Filibuster creates farcical scenes in Australia senate

[webfact]

Filibuster creates farcical scenes in Australia senate

CANBERRA: -- Monty Python references, a colonoscopy analogy and a pyjama-clad senator featured during an all-night sitting of Australia's upper house.

The Senate is considering controversial changes to voting laws that will disadvantage so-called "micro parties".

The ruling Coalition, the Greens and independent senator Nick Xenophon support the changes.

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-35838653


-- BBC 2016-03-18

[daiwill60]

Nick Xenophon?? Is that a real name ?

[Freed1948]

Yes, that's his name and he is probably the most sensible in the Senate.

[chuckd]

After reading the entire BBC article, I would think Aussies that continually make detrimental posts on the US threads would have much less time to do so if they devoted some time to their own political problems.

Some rather strange stuff going on down there.

Just a thought.

[neverdie]

After reading the entire BBC article, I would think Aussies that continually make detrimental posts on the US threads would have much less time to do so if they devoted some time to their own political problems.

Some rather strange stuff going on down there.

Just a thought.

Absolutely mate. It's so bad down in Australia, nothing short of a mass assassination of Politicians from all sides of the Political spectrum would fix the problem.

It's a circus.

As it is though, Australia could completely melt down and no body on the world stage would notice until they couldn't get clearance to land at Sydney's dumpy little airport. The same thing can't be said for the USA.

[up2u2]

A good bloke Nick Xenophon. A very respected Independent politician.

Who doesn't love a good filibuster. One politician changed into his pyjamas.

The two major party's introduced 'Preferential Voting' and it kind of backfired on them. By 'gaming' the Preferential Voting system a candidate with 1% of the Primary Vote can scoop up more votes via Preferentially distributed votes and end up elected. A group of Independents can hold the 'balance of power' and block government legislation and that is what actually pisses off the Major Party's.

The Independent Senators for the most part do a good job in protecting the electorate, particularly from draconian Laws proposed by Right Wing Conservatives. A sensible handbrake on the lunatic far Right extremists.

Most Australian voters are aware you must split your vote and NEVER give both Houses to the one Party. Particularly the Right Wing Conservatives. They did get both Houses10 years ago and proceeded to push through legislation that saw them not only thrown out of office in a landslide victory for the Left Wing but saw the sitting Prime Minister thrown out of his blue ribbon electorate. A hostile Senate actually protects Right Wing Conservatives from their own stupidity.

The changes for Preferential Voting will go through as the government has the support of the Greens Party as it will favour the Greens. A protest vote will now go to the Greens Party rather than the 'Jedi Rights Party'.

[eggers]

And all this huffing & puffing about returning Thailand to a democracy......really, back to this sort of unruly argy bargy democracy!!

[BuaBS]

Absolutely mate. It's so bad down in Australia, nothing short of a mass assassination of Politicians from all sides of the Political spectrum would fix the problem.

It's a circus.

As it is though, Australia could completely melt down and no body on the world stage would notice until they couldn't get clearance to land at Sydney's dumpy little airport. The same thing can't be said for the USA.

" nothing short of a mass assassination of Politicians from all sides of the Political spectrum would fix the problem."

Wouldn't that fix just about any country in the world ?

[maoro2013]

After reading the entire BBC article, I would think Aussies that continually make detrimental posts on the US threads would have much less time to do so if they devoted some time to their own political problems.

Some rather strange stuff going on down there.

Just a thought.

Absolutely mate. It's so bad down in Australia, nothing short of a mass assassination of Politicians from all sides of the Political spectrum would fix the problem.

It's a circus.

As it is though, Australia could completely melt down and no body on the world stage would notice until they couldn't get clearance to land at Sydney's dumpy little airport. The same thing can't be said for the USA.

What's the point of this farcical comment?

[BookMan]

A good bloke Nick Xenophon. A very respected Independent politician.

Who doesn't love a good filibuster. One politician changed into his pyjamas.

The two major party's introduced 'Preferential Voting' and it kind of backfired on them. By 'gaming' the Preferential Voting system a candidate with 1% of the Primary Vote can scoop up more votes via Preferentially distributed votes and end up elected. A group of Independents can hold the 'balance of power' and block government legislation and that is what actually pisses off the Major Party's.

The Independent Senators for the most part do a good job in protecting the electorate, particularly from draconian Laws proposed by Right Wing Conservatives. A sensible handbrake on the lunatic far Right extremists.

Most Australian voters are aware you must split your vote and NEVER give both Houses to the one Party. Particularly the Right Wing Conservatives. They did get both Houses10 years ago and proceeded to push through legislation that saw them not only thrown out of office in a landslide victory for the Left Wing but saw the sitting Prime Minister thrown out of his blue ribbon electorate. A hostile Senate actually protects Right Wing Conservatives from their own stupidity.

The changes for Preferential Voting will go through as the government has the support of the Greens Party as it will favour the Greens. A protest vote will now go to the Greens Party rather than the 'Jedi Rights Party'.

The law passed thank f.o.ok

What a farce the current system has turned into, with micro parties who get a handful of votes swapping preferences to secure an undeserved place in parliament and serve the interests of a few outside groups who are pulling the strings.

Double dissolution, new election, throw out the entire senate and start again....

[simple1]

Long overdue piece of legislation.

I respected Nick Xenophon, no longer, as he has been assisting Jacqi Lambie. Lambie is an excellent example of someone who gained a seat in Federal Government on preferences with a minuscule number of actual votes.

Edited March 18, 2016 by simple1

[bazza40]

After reading the entire BBC article, I would think Aussies that continually make detrimental posts on the US threads would have much less time to do so if they devoted some time to their own political problems.

Some rather strange stuff going on down there.

Just a thought.

You have Donald Trump as a potential US president, and you're telling us WE have strange stuff going on? Wow.

Edited March 18, 2016 by bazza40

[up2u2]

A good bloke Nick Xenophon. A very respected Independent politician.

Who doesn't love a good filibuster. One politician changed into his pyjamas.

The two major party's introduced 'Preferential Voting' and it kind of backfired on them. By 'gaming' the Preferential Voting system a candidate with 1% of the Primary Vote can scoop up more votes via Preferentially distributed votes and end up elected. A group of Independents can hold the 'balance of power' and block government legislation and that is what actually pisses off the Major Party's.

The Independent Senators for the most part do a good job in protecting the electorate, particularly from draconian Laws proposed by Right Wing Conservatives. A sensible handbrake on the lunatic far Right extremists.

Most Australian voters are aware you must split your vote and NEVER give both Houses to the one Party. Particularly the Right Wing Conservatives. They did get both Houses10 years ago and proceeded to push through legislation that saw them not only thrown out of office in a landslide victory for the Left Wing but saw the sitting Prime Minister thrown out of his blue ribbon electorate. A hostile Senate actually protects Right Wing Conservatives from their own stupidity.

The changes for Preferential Voting will go through as the government has the support of the Greens Party as it will favour the Greens. A protest vote will now go to the Greens Party rather than the 'Jedi Rights Party'.

The law passed thank f.o.ok

What a farce the current system has turned into, with micro parties who get a handful of votes swapping preferences to secure an undeserved place in parliament and serve the interests of a few outside groups who are pulling the strings.

Double dissolution, new election, throw out the entire senate and start again....

The Legislation was always going to pass. It would be a huge mistake to think the major Partys had the intent in passing this legislation with the noble reason of restoring Democracy. It will effectively benefit the major Partys by concentrating total Legislative power to them. A hostile Senate is a crucial handbrake on any Government. For example if Abbott had control of the Senate the 2014 budget cuts and the beginning of dismantling Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the privatisation of Higher Education would have sailed through unopposed. Next would have been Union worker representation, overtime and worker benefits removed, pay rates cut, massive cheap labour immigration visas, financial sector deregulation, increases in personal taxes and decrease in Corporate taxes.

Effectively a dictatorship.

Currently Senators can be voted in with only 14% of the vote including preferences with a DD and a full election of Senators they would only need 7% of the vote to be elected. This new legislation doesn't change that, it only changes the number of choices and the flow of preferences handing more power to the major Partys.

[neverdie]

After reading the entire BBC article, I would think Aussies that continually make detrimental posts on the US threads would have much less time to do so if they devoted some time to their own political problems.

Some rather strange stuff going on down there.

Just a thought.

Absolutely mate. It's so bad down in Australia, nothing short of a mass assassination of Politicians from all sides of the Political spectrum would fix the problem.

It's a circus.

As it is though, Australia could completely melt down and no body on the world stage would notice until they couldn't get clearance to land at Sydney's dumpy little airport. The same thing can't be said for the USA.

What's the point of this farcical comment?

II thought it was quite clear and succinct actually. Would you like me to have it translated into another language perhaps ?

[BookMan]

The Legislation was always going to pass. It would be a huge mistake to think the major Partys had the intent in passing this legislation with the noble reason of restoring Democracy. It will effectively benefit the major Partys by concentrating total Legislative power to them. A hostile Senate is a crucial handbrake on any Government. For example if Abbott had control of the Senate the 2014 budget cuts and the beginning of dismantling Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the privatisation of Higher Education would have sailed through unopposed. Next would have been Union worker representation, overtime and worker benefits removed, pay rates cut, massive cheap labour immigration visas, financial sector deregulation, increases in personal taxes and decrease in Corporate taxes.

Effectively a dictatorship.

Currently Senators can be voted in with only 14% of the vote including preferences with a DD and a full election of Senators they would only need 7% of the vote to be elected. This new legislation doesn't change that, it only changes the number of choices and the flow of preferences handing more power to the major Partys.

Nothing like a dictatorship

The system was being manipulated by special interest parties and even parties with no interests, other than serving a behind the scenes puppet master.

Backroom preference swapping deals that were simply gaming the system

Having legislation held for ransom, and special deals to satisfy individual electorates, or support for vanity bills by micro parties is the unfortunate result

[up2u2]

The Legislation was always going to pass. It would be a huge mistake to think the major Partys had the intent in passing this legislation with the noble reason of restoring Democracy. It will effectively benefit the major Partys by concentrating total Legislative power to them. A hostile Senate is a crucial handbrake on any Government. For example if Abbott had control of the Senate the 2014 budget cuts and the beginning of dismantling Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the privatisation of Higher Education would have sailed through unopposed. Next would have been Union worker representation, overtime and worker benefits removed, pay rates cut, massive cheap labour immigration visas, financial sector deregulation, increases in personal taxes and decrease in Corporate taxes.

Effectively a dictatorship.

Currently Senators can be voted in with only 14% of the vote including preferences with a DD and a full election of Senators they would only need 7% of the vote to be elected. This new legislation doesn't change that, it only changes the number of choices and the flow of preferences handing more power to the major Partys.

Nothing like a dictatorship

The system was being manipulated by special interest parties and even parties with no interests, other than serving a behind the scenes puppet master.

Backroom preference swapping deals that were simply gaming the system

Having legislation held for ransom, and special deals to satisfy individual electorates, or support for vanity bills by micro parties is the unfortunate result

I wouldn't describe Senators from major Party's being voted in on as little as 7% of the vote as overly democratic.

What Legislation did Independent Senators block that you wanted approved.

There is a Supreme Court writ issued to be heard early next week challenging the Constitutionality of the Legislation.

[BookMan]

The Legislation was always going to pass. It would be a huge mistake to think the major Partys had the intent in passing this legislation with the noble reason of restoring Democracy. It will effectively benefit the major Partys by concentrating total Legislative power to them. A hostile Senate is a crucial handbrake on any Government. For example if Abbott had control of the Senate the 2014 budget cuts and the beginning of dismantling Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the privatisation of Higher Education would have sailed through unopposed. Next would have been Union worker representation, overtime and worker benefits removed, pay rates cut, massive cheap labour immigration visas, financial sector deregulation, increases in personal taxes and decrease in Corporate taxes.

Effectively a dictatorship.

Currently Senators can be voted in with only 14% of the vote including preferences with a DD and a full election of Senators they would only need 7% of the vote to be elected. This new legislation doesn't change that, it only changes the number of choices and the flow of preferences handing more power to the major Partys.

Nothing like a dictatorship

The system was being manipulated by special interest parties and even parties with no interests, other than serving a behind the scenes puppet master.

Backroom preference swapping deals that were simply gaming the system

Having legislation held for ransom, and special deals to satisfy individual electorates, or support for vanity bills by micro parties is the unfortunate result

I wouldn't describe Senators from major Party's being voted in on as little as 7% of the vote as overly democratic.

What Legislation did Independent Senators block that you wanted approved.

There is a Supreme Court writ issued to be heard early next week challenging the Constitutionality of the Legislation.

The alternative is what happens with the current system...Senators getting voted in with 0.5% of the vote..or 67,000 votes... That was the Motoring Party

Why should a couple of micro parties hold balance of power over legislation?

[up2u2]

They don't hold the balance of power. They only control 1 vote on any Legislation. Proportional Representation.

Edited March 19, 2016 by up2u2