Voting

[Skeppersap]

People vote for political parties like they are footy teams which is silly.

People also vote for what will most benefit them personally (selfish, but understandable) and what benefits them in the short term (again selfish, but what alternative is there these days?). It's a vicious cycle. You get what you vote for and the parties aim at what will get them votes at the expense of what is good for the nation. I just can't see a major party proposing something that will be beneficial in the long term that is unpalatable in the short term any time soon which is sad. I mean when carbon taxes and emissions trading were the in thing the policies being thrown around 'needed' safeguards to ensure people weren't out of pocket paying their power bills. I mean FFS.

I am liking Nick Xenophon more and more. I don't agree with all of his positions (don't know all of them either) but he actually stands for something and does his job. He's no more 'centrist' than the major parties really, he just picks and chooses which issues are important to him and forms opinions rather than just blindly following someone else's.

The problem now is that politicians care far more about getting themselves elected for another term than what is good for the future of the country.

If they genuinely cared about the country, the election would have been about which party had the best revenue raising (increased taxation) policies. We should be increasing GST! Instead, Labor act like 2 year olds and refuse to talk about it, and the Coalition are too weak to pursue it any further.

The other laughable thing is that they talk about 10 year plans to reduce debt, knowing full well that we will probably change governments at least twice by then, and change leaders approx 5 times, each one with new policies to make them look good in front of the masses.

Say what you want about Howard, he believed in GST, stood by his convictions and made it happen. Australia is better off for it!

 

[theyellowsash]

'Mandates' have always been a concept advocated by careerists in Canberra (politicians and journalists) than a real truth.

"We call the heartland not very smartland, IQ's are very low but threat levels are high
They got a mandate, they don't want man-dates, they got so many hates and people to despise"
-NOFX

 

[worbod]

No....I've just never enrolled to vote.

Have you ever received a letter from the electoral commission informing you that you are not enrolled? Or telling you that you should enrol, or even stating they will fine you if you do not enrol?

 

[Barney_Gumble]

'Mandates' have always been a concept advocated by careerists in Canberra (politicians and journalists) than a real truth.

Mandates are a load of BS. It's lipservice designed to shut down criticism.

 

[JoseMourinho]

Looking at the first page, there was like two people who participate in SRP heavily who haven't enrolled to vote. Better start getting enrolled otherwise I don't think you're entitled to whinge about governments when you decided to not vote in the first place.

Nick Xenophon has done a great job FYI.

 

[Procrastinator35]

Have you ever received a letter from the electoral commission informing you that you are not enrolled? Or telling you that you should enrol, or even stating they will fine you if you do not enrol?

Yes, but ignore them all....If they want to take me to court, best of luck to em.

 

[Whats a Battle]

It's amazing how it keeps on keeping on being a safe Labor seat when you see Corio, Norlane, Whittington etc falling apart having been total shit holes for the last 30 years.

It's been in Labors hands all that time in both federal and state and yet they do nothing to improve it.

Shows what a bunch of dullards Labor voters are when you see them being taken for granted like that and yet still voting for their arse clown party.

I voted Bullet Train, I couldn't even consider the Libs are after their public attacks on small parties and independents. That's getting too close to political cartel speak for my liking.

Thanks for the post. I have worked in Geelong for a while now, and I have returned to Melbourne's west, where I grew up. I can't tell you how much I agree.

I've lived in "dodgy" areas for pretty much my whole life. I don't think I've ever lived anywhere that hasn't made at least a few people cringe when I tell them. Honestly, with a bit of love, Corio seems like it could be made great. Where else can you get three bedroom heritage homes on large blocks for a smidge over $200k? You're a short bike away from Pakington Street or waterfront Geelong, and a short drive away from some of the best beaches this state has to offer. Norlane less so, the housing stock is poorer in my view (old fibro kit homes for the most part), but even the western side of that suburb has potential. I just wish the local members cared a little more than they do.

On topic, I ran as an independent in my extremely safe Labor seat in Melbourne's north west. A seat which has areas that make Whittington look like Newtown. Of course. I don't want to work myself up right now but I've been quite disgusted by the Labor party ever since Kevin 07, and believe their policies (particularly on areas such as education, employment and housing) are to the detriment of most Australians. Mediscare and negative gearing scare have just entrenched my feelings on that slimy party even further. I preferenced Labor last (and the Libs second last). I received an encouraging result and am now running for municipal elections, trying everything I can to break the Labor stronghold on an area that deserves better.

The Liberals have really lost me since 2013, still preferenced them over Labor in the senate, but that's not too hard to do when I put Labor dead last. Have a read about Labor's history in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne, on all levels of government, and it's truly horrifying that they keep getting voted in with such large majorities out there.

 

[Bostonian]

Thanks for the post. I have worked in Geelong for a while now, and I have returned to Melbourne's west, where I grew up. I can't tell you how much I agree.

I've lived in "dodgy" areas for pretty much my whole life. I don't think I've ever lived anywhere that hasn't made at least a few people cringe when I tell them. Honestly, with a bit of love, Corio seems like it could be made great. Where else can you get three bedroom heritage homes on large blocks for a smidge over $200k? You're a short bike away from Pakington Street or waterfront Geelong, and a short drive away from some of the best beaches this state has to offer. Norlane less so, the housing stock is poorer in my view (old fibro kit homes for the most part), but even the western side of that suburb has potential. I just wish the local members cared a little more than they do.

North Geelong will probably be the next suburb to be a boom suburb. Personally I wouldn't go near Corio, Norlane probably has more potential if you were buying in that area as you say on the west side away from Corio. Especially if a redevelopment of the Ford Plant went ahead.

On topic, I ran as an independent in my extremely safe Labor seat in Melbourne's north west. A seat which has areas that make Whittington look like Newtown. Of course. I don't want to work myself up right now but I've been quite disgusted by the Labor party ever since Kevin 07, and believe their policies (particularly on areas such as education, employment and housing) are to the detriment of most Australians. Mediscare and negative gearing scare have just entrenched my feelings on that slimy party even further. I preferenced Labor last (and the Libs second last). I received an encouraging result and am now running for municipal elections, trying everything I can to break the Labor stronghold on an area that deserves better.

The Liberals have really lost me since 2013, still preferenced them over Labor in the senate, but that's not too hard to do when I put Labor dead last. Have a read about Labor's history in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne, on all levels of government, and it's truly horrifying that they keep getting voted in with such large majorities out there.

Yup, Labor being considered the working class peoples party is one of the biggest scams in politics.

Good luck in your campaigning ventures. The % of votes going to non major parties is on the rise so It's the perfect climate to be offering an independent option to people when dissatisfaction with the major is at an all time high.

 

[Whats a Battle]

North Geelong will probably be the next suburb to be a boom suburb. Personally I wouldn't go near Corio, Norlane probably has more potential if you were buying in that area as you say on the west side away from Corio. Especially if a redevelopment of the Ford Plant went ahead.

Yup, Labor being considered the working class peoples party is one of the biggest scams in politics.

Good luck in your campaigning ventures. The % of votes going to non major parties is on the rise so It's the perfect climate to be offering an independent option to people when dissatisfaction with the major is at an all time high.

Thanks for the tip on North Geelong, seems I can get a nice heritage home walking distance from town for not much more than 300k. http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-north+geelong-122797374 appeals to me, it's a style I like on a good block for not a lot of money. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Labor don't care about housing affordability, if they did they wouldn't have opened up the floodgates allowing those that don't reside in Australia to buy property.

And thank you for your support. The heartbreaking thing is, a lot of people in the west/north of Melbourne don't trust politicians because they have been treated by contempt by Labor 'local' members. We really deserve better.

 

[Bostonian]

Thanks for the tip on North Geelong, seems I can get a nice heritage home walking distance from town for not much more than 300k. http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-north+geelong-122797374 appeals to me, it's a style I like on a good block for not a lot of money. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Labor don't care about housing affordability, if they did they wouldn't have opened up the floodgates allowing those that don't reside in Australia to buy property.

And thank you for your support. The heartbreaking thing is, a lot of people in the west/north of Melbourne don't trust politicians because they have been treated by contempt by Labor 'local' members. We really deserve better.

And it's across the road from Drumcondra which is already a high value area.

The big blocks are in Hamlyn Heights which is right next to North Geelong. Bit higher in price but still attainable down the bottom section of it especially.


We do deserve better, the mindset is slowly changing. The fact Australia has a Libertarian mindset creeping into it's politics can only auger well for more thoughtful voting public.

 

[Scotland]

I've only been to Geelong once and very briefly but it seemed OK. Geelong is the 12th biggest population centre in Australia. I'd love it if we had more Geelong to Adelaide sized cities. Anyway I think the problem Geelong will continue to face is what will sustain the local economy. The Ford plant is closing in October, and I don't know the plan for the (ex) Shell refinery. Being so close to Melbourne it's always going to be hard sustaining non-essential local services.

And back to voting...

The heartbreaking thing is, a lot of people in the west/north of Melbourne don't trust politicians because they have been treated by contempt by Labor 'local' members. We really deserve better.

I think you can replace West/North Melbourne and Labor with any number of places and Liberal, respectively. My seat has been Liberal since 1984 and the lowest TPP vote in that time has been 56% which just breeds complacency. All the party does is bank the seat and focus on more marginal ones to try and keep govt.

 

[Plugger35]

I've only been to Geelong once and very briefly but it seemed OK. Geelong is the 12th biggest population centre in Australia. I'd love it if we had more Geelong to Adelaide sized cities. Anyway I think the problem Geelong will continue to face is what will sustain the local economy. The Ford plant is closing in October, and I don't know the plan for the (ex) Shell refinery. Being so close to Melbourne it's always going to be hard sustaining non-essential local services.

And back to voting...



I think you can replace West/North Melbourne and Labor with any number of places and Liberal, respectively. My seat has been Liberal since 1984 and the lowest TPP vote in that time has been 56% which just breeds complacency. All the party does is bank the seat and focus on more marginal ones to try and keep govt.

It's the same with Curtin, it's one of the safest Liberal seats in the country. Julie Bishop doesn't need to bother doing any campaigning there to win the seat, in fact she could go on a murderous gun rampage through the Western Suburbs and still get voted in.

 

[Meow]

I've only been to Geelong once and very briefly but it seemed OK. Geelong is the 12th biggest population centre in Australia. I'd love it if we had more Geelong to Adelaide sized cities. Anyway I think the problem Geelong will continue to face is what will sustain the local economy. The Ford plant is closing in October, and I don't know the plan for the (ex) Shell refinery. Being so close to Melbourne it's always going to be hard sustaining non-essential local services.

The only way forward I see for regional centres like Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton etc. is to outsource some government services there. That might then attract the finance/corporate sectors. There was a massive uproar when the TAC moved here, but to centralise everything in capital cities is economic suicide for regional Australia (a great deal of the country's population is disaffected, which has further social and political implications).

And it's across the road from Drumcondra which is already a high value area.

The big blocks are in Hamlyn Heights which is right next to North Geelong. Bit higher in price but still attainable down the bottom section of it especially.


We do deserve better, the mindset is slowly changing. The fact Australia has a Libertarian mindset creeping into it's politics can only auger well for more thoughtful voting public.

As I understand it, Corio/Norlane were somewhat decent in the 1960s-70s. Lots of families in the area whose kids moved out following that period. With the diversification of Geelong's economy and decline in blue-collar employers (Shell, Ford, International Harvester), the land values dropped and "undesirables" moved in.

They are also poorly planned suburbs with little infrastructure relative to the population size. I see a lot of this in Melbourne's new outer suburbs and it's nothing but a recipe for disaster down the track. Having taught at schools in the area before, it's depressing to see how little choice there is in the way of education (one public HS for Years 9-12).

 

[Bostonian]

Corangamite ward is where you need to live in Geelong to get the nice things in life promised to you by Governments.

 

[Scotland]

The only way forward I see for regional centres like Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton etc. is to outsource some government services there. That might then attract the finance/corporate sectors. There was a massive uproar when the TAC moved here, but to centralise everything in capital cities is economic suicide for regional Australia (a great deal of the country's population is disaffected, which has further social and political implications).

Why would you move Melbourne govt services to Geelong? It's an industrial centre, it needs industry of some sort.

 

[Catfish Alley]

He's talking State services isn't he? I'm not sure what industry they could build upon because most of it has shut down over the years.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

On topic, I ran as an independent in my extremely safe Labor seat in Melbourne's north west. A seat which has areas that make Whittington look like Newtown. Of course. I don't want to work myself up right now but I've been quite disgusted by the Labor party ever since Kevin 07, and believe their policies (particularly on areas such as education, employment and housing) are to the detriment of most Australians. Mediscare and negative gearing scare have just entrenched my feelings on that slimy party even further. I preferenced Labor last (and the Libs second last). I received an encouraging result and am now running for municipal elections, trying everything I can to break the Labor stronghold on an area that deserves better.

Interesting you list housing as a concern, then take a shot at Labor's negative gearing policy. How many properties do you own?

 

[Meow]

Why would you move Melbourne govt services to Geelong? It's an industrial centre, it needs industry of some sort.

Gone are the days when an entire city can rely on one sector, particularly with the manufacturing industry dying. Govt services is what's needed to entice the corporate world to look at regional areas.

 

[Whats a Battle]

Interesting you list housing as a concern, then take a shot at Labor's negative gearing policy. How many properties do you own?

None. I'm looking at my first at the end of the year. I don't ever intend to have a large property portfolio, just a modest three bedder on some land for myself to live in. Nothing too expensive, I'm too conservative to leverage heavily in property.

I just don't feel the need to punish mum and dad investors and force higher value residential property into the hands of the foreign investors that Labor allowed to buy property in the first place.

 

[Whats a Battle]

The only way forward I see for regional centres like Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton etc. is to outsource some government services there. That might then attract the finance/corporate sectors. There was a massive uproar when the TAC moved here, but to centralise everything in capital cities is economic suicide for regional Australia (a great deal of the country's population is disaffected, which has further social and political implications).



As I understand it, Corio/Norlane were somewhat decent in the 1960s-70s. Lots of families in the area whose kids moved out following that period. With the diversification of Geelong's economy and decline in blue-collar employers (Shell, Ford, International Harvester), the land values dropped and "undesirables" moved in.

They are also poorly planned suburbs with little infrastructure relative to the population size. I see a lot of this in Melbourne's new outer suburbs and it's nothing but a recipe for disaster down the track. Having taught at schools in the area before, it's depressing to see how little choice there is in the way of education (one public HS for Years 9-12).

Interesting to note! I've done a few days locum work in Corio and you actually confirm my thoughts on the demographic makeup of the area; lots of 60+ people I noticed. I agree with you on the benefits of decentralisation, not to mention the lifestyle, cost and housing benefits of moving more government services regionally. I don't see why everyone should be piled in to ever growing capital cities.

 

[Whats a Battle]

I've only been to Geelong once and very briefly but it seemed OK. Geelong is the 12th biggest population centre in Australia. I'd love it if we had more Geelong to Adelaide sized cities. Anyway I think the problem Geelong will continue to face is what will sustain the local economy. The Ford plant is closing in October, and I don't know the plan for the (ex) Shell refinery. Being so close to Melbourne it's always going to be hard sustaining non-essential local services.

And back to voting...
I think you can replace West/North Melbourne and Labor with any number of places and Liberal, respectively. My seat has been Liberal since 1984 and the lowest TPP vote in that time has been 56% which just breeds complacency. All the party does is bank the seat and focus on more marginal ones to try and keep govt.

Yep it's no better on the Liberal side of the fence. Only difference really is the demographics of the seat in question. You guys probably get just as much as we do (a.k.a. nothing).

 

[Scotland]

Yep it's no better on the Liberal side of the fence. Only difference really is the demographics of the seat in question. You guys probably get just as much as we do (a.k.a. nothing).

From what I can gather all govt expenditure ends up in Western Sydney.

 

[Sinjin Smith]

Why would you move Melbourne govt services to Geelong? It's an industrial centre, it needs industry of some sort.

Geelong really could be made into a fantastic satellite city. It has capacity for rail expansion to Melbourne and has the skeleton (even though functioning) Avalon airport which could easily be built into an international airport.

Every ****ing day there are headlines and radio segments on how shit Melbourne traffic is (and it is) and whilst people argue over need for massive investment into roads and public transport coming in from the west, the state and federal governments really need to look at trying to incentivise large corporates into shifting head quarters or majors offices there and building support infrastructure to take the load off Melbourne CBD. If you lived in Point Cook or Tarneit or any massively expanding suburb and could drive to Geelong for work..............I know easier said than done but surely it's worth exploring.

 

[Scotland]

Geelong will be an outer suburb of Melbourne before too long.

 

[Whats a Battle]

Geelong really could be made into a fantastic satellite city. It has capacity for rail expansion to Melbourne and has the skeleton (even though functioning) Avalon airport which could easily be built into an international airport.

Every ******* day there are headlines and radio segments on how shit Melbourne traffic is (and it is) and whilst people argue over need for massive investment into roads and public transport coming in from the west, the state and federal governments really need to look at trying to incentivise large corporates into shifting head quarters or majors offices there and building support infrastructure to take the load off Melbourne CBD. If you lived in Point Cook or Tarneit or any massively expanding suburb and could drive to Geelong for work..............I know easier said than done but surely it's worth exploring.

It's official. This is now the "Geelong is awesome*" thread. It's just got so much going for it that Melbourne doesn't, affordable housing is just the start.


*the place not the footy club