Australian Election

[Zelda]

If anyone cares, John Howard was just re-elected in Australia with a larger majority in the lower house. (not particularly happy about that but anyhow).

[xcr]

Thats to bad... I was hoping for a Lathiem (sp?) victory...
oh well

[civiltech]

For what it's worth, it has taken the constitutional "red herring" issue re: monarchy off the front page news. At least for now, it is no longer something the government believes is worth pursuing with huge tax dollars and pointless referendums (until they get the answer they want) obviously at the expense of the average Aussie..... Maybe spend the money on education, health care and infrastructure?

Hmmmmm...Monarchist Government, and fiscally not stupid...how can ya beat that?

Common Zelda, I'm just begging for a rebutall!!

[Zelda]

The monarchy issue has been dead for awhile. My big worry is that the government looks like holding half the senate seats, and the balance of power, instead of been with the democrats and greens as it has been, will be with the Family first party, who are associated with the Assembly of God church......
As for fiscally not stupid.....err well, sure we might have a budget surplus but I dont trust Peter Costello. Add to that the fact we once again appear to have "core" and "non core" election promises and who KNOWS what will happen in 6 months time!

[Neil]

I cannot believe that the Liberals *increased* their majority. I just don't understand.

No one seems to care that the Howard Government committed the country to going to war on the basis of intelligence that was known at the time to be inconclusive (and is now known to be wrong), against the wishes of a majority of the population! Not to mention a Government that has frequently misled the country for political purposes. Most Australians who vote must care about very different things to me .

As for the senate, I shudder to think what media cross-ownership laws the Liberals will be able to get through now.

Regarding the monarchy/republican thing - call me weird, but I would like to have an Australian as the head of state of Australia. I think it's worth spending money to help make this happen.

[Epictetus]

I feel for you guys, I really do. Bracing for possible results of our election up here...