Questions tagged [australia]
For questions relating to the government and politics of Australia.
7
votes
2answers
208 views
How can an Australian Senator be removed from office?
There's currently a change.org petition calling for the removal of Fraser Anning from the Australian Senate.
Accepting that a change.org petition is merely indicative, and ignoring the specific ...
4
votes
1answer
90 views
How much of an influence did Port Arthur have on New Zealand?
New Zealand has announced it will change its gun laws in the wake of the massacre against attendees of two mosques.
As an Australian, I’m surprised that New Zealand didn’t change its laws after the ...
2
votes
1answer
206 views
What is motivating the Australian government to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel's capital? [closed]
In a speech, Scott Morrison Australia current serving prime minister has been indicating that Australia will recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and eventually move the embassy there.
...
4
votes
2answers
214 views
Term for the trend where a political party does worse in State elections when holding power Federally
In Australia it's well-known (see, for example, here) that a party that holds power at Federal level will - all other things being equal - tend to hold a disadvantage in State elections.
Similarly, ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Why did John Bercow nominate an Australian senate official to be the Clerk of the House?
In 2014 why did John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, nominate an Australian senate official to be the Clerk of the House?
The Clerk of the House of Commons is a constitutional advisor, it ...
-1
votes
2answers
159 views
Is Wentworth particularly pro-Israel, and why?
I’ve read speculation that the current Australian PM has made some pro-Israel statements recently because there’s a by-election in the seat of Wentworth, because the seat is about ten or fifteen ...
1
vote
2answers
327 views
Why was excluding Australian Aboriginal populations from the Race Power considered racist?
Section 51(xxvi) of the Australian Constitution originally read,
The people of any race, other than the aboriginal race in any State,
for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws:
I hope ...
7
votes
1answer
4k views
What international relations is Australia missing out on by being a constitutional monarchy?
For my debate, I have to argue in favour of Australia being a republic. I'm planning on one of my points being that by still being a monarchy, Australia is missing out on multiple international ...
7
votes
1answer
154 views
Do aboriginal Australians value the acknowledgement of country speeches
Before many formal presentations often that have some connection with the government there is a formal acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the area and the tribe.
This is usually in the ...
10
votes
1answer
235 views
How does the Australian Electoral Commission avoid partisan bias?
I was watching a Vox video on gerrymandering in Pennsylvania, and thought how lucky I am that gerrymandering is not generally considered to be much of a problem here in Australia. Some states had ...
9
votes
2answers
368 views
Can foreign countries disqualify Australian candidates at will?
Could a country get their preferred candidates to win an Australian election by declaring all other candidates for that office citizens of that country, thereby making all those other candidates ...
-1
votes
1answer
242 views
Is it practical to protest the same sex plebiscite with a ballot? [closed]
Is it practical to protest the same sex plebiscite, being held in Australia, using the ballot itself?
I've heard people advocate glitter bombing, but I assume it'll mainly result in the people ...
6
votes
3answers
334 views
How did so many Australian politicans recently win Parliamentary seats while unaware of or denying their second nationality?
Half a dozen Australian members of Parliament have resigned or are threatened with the need to do so after "discovering" that they are dual citizens, forbidden from serving (how surprising this truly ...
3
votes
3answers
249 views
Why did Australia grant refugee visas to Syrians despite their extremely harsh immigration policies?
I've been recently surprised to find out that Australia apparently granted 12,000 visas to refugees from Syria:
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced it has fulfilled it's 2015 pledge to ...
7
votes
1answer
280 views
Why did Australian Labor MP Khalil Eideh get denied entry to the USA?
Khalil Eideh is an Australian State (Victoria) Member of Parliament who was on an official trip studying drug policy and injecting rooms. When the group was to travel from Canada to the USA he was ...
6
votes
0answers
124 views
Would Australia leaving ANZUS affect its Five Eyes benefits?
I'm preparing an oral presentation on whether or not Australia should leave ANZUS, but can't find much information regarding the effect the separation would have on the Five Eyes agreement.
On the ...
6
votes
1answer
264 views
Why is there a gun amnesty in Australia? (2017)
There is currently a gun amnesty run by the federal government.
What motivated the gun amnesty?
Who motivated it?
What is the objective?
Is it likely to achieve the objective?
How much is it likely ...
5
votes
1answer
205 views
Statistics on Australian non-voters who are actually sanctioned (fined or otherwise punished)
Voting is compulsory in Australia (source).
Non-voters receive a letter, asking that they provide a valid and sufficient reason, or pay a A$20 penalty (source).
Voter turnout in Australia is high, ...
4
votes
2answers
136 views
How did the introduction of the GST affect state budgets in Australia
I've often wondered if the fact that the states are more willing to sell off infrastructure to raise funds is connected to the introduction of the GST in 2000.
Now, as I understand it, the GST ...
7
votes
0answers
103 views
How much have carbon-based industries invested in anti-climate-change lobbying in Australia?
There are reports that oil, coal and gas industries in America have invested more than half a billion dollars on lobbying against acting on climate change. In Australia there are more than 540 '...
3
votes
1answer
172 views
What happens to ballot papers after an election in Australia?
The voting process involved,
Fill out ballot paper,
Put paper in box,
Count the papers and the result is declared.
After the result is declared what happens with the ballot papers? I could not ...
2
votes
4answers
531 views
Why aren't there any right wing versions of GetUp in Australia?
GetUp is a "grass roots" campaigning organisation that focuses on campaigns around "Social Justice", "Economic Fairness", "Ënvironmental Sustainability" which are topics usually associated with the ...
5
votes
0answers
24 views
Will the changes to the NSW ICAC reduce its effectiveness?
The NSW government is putting through changes to ICAC, they claim its to make it more effective but it can also look like its because ICAC has been too effective at finding problems with the party.
...
4
votes
1answer
21 views
What are the changes being made to the NSW ICAC (Independent commission against corruption)
There are some apparently controversial changes being made to ICAC(https://www.icac.nsw.gov.au/) in New South Wales there is more comment about the motivations than the substance what are the changes ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views
Why was there a swing against the nationals in the NSW Orange by election (2016)?
In the 2016 orange by election there was a swing against the nationals. From what I've seen so far the main two issues mentioned are the greyhound racing bans and the forced council mergers, are there ...
5
votes
0answers
468 views
Why UK, Canada, Australia and NZ would not want to build a free movement union like EU? [closed]
In modern world large economies have advantages (bargaining power, unified standards, and many more) and this is one of the main reasons why EU has been created.
Now when Britain is leaving the EU ...
5
votes
1answer
314 views
What does 'robust political insult' mean?
Source: p 5. Rhetoric: A Very Short Introduction (1 ed, 2013) by Richard Toye.
In particular, it is important to be sensitive to differences in
political systems—giving a speech in the British ...
15
votes
1answer
410 views
Has there ever been a situation in a modern Westminster parliament where there have been more independents than members of the second largest party?
Has there ever been a situation where a modern Westminster parliament (national/federal/state/provincial) has ended up with more independent lower house MPs than MPs belonging to the second-largest ...
7
votes
1answer
156 views
Nuclear energy in Australia
Why is Australia not considering nuclear energy? Is the coal industry a key factor to nuclear energy not being considered?
1
vote
2answers
193 views
How did the liberal party win when labor party has more votes?
Looking at the results of the Australian 2016 federal election, Liberal Party won by winning the decisive 76 seats in the House of Representatives. What I don't get is why did they win when under the ...
2
votes
1answer
104 views
What percentage of Australians earn the average wage or higher?
We are told the average wage in Australia is around 70k (To be confirmed) what percentage earn that.
I could not find it on the ABS site http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/5673.0.55.003#...
0
votes
1answer
41 views
What special powers does cabinet have in Australia?
A serving member getting a position in cabinet is often talked about in the media. What does it actually mean?
3
votes
1answer
114 views
What is required to form government in a Hung Parliament?
The Australian 2016 federal election could be a hung parliament http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseDefault-20499.htm. If it is a hung parliament what steps are required to form government for one of the ...
3
votes
2answers
243 views
In the context of Brexit, what's referred to by calling for an Australian-style points system?
I've heard from the Remain camp that the Leave camp has called for introducing an Australian-style points system for immigration.
I have a basic understanding of what a points-based system is - ...
9
votes
2answers
149 views
Australian Head of State
Under the Australian Constitution, who will become Australia's Head of State if the British monarchy is suddenly dissolved or overthrown and Britain becomes a republic?
5
votes
1answer
56 views
How do Australian Upper House / Senate elections work?
The upper house sheet has a lot more candidates than the lower house and they tend to have more variety in terms of which parties get elected.
Also of the many people on the ballot paper how many of ...
4
votes
1answer
73 views
What does the Australian constitution specify about the mechanism of voting
As far as I know most voting systems in Australia are based on a seat based preferential system. Also that there is variation in exactly how this works between states.
What part of the voting system ...
2
votes
1answer
28 views
Where can I find who I'll be choosing from in my electorate (Australia)?
Before voting day I would like to know who the candidates are in my electorate.
Where can I find that information? I've looked at the AEC (Australian Electoral Commission) website but cannot find ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
Are change to Superannuation retrospective?
Bill Shorten (Australian Labor Party) claims that the changes to superannuation (2016) are retrospective. Is this really the case if so how / why?
The QandA episode this statement was made in http://...
3
votes
1answer
133 views
In what way are the Liberal party of Australia trying to privatise medicare
At the moment (June 2016) the Australian Labour Party are running a campaign (tv mostly) claiming the Liberals are trying to privatise medicare. What are the actual plans or events that point towards ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
What did Peter Dutton (Federal Member for Dickson) say in a radio inteview that was said to be offensive towards refugees?
Recently (May 2016) the federal member for Dickson, Peter Dutton, was in a radio interview where he was accused of claiming that refugees were unemployable and would take our jobs at the same time.
...
7
votes
1answer
127 views
If no one can form government, which seats are voted on?
In Australia, if after an election no party can form a government, either by themselves or by coalition, another vote must be called. I understand that all the lower house seats are up for grabs, but ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Why was Malcolm Turnbull (Prime Minister of Australia) named in the Panama Papers?
It has been reported that Malcolm Turnbull was in the Panama Papers. What records did he have and what was he using their services for.
http://www.afr.com/news/politics/malcolm-turnbull-named-in-...
4
votes
2answers
120 views
Why has Malcolm Turnbull called a double dissolution election (May 2016)?
Malcolm Turnbull (Australian PM) has just called a double dissolution election. I understand why he can, but I don't understand why he would want to.
If the polls showed the Liberals well ahead I can ...
4
votes
1answer
569 views
How did health care work before Australia had medicare?
Medicare is the Australian public healthcare system, what did Australia have before it existed.
3
votes
1answer
119 views
What is a double dissolution election (Australia)
Double dissolution elections are talked about in the media. What are they and how do they differ from normal elections?
1
vote
1answer
241 views
What changes are the Australian Labour Party proposing to negative gearing in 2016?
The proposed changes to negative gearing have received a lot of attention. Plenty of media and the labour party website does not get directly into the details.
Party website
http://www.alp.org.au/...
0
votes
2answers
395 views
How to defeat politicians like Donald Trump or Pauline Hanson [closed]
What tactics work and do not work against populist politicians who are anti-immigration, anti-establishment, and generally regarded (at least by left-wingers) as right-wing?
It sometimes seems like ...
8
votes
1answer
262 views
Why does the Australian Labor Party spell use the American spelling instead of the Australian spelling?
Australia uses British English for their spelling, which spells labour as in physical work, with a "u", where the Australian Labor Party spells it without a "u".This is in contrast to the British ...
4
votes
0answers
123 views
Why does Victoria prohibit sex work ads from mentioning ethnicity?
From Sex worker group Vixen Collective disappointed by Victorian regulation review:
The changes also now allow advertisements to "contain references to
the race, colour or ethnic origin, in ...
