fine to the government for the privilege. If you don't like the major parties or the system, then voting for an independent would be more effective and would avoid the fine. At least your protest against the major parties would be recorded. Your call, of course.

 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

15 minutes ago, octave said:

There is no sense fuming about something you can't change.

Why have voting then? Why should I go and vote if nothing will change?

[octave]

Honestly GON I can't really workout what it is you want. Is your life so horrendous due to present government policies? If so which ones?

[octave]

1 minute ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

Why have voting then? Why should I go and vote if nothing will change?

Change does happen, yes it happens slowly but the Australia of today is not as it was in the past.  I am sorry you are so unhappy but ultimately happiness is something that doesn't just happen it is something you create yourself. 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

We're in new times, and it's a case of "Out with the old, and in with the new". The slate needs to be wiped clean.

[octave]

43 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

We're in new times, and it's a case of "Out with the old, and in with the new". The slate needs to be wiped clean.

It is so difficult to engage with you because you make these vague statements.  If you are really wanting a meaningful discussion you might need to be more specific.  Which current policies do you disagree with and  how could they be made better?  I read your idea about having a body to oversee medical services. Would this body be funded by the government?  Would this funded by the Medicare surcharge? Would there be checks and balances to ensure that an adverse outcome that was flagged before a procedure did not become the subject of complaint against a surgeon who did everything right but the outcome was negative in line the stated statistics.

Look I am impressed with people who come up with good ideas and put in the work to make their idea more than just a thought bubble.