Federal Election

Saturday 18th: For the past few weeks it has been all the go on Telly if not so noticeable at local level. No posters on poles with just a few signs here and there. The party in power are the Labour Party and they changed leaders just prior to calling the election. Kevin Rudd was replaced by Julia Gillard as the poles pointed towards an election loss. There was an immediate swing to the Government which gradually levelled off. Now it is neck and neck. The coalition is led by Tony Abbot who is not very popular. I enjoy listening to him as he is great at slinging the mud. Aussie politicians are allowed to say stuff that would not be allowed at home. It is very entertaining. He is a great opposition leader but would not be a popular Prime Minister. Polling finishes in a few minutes and it is too close to call. I think that Julia will get it for the Labour Party in the end. They have managed to save Australia from the recession though that does not seem to count too much. They should live in Ireland for a while!
I took a trip downtown to see what it was like. No posters or other signs of an election around the town. Just a few posters immediately outside the polling booths and inside were about twenty booths. You just walked in and gave your name and address. No ID or voting card was requested. I could have pretended that I was Mark and voted (I didn’t!) Everybody votes as there is a $100 fine for not voting. Even if you are abroad, you must vote or you will be fined.

Interesting names of the local candidates included: Purcell; Tehan (Dan-who won); McNamara and O Brien.