Australian Political Parties (3 Viewers)

[Generator]

This thread may be of interest to many. Could a moderator please sticky it so that it may sit near the top of the forum?

http://www.liberal.org.au/
http://www.alp.org.au/
http://campaign.democrats.org.au/index.asp
http://www.greens.org.au/
http://www.nationals.org.au/

The following link contains a list that 'is consistent with the Parliamentary Library's role as a provider of information and in no way indicates an endorsement of particular web sites or organisations. Only political parties with websites are listed. Please consult the Australian Electoral Commission for a complete list of registered parties.'
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/pol/polparti.htm


Edit: I added the Nationals to the 'major' party list after reading ohne's post. Leaving the Nationals off the original list was a stupid mistake, and I apologise.

 

[tWiStEdD]

damn the two party system.

 

[ohne]

With respect to the greens and democrats, I think the nationals deserve a little more recognition given that they are by far the third largest party in parliament. Their website does have a good calculator to work out how much a Mark Latham government would cost the Oz economy.

www.nationals.org.au

 

[mervvyn]

Do you really believe the Government claims about interest rates?
(assuming yes)
The Federal Government has no direct control over RBA cash rates. None whatsoever.
The influence they have is through taxes and spending, by boosting/cutting the amount of money the economy, particularly consumers, have. More spending increases inflation as there is more money going around, higher wages etc - I'm sure you know the drill there.
Even assuming that the Labor party is the reckless spender they are painted out to be, the interest rates probably wouldn't rise very much - don't forget the spending spree the government has just gone on. A lot of extra money in the economy, buying votes for either party, will push rates up eventually. So unless the parties renege on their promises, the rates will probably go up anyway. Which has been predicted for a while anyway, and isn't really tied to the party in power.
So while the Nat's calculator is probably mathematically correct, politically it doesn't really hold much water.

 

[Ziff]

Also include:

Antony Green's Federal Eleciton Guide:
http://www.abc.net.au/elections/

SMH's Election Coverage:
http://www.smh.com.au/specials/election2004/

The Daily Telegraph's Election Coverage:
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/specialcoverage.jsp?sectionid=1656040

Murdoch Paper's Combined Coverage:
http://www.news.com.au/election2004/

 

[braindrainedAsh]

I'm going to vote for the HEMP party..... not....

http://www.hemp.on.net/final_folder/what_you_can_do/links1.html#australia

 

[ohne]

Do you really believe the Government claims about interest rates?
(assuming yes)
The Federal Government has no direct control over RBA cash rates. None whatsoever.
The influence they have is through taxes and spending, by boosting/cutting the amount of money the economy, particularly consumers, have. More spending increases inflation as there is more money going around, higher wages etc - I'm sure you know the drill there.
Even assuming that the Labor party is the reckless spender they are painted out to be, the interest rates probably wouldn't rise very much - don't forget the spending spree the government has just gone on. A lot of extra money in the economy, buying votes for either party, will push rates up eventually. So unless the parties renege on their promises, the rates will probably go up anyway. Which has been predicted for a while anyway, and isn't really tied to the party in power.
So while the Nat's calculator is probably mathematically correct, politically it doesn't really hold much water.

It is not really to do with spending (although the ALP has been caught lying about that). Interest rates would be more at risk because of the ALPs brutal industrial relations policy.

 

[mervvyn]

It is not really to do with spending (although the ALP has been caught lying about that). Interest rates would be more at risk because of the ALPs brutal industrial relations policy.

Explain, i'm genuinely curious... where does industrial relations fit into interest rates?
"typical" Labor policy would increase union strength again --> greater wages, less productivity. do interest rates go up to combat higher wages or down to encourage the theoretical downturn in productity to reverse, I don't know, I've missed this part of the election...

Personally I think spending would have an impact, seeing as tax cuts are effectively wage rises, although most are pretty small.... interesting stuff.

 

[ohne]

Explain, i'm genuinely curious... where does industrial relations fit into interest rates?
"typical" Labor policy would increase union strength again --> greater wages, less productivity. do interest rates go up to combat higher wages or down to encourage the theoretical downturn in productity to reverse, I don't know, I've missed this part of the election...

Personally I think spending would have an impact, seeing as tax cuts are effectively wage rises, although most are pretty small.... interesting stuff.

basically, Labor's IR policy would lead to more wage claims not linked to productivity gains. This will create inflation (cost-push), leading to higher interest rates.

 

[mervvyn]

basically, Labor's IR policy would lead to more wage claims not linked to productivity gains. This will create inflation (cost-push), leading to higher interest rates.

assuming, of course, that the coalition's scaremongering in this regard is true, which I am not always sure about, and even if it is true, how much impact it would have - 7% to 10% is a fairly big jump given rate rises at 0.25 or 0.5% and that the policies, if implemented, would take a while to have an impact.
But thanks for explaining you PoV.

 

[chicaraca]

The Federal Government has no direct control over RBA cash rates. None whatsoever.
The influence they have is through taxes and spending, by boosting/cutting the amount of money the economy, particularly consumers, have..

The Coalitian's claims to keep interest rates low are entirely reliant on economic management! However, the way Howard's going, it seems, if anything, that interest rates are likely to rise. His promised $6 million of spending is expansionary, rather than contractionary, meaning that the fluctuations in the business cycle are exaggerated instead of minimised! Anyways, the point i'm trying to make is that the government has the ability to influence interest rates through economic management if it has the will to do so (and if it is re-elected, I believe it will).

The influence they have is through taxes and spending, by boosting/cutting the amount of money the economy, particularly consumers, have..

Boosting the money supply is directly related to interest rates. To accelerate growth, the RBA would purchase CGSs (securities) reulting in lower interest rates and increased liquidity (money supply).

 

[Bambul]

More good links

These 2 websites are great for election/politics info. They do not support any particular partry and have lots of great little details that are hard to find (e.g. a list of every seat with all the candidates running):

Mumble
http://www.mumble.com.au/

Poll Bludger
http://www.pollbludger.com/

Some more minor parties:

Australian Progressive Alliance
http://www.progressivealliance.org.au/index.php

Christian Democratic Party
http://www.cdp.org.au/

Citizens Electoral Council
http://www.cecaust.com.au/

Family First
http://www.familyfirst.org.au/

One Nation
http://www.onenation.com.au/

Progressive Labour Party
http://www.progressivelabour.org/

Socialist Alliance
http://www.socialist-alliance.org/

 

[propagandhi]

you disgust me

all i am hearing from you "liberals" is ... ooh it might cost me more money
seriously show some compassion for another human being and not just your bank account
fuck manifest destiny
why is it now that we are all chasing the american dream when the american dream and armageddon go together like beer and footy?
show a heart,... how can you vote for death, racism and imperialism- especially as a liberal?

 

[Not-That-Bright]

all i am hearing from you "liberals" is ... ooh it might cost me more money
seriously show some compassion for another human being and not just your bank account
fuck manifest destiny
why is it now that we are all chasing the american dream when the american dream and armageddon go together like beer and footy?
show a heart,... how can you vote for death, racism and imperialism- especially as a liberal?

?????????????????????????????
I seriously hope you don't see it as that black and white.

 

[propagandhi]

not that black and white perhaps
but its true

 

[Comrade nathan]

You forgot

Communist Party Austalia

 

[craz]

Gees help if that still existed. Communism - no way! All the way with Labor! All I hear from Liberal supporters is if we had this or that, Labor would spend all the money. Well - hello there's more good points from a labor perspective - we might spend money, but it goes to a good cause and most people do gain from it. AND we won't be so inclined to privatise just about everything!!!!!

 

[ellymelly]

all i am hearing from you "liberals" is ... ooh it might cost me more money
seriously show some compassion for another human being and not just your bank account
fuck manifest destiny
why is it now that we are all chasing the american dream when the american dream and armageddon go together like beer and footy?
show a heart,... how can you vote for death, racism and imperialism- especially as a liberal?

i think it is you who are misguided. and please, language.

 

[hiphophorray123]

oh god everyone knows the liberal supporters on this board don't have a mind of their own and have no sense whatsoever.

 

[Generator]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National...ocrats-cry-poor/2004/11/02/1099362139803.html