# I pit 46.6% of Australian voters **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 9, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358 "2004-10-09T11:58:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Gest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Gest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gest)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/121 "2004-10-12T23:53:31Z")
> [@Jervoise](#): > > For a moment, I really didn’t feel like coming home for a few more years. Funny that. I’m going to Japan in a few weeks for 18 months. I felt kind of funny about _leaving_. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/122 "2004-10-13T01:18:48Z")
> [@antechinus](#): > > Those who voted for the coalition are selfish and gullible. A somewhat gross generalisation. This thinking is what has lost the ALP the last four elections. And if the ALP continues to think this way, rather than focussing on its own lack of appeal due to its dearth of reasonable policies and credible leaders, then it will lose the next federal election too. ---
**Author:** ![auliya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@auliya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auliya)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/123 "2004-10-13T02:35:04Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > A somewhat gross generalisation. This thinking is what has lost the ALP the last four elections. And if the ALP continues to think this way, rather than focussing on its own lack of appeal due to its dearth of reasonable policies and credible leaders, then it will lose the next federal election too. No, I think it is more that they need to go back to their roots, stop trying to be the liberal party, and learn to play dirty, like the coalition have. Focusing on good policy, social reform and not slinging mud doesn’t work in Australia unless the populace are in dire straights. Which of course we all will be, by the next election, once the original, totally US biased free trade agreement is resuscitated, Telstra is sold into private ownership, creating the largest privately owned monopoly this country has even seen, the Liberal’s industrial relations reforms and union dismantling gets the green light, unfair dismissal is a thing of the past as are permanent jobs, disability pensioners are forced onto unemployment benefits if they are deemed able to work 15 hrs a week, carers of the disabled get their meagre allowance removed, and every ludicrously unbalanced bill that the senate was previously able to block is passed into law. Haven’t got time to find the cites - but they have all been in the major papers this week. I am already reaping the benefits of the “Nelson reforms” (free market education)to higher education - my masters is costing 30% more than it would have a year ago. Oh, and even BEFORE the election the Reserve Bank said interest rates would rise before Christmas no matter who won the election - and Labor couldn’t even get that information out to the electorate… what a bloody mess :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/124 "2004-10-13T02:52:29Z")
> [@auliya](#): > > No, I think it is more that they need to go back to their roots, stop trying to be the liberal party, and learn to play dirty, like the coalition have. Focusing on good policy, social reform and not slinging mud doesn’t work in Australia unless the populace are in dire straights. I agree with this. Labor tried to do things on the up-and-up and they got really badly burnt. However, I’m not sure if they should stoop to Howard’s level. > [@auliya](#): > > Oh, and even BEFORE the election the Reserve Bank said interest rates would rise before Christmas no matter who won the election - and Labor couldn’t even get that information out to the electorate. That was because the Liberal party kept clouding and distorting the issue. I saw an article today which said that in \*every \* single interview, Howard always brought up the interest rates (even though he knew his claims were false). ---
**Author:** ![AussieSilverback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5daacb/32.png) [@AussieSilverback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AussieSilverback)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/125 "2004-10-15T04:57:54Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > I’m more then frigging disappointed. Shit I thought Aussies would kick some arse! We did kick some arse! To be precise we kicked the arses of that dickhead Latham. Due to the proximity of Bob Browns puckered lips, he also suffered collateral damage. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/126 "2004-10-15T05:13:33Z")
:d ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/127 "2004-10-15T21:52:34Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > :d Typical Lib voter. Can’t even get the coding right. d&r ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2004, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/128 "2004-10-28T14:42:15Z")
[Hanson preferences deliver Senate control to government](http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/28/1098667904993.html) But we are all supposed to be relaxed about this tragedy: > [@John Howard](#): > > "We intend to do the things we’ve promised the Australian people we would do, but we don’t intend to allow this unexpected but welcome majority in the Senate to go to our heads. > > We certainly won’t be abusing our newfound position. We will continue to listen to the people and we’ll continue to stay in touch with the public that has invested great trust and confidence in us. Aaaargh! ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/129 "2004-10-29T01:48:19Z")
> [@JWH](#): > > We will continue to listen to the people and we’ll continue to stay in touch with the public that has invested great trust and confidence in us. Listen to the public? Yeah, right. I wish he’d start listening to the senior public servants who’s wise advice regarding WMDs, the likelihood of increased terrorism and kiddies NOT overboard he managed to avoid hearing for so long. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@Go\_You\_Big\_Red\_Fire\_Engine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_You_Big_Red_Fire_Engine)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/130 "2004-10-29T10:52:27Z")
DON’T BLAME ME I VOTED FOR HEMP 🆒 I didn’t… but it would make a good shirt anyway. I think the problem with why latham didn’t win is because the only arguments they had was that John Howard is bad, mmmkay? A well-thought out and well-researched attack would have been a lot better. I can’t believe the demmies are out ☹ It sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Atticus\_Finch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Atticus\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atticus_Finch)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358/131 "2004-10-29T12:53:50Z")
A tiny ray of sunshine - the fact that the Coalition now completely control the Senate means that Family First don’t have the balance of power. As I said, only a tiny piece of good news. But hell, call me an optimist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-46-6-of-australian-voters/268358.md?page=6)