On May 18 this year, for those who live in the electorate of McPherson in Queensland, you will have to make a decision on who you are going to vote for as your representative in Canberra.
While I have no intention of telling you how to vote, and neither should anyone else, this article is sharing my thoughts on who I would be voting for, and why.
That being said, if you base your vote simply on the party they are a member of, you are literally wasting your vote. (It is this apathy that the political parties want to continue as it serves them the best).
The candidates are listed as they appear on the ballot paper.
Contents
1. Aaron Santelises (Australian Labor Party)
My vote 8
Aaron is a new candidate for this election, in 2016, the ALP candidate was Sandy Gadd.
I would be placing him last for a number of reasons. Firstly, he is running as a candidate for the Labor Party, and they are a party that shouldn’t form government.
As a party politician, he is likely to vote along party lines which would see him support changes to Australia’s Fair Work Act that would increase the power of 3rd party employee associations.
The Leader of the ALP is Bill Shorten who co-authored the Fair Work Act when Labor was last in power. He boasted about how good and fair the Act was, and now that the ACTU has decided that it isn’t he is supporting that.
He also lied to us all when he gave us a rolled gold guarantee that none of his MPs were dual citizens.
And we know what happened next, don’t we?
While he will get a good primary vote due to being in the top spot on the ballot, I don’t know if he will get enough to unseat the incumbent Karen Andrews.
Though, as is likely to be the case in this election, it will come down to preferences.
2. Scott Crowe (Liberal Democrats)
My Vote: 2
While I don’t fully support all of the policies or views of the Liberal Democrats, they are the best of a bad bunch, so they would get my number 2 vote.
Personally, I disagree with their policy on industrial relations, with regards to minimum wage and the NES. (I feel that this is because they have been hoodwinked by the IR Club into supporting their lower wages, more employment myth).
As I said, the best of a bad bunch.
3. Michael Kaff (Independent)
My Vote 1
Michael is also a new candidate for this election.
As an independent, he would automatically get my primary vote.
The reason for this is that we as voters need to send a message to ALL the political parties, that the adherence to the party is what has caused the system to clog up and falter.
An engaged electorate has more chance of influencing an independent than they do of ANY party politician.
Having a look at his website, he seems to have decent policies and positions. You can find out more by heading here.
4. Alan Quinn (The Greens)
My vote 7
If I could get away with not putting a number next to any Greens candidate I would be happy.
Though as we need to put a number in every box, I would be putting them second last.
The Australian Greens are another one of those parties that should never be in a position to influence government.
Their policies are more aimed at creating social unrest, and ensuring their longevity than they are on developing a prosperous nation.
5. Karen Andrews (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
My vote 5
Karen is the incumbent, and after gaining over 53% of the primary vote at the last election, is likely going to be hard to unseat.
6. Sean Gordon Gaffy (FRASER ANNING’S CONSERVATIVE NATIONAL PARTY)
My vote 6
Sean gets a number 6 for the simple reason that every box has to be numbered.
The party is still too young to be considered a threat to anyone.
7. Renee Stewart (Animal Justice Party)
My vote 9
Renee is put last on the ballot paper due to being an Animal Justice Party candidate.
I have written extensively about this party in the past, and to date, nothing has changed.
They are still deliberately misleading potential voters and members into thinking they are an animal rights party. (They aren’t. Katrina Love the National Vice-President has said they are an animal protection party).
Renee also has no regard for the law, believing that she is entitled to break any law that she disagrees with. (Yet, if elected into parliament, will expect people to believe in laws that she votes for).
We are told that they will vote according to their mantra of Kindness, Equality, Rationality, and Non-Violence, though what exactly does that mean?
Based on a recent Vegan Hour live stream, it appears that Renee has very little understanding of anything outside of the animal welfare mantra.
And, there is also the concerning claim that she is well known in the local community as an advocate for animal rights, yet has no qualms in using an animal as a prop in her promo photos.
8. Fiona Kay MacKenzie (United Australia Party)
My vote 3
After the number 1 and 2 spot, the 3rd and 4th ones were a hard choice.
UAP gets a 3 for the simple reason that they aren’t an established party, and a message needs to be sent to ALL of them that voters are fed up with the party system.
9. John Spellman (Pauline Hanson’s One Nation)
My vote 4
PHON gets my number 4 vote because as far as political parties go, they are marginally better than the Liberal National Party.
Regardless of what anyone says about the leader of the party, she is getting out there and engaging with the voters all the time, and not only when there are votes to be gained.
Choose Wisely
However you decide to vote on election day, you need to give it some thought.
Don’t simply vote for someone because you like how the name of their party sounds, or because you have swallowed a lie they have served you.
To be clear, this election is about the future prosperity of Australia.
The animals don’t come into it. (This is because the animals are the responsibility of the States/Territories.
Photo by Element5 Digital from Pexels
Did you find this article useful?
If you think it is worth a cup of coffee, you can shout the author one.
- Been A Long Time Between Drinks
- Who Gives A F*$k What James Aspey Is Doing
- Changes To VeganPolice.com.au
- Million Dollar Vegan Campaign Sinks To A New Low
- On Ethics
- Aussie Farms Lost Their “Charity” Status. What Does It Mean For “The Animals”?
- Why I Love To Blog
- How To Outreach, The Easy Way
- Morrison Government’s “Extreme Vegan Activists” Bill Is All Bark And No Bite
This article was written by the founder of VeganPolice.com.au, Cameron Blewett.
Cameron is a long term vegan (30+yrs), and is passionate about veganism, and helping people to understand more about it and giving other animals equal consideration.
You can find Cameron’s other rants on his website, CameronBlewett.blog
Unless there’s clarity around a party’s principles, you can’t make a reasoned decision. Not policies, or positions, but principles. Policies and positions can change with the wind, but principles – provided candidates and/or parties are being honest – are both simpler and more durable.
The Liberal Democrats actually make clear what their principles are. They even mention the philosophy they arise from. Principles without reasoning to support them are just opinions, or echoes of a philosophy they draw on.
While the LD have their problems, that makes them a cut above the other parties.
The independent seems to favour business, but also government intervention in various areas. He’s more or less a particular flavour of the status quo. Principles? Philosophy? Unfortunately, they aren’t considered necessary, except in an abstract, general sense..