Australian election 2004: do you realise how likely it is that the coalition will gain a majority in the senate?

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The coalition need only get a proportion of votes similar to 2001 to obtain the 38 of 76 seats required to make the senate a coalition rubber stamp. Then all the most dubious stalled legislation can be passed in, ooooh, 27.5 seconds after parliament resumes.

Surely the secret sleeper issue of the election. Any other Australians terrified?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I am terrified. I wonder to what extent I should be commenting, because I currently work for the AEC.

So, in the interest of making non-partisan statements, the thought of ANY party getting control of the senate is a terrifying prospect.

That said, they won't get a similar proportion of voters. Splinter groups taking votes away from the Libs in the Senate are not diverting all their preferences back to them. There will, for instance, be a 33% leakage of preferences from Family First to Labor, amazingly.

I think you'll see the Greens with the balance of power, which will be good if the Coalition gets back in again. With Labor in power, I'd rather have the Democrats dominating the cross-benches, however.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

What more can Howard do anyway? Ban being gay? Force everyone to be Anglican? Burn witches at the stake?

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

yes

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 22:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Good government requires checks and balances in the Senate, Adam. Rural people vote for the National party to look after their interests, for instance. But The Nationals toe the Liberal line, and will vote to sell the rest Telstra even though a significant number of the people that would be giving the government a mandate to this don't actually want it.

It would be up to the Senate to block this. And block this it currently can.

If the Senate is dominated by one party, it may as well not be there. Look at Queensland and see what happens with no Senate.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

(course, I know you already know this Adam, but since I've acquired a lot of knowledge on the election from work, I just want to vent!)

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 22:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep :)

I seriously shudder to think what Howard would do in another term. Already Australia is seen as the ultimate racist brown-nose. The medical system in in the shitter, the public education system is a mess, and the divide between rich and poor is widening by the day. And Howard's cronies only work to extend that divide.

Normally I don't vote, but this time I'll be filling in the form with bells on.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:01 (twenty-one years ago)

And that free trade agreement. And don't start me on all the wars he started. Fuck's sake. Howard should just piss off to the US and lick Bush's arsehole full-time.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:02 (twenty-one years ago)

it'd be nice if things actually got better. just for once. if the reason to vote was not "to stop things getting worse" or even "to stop things remaining the same"

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:03 (twenty-one years ago)

For what it's worth though, comparing the lay of the land today with 1998, I can see a minor change - the Coalition will probably lose one senator in Victoria, is going to be under threat in the ACT if they can't scrape together one third of the vote as they're being preferenced against heavily.

Their best states are WA and SA, they already have 3 senators from '98 in there, they ain't picking one up in those states, either. Queensland is a good chance for a National gain, but likely at the expense of One Nation anyhoo.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:05 (twenty-one years ago)

You're enrolled, I take it, Adam?

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)

[xpost] Gaz: Yeah. That's why we need a change.

Look at Australia under Keating. It was fucked. That's what happens when one party has too many terms, and it's happening again, except more dangerous/racist/generally prejudiced this time.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Am I enrolled? Yeah, always have been.

Usually I follow the election results with some interest, but this year I don't want to know until well afterward. If Howard gets in again I'll be fucking furious.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

I never used to be anti-Coalition.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:08 (twenty-one years ago)

Thing is though, that three terms is the norm for any government, really. Keating did a lot for ensuring this country's stability but he became arrogant. I still worship the man, anyway - people won't realise what a nation-builder he was for a few years, anyway. It probably made people happy to get rid of him, so that's all good.

Howard - at first, did a good job with the economy. He's since become disgracefully ILLIBERAL, prone to the worst pork-barrelling that would have put the rabidest socialist to shame. I think Peter Costello would be a great PM, that said. It's the other Liberals that would be the problem.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Costello??? Fuck off.* He's the most pious smarmy ill-directed politician I can think of.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Costello??? Fuck off.* He's the most pious smarmy ill-directed politician I can think of.

* not literally, mind

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:13 (twenty-one years ago)

If, um, anyone can tell me wtf I just did then, I'll post them a lollipop.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Smarmy, yes. Clever, you bet. Most of the good the Howard government has done has been Costello's doing, but Howard takes the credit. Costello also always looks uncomfortable with the right-wing fringe-element-placation and the centrist boondoggling too. A social liberal and an economic conservative is A-OK by me. Better him with the purse than Crean, anyway.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Most of the good the Howard government has done has been Costello's doing

Um, I thought you were trying to talk Costello up. :)

Crean presented himself like a Liberal. He wore good suits and spoke like an IT middle manager. He kept backpedalling too, git.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:18 (twenty-one years ago)

No, seriously. In the first term, the economy was well managed. Howard took the credit, though. The second was so marked by a policy vaccuum and meaningless wedges that votes had to be bought. And Peter Costello never looked comfortable being the one to break the bad news.

Howard's sufficiently on the nose to finally be thrown out, but this will only happen in rural and regional areas, else Latham is going to do what Beazley did in '98 - 51% of the vote but not making enough gains in the marginals, getting big swings in safe seats only.

Thought about staffing a booth in a marginal seat, Adam? In tight contests, every little helps...

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:20 (twenty-one years ago)

'A social liberal and an economic conservative is A-OK by me.'

Especially compared with the reverse.

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Which is John Howard. The man is so scared of moderates he can barely put them in the outer Ministry.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

No, seriously. In the first term, the economy was well managed.

That's true. This government started off well. But, when it lost direction, it REALLY lost direction. Now it's just an embarrassment.

Thought about staffing a booth in a marginal seat, Adam?

Nah.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

If I hadn't signed a contract agreeing to not be politically active, I would skip over the border to Queanbeyan and do it there. Pity.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I still find it funny how the Liberals kicked Pauline Hanson out of the party, then went on to perform acts of racism that made One Nation look like Médecins Sans Frontières.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, more horrifying than funny.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:26 (twenty-one years ago)

how are we feeling about gst?

― gaz (gaz), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Seemed like a fair idea at the time. I'm not sure how well it panned out, but it seems to be pretty good.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 23:34 (twenty-one years ago)

gst has been good for me actually

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Thursday, 23 September 2004 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

gst has delivered some benefits to the state govts too. not as many as promised i don't think. but still.

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 23 September 2004 01:34 (twenty-one years ago)

sometimes it seems to me "sound financial management" = "didn't run a deficit" = "we got MORE tax offa youse"

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 23 September 2004 01:36 (twenty-one years ago)

If I were running Labor's campaign, I'd commission a series of TV ads.

The first would have a Rubbery-Figures-esque Peter Costello dancing the Macarena in front of a graph showing the rate of taxation going up up up up, which it has, so you wouldn't need to make up any figures.

The second would have a similar caricature of Alexander Downer in fishnets pouting at the camera while a fake graph showing Australia's standing amongst its neighbours going down.

The third, I don't know. Maybe something that gives a cheap laugh at the expense of Bronwyn Bishop? She's always good for a giggle.

It wouldn't win the election, but it would be funny.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 01:39 (twenty-one years ago)

hehe a giant bouffant takes over the entire nation?

i think your costello caricature could say something about the exploding foreign debt and its likely impact on future interest rates as well.

and i think it's always funny to take the piss out of how wishywashy alexander downer is and how terribly nice and polite but completely insincere he manages to come across. also get old mandy vanstone in with a correlating graph about eventual population decline and its effect on the economy, and perhaps its relationship to our lack of vigorous immigration policy

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 23 September 2004 02:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Mandy has a sense of humour though. She'd probably laugh along with it, and that'd be no fun.

Oh oh oh oh, Tony Abbott would have to be done too. I swear if he ever becomes PM, I am moving to New Zealand, or Canada, whichever one will have me.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 02:17 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe he and alexander downer could have their own comedy sketch of ineffectualness

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 23 September 2004 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Does anyone remember when Fast Forward used to pull the piss out of Bronwyn? Honestly, that was the funniest thing ever.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

haha i crack up just by looking at bronnie though. that cement hair. she's like a walking caricature.

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 23 September 2004 02:50 (twenty-one years ago)

That's what the FF sketch was about. It had her editing her own magazine, called "Bronwyn", and her beauty tips had her toting a big bag of cement.

― edward o (edwardo), Thursday, 23 September 2004 03:09 (twenty-one years ago)

also get old mandy vanstone in with a correlating graph about eventual population decline and its effect on the economy, and perhaps its relationship to our lack of vigorous immigration policy

That's a good one. Only the nutbarriest of nutbars would simultaneously plead for people to have loads and loads of kids, and stop young people coming in from abroad. *cough* RACISM *cough*

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 23 September 2004 03:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh oh oh oh, Tony Abbott would have to be done too. I swear if he ever becomes PM, I am moving to New Zealand, or Canada, whichever one will have me.

That gives me an awesome idea for an ALP advertisement:

27 seconds of photos, no sound. Howard, Costello, Abbott, Vanstone, &c. Then, have a clip of George Brandis talking in the remaining three seconds.

The ALP would win in a landslide.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 23 September 2004 03:57 (twenty-one years ago)

The ALP really needs to be running a better rhetorical campaign. They're allowing Howard and Costello to push this "we're better economists" bullshit without anything to back it up. Howard, Costello, Downer and Abbott are such unappealing figures, it really shouldn't be this hard.

― C0L1N B3CK3TT (Colin Beckett), Thursday, 23 September 2004 07:31 (twenty-one years ago)

we know! we think we know! we're not sure...

what ed said above re marginals is the key here colin.

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 23 September 2004 08:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry to butt in your thread, but it seems like the best place to ask - is there anywhere where I can hear or see Bob Hawke's impromptu day off for everyone from 1983?

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 23 September 2004 08:54 (twenty-one years ago)

you wot?

― gem (trisk), Thursday, 23 September 2004 13:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Last night's The Election Chaser highlighted once again how amiable and human Latham is, and how fucking wooden and humourless Howard is.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

and how psychotically in need of some medication some liberal ministers are.

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:47 (twenty-one years ago)

i always find the little bar at the bottom of the screen way funnier than the rest of the show.

― gaz (gaz), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

You know, when Hawke rolled out of the America's Cup celebration and said that if anyone sacked an employee for missing work the next day, he'd be a lowdown mongrel? Or something like that...

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 23 September 2004 22:29 (twenty-one years ago)

He said 'any boss who sacks people for not turning up at work today is a bum!' and did a mentalist drunkard laugh. Then he said 'nah, not really.' The press always leaves out that last bit.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 23 September 2004 22:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 5 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Nah, on telly.

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 23 September 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

on video on the net? can't seem to find it (or a pic for that matter)

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Thursday, 23 September 2004 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

actually here's a pic (best i can do)

http://www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au/images/American%20Cup%20no2.jpg

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Thursday, 23 September 2004 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.nostalgiacentral.com/pop/hawke.htm

― Sexual Air Supply (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 23 September 2004 22:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks for trying!

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 23 September 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

For me the problem with the electorate was summed up in that cartoon in The Age on... Tuesday I think? Two ladies sitting at a bus stop, the older one says, "He seems sincere." The other lady goes on a rant on all the ethically dubious and dishonest behaviour the PM indulges in. And the other says, "Still, he seems sincere."

I don't think that Costello is the great economic manager he's made out to be, unless you think "good economic management" is strictly synonymous with being rabidly anti-public spending. That first budget just butchered a lot of basic services, and as such not really a nuanced or skillful job. A lot of people in the media and in Canberra have also hinted that he's a lot more socially conservative than he presents himself as being. Unlike Howard his natural constituency is the classic upper-middle Liberal party voter (eg. "doctor's wives") who occasionally find children in detention distasteful, but in a lot of other areas he's surprisingly close to, say, Abbot. He's definitely more religious than Howard (who is contrary to popular belief much more the amoral political opportunist).

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 24 September 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Compared with some of the ogres on that side, Peter Costello is a real moderate. The drifting to the moral right in the Liberal party has been so great that the goalposts have shifted somewhat. This is why when someone like Warren Entsch or Judi Moylan or Trish Worth comes out with a relatively conciliatory or forward-thinking statement, it's so surprising.

And, it should be remembered, that Kim Beazley is pretty religious.

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 24 September 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Tim F, that cartoon got to me too. I despair if I linger too long on what pushes the electorate's buttons. The 2001 campaign seriously undermined my trust in my fellow citizens. I wouldn't have guessed even John Howard would descend to those depths of cultivating fevered xenophobia; that so many people - including otherwise sensible people - did in fact lap it up pains me still.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Friday, 24 September 2004 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

On the blogging front -- desperate but all too serious:

So it is with a heavy heart that I say to all our American, British, Polish and Italian friends, if Mark Latham and his party of isolationism should win tomorrow, bid us farewell, and try not to resent us our folly. Remember us for how we were, and not for how we've allowed ourselves to become.

I forgive every one of you voting against Howard. Oh wait, that's what I want you to do.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 October 2004 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

That blogger is a bit scary. If we don't have a change of government this time it's hard to imagine what Howard would actually have to do to ever displease the masses.

I'm still particularly anxious about the senate result - when, if ever, did a government last have a majority in both houses anyway?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Saturday, 9 October 2004 05:15 (twenty-one years ago)

ugh this isn't looking good at all.

― Hayden (Pow, Pow, Pow) (haitch), Saturday, 9 October 2004 08:35 (twenty-one years ago)

This is looking much worse than I thought. Fuckety fuck! I should cancel my return ticket... (I'm in Osaka atm)

― Andrew (enneff), Saturday, 9 October 2004 10:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, the senate appears to have been conquered, with the help of the lovely Family First. Do you recommend Osaka Andrew?

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Saturday, 9 October 2004 12:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Sitting in the AEC office in Canberra watching the results come in was such a numbing experience. I've just got home from work. I feel like crying, I really do. Maybe I still will.

It's become a story about how a country destroys little pieces of itself one by one. My patriotism was waning, now it's all but gone. I can't identify with this country where 53% of people are so easily fooled or obsessed with self-interest.

If the Libs win again in 2007, I'm moving to Canada.

― edward o (edwardo), Saturday, 9 October 2004 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

*cries*

― gem (trisk), Saturday, 9 October 2004 13:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Edward O so very painfully OTM.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Saturday, 9 October 2004 23:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I received quite the distraught phone call this morning from my g/f in Sydney. My condeolences go out to all of you.

You will be welcomed in Canada btw. Come for the Liberal government this is actually Liberal (kind of), stay for the squirrels!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 9 October 2004 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Well this is bleak.

― C0L1N B3CK3TT (Colin Beckett), Sunday, 10 October 2004 11:45 (twenty-one years ago)

*starts breaking things, despondently*

― gaz (gaz), Sunday, 10 October 2004 21:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll write a letter to the Queen and ask her to kick him out for you. Also, why are all the 'A' countries having elections? Afghanistan, Australia, America...(Note, I may be cheating a bit). I kind of like the idea of the world electing leaders in alphabetical order. I do give you my sympathies though, and I'm sorry things didn't work out better. There is still a lot of things you can do to help prevent damage and aid people though, during this term.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 10 October 2004 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

with the senate in the hands of family first i think our onlyoption is probably to TAKE TO THE STREETS

and given the demos against the war were soundly ignored thats not much of an option.

― gaz (gaz), Sunday, 10 October 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Like I said in the other thread, anyone saying they're leaving the country is gutless, and making me cranky. You don't run when the cunts knock you down! Jeez. Dont make the left look worse than Latham has spectacularly managed to already :(

― Trayce (trayce), Sunday, 10 October 2004 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I hear Howard wants to abolish compulsory voting. I can only assume he'd do that to somehow strengthen his position?

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Sunday, 10 October 2004 21:57 (twenty-one years ago)

its all about expanding choice.

― gaz (gaz), Sunday, 10 October 2004 22:00 (twenty-one years ago)

Maybe it's deep humanitarian streak.

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Sunday, 10 October 2004 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.acdfestival.org/features/images/choice.jpg

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 10 October 2004 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Argh, I posted my thoughts in the fux0r thread. Oh well.

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Sunday, 10 October 2004 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Just proves the majority of Australian voters are stupid.

I voted green. Legalisation of ecstacy? ...and this being portrayed as a bad thing?

― papa november (papa november), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:06 (twenty-one years ago)

"Hey Merlin! I found your 'E'!"

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I voted green. Legalisation of ecstacy? ...and this being portrayed as a bad thing?

Um, sorry - its comments like this that prove people's point about "tree hugging hippy loony" greens.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:18 (twenty-one years ago)

And they dont, AFAIK, want to legalise anything. They want decrimanalisation and they want more help for addicts and more education. Thats not the way it gets portrayed by yr Neil Mitchells of this world mind you. He should be sat on by a large, diahhoreic elephant.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

He lives near us, Trayce. Perhaps we can... arrange something.

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh and he is a large diarrhoetic elephant, so having one sit on him would only enhance the experience.

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

It was a sarcastic comment.

― papa november (papa november), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:22 (twenty-one years ago)

papa: ah, ok soz. I'm having a bad day today.

I blame the shitty hot wind.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:23 (twenty-one years ago)

Adam: he does? Mother of baby jeebus. That sucks.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:23 (twenty-one years ago)

He goes to the local gym, and last week I saw him on Carlisle St.

ATTENTION GOOGLEBOTS: I am, of course, talking about the lovely local resident N31l Spatchell, and not the eponymous and wholesome talk show host.

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Baha! :)

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 October 2004 01:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Adam would specify the date for the killing, then leave it for two months and forget about it, by which time he'd find all the hitmen for that date are already booked.

― Hayden (Pow, Pow, Pow) (haitch), Monday, 11 October 2004 02:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I see you know this man well ;)

..I'll get me coat.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 11 October 2004 02:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesus Hayden, that's scary.

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 11 October 2004 02:13 (twenty-one years ago)

It's also a pot accusing a kettle of blackness so I'll shut up now. ;)

― Hayden (Pow, Pow, Pow) (haitch), Monday, 11 October 2004 02:24 (twenty-one years ago)

I hear Howard wants to abolish compulsory voting. I can only assume he'd do that to somehow strengthen his position?

I would imagine that compulsory voting can only be good for Howard--the interest rate/inexperience scare ads are designed directly to appeal to those who are legally compelled to vote but unwilling to engage with political media apart from advertising.

― C0L1N B3CK3TT (Colin Beckett), Monday, 11 October 2004 03:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep. Compulsory voting is a wank.

Howard's too busy trying to restrict personal freedoms; I seriously doubt he wants to give us any.

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 11 October 2004 03:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I am soooooooooooo embarrassed by the result

― Nellie (nellskies), Monday, 11 October 2004 05:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Hopefully someone makes up some I DIDN'T VOTE FOR HOWARD car stickers.

― Core of Sphagnum (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 11 October 2004 05:17 (twenty-one years ago)

an alternative anthem...

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we have tasted greed;
Our interest rates mean more to us,
Than mere humanity;
Our land abounds with credit cards
And John Howard took us there;
Don't stop to count as your debts mount,
Advance Australia fair!

Don't stop to count as your debts mount,
"Advance Australia fair!"

While refugees from terror sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
To Iraq with Little John we went,
To start a bloody war.
The sick, the old have all been sold,
Our children's future care;
They're all worth nowt, so rise and shout,
Advance Australia fair!
They're all worth nowt, so rise and shout,
"Advance Australia fair!"

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 05:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I would ROFFLE, but it seems scarily accurate really.

― Hayden (Pow, Pow, Pow) (haitch), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 06:08 (twenty-one years ago)

it's funny in a sad way

― gem (trisk), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 06:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, it should be sung like the soldiers sing in Paths of Glory (what do they sing? Is it the marseillaise?). I always like Advance Australia Fair, actually.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Tuesday, 12 October 2004 06:25 (twenty-one years ago)

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